VW, VABM West

The VW, VABM West is a molybdenum and 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: VW, VABM West

Commodity

Primary: Molybdenum
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Alaska
District: Fortymile

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: Porphyry Cu-Mo

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: The prospect contains broad areas of pervasive hydrothermal alteration, including well-developed silicification, secondary sericite, and secondary pyrite (Doyon Ltd., 1998).

Rocks

Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age in Years: 102.800000+-0.500000
Dating Method: Ar-Ar
Material Analyzed: Potassium feldspar
Age Young: Early Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Geology): Age = Vein potassium feldspar at the Peternie prospect has a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 102.8 +/- 0.5 Ma (Newberry and others, 1996). It is likely that mineralization at the VW prospect formed at approximately the same time as mineralization at the Peternie prospect, but there are no age data for the VW prospect.

Comment (Geology): Age = Chronological age is for the Peternie prospect.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Active

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = This property is located on Doyon Ltd. selected land. For more information, contact Doyon Ltd.

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Doyon Ltd., 1998

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = In the 1970's, Resource Associates of Alaska drilled 8 holes at the VW prospect. In 1979 WGM Inc. conducted a reconnaissance soil program for molybdenum. In 1980, Anaconda did airphoto analysis, selective rock geochemistry, and airborne magnetics interpretation. In 1981, Arctic Resources Inc. sampled a soil grid, and in 1982 Doyon Ltd. conducted prospecting traverses and did an IP resistivity line. In 1984, Doyon Ltd. conducted a brief prospect examination.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Porphyry Mo deposit (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 21a)

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The mineralization at this prospect and at the Peternie prospect (TC022) consists of disseminated sulfide minerals in altered quartz monzonite and latite porphyry (Singer and others, 1976). These rocks intrude quartz-biotite schist, chlorite schist, muscovite schist, and quartz-biotite gneiss. This property shows broad areas of pervasive hydrothermal alteration, including well-developed silicification, secondary sericite and secondary pyrite. Propylitic alteration is not seen widely (Doyon Ltd., 1998). The intrusive rocks and alteration assemblages at VW are similar to those at the nearby Peternie prospect (TC022). Vein potassium feldspar at the Peternie prospect has a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 102.8 +/- 0.5 Ma (Newberry and others, 1996). It is likely that mineralization at the VW prospect formed at approximately the same time as mineralization at the Peternie prospect, but there are no age data for the VW prospect. . The VW prospect is believed to be part of the same system as the Peternie (TC022) and North Peternie (TC020) prospects. Resource Associates of Alaska drilled 8 holes in the property in the 1970's and interpreted it as a Mo-Cu porphyry prospect. Soil samples have revealed low-level gold values (Doyon Ltd., 1998). IP line data suggest that the property is a porphyry Mo deposit (Doyon Ltd., 1998).

References

Reference (Deposit): Newberry, R.J., Layer, P.W., Burleigh, R.E., and Solie, D.N., 1996, New 40Ar/39Ar dates for intrusions and mineral prospects in the eastern Yukon-Tanana terrane, Alaska - Regional patterns and significance, in Gray, J.E., and Riehle, J.R., eds., Geological Studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1595, p. 131-159.

Reference (Deposit): Doyon, Limited, 1998, Veta Prospects 1997 Volume 1: Fairbanks, Alaska, Doyon, Limited., unpublished report 98-10, 256 p. (Report held by Doyon, Limited, Fairbanks, Alaska.)

Reference (Deposit): Foster, H.L., 1970, Reconnaissance geologic map of the Tanacross quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geological Investigations Map I-593, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Singer, D.A., Csejtey, Bela, Jr., and Miller, R.J., 1978, Map and discussion of the metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral resources of the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 78-588-Q, 33 p., 1 plate, scale 1:250,000.

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