R. 1. 3+ ,# 0; OCTOBER 1946

UNITED STATES.

DEPARTMENT OF THE 4'TERIOR

J. A. KRUG, SECRETARY

BUREAU OF MINES

R. R. SAYERS, DIRECTOR

S; ,S

REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS

EXPLORATION OF POOR MAN IRON DEPOSIT

KASAAN PENINSULA, PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND

SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA

BY

S. P. Hoe AND ROBERT S. SANFORD
R.I. 3956,

October 1946.

REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - BUREAU OF MINES

EXPLORATION OF POOR MAN IRON DEPOSIT, KASAAR PENINSULA,

PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND, SOUTHEASTERN ALASi/ /

By S. P. Holt2/ and Robert S. Sanford.3/

CONTENTS

Introduction ...... . 6 ............. 1

Acknowledgments . .............................. 2

Location and accessibility .......................... 2

Physical features and climate ....................... 3

Labor and living conditions ......................... 3

History and production ............................. 3

Property and ownership ............................. 4

Ore deposit . .............................. 4

Sampling and analysis ............................. 5

Development .......................... 6

Beneficiation 7............

INTRODUCTION

The wartime demand for iron ore and alloy steel on the west coast revived

interest in iron reserves in western United States and Alaska. Magnetite was

known to have been the most abundant metallic mineral at some of the old copper

mines on Prince of Wales Island. In the summer of 1942, the Bureau of Mines

began a program of preliminary investigation followed by core-drilling two magnetite deposits on the island.

The Poor Man iron deposit on Kasaan Peninsula, Prince of Wales Island,

Southeastern Alaska, was examined in August 1942 by Robert L. Thorne, associate

mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines, and John C. Reed and E. N. Goddard,

geologists of the Federal Geological Survey. In September 1942 the area was

mapped geologically and a magnetic survey was made by the Geological Survey.

In October and November 1942, a more thorough preliminary examination, which

included cleaning out and sampling old adits and trenches, was made by the

senior author, Robert L. Thorne, and Aner W. Erickson, engineers of the Bureau.

J. G. Shepherd, a consultant of the Bureau, spent two weeks in March and April

1943 investigating the Poor Man and other deposits on Kasaan Peninsula. Core

Frilling was completed in June 1943.

1/ The Bureau of Mines will welcome reprinting of this paper, provided the

following footnote acknowledgment is used: "Reprinted from Bureau of

Mines Report of Investigations 3956."

2/ Mining engineer, Mining Branch, Bureau of Mines, Rolla, Mo.

3/ Acting chief, Alaska Division, Mining Branch, Bureau of Mines, Juneau,

Alaska.

1163
P.1. 3956

L. A. Warner, of the Geological Survey, examined all cores and interpreted structural data revealed by the drilling.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines

has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral

resources to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the

facts developed by each exploratory project as soon as practicable after its

conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary

examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final

report. The Metallurgioal Branch, R. G. Knickerbooker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the

supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, assistant director.

Special acknowledgment is made to C. Travis Anderson, chief, Rolla Division, Metallurgical Branch, and to A. L. Howard, Eriok Lindeman, and James

Coleman for cooperation and assistance.

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

The deposit is at latitude 550 53' north, longitude 1320 26' west on the

north side of Kasaan Bay on Prince of Wales Island, Southeastern Alaska. It

is 2 miles northwest of the village of Kasaan by Forest S0rvioe trail and 35

miles northwest, by water, of Ketchikan. The general looation is shown on

figure 1.

Kasaan has one store, a post office, an elementary school, and a cannery.

Except when the cannery is operating during the salmon-fishing season in July

and August, the community consists of less than 50 persons, mostly native

Indians.

Ketchikan, a city of about 6,OOO people, is a seaport on the insidepassage waterway 750 miles north of Seattle and has regular and. frequent

steamer service by the Alaska Steamship Con. Northland Transportation Co.,

Canadian Pacific Railway Co., Steamship Service, and Canadian National Lines.

