Bonanza Creek (Beef claims)

The Bonanza Creek (Beef claims) is a molybdenum and tungsten mine located in Alaska.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

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Site Name

Primary: Bonanza Creek (Beef claims)

Commodity

Primary: Molybdenum
Primary: Tungsten
Secondary: Copper

Location

State: Alaska
District: Yukon Flats and Koyukuk

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant:

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: W skarn

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Calc-silicate skarn.

Rocks

Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 90.600000+-
Dating Method: K-Ar
Material Analyzed: Granite
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Scheelite
Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Geology): Age = Associated granite pluton is part of the Kanuti batholith, which has a K-Ar age date of 90.6 Ma (Nokleberg and others, 1987).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = Scheelite and molybdenite are reported to occur in modest amounts along the margin of the Kanuti batholith in the Bonanza Creek area (Clautice, 1983). The area studied includes a 30-square-mile project area which extends across the Beaver/Bettles quadrangle boundary. Scheelite is reported to occur most commonly as disseminated grains in a relatively sulfide-free pyroxene-garnet skarn and on fracture surfaces in calc-silicate schist, and less commonly in quartz veins. Molybdenite occurs typically as rosettes and small flakes in quartz veins associated with biotite quartz monzonite and less commonly in similar fashion with aplites, pegmatites, and calc-silicate rocks. Grab samples have returned values as high as 0.89 percent W, 300 grams Ag per ton, and 0.65 percent Cu. The granite pluton portion of the Kanuti batholith gave a K-Ar age of 90.6 Ma.

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Some limited trenching in the area, but most of the exploration work has been just west of the Beaver quadrangle boundary.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Clautice, 1983

Comment (Commodity): Gangue = Calc-silicate minerals

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = W skarn deposit (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 14a)

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Geology): Age = Chronological age is for the associated granite pluton.

References

Reference (Deposit): Clautice, K.H., 1987, Methods for finding and evaluating tungsten skarns, a case history of Bonanza Creek, Alaska: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, M.Sc. thesis, 120 p., 1 map, scale 1:20,275.

Reference (Deposit): Swainbank, R.C., Clautice, K.C., and Nauman, J.L., 1998, Alaska's Mineral Industry 1997: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Special Report 52, 65 p.

Reference (Deposit): Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Berg, H.C., Brew, D.A., Grybeck, D.J., Robinson, M.S., Smith, T.E., and Yeend, W., 1987, Significant metalliferous lode deposits and placer districts of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1786, 104 p.

Reference (Deposit): Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Grybeck, D.J., Koch, R.D., Eremin, R.A., Rozenblum, I. S., Sidorov, A.A., Byalobzhesky, S.G., Sosunov, G.M., Shpikerman, V.I., Gorodinsky, M.E., 1993, Metallogenesis of mainland Alaska and the Russian Northeast: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-0339, 3 sheets, 230 p.

Reference (Deposit): Clautice, K.H., 1978, Mineral deposits of the Kanuti River area: a summary report: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 66-78, 15 p.

Reference (Deposit): Clautice, K.H., 1983, Geological sampling and magnetic surveys of a tungsten occurrence, Bonanza Creek area, Hodzana highlands, Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 80-83, 80 p., 4 sheets.

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