Standard Copper Mines Co.

The Standard Copper Mines Co. is a copper and zinc 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: Standard Copper Mines Co.

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Zinc
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Alaska
District: Copper River

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Massive sulfide, Cyprus

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Reserves = Inferred reserves of 4,300 tons @ 2.89% Cu (Jansons and others, 1984).

Comment (Production): Production Notes = 32,000 lbs. Cu, 518 oz. Ag, and 36 oz. Au were recovered from 1,100 tons of ore. However, it is felt that not all the recovered gold and silver were reported (Mihelich and Wells, 1957).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The country rocks at this mine are mafic volcanic rocks and sedimentary rocks of the Tertiary Orca Group (Nelson and others, 1985). The deposit consists of quartz, calcite, and massive sulfides in shear zones cutting the volcanic rocks. A 6 ft. x 32 ft. lens of massive sulfide was observed by Mihelich and Wells (1957), but most of the sulfide bodies are smaller (Jansons and others, 1984). The sulfide minerals are chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, and sphalerite. Chip samples collected in 1955 (Mihelich and Wells,1957) contained 0.07% to 6.1% Cu. Jansons and others (1984) report that three chip samples from the 660-ft.-long adit contained 280 ppm to 0.89% Cu, 200 ppm to 0.9% Zn, 0.01 ppm to 0.11 ppm Au, and 0.5 ppm to 2.5 ppm Ag. Three grab samples from the adit contained 0.70% to 2% Cu, 200 ppm to 2% Zn, 0.08 ppm to 0.19 ppm Au, and 2.3 ppm to 6.1 ppm Ag.

Comment (Geology): Age = Probably Tertiary based on the age of the host rocks.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Cyprus massive sulfide (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 24a)

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = Nelson and others (1985) interpret the country rocks as accreted ocean crust. Crowe and others (1992; 1993) and Sainsbury (1993) discuss the genesis of the volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in this area.. Chugach Alaska Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska has control of these lands.

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Grant and Higgins (1909) report five adits on the steep slopes of Copper Mountain and a tram to an ore bunker on the shore of Landlocked Bay. Only three of the adits could be located in the 1980s (Jansons and others, 1984). Chip samples collected in 1955 (Mihelich and Wells,1957) contained 0.07% to 6.1% Cu. Jansons and others (1984) report that three chip samples from the 660-ft.-long adit contained 280 ppm to 0.89% Cu, 200 ppm to 0.9% Zn, 0.01 ppm to 0.11 ppm Au, and 0.5 ppm to 2.5 ppm Ag. Three grab samples from the adit contained 0.70% to 2% Cu, 200 ppm to 2% Zn, 0.08 ppm to 0.19 ppm Au, and 2.3 ppm to 6.1 ppm Ag.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Jansons and others, 1984

References

Reference (Deposit): Grant, U.S., and Higgins, D.F., Jr., 1909, Copper mining and prospecting on Prince William Sound: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 379-C, p. 87-96.

Reference (Deposit): Nelson, S.W., Dumoulin, J. A., and Miller, M.L., 1985, Geologic map of the Chugach National Forest, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1645-B, 16 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Cordova quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-392, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Sainsbury, C.L., 1993, Geology and geochemistry of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits and related igneous rocks, Prince William Sound, south-central Alaska, A discussion: Economic Geology, v. 88, p. 1284-1285.

Reference (Deposit): Mihelich, M., and Wells, R.R., 1957, Copper mines and prospects adjacent to Landlocked Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations RI 5320, 21 p.

Reference (Deposit): Crowe, D.E., Nelson, S.W., Brown, P.E., Shanks III, W.C., and Valley, J.W., 1992, Geology and geochemistry of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits and related igneous rocks, Prince William Sound, south-central Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 87, p. 1722-1746.

Reference (Deposit): Crowe, D.E., Nelson, S.W., Brown, P.E., Shanks III, W.C., and Valley, J.W., 1993, Geology and geochemistry of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits and related igneous rocks, Prince William Sound, south-central Alaska-A reply: Economic Geology, v. 88, p. 1285-1288.

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