Ketchikan is the best source-of food and mining supplies, timber, and

labor. From Ketchikan, regular weekly trips are made to Kasaan by the motorship "Eureka", which carries mail, passengers, and freight. During the fishing

season there is regular radio-phone service from Kasaan to outside points via

Ketchikan.

There are no roads on the Peninsula. A Forest Service trail from Kasaan

to Salt Chuck passes the south end of the Poor Man property.

Airplane service from Ketchikan to Kasaan or from Kwasan to Ketchikan,

if previously arranged, is available on regular trips by small seaplanes of

the Ellis Airways from Ketchikan to points on the west coast of Prince of Wales

Island. The fare is $10 a passenger if set off or picke. up on a regular trip.

Charter trips at greater cost may be arranged,.

1163 -2-
/74- /30

Ge arrow Li ~~C E AN

~~L P~~~0-

- - I.A~a'4~~ Riv~ A4

IL30 9 0 erW~

F/6 MAP I-INDEX S//CW//V6 L. OCA T~IC/ OFPO ANIRNPOPC
R.I. 3956

There is a fair-weather anchorage for sea-going vessels directly offshore

from the property. The nearest harbors safe for small ships in heavy storms

are at Long Island. 4-1/2 miles to the southeast. Safe harbors for larger

vessels are at Coal Harbor or Twelve Mile Arm, 4 miles southwest.

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND CLIMATE

The ore deposit lies on a heavily wooded flat 1,500 to 3,000 feet inland

from the beach at altitudes of 50 to 200 feet. Poor Man Creek, a small stream

flows along the west side of the deposit, and has a branch from the northeast.

During the driest part of the summer of 1943, this creek carried ample water

for mining and camp use.

The climate is typical of southeastern Alaska, the temperature rarely

dropping to 0° F. in winter or rising above 900 F. in summer. Precipitation

is heavy, approaching the average of 151 inches a year of rainfall reported

at nearby Ketchikan. Most of it is in the form of rain as snowfall seldom is

more than 3 feet a year. The winter of 1942-43 was said to be unusual, with

8 inches of snow at sea level and 24 inches at an altitude of 400 feet in

December, and temperatures at or below 0° F. for 10 day periods.

Mining can be done throughout the year if proper housing is provided.

Shipping to and from Seattle continues throughout the year on vessels that

move along the ice-free inside passage.

Vegetation is luxuriant. dense undergrowth occurs near sea level, and

there are fine stands of spruce, hemlock, and some yellow cedar, all of which

provide enough timber for any reasonable mining use or camp construction.

LABOR AND LIVING CONDITIONS

Under peacetime conditions, labor is reported to have been plentiful and

wages reasonable. At present (January 1946) skilled labor is scarce and all

wages are high. Common labor is paid $1.015 an hour; mechanics, miners, and

carpenters receive $1.30 to $1.'60 an hour for 40 hours weekly and time and

one-half for work over 40 hours. Kasaan is a nearby source of labor and will

furnish a limited number of native workers, some of whom are skilled carpenters and mechanics, except during the fishing season. This native labor has

been found satisfactory.

Because of the mild climate, living conditions are good, although the

excessive rainfall is trying for men working outdoors. As there are no buildings on the property except two small occupied cabins, and no housing is available nearby, camps would have to be built to house workmen in any contemplated

exploitation of the deposit.

HISTORY AND PRODUCTION

James Coleman, one of the owners, reports that the property was located

in 1903 by Jack Kirman. Kirman relinquished his title to Billy Anderson, who

turned the property over to Coleman. During the early 1900's a stock company

trying to develop a copper mine did considerable work, including driving three

1163 -3-
R.I. 3956

short adits and sinking three shallow shafts. A surface tramway from the beach

to the deposit and a small dock were built. This enterprise failed when it became apparent that, owing to its grade, the copper would not support the operation. No iron ore has been shipped, except one small lot for testing, results

of which are not available.

