Windy Pass

The Windy Pass is a copper, molybdenum, and iron 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: Windy Pass

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Molybdenum
Primary: Iron
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Arsenic
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Antimony
Secondary: Zinc

Location

State: Alaska
District: McGrath

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: Skarn Cu

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericite-chlorite in intrusion.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Arsenopyrite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Diopside
Gangue: Phlogopite
Gangue: Magnetite

Comments

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Windy Pass Cu-Mo-(Au)-Fe skarn prospect is associated with a small, Late Cretaceous, quartz monzonite stock that has intruded Paleozoic limestone probably equivalent to the Novi Mountain Formation (Dutro and Patton, 1982). The main mineralized area is about 200 feet by 3,000 feet (61 m by 914 m) in size. Two types of skarn are identified: (1) zones of sulfides, diopside, plagioclase, and orthoclase in endoskarn; and (2) zones of chalcopyrite, molybdenite, magnetite, phlogophite, garnet, and epidote in exoskarn within the marble front (DiMarchi and others, 1992). Chalcopyrite is the main ore mineral. Molybdenite is locally abundant. Pyrite locally contains gold values. Copper and molybdenum mainly occur in exoskarn; gold values appear to be in late stage quartz veins. Windy Pass Prospect is inferred to be Late Cretaceous, based on isotopic age dating of the quartz monzonite pluton (Moll and others, 1981). DiMarchi and others (1992, 1994) reported values as high as 0.27 ounces/ton (8.4 ppm) gold in quartz veins, 0.25 percent copper in exoskarn, and 650 ppm molybdenum in exoskarn. Clautice and others (1993) reported grades as high as 0.61 percent copper, 359 ppm molybdenum, 3,160 ppb gold, 0.23 percent zinc, 0.43 percent arsenic, 236 ppm antimony, and 310 ppm tungsten, mainly exoskarn zones.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Copper skarn deposits (Cox and Singer, 1986; model no. 18b)

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = See Nixon Fork Mine (MD062). The Windy Pass prospect is on land selected or owned by Doyon Ltd. For additional information, contact Doyon Ltd. at 210 1st Ave., Fairbanks, Alaska 99701.

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = The Windy Pass Cu-Mo-(Au)-Fe skarn prospect was first reported in the literature as a result of AMRAP investigations in the Medfra quadrangle (Patton and ohers, 1980; Patton and Moll, 1983). Work by Central Alaska Gold Company from 1991 to 1994 (DiMarchi and others,1992, 1994) mapped, sampled and conducted ground geophysical surveys of the deposit. No drilling has taken place. DiMarchi and others (1992, 1994) reported values as high as 0.27 ounces/ton (8.4 ppm) gold (in quartz veins), 0.25 percent copper (in exoskarn), and 650 ppm molybdenum (in exoskarn). Clautice and others (1993) reported grades as high as 0.61 percent copper, 359 ppm molybdenum, 3,160 ppb gold, 0.23 percent zinc, 0.43 percent arsenic, 236 ppm antimony, and 310 ppm tungsten from mainly exoskarn zones.

Comment (Geology): Age = Windy Pass Prospect is inferred to be Late Cretaceous, based on isotopic age of quartz monzonite (Moll and others, 1981).

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = DiMarchi and others, 1992

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Reserves = None reported.

References

Reference (Deposit): Clautice, K.H., Bowman, N.D., Clough, J.G., Gilbert, W.G., Kline, J.T., Smith, T.E., and Blodgett, R.B., 1993, Land selection Unit 8 (Kantishna River, Ruby, and Medfra quadrangles): References, lead isotope, geochemical and major oxide data: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, 42 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Dutro, T.T. Jr., and Patton,W.W. Jr., 1982, New Paleozoic Formations in the northern Kuskokwim Mountains, west-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1529-H, p. H13-H22.

Reference (Deposit): Patton, W.W., Jr., and Moll, E.J., 1983, Mineral resource assessment map of the Medfra quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-811-G, 3 sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): DiMarchi, J.J., Weglarz, T.B., Freeman, L.K., Nicholson, L.C., and Barker, J.C., 1992, Annual Report for 1992--Doyon Option Lands, Block 10: ASA Inc. Report, 121 pages (Report held by Doyon Ltd., Fairbanks, Alaska.)

Reference (Deposit): Patton, W.W., Jr., Moll, E.J., Dutro, J.T., Jr., Silberman, M.L., and Chapman, R.M., 1980, Preliminary geologic map of Medfra quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-811-A, 1 sheet, scale l:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): DiMarchi, J.J., Weglarz, T.B., Adams, D.D., Huber, J., and West, A.W., 1994, Annual Report for 1993--Doyon Option Lands, Volume 1: ASA Inc. Report, 187 p. (Report held by Doyon Ltd., Fairbanks, Alaska.)

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