Boob Creek

Site Name

Primary: Boob Creek

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Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Tin
Secondary: Platinum
Secondary: Mercury
Secondary: Silver

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Location

State: Alaska
District: Innoko

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Land Status

Not available

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Holdings

Not available

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Workings

Not available

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Ownership

Not available

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Production

Not available

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Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant:

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Physiography

Not available

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Placer Au-PGE

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Orebody

Not available

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Structure

Not available

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Alterations

Not available

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Rocks

Not available

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Ore: Cassiterite
Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Gold
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Platinum
Ore: Pyrite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Quartz

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Comments

Comment (Geology): Age = Quaternary. The source of the placer gold at Boob Creek may be the Cretaceous or Tertiary monzonite in the area; the source of the platinum is probably ultramafic rocks, such as those at Mt. Hurst.

Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = Gold was discovered along Boob Creek in 1916, and in the following year 3,100 ounces of gold and 30 ounces of platinum were recovered (Harrington, 1919). In 1916, a pay streak was reported as 75 to 100 feet wide and traceable through 5 claims (Hawley and Buxton, 1991). In 1918, the principal owner of the Boob Creek claims, J.E. Riley, was murdered, and mining, exploration, and development along Boob Creek continued at a reduced rate intermittently until the mid-1960's. Boob Creek was re-staked during the 1980's and sporadic exploration and small-scale mining have occurred since that time (S. Dashevsky, 2001). Although over 100 shafts have been sunk into the Boob Creek area, locations are documented only for shafts sunk within the last 20 years (Hawley and Buxton, 1991; Dashevsky, 2001). Shafts and drifts were hand-dug during the 1980's and 1990's; some recovery of gold, platinum, and fossil ivory was reported (Hawley and Buxton, 1991; Bundtzen and others, 1992; Dashevsky, 2001). Ground-penetrating radar studies were conducted in the Boob Creek area in 2000, in an attempt to locate buried auriferous channels (3D Mining, unpublished data, 2000).

Comment (Exploration): Status = Active

Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The country rocks in the Boob Creek area consist of Cretaceous sandstone and shale, Jurassic greenstone and cherty tuff, Paleozoic limestone and metamorphic rocks, Cretaceous or Tertiary monzonite intrusions, and an ultramafic complex at Mt. Hurst (Chapman and others, 1985; Roberts, 1984; Hawley and others, 1991; Bundtzen and Miller, 1997). The layered ultramafic rocks exposed at Mt. Hurst may be present in the Boob Creek area and may be the source of platinum-group metals at Boob Creek. Placer gold and platinum-group metals occur in gravels approximately 2 to 4 feet thick, buried beneath 25-30 feet of muck (Harrington, 1919). It is also likely that additional buried ancient stream channels exist in the Boob Creek area that may contain gold and platinum. Harrington (1919) reports that platinum made up about 1% of the metal produced from Boob Creek. Concentrates also contain cinnabar, magnetite, pyrite, garnet, magnesiochromite, hematite, zircon, anthophyllite, diopside, and obsidian (Harrington, 1919). Microprobe analyses of platinum grains from Boob Creek show that the grains are mostly ferrian platinum, with lesser amounts of osmian iridium. Some inclusions of rhodium and iridium sulfide (prassoite) are also present, as well as mertite and platinum and palladium arsenides and sulfides (Tom Bundtzen, undated unpublished data). Gold at Boob Creek is approximately 902 fine, with 86 parts silver and 12 parts impurities (Bundtzen and others, 1987). Gold was discovered along Boob Creek in 1916, and in the following year 3,100 ounces of gold and 30 ounces of platinum were recovered (Harrington, 1919). Mining, exploration, and development along Boob Creek continued at a reduced rate intermittently until the mid 1960's. Boob Creek was re-staked during the 1980's and sporadic exploration and small-scale mining have occurred since that time (Dashevsky, 2001). Shafts and drifts were hand-dug during the 1980's and 1990's; some recovery of gold, platinum, and fossil ivory was reported (Hawley and Buxton, 1991; Bundtzen and others, 1992; Dashevsky, 2001). One ounce of platinum was recovered during 1995 exploration work (Bundtzen and others, 1996). Conservative production estimates from Boob Creek are 3,170 ounces of gold and 320 ounces of silver (Bundtzen and others, 1987). Most of this is probably from the first year after discovery. More recent production figures are not available. Also see OP008, 009, 012, and 020.