PROPERTY AND OWNERSHIP

The property consists of three unpatented claims registered with the

United States Commissioner at Ketchikan. Of these, Iron King No. 1 covers a

small, isolated copper deposit; Iron King No. 2 is located to cover the beach,

Coleman's residence, and trfl1 north to the iron deposit; and Iron King No. 3

covers the iron outcrops.

James Coleman, who lives on the property, Erick Lindeman, Ketchikan,

Alaska, and A. L. Howard, 7018 Brooklyn Avenue, Seattle, Wash., are joint

owners of the property.

ORE DEPOSIT

The Poor Man iron deposit has been traced for a distance of 1,500 feet

along the strike and for a maximum surface width of 150 feet. It is of the

contact-metamorphic type, the principal ore minerals being magnetite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite in a gangue of epidote, garnet, hornblende, quartz, and

calcite. Country rock is the Kasaan greenstone, a dense gray and greenish

rock, possibly of volcanic source, now highly metamorphosed, silicified, and

epid-otized, especially near the ore body. There are included lenses of limestone, metamorphosed to coarsely crystalline gray and white marble.

The ore occurs in a breccia zone in the greenstone. No clearly defined

bedding planes were seen either in the ore or country rock, though many small

seams roughly parallel to the ore contacts were observed. The eastern or

footwall contact of the ore, as determined by core drilling, dips 500 to 700,

and averages 600 westerly. The western or hanging wall is steeper and more

irregular, dipping generally from 700 westerly to 900 and averaging 800.

Strike of the ore body is approximately north-south..

The south end of the ore body is covered by alluvium. Dip-needle surveys

by the Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey indicate that the ore continues 50 to 100 feet farther south and there pinches out or pitches steeply

downward. The former condition appears more probable. No ore is seen at the

surface as far north as No. 4 shaft, which is down 10 feet in alluvium and

glacial till. Dip-needle surveys indicate that ore continues 10 to 15 feet

farther north, where it is cut off abruptly, possibly by a concealed fault

that strikes easterly against a wall of gray and white marbleized limestone.

No abnormal dip-needle readings were observed beyond this point.

Several dikes of syenite occur within the ore at the surface. (See

figure 2.) Dikes of syenite, andesite, and diabase also were intersected in

drill holes. The Federal Geological Survey estimated that the volume of waste

rock included within the ore may be as much as 20 percent of the total. Estimates based upon the results of drilling indicate that waste included in the

1163 -4-
0~~

4,~~~C

Trenct

AdF Z~~

N'o.43

7-r

0---- 0i'omon~d c'ri// Hol/es

/ \ i;C r- coveede

/ R//~D1. Y~ 1 v ,*O Civred

5,001V ~ 7r No f 9 MatloC' ik

/ 6reenstane

E 2 A-2MinerloIzed Creenstone

.A Mo9nei'teOre(Aver-bou7t5SOe)

)ossible P A1qnelth9c Orc, not'

7- No. 7rN6°

Q/v.3t i ,. .~ITr NAlt

- J Trio.> 70 ~~ /00 20 300

$0 <)v_ % W) S~~~~~~~~~~~~5cole in Fect-

't 'F < kg / Contour /nfervo/l0 fee*

TO7aun7m, Awrox. Se Level

.0J /> NAot: TronpoyhyaV /ooy afcr bwo by L.A. WonvMr 0w(Jeci;/ $uriey

F/G. 2, POOR MAN IRON DEPOS/TKA5fAN, ALASKA
IREA/c//O -¢14 74 1003129.9 1/3 0.19 58.6 __ Y ZFe 75 1002126.! 114 0.18 62.0 Au-0.020

