Whalen and Nelson

The Whalen and Nelson is a copper 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: Whalen and Nelson

Commodity

Primary: Copper

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: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant:

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Massive sulfide, Besshi (Japanese deposits)

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Chalcopyrite

Comments

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

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Besshi massive sulfide (?) (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 24b)

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = Crowe and others (1992; 1993) and Sainsbury (1993) discuss the genesis of the volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in this area.. The prospect is in the Chugach National Forest.

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The country rock at this prospect is graywacke and slate of the Tertiary Orca Group (Nelson and others, 1985). Grant and Higgins (1909) reported a resistant band of nonslaty rock containing irregular stringers and disseminated grains of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. The band is up to 12 ft. wide, averages 2-4 feet wide, and is traceable for a 'considerable' distance.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Grant and Higgins, 1909

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = One adit and surface stripping reported by Grant and Higgins (1909). Site could not be found in the 1980s (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): 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): Jansons, Uldis, Hoekzema, R.B., Kurtak, J.M., and Fechner, S.A., 1984, Mineral occurrences in the Chugach National Forest, Southcentral Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 5-84, 218 p., 2 sheets, 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): 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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