Wind

The Wind is a gold 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: Wind
Secondary: Steeple Mountain

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Molybdenum
Secondary: Mercury
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Arsenic

Location

State: Alaska
District: Aleutian Islands

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: Epithermal vein, Creede

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: The volcanic rocks exhibit regional propylitic alteration overprinted by silicification, and local potassium flooding or secondary growth on primary feldspars (Randolph and Ellis, 1989). Trace amonts of adularia has been identified as fracture coatings. No argillic alteration has been recognized. Some pyrite-filled fractures show narrow kaolinite-epidote-sericite alteration envelopes. Quartz veins may be accompanied by pyritization and silicification in the surrounding wall rock.

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = This site is on land conveyed, patented, or selected by the Aleut Native Corporation.

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

Comment (Geology): Age = Late Tertiary or younger.

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = This site is marked by a color anomaly measuring approximately 10,000 by 6,000 feet. The rocks consist of Tertiary volcanics of probable andesitic composition which have been regionally propylitized and contain localized zones of silicification and quartz stockwork veining. Randolph and Ellis (1989) believe the prospect represents the exposed parts of one continuous uplifted block of basement rock. Quartz veins are numerous and exhibit cockscomb structure and boiling zone breccias. They are said to resemble a gigantic stockwork, with veins ranging from <1 to 6 feet in width. Some veins, however, are up to 40 feet in width and can be traced for 7000 feet. Large faults have produced wide zones of quartz-filled breccias containing clasts of up to 6 feet across. The quartz is usually white and contains few visible sulfides. The veins are enriched in arsenic, mercury, and molybdedum and locally in gold and silver. The highest metal values obtained are: 396 ppm arsenic, 64 ppm copper, 685 ppb gold, >5ppb mercury, 187 ppm molybdenum, 7.3 ppm silver, and 52 ppm zinc (Christie, 1974; Randolph and Ellis, 1989).

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Randolph and Ellis, 1989

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Creede epithermal veins? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 25b)

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = In 1974 the Aleut-Quintana-Duval JV did reconnaissance mapping and sampling of this prospect as a follow-up of the discovery of numerous color anomalies. Analyses of 9 rock samples indicated values of up to 64 ppm copper, <.01 ppm gold, 6.3 ppm molybdenum, 1.4 ppm silver, and 52 ppm zinc (Christie, 1974). Kennecott sampled and mapped in this general area in 1985 (Simpson, 1985). In 1989, Battle Mountain Exploration did detailed mapping, sampling, and geophysics. The sampling (119 rock samples) gave values of up to 396 ppm arsenic, 685 ppb gold, > 5 ppm mercury, 187 ppm molybdenum, and 7.3 ppm silver.

References

Reference (Deposit): Simpson, D.F., 1986, Aleutian Islands project, 1985 final report: Kennecott-Alaska Exploration Company, 54 p. (Report held by the Aleut Native Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska).

Reference (Deposit): Randolph, D.B., and Ellis, W.T., 1989, Unalaska project, 1989 final report: Battle Mountain Exploration Company, Alaska District, 41 p., 5 appendices, 11 plates, various scales. (Report held by the Aleut Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska.)

Reference (Deposit): Christie, J.S., 1974, Aleut-Quintana-Duval 1974 joint venture, final report: Unpublished Quintana Minerals Corporation report, 24 p., 3 appendices, 2 maps. (Report held by the Aleut Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska.)

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Swainbank, R.C., Deagen, J.R. and Moore, J.L., 1990, Alaska's mineral industry 1989: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Special Report 44, 100 p.

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