32 IN'! 5840 TREN/CH NO. 3 //5 0.2859.35 Aq-0049i

33 /lI 60.20 YCu %F Fe /16 035 56.5 Zso/-794%

34 N/i/ 58.80 76 0.09 576 1/7 0.25 48.5 S-/46%

35 AlM! 60.50 77 005 580 /13 0.52 51.5 P-0.024

36 .056 010 78 004 58.5 //9 004 596 Mn-0. 03%

37 A/il 61.20 79 0.121537 /20 0.17 62.75 TI-0./OZ

38 Tr 6/00 80 007152.0 ___ _/1/ 0.09-55.75

39 A//i 6160 TRENCH A10. /3 /22 0.09 /5.78

40 N1iI 52.60 A, CU %Fe 44e,-006ft /23 o.a8 58.55

4/ TTr 1.00 8/ 0.39 372 Ag-0./8 Q /24 0/I 57.95 AU-01.024gf

42 /Al 57.80 82 0.50 575 InsoL-/8951 /5 0.// 5Z25 Ag- .0-3

4!3 WI/il 49.40_ 83 0./5 49.4 A4u-005e, /26 0.0/ 58.6 Insol/-672

TRENCH- NO 7 84 0.09 54.8 Ag a/2 t /27 0.05 5/.4

V %C41 %Fe Composits 85 0.05 48.3 Inso-1-/I/02 0.06 7.54

44 Tr 152. 7 Au-003* 86 0.22 45.7 S-0.97% TRENCH A/v. 2/

45 0.09 548 g-0.05f 87 0./3 49.2 P_0.0/X 5o/e%CULYFe

46 0./0 573 Inso/.-/259> 88 0.49 42.1 Ti- Trace /29 0.60138.95

47 Tr 573 S-/./6Y 89 10// 4Z8 /3001°.0/ p9.851

48 A/i/ 540 P- 05% _ ADIT/VO. / ADIT NO. 3

49 N/il 60.9 "/n-0.05% %Fe Composits 57ZCu %Fe Composifs

50 A/U/ 379 Ti- Trace 90 0.1/5 550 n4u-0.042! /3/ 1!1 54/

5/ 0.05 4.2 9/ 0.3938.5 A 9-0.05fo /32 0.035592 Au- 0.30-

52 0./o /2.0 92 0.34 34.8 Inso/-9522 /33 002 49.35l-009D6n

53 0.09 375 A a-,00/A 93 05/1 496 5 -5.28% /34 0041535 (Ziso/-/600 54 0a052725 A9 -Trace 94 1.00 378 P-0.03% /35 0.0849.35 3-1.35o

