Whirlwind

The Whirlwind is a lead 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: Whirlwind

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Arsenic
Secondary: Copper

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: Polymetallic veins

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Arsenopyrite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Commodity): Gangue = Carbonate

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = DiMarchi and others, 1992

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = The Whirlwind Prospect was discovered in 1991 by ASA Inc. during regional exploration on lands selected by Doyon Ltd. Grab samples collected by DiMarchi and others (1992) contain as much as 276 ppm copper, 1.4 ppm silver, 396 ppm lead, and 6,192 ppm arsenic.

Comment (Deposit): Other Comments = The Whirlwind prospect is on lands selected or owned by Doyon Ltd. For further information, contact Doyon Ltd. at 210 1st Ave., Fairbanks, Alaska, 99701.

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Whirlwind prospect consists of veinlets and replacement zones near the contact of a composite pluton with Cretaceous flysch. The composite pluton, which is composed of pyroxenite, gabbro, and monzonite, is elongated parallel to the northeast trending ridgeline (Patton and others, 1980). Galena and arsenopyrite occur in replacement zones at the contact and as grains in mafic phases of the pluton. The pluton is marked by an elongated aeromagnetic high (Patton and others, 1982). The Whirlwind prospect is inferred to be Late Cretaceous, based on isotopic ages of the host pluton (Moll and others, 1981). Grab samples collected by DiMarchi and others (1992) contain as much as 276 ppm copper, 1.4 ppm silver, 396 ppm lead, and 6,192 ppm arsenic.

Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Polymetallic veins (Cox and singer, 1986; model no. 22c)

Comment (Geology): Age = The Whirlwind prospect is inferred to be Late Cretaceous, based on isotopic ages of the host pluton (Moll and others, 1981).

Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive

References

Reference (Deposit): Patton, W.W., Jr., Moll, E.J., Dutro, J.T., Jr., Silberman, M.L., and Chapman, R.M., 1980, Preliminary geologic map of Medfra quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-811-A, 1 sheet, scale l:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Patton, W.W., Jr., Cady, J.W., and Moll, E.J., 1982, Aeromagnetic interpretation of the Medfra quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-811-E, 15 p., 2 sheets, scale l:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): DiMarchi, J.J., Weglarz, T.B., Freeman, L.K., Nicholson, L.C., and Barker, J.C., 1992, Annual Report for 1992--Doyon Option Lands, Block 10: ASA Inc. Report, 121 pages (Report held by Doyon Ltd., Fairbanks, Alaska.)

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