Tin-Midway

The Tin-Midway is a lead, zinc, copper, and silver 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: Tin-Midway
Secondary: Tin Creek #1

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Cadmium
Secondary: Cobalt

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 Zn-Pb

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Late epidotization of prograde skarns.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Marmatite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Arsenopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyroxene
Gangue: Johannsenite
Gangue: Epidote
Gangue: Amphibole
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Garnet

Comments

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = The Tin Creek-Midway skarn was investigated by the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys in 1980 (Bundtzen, Kline, and Clough, 1982). During 1981 and 1982, the Anaconda Minerals Company explored the deposit with surface sampling and 6 diamond drill holes (Reed, 1982; Brewer and others, 1992). Channel sampling of the various sulfide horizons average 0.7 percent copper, 4.7 percent zinc, and 40.4 grams/tonne silver over sample widths ranging from 1.5 meters to 23.0 meters (Brewer and others, 1992). Grab samples collected by Bundtzen, Harris, and Gilbert (1997) contained 0.35 percent copper, 0.17 percent lead, 5.55 percent zinc, 500 ppm cadmium, and 13.0 grams/tonne silver. Based on the Anaconda Minerals Company exploration work, about 353,000 tonnes of semi- to massive-sulfide mineralization (of unstated grade) is inferred at the Tin Creek-Midway deposit (Nokleberg and others, 1987). However, no official grade and tonnage data has been formally released (Reed, 1982; Brewer and others, 1992; Rob Kell, written communication, 1984).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Tin Creek-Midway deposit (southern extension is known as Tin Creek #1) is perhaps the best-studied silver-base metal skarn deposit in the Farewell Mineral belt. It consists of a series of sulfide-skarn deposits that occur along contacts between dikes and carbonate sedimentary rocks, along faults, and as bedding replacements of calcareous units in siliciclastic rocks (Lu and others, 1992). The mineralization occurs where a composite, northwest trending dike and sill swarm (averaging granodiorite in composition) cuts highly deformed siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks of the mid-Silurian Terra Cotta Mountains Sandstone, a unit of the Dillinger subterrane (Bundtzen, Harris, and Gilbert, 1997). . The sedimentary rocks have been transformed into marble, garnet-banded marble, banded hornfels, and sulfide-rich, calc-silicate skarn. Volcanic units of the Latest Cretaceous (65 Ma) Veleska Lake Volcanic Field (Bundtzen, Harris, and Gilbert, 1997) cap the section immediately south of the Tin Creek-Midway Skarn deposit. Three sets of faults are present: (1) N30E high angle faults; (2) N50E-trending low angle reverse or thrust faults; and (3) younger west to northwest trending high angle faults that cut the earlier, northeast trending faults (Szumigala, 1986, 1987; Lu and others, 1992). These latter faults apparently controlled the northwest-trending granodiorite dike and sill swarm. Practically all of these dikes contain endoskarns; i.e., the dikes were apparently intruded prior to skarn mineralization. Several granodiorite dikes in the prospect area have been radiometrically dated at 25-30 Ma (Szumigala, 1987; Solie and others, 1991). Mineralized areas explored by Anaconda Minerals Company (Reed, 1982) were designated the MW (Tin Creek- Midway) and TCI (Tin Creek #1) zones. Although both endoskarn and exoskarn occur at the Tin Creek-Midway deposit, only exoskarn contains significant silver-base metal mineralization (Lu, 1988). The Tin Creek-Midway skarn system is zoned from a predominantly garnet skarn with abundant chalcopyrite and stockwork quartz veining in the northern MW zone to a pyroxene (johannsenite) skarn dominated by iron-rich sphalerite (marmatite) and minor galena in the southern TCI zone (Lu and others, 1992). Microthermometric, isotopic, and microprobe data collected by Szumigala (1985,1987), Lu (1988, 1989), and Lu and others (1992) all indicate the Tin Creek-Midway skarn can be described as a low temperature (<250 degrees C), lead-zinc skarn in the southern TCI zone that zones into a higher temperature (>280 degrees C), copper-base metal skarn in the northern MW zone. A plutonic heat source is indicated near the northern MW mineral zone. Using the FeS mole fraction in sphalerite, Lu (1988) calculated that skarn formation took place at about 300 bars, or in a very shallow, subvolcanic environment . Six drill holes penetrated the Tin Creek-Midway deposit. Channel sampling from the various sulfide horizons average 0.7 percent copper, 4.7 percent zinc, and 40.4 grams/tonne silver over sample widths ranging from 1.5 meters to 23.0 meters (Brewer and others, 1992). Surface grab samples summarized by Bundtzen and others (1997) contain 0.35 percent copper, 0.17 percent lead, 5.55 percent zinc, 0.05 percent cadmium, and 13.0 grams/tonne silver. Based on subsurface exploration work completed by Anaconda Minerals Company (Reed, 1982; Rob Kell, written communication, 1984), at least 353,000 tonnes of semi- to massive-sulfide mineralization is inferred in the Tin Creek-Midway skarn deposit.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Reserves = Based on Anaconda Minerals Company exploration work, which included some limited diamond drilling, about 353,000 tonnes of semi- to massive-sulfide mineralization (of unstated grade) can be inferred at the Tin Creek-Midway deposit (Noklebeg and others, 1987).