55 Tr 248 Zr,7so.-35960., 95 0.38 53 Ti- Trace /36 14 50.45 P-0 0/%

56 A/i/ /6.7 _ 96 0.3649.1 /37 00441.95 TI-Trace

TRENCH AO 9 g ADT_/A. 2 /38 t0.021355 U

Sao 'C e Composits -5(l %Ca Z.e Composits I TRENCH /. 20

57 Nil 60.5) Au-0.O2 n 97 0.5/1 53.0 Au-0.05 ,ZC Y i4%Fe

58 0.0250.4 49 -ao39 98 0.69 41.8 A9-0./4 en /39 N1 155 2

59 Tr 50.3 1Zlso1-9A86 99 0.6534.4 Z 1nso-21/7* /40 N/I7 149.4

60 Tr 43.5 S-/.53X /0005/ 1.342 5-6.49.1% TREN/CH NA/. /9

6/ 007 1.65 |P-a003% /0/ 104 26.1 P-.o2Z% SZVur %C41 %Fe

62 004 50.5 Ti-0.06% /oz /170 36.8 M4-o.0%z% /4/ .O/1 579

63 .O0/ 58.5 /03 0.8/1 42.9 T1 I-0./5X / 142 7r 155.0

64 0.0/ 55.6 /04 0.6/ 44.4 /43 .O/ 156.4

*65 ao.00 59.4 U_ _ /05 02/1 248 TIPEA/CH A/ /6

TP/E/V/-/V NC. 2 /06 0.35 24. 8 I 5°OI rCy IFe

S' P %Cu u XFe Composits /07 057 22.1 /44 10.02153./

66 0.0/ 29.5 /08 0.89 21.7 /45 [A/I157.0

67 0.0338.6 /09 0.93 5.2 _NO TRENCH /C. /

68 002. 390 Au-0,04jz-K- TREA/CII NO.18 __ C41 %Ice

69 0.17 380. A -0. /O0I f"ZC41 f.Fe f Composits 146 14T35.2

70 0.45 22.88. Iso/IO //0 0.2255.5 TRENCH NO.10

7/ 0.57 4.3 S-/36 /// 0.12 60.1 /471 17159_3

72 0.3856.2 P-6.06,T 1/2 0.14 6125. TRENCH NO. 8

73 O.// 60.0 7i- .O/X 1 /41810.041560T

F1/6 2A -ANAL YSES, POOP MAAN IRON DEPO/ T
A4-erogeAno/J/sis PtO-porP?/ni

of Hole in Ore (Pcrcen')

%lemc Fe |Cu|

/ 5688 C/51

e 60.281 Of 1 L~j~ze /2E, 

A/t79 tO0'/1/ Ei/e 75.7' 5 79'40-E

20 alM<ZEWE/FD

o /1 Mo9net/fe Ore

1m Greens*one

__________________________E_____________/__ 6?9i6oo Percent I-rO

0 50

Geologic interpretation by / Sca/lein Feet

L. A. Warner, 6eo/ogico/ Survey /

F/G.3-SECT/ON A-A'O/V LINE OF HOLES / AND2
D. O. H. *'

1' :.Covered Scale in Feef

MoglW~'e f/fe Ore soe/7Fe

Greesfoner:

0D/base Dike

MiE;'era/ized Green sfone Elev O lIZa3 Andesit'e Porphyry Pike . \ S: -58St599 Percent Iron f \ .1... 'x

Geo/ogic interpretotion by -

L.A. Worner, Geo/ao/Ao/ Survey

AvoerageoAn/ysis for po/7ioof -/ae ?Ore (Percen179 .Q -p //ole~l Fe Cu SiO1 CoO IM- I P I 5 I

3 54.500. 2 I C24 0/ a - T0 I ao I 2.32 I 0 

IG0. -4 -SECT/ON 8-8*' 0/V LINE OF H/OLEJ3
<-/1/80°25'W//2 eo' -

/00

DD.A./ *7

'Elem 73.2 /, 0 50.:::':: 

A9D.i#i \e l ......- '- ;/oiAdl 9/eg 7'gL/, _* r <'-Wab' /Ad,;Scole in Feet

2653. 4K. A'/,'nero/,zed Greenstone

ff/e49x 1 - Andesife Porpyry Dike

6i3g ° cens Iron

X /xxxx L.~z / AA . Warner, MM Geological Survey

A- \verog ?Anal ! forg or7on of HJole inOre Per-cenft)

\ .c& 7 5 8.0 (\O.5f;/ 0 4 .96 2 .84 0.1 /8 0.o0/ 2 88

/94 0 39 0.64- _ -_- -

FIG. 5 -SECT/ON C-C,' ON\ LINaE OF HOL ES 7, 8, AND /9
AverAnge~oo/ysisof-po/fion of F0/ol /nOre(Petcenz9 S8O/5E-¢

I/okb.FqI Cu 1IS/01,4A/0,ICaoIpoI P Io S I

1 9 1468310.2/11.7/IZ 4815.541 3.32 602 /20

/-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ I 80f/e I Covere / /0

reo.. *-l /90gn3Ore .... ....

60

. ~~~~50

40

EICo vered /..

EZ*Moqrnef//e Ore '

Greenstone /. Le

EM ineral/zed Greenstone / / 50

3-56IV3 Percen i* rz {O /

Geo/ogic /'w'erpc~retf/on by / Scole in Feet

L.A. Woarner, 0 eoo0//co/ Survey

FIG. 6 - SECT/ON D-D' ON L/ VE OF HOLE 9
Averoge Ano/ysis for Portion of R/ole in Ore (Percen7)j

bl MD* Fe Cu ISIC Coo A1701 p S I C/ 48.55 0.33 /7.90 2.86 0.14 0.0/ 0.80: .:

IIoCo vered OE 52.66 0.16 /2.94 3.90 0.62 0.0/ ,. /f 

/1Mognefite Ore./;.;, .. .;

A reelnstone .: . : . ;:g5

"lInera/hzed &r~e175to1e 5 88150 lW' 1. :; /

11 Syenite Porphyry Dike

Percenf iron.