Comment (Production): Production Notes = Conservative production estimates from Boob Creek are 3,170 ounces of gold and 320 ounces of silver (Bundtzen and others, 1987). Most of this is probably from the first year after discovery. More recent production figures are not available. Although over 100 shafts have been sunk into the Boob Creek area, locations are documented only for shafts sunk within the last 20 years (Hawley and Buxton, 1991; Dashevsky, 2001). Two shafts were dug during 1984, and nearly 4 ounces of gold, 11 grains of platinum, and a 225-pound tusk of fossil ivory, as well as other ivory and bone items were recovered. In 1987, 3 shafts and 4 drifts were completed, and 1.62 ounces of gold and a trace of platinum were recovered. During 1989, 1 shaft and 3 drifts were sunk, and 2.69 ounces of gold, 6.75 grains of platinum, and approximately 15 pounds of fossil ivory were recovered (Hawley and Buxton, 1991). In 1991, further exploration work was done on Boob Creek and gold and platinum were recovered (Bundtzen and others, 1992). Further exploration took place in 1995; minor gold and 1 ounce of platium were recovered (Bundtzen and others, 1996).

Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Harrington, 1919

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

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References

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction material) in the Iditarod and Ophir quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-576, 101 p.

Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1969, Economic geology of platinum minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 630, 120 p.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Ophir quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-367, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., and Martin, G. C. 1921, The Alaska mining industry in 1919: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 714, p. 59-95.

Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., and Harrington, G.L., 1924, The Ruby-Kuskokwim Region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 754, 129 pages.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H. and Capps, S.R., 1924, Mineral industry in Alaska, 1922: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 755, p. 1-56.

Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1923, The occurrence of metalliferous deposits in the Yukon and Kuskokwim regions: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 739, p. 149-165.

Reference (Deposit): Martin, G.C., 1920, The Alaska mining industry in 1918: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 712-A, p. 1-52.

Reference (Deposit): Martin, G.C., 1919, Alaska Mining Industry in 1917: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 692, p. 11-42

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1919, Alaska's mineral supplies: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 666, p 89-102.

Reference (Deposit): Brooks, A.H., 1918, Mineral resources of Alaska, 1916: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 662, 469 p.

Reference (Deposit): Smith, S.S., 1917, The mining industry in the Territory of Alaska during the calendar year 1916: U.S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 153, 89 p.

Reference (Deposit): Mertie, J.B., Jr., and Harrington, G.L., 1916, Mineral resources of the Ruby-Kuskokwim region, in Brooks, A.H., and others, Mineral Resources of Alaska, Report on Progress of Investigations in 1915: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 642, p. 223-266.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Swainbank, R.C., Clough, A.H., Henning, M.W., and Charlie, K.M., 1996, Alaska's mineral industry, 1995: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Special Report 50, 72 p.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Swainbank, R.C., Wood, J.E., and Clough, A.H., 1992, Alaska's mineral industry 1991: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Special Report SR 46, 89 p.

Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1973, Placer deposits of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1374, 213 p.

Reference (Deposit): Harrington, G.L., 1919, The gold and platinum placers of the Tolstoi district: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 692-F, p. 339-351.

Reference (Deposit): Bundtzen, T.K., Green, C.B., Deagen, J., and Daniels, C.L., 1987, Alaska's mineral industry, 1986: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Special Report 40, 68 p.

Reference (Deposit): Dashevsky, S.S., 2001, Tolstoi project (Au, Pt) Innoko district, Alaska: unpublished report for 3D Mining, Inc., 8 p.

Reference (Deposit): Hawley, C.C., and Buxton, C.L., 1991, Boob Creek placer prospect, western Alaska: unpublished company report, Hawley Resource Group, 13 p.

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