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = See Tin Creek-North (MG041), Tin Creek-South (MG046), Bowser Creek Northeast (MG067), and Bowser Creek-Main deposits (MG068).

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Low temperature lead-zinc skarn deposit (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 18c).

Comment (Geology): Age = Not dated; inferred to be 25-to-30 Ma, based on ages of granodiorite dike swarm (Solie and others, 1991).

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Szumigala, 1987

References

Reference (Deposit): Reed, Mark, 1982, The Tin Creek sector of the Farewell District, Alaska: Anaconda Minerals Company internal report, 44 pages.

Reference (Deposit): Lu, Changsheng, Reed, Mark, and Misra, K.C., 1992, Zinc-lead skarn mineralization at Tin Creek, Alaska: fluid inclusions and skarn-forming reactions: Geochimica et Cosmochimica, v. 56, p. 109-119.

Reference (Deposit): Brewer, N.H., Puchner, C.C., and Gemuts, I., 1992, Farewell district, southwest Alaska Range: North Pacific Mining Company prospectus report, 21 pages

Reference (Deposit): Szumigala, D.J., 1986, Geology and geochemistry of the Tin Creek skarn deposits, Farewell Mining District, southwest Alaska: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, M.Sc. thesis, 144 pages.

Reference (Deposit): Lu, Chansheng, 1988, Skarn formation at Tin Creek, Alaska: University of Oregon, M.Sc. thesis, 119 p.

Reference (Deposit): Szumigala, D.J., 1987, Geology of the lead-zinc skarn deposits at Tin Creek area, McGrath B-2 quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigations 87-5, 21 pages, one sheet, 1:10,000 scale.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Kline, J.T., and Clough, J.G., 1982, Preliminary geologic map of the McGrath B-2 quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Open-File report 149, 22 pages, one sheet, scale 1:63,360.

Reference (Deposit): Lu, Changsheng, 1989, Mineralogy and geochemistry of skarn formation at Tin Creek, Alaska [abs.]: 28th International Geological Congress, Washington D.C., p. 2-33.

Reference (Deposit): Newberry, R.J., Allegro, G.L., Cutler, S.E., Hagen-Levelle, D.D., Adams, D.D., Nicholson, L.C., Weglarz, T.B., Bakke, A.A., Clautice, K.H., Coulter, G.A., Ford, M.J., Myers, G.L., and Szumigala, D.J., 1997, Skarn deposits of Alaska, in Goldfarb, R.J., and Miller, L.D., eds., Mineral Deposits of Alaska: Economic Geology Monograph 9, p. 355-395.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Harris, E.E., and Gilbert, W.G., 1997, Geologic Map of the eastern McGrath quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigations 97-14, 34 pages, one sheet, scale 1:125,000.

Reference (Deposit): Solie, D.N., Bundtzen, T.K., and Gilbert, W.G., 1991, K-Ar ages of igneous rocks in the McGrath quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public Data File Report 160, 17 pages, one sheet, 1:250,000 scale.

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