Colorado Creek

The Colorado Creek is a gold 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: Colorado Creek

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Silver

Location

State: Alaska
District: Circle

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
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

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Silver

Comments

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = National Park Service, 1990

Comment (Geology): Age = Quaternary

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Mining took place along Colorado Creek intermittently between 1905 and 1946. Nuggets as large as half an ounce were found (National Park Service, 1990).

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = In 1905, Colorado Creek was the location of most mining activity in the Coal Creek valley (Prindle, 1906). There is an unconfirmed report of the discovery of a galena-bearing quartz vein (Brooks, 1907). The exact location along Colorado Creek where mining was conducted is uncertain, although the lower Colorado Creek seems most likely. The bedrock at the head of Colorado Creek is Paleozoic phyllitic argillite. The creek crosses a fault, and the lower portion of the creek flows over Tertiary to Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Dover and Miyaoka, 1988). As at Fourth of July Creek (CY015), Coal Creek (CY006), and Woodchopper Creek (CY038), the source of gold is probably gravels derived from Tertiary conglomerate. Mining took place along Colorado Creek intermittently between 1905 and 1946. Nuggets as large as half an ounce were found. The reported production from Colorado Creek in 1946 was 49 troy ounces of gold and 1 troy ounce of silver (National Park Service, 1990).

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = See also Coal Creek (CY006) and Boulder Creek (CY004). This site is within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Placer Au (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a).

Comment (Production): Production Notes = The reported production from Colorado Creek in 1946 was 49 troy ounces of gold and 1 troy ounce of silver (National Park Service, 1990).

References

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1907, The Alaskan mining industry in 1906: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 314, p. 19-39.

Reference (Deposit): Prindle, L.M., 1906, The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska: Description of Circle quadrangle: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 295, 27 p.

Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1938, Gold placers of the Fortymile, Eagle, and Circle districts, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 897-C, p. 133-261.

Reference (Deposit): Prindle, L.M., 1906, The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; Description of Circle quadrangle: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 295, 27 p.

Reference (Deposit): National Park Service, 1990, Final environmental impact statement, volume 1, Mining in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska: National Park Service, Anchorage, Alaska, p. 36-44.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Charley River quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-390, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Dover, J.A., and Miyaoka, R.T., 1988, Reinterpreted geologic map and fossil data, Charley River quadrangle, east-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2004, 2 sheets, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Charley River and Coleen quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-632, 45 p.

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