E/ev. 95.6'

E/ev. -956

Projecfion of __________

Advt Level FIG. 7-SECT/ON E'ON LINE OF HOLES I/AD / 2eX

FIG. 7- SEC TION\ E-E' ON\ LIN/\E OF //OL ES //AN/tD 12
Shoft No. 3 5807

-N 80 W

<-- /88~~~~~0°_,= 1 * . ..

Eli Co vet-edet-149

zl/ev 149.5 / : :LI

Greenstone

s,:: A'/a9ne~fie Ore 6

MlMineralized Oreen stone -. _______

MA'rble or Ca/cite4

/14c'ne/ite w/fh Included / 53

s4467-Perceny /-on ,/ Ceo/ogic 1'77'erprefo7onnby v4? / :%5

Z.A. Warner, Geo/ogico/ Survey / 95

A verage Ana/yj,5s for porl-on of r * Scale ti Fee t /-lo/e in Ore (Percermb A/i/ E/e 50 jMb/ebFe I Cu Si0, CoO IMgO 9 s ESe v 504

55.870.05 9.72 3.34 1.86 0.06 788 /4 48.991 0/I /1.82 3.44 2.36 0.07 8.83

/

FIG. 8-SECT/ON F-F' ON LINE OF HOLES /3 AND /4
t//5°E L2/Hl~/ P.D.H. 20

0 . 2 D h~~~~~~~ # / 3 ! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __~~~~~~~0.S 

ot503 :62.94

~ZfGEND'/so

ii /eff .g ° r

J Andese Porphyry Dike Scale FeetElev. 1

I I Covered 0 50 6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~4.I

MCoveralized Greensone

M0917ehfite with Included 6reenstone 9

1 Morb/e or Ca/cite A vera~Analysis for-prf/ion of A/ole /n/ 0e(PerceVs9

<6rt</ Percenf /t-on fHo/e/i/ Fe CuJ SiO, A,0 3y Coo YAqO S

Geo/og/c Xnterpretotion by 20 52.2/ 0.14 /1.46 - 1.90 1.72 8.23 ao7

L.A. Worner, 6eo/o9ical Surlvey 21 49./5 023 7.88 /130 3.68 1.04 3.35 0.0,3

FIG. 9-SECT/ON G-G' ON INE OF HOL ES 20 AND 2/
P.1. 3956

ore body amounts to 4.49 percent of the whole by volume, or 3.09 percent of the

whole by weight.

Chalcopyrite and pyrite occur, apparently in-larger amounts, at and near

the margins of the ore body, although they also occur scattered irregularly

throughout the ore. Chalcopyrite is found mostly along cracks and seams, pyrite

mostly disseminated through the magnetite. Results of the Bureau's sampling

indicate that the total sulfides included in the iron ore amount to 7.0 percent.

SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS

During October and November 1942, the Bureau cleared out 14 old trenches

and took from them and the walls of the three adits 103 channel samples and 13

chip samples. The chip samples were taken only in ore apparently uniform in

grade. Location of these samples is shown on figure 2, and results of analyses

on figure 2-A.

Between April and June 1943 the Bureau drilled 13 diamond drill holes,

which ranged in depth from 25 to 203 feet. The total length of hole drilled on

the Poor Man iron deposit was 1,549.7 feet. Locations of these holes are shown

on figure 2, and sections on line of holes, with analyses of samples, on figures 3 to 9, inclusive.

Sludge from core drilling was carefully collected, dried, and split.

