Windy River

The Windy River is a chromium 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 River

Commodity

Primary: Chromium

Location

State: Alaska
District: Homer

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: Placer Au-PGE

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: None.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chromite

Comments

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Anaconda Minerals and the US Bureau of Mines cooperatively did surface mapping, seismic profiles, bulk sampling and drilled reverse circulation drill holes in 1982 (Foley and Barker, 1985). During World War II, Rutledge (1946) investigated the placers around the headwaters of Windy River and down slope from the Turner Stringer zone.

Comment (Geology): Age = Quaternary.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Foley, 1985

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = Bedrock in the drainage is McHugh Formation slate and graywacke. A joint study by Anaconda Minerals and the U.S. Bureau of Mines indicates there are 20,920,000 yards of sand and gravel that contain 1.33% chromic oxide per yard (Foley and Barker, 1985). The deposit is approximately 2.5 miles long, 0.25 mile wide and varies from 55 to 72 feet thick. Within the mineralized area, Windy River flows as a perennial meandering stream with a gradient of 120 feet per mile. Examination of the drill logs and assay results shows that the chromite is disseminated throughout the gravels and not concentrated on bedrock. Barren overburden, defined as containing less than 1% chromic oxide ranges from less than 3 feet to over 30 feet thick with an average of six feet. To date no production has occurred from this drainage.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Reserves = the reserves are 20,920,000 cubic yards with an average grade of 1.33% chromic oxide per yard (Foley and Barker, 1985).

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Placer Cr

References

Reference (Deposit): Rutledge, F.A., 1946, Exploration of Red Mountain chromite deposits, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3885, 26 p.

Reference (Deposit): Guild, P.W., 1942, Chromite deposits of Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 931-G, p. 139-175.

Reference (Deposit): Foley, J.Y., and Barker, J.C., 1985, Chromite deposits along the Border Ranges fault, part 1, Field investigations and descriptions of chromite deposits: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 8990, 58 p.

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