U.S. Department of the Interior - U.S. Geological Survey

Misheguk Mountain quadrangle

Descriptions of the mineral occurrences shown on the accompanying figure follow. See 

U.S. Geological Survey (1996) for a description of the information content of each field in the 

records. The data presented here are maintained as part of a statewide database on mines, 

prospects and mineral occurrences throughout Alaska.

162°

6 I 

159'

68°

MU005 

MU004 MU007 MU001

/.'

S

MU002 

MU003

MU008

' MU010

River

MU006*

162° 159'

68'

Distribution of mineral occurrences in the Misheguk Mountain 1:250,000-scale 

quadrangle, northwestern Alaska

This and related reports are accessible through the USGS World Wide Web site 

http://www-mrs-ak.wr.usgs.gov/ardf. Comments or information regarding corrections or 

missing data, or requests for digital retrievals should be directed to the author(s) of this 

compilation:

James Dover

U.S. Geological Survey

4200 University Drive

Anchorage, AK 99508-4667

Voice: (907) 786-7419

e-mail: jdover@usgs.gov

******

Location of map area in Alaska

This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity

with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards or with the North

American Stratigraphic code. Any use of trade, product, or firm

names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

science rac angmgwo

OPEN-FILE REPORT 97-297
Alaska Resource Data File Page 1

Site: Nimiuktuk

Type: Prospect 

ARDFno. MU001 

Latitude: 68.41 

Longitude: 159.91

Quadrangle: MU B-2

Location description and accuracy:

Located on low ridge 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west of confluence of Klim Creek and 

Nimiuktuk River; located to within 1 mi (1.6 km).

Commodities:

Main: Ba Other:

Ore minerals: Barite 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Small hill about 23-33 ft (7-10 m) high, 130 ft (40 m) wide, and 197 ft (60 m) long 

surrounded by tundra is made up of cobble and boulder size fragments of massive 

barite. The nearest bedrock exposure is 1640 ft (500 m) northeast and consists of 

low rubbly outcrops of Upper Mississippian black chert and shale in contact with 

Lower Cretaceous shale and wacke. Outcrops 1970 