Sludge was analyzed by the Territorial Assay Office, Ketchikan, Alaska. Cores

were split and analyzed by a private concern in the States.

Sludge and core analyses were adjusted by the Longyear method. Both individual and average analyses for iron shown on figures 3 to 9 are adjusted

from individual core and sludge analyses. The copper analyses are likewise

adjusted, but the average analyses for other metals are derived from composites of core samples only.

Adjusted and weighted average of all samples indicate that the ore content is as follows:

Percent

Iron .......... ....... . :52.40

Copper ....... .... .25

Insoluble ............. 12.10

Alumina .. ............. 1.38

Lime .... ......... 3.13

Magnesia ..................... 1.22

Phosphorus ............... .03

Sulfur ........ .............. 3.72

Manganese .. 03

Titanium .. 04

Gold (ounce per long ton) .... .032

Silver (ounce per long ton) .. .071

Two spectrographic examinations made on composite samples of cores from

hole 3 and the first part of hole 7 and from holes 8 and 19 and the lower part

of hole 7 were as follows:

1163 -5-
RI. 3956

Element Approximate quantity

(Holes 3 and 7, upper part) Hole 7, lower part, 8 and 19)

Iron . ... Major constituent Major constituent

Silicon) Intermediate Intermediate

Calcium) '""' ' constituent oonstituent

Minor constituents, Minor constituents,

percent percent

Aluminum ....... ... 1.0 1.0

Copper . ... .. .5 .5

Magnesium ..... .1 .1

Sodium .... .. 1 .1

Titanium . .. .05 .05

Manganese .-.. 05 .05

Zinc .............. 01 Trace

Cobalt. ......... .01 0.01

Nickel .. 001 .001

Strontium .001 .001

Chromium .. 001 .001

Vanadium ........ .; ... .001 .001

DEVELOPMENT

Development consists of 19 trenches 10 to 120 feet in length, generally

crosscutting the ore; 3 short adits, 35, 100, and 90 feet in length, also crosscutting ore; and 4 shallow shafts, 15, 60, 20, and 10 feet in depth. Of these

shafts, the second connects with No. 2 adit and extends about 30 feet below the

adit track level. All shafts were filled with water and, because of the absence

of pumping equipment, were not unwatered during the course of the Bureau's examination. Appearance of the dumps seems to confirm the report that Nos. 1, 2,

and 3 shafts were generally in ore to the bottoms and that No. 4 shaft encountered only alluvium and glacial till.

The ore is hard and firm. Country rock, mostly greenstone, is also firm,

with only small cracks and seams. Several faults were noted, none of which

were large enough to cause trouble in mining. No timbering has been done, except at shaft collars, and none is believed to be necessary in mining.

Because of the heavy rainfall in the district, considerable water is encountered in the mine workings close to the surface, but no trouble is expected

from water in open-cut mining. As mining progresses below natural drainage,

pumps will be necessaryj but pumping lifts will never be over 100 feet, and

the amount of water will be only the amount of rain falling into the area of

the pit plus a certain amount of seepage.

No equipment is on the property. An old rail tram from the beach to the

No. 3 adit has rotted out entirely and the dock is gone.

Topography, shape of the ore body, the physical characteristics of the

ore, and wall rock favor open-pit mining.

1163 -6-
R.I. 3956

BENEFICIATION

Results of tests at the Bureau's Rolla Laboratory on samples of ore from

surface trenches on the Poor Man deposit indicate that the ore is amenable to

benefioiation by magnetic separation or by flotation followed, by magnetic seporation of flotation tailing. Magnetic sepjration of coarsely ground ore (10-

mesh) was not successful, because particles pf magnetite and silicious material

were locked and not completely freed at grinds coarser than 65-mesh.

Best results were obtained by flotation of comparatively coarsely ground,

35-mesh, ore and. magnetic separation of tailing from flotation. Ore of the

following analysis was used in these tests.

Analysis, percent

Fe SiO2 Insol. S Cu P

52.4 12.3 14.2 2.07 0.09 0.09

The first tests were made in a wet,- low-intensity, magnetic separator on portions of the ore ground to pass 10-mesh, 48-mesh, and 65-mesh screens. Concentration of 10-mesh material was negligible. At 48-mesh, a high-grade magnetic product low in silica and phosphorus was obtained, but the sulfur content

was above the maximum allowable for iron ores. At, 65-mesh the sulfur content

of the magnetic portion was 0.09 percent, half of that at 48-mesh, but still

considerably in excess of the maximum of 0.04 percent.

A portion of the ore was stage-ground. in a pebble mill to pass 35-mesh

and. floated at 25 percent solids in a mechanical-type cell to remove the sulfides. The sulfide rough concentrate was cleaned once, and the cleaner tailing was combined with the rougher tailing. This material was reserved for

magnetic separation tests. Examination of the sulfide.concentrate showed it

to be chiefly sulf ides of Iron, together with calcite; no oxides of iron were

noted. The selective' flotation of the small amount of copper-bearing minerals

was not successful.

Flotation results

Weight, Chemical analysis, percent Percent of total

Product. percent S SiO2 P Cu Fe S SiO2 P Cu

Concentrate. 4.7 41.7 42.9 0.4 0.01 1.0 3.8 89.5 0.2 0.6 71.2

Tailing .... 95.3 53.9 0.24, 11.1 .09 .02 96.2 1o.5 99.8 99.4 28.8

H eads

calculated. .100.0 54.4 2.19 10.6 o0 .07 100.0 100.0 100 .0 100.0 100.0

Operating data

_ __ _ Pounds per ton of ore

Reagents Conditioner Rougher Cleaner

Sodium ethyl xanthate ........ 4.4 ......... 0.10

No. 5 pine oil (General Naval Stores Co.).. .18

Time, minutes ........... ............... 31

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R.I. 3956

Magnetic separation of the tailing was made in a wet, low-intensity, magnetio separator. The iron recovered substantially represents the recovery of

magnetite.

Magnetic-separation data

Weight, Analysis, percent Percent of total

percent Fe S SiO2 Fe S

Magnetic concentrate .76.8 66.8 0.02 5.3 0.03 94.3 6.2

Non-magnetic tailing ...... 23.2 13.4 1.00 - - 5.7 93.8

Feed calculated ..... ...... 1000 54.4 .25 100.0 100.0

Another flotation and magnetic-separation test was made as described

above, except that the ore was ground through 65-mesh.- Further unlocking of

the deleterious constituents was evident from the-magnetio-conoentrate analysis, which was 67.1 percent iron, 0.003 percent sulfur, 4.9 percent insoluble,

and 0.008 percent phosphorus. Iron recovery was 93.9 percent.

Finer grinding of the crude ore followed by magnetic separation probably

would produce an acceptable magnetic concentrate. However, the flotation procedure at the relatively coarse mesh seems desirable for three reasons: (1)

the ease with which flotation is accomplished, (2) the removal of the sulfides

also reduces the amount of material to be magnetically treated, (3) the flotation concentrate is a potential source of sulfuric acid and iron sinter, and

grinding costs would be considerably reduced, probably offsetting the cost of

flotation.

Samples taken from core drilling contain a higher percentage of copper,

and-there is less oxidation than in material used in the tests described above.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wright, Charles Will, Geology and Ore Deposits of Copper Mountain and Kasaan

Peninsula, Alaska: Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper,87, 1915, 110 pp.

Wright, Fred Eugene, and Wright, Charles Will, The Ketchikan and, Wrangell

Mining Districts, Alaska: Geol. Surv. Bull. 347, 1908, 210 pp.

Warner, L. A., Poor Man Iron Prospectj Kasaan Peninsula, Prince of Wales

Island, Southeastern Alaska: Geol. Surv. unpublished report, 1942.

Mining and Metallurgy, Adirondack Mining Issue: November 1943.

Walton, Matt, Poor Man Iron Prospect: Paper presented before Geological

Society of Washington, 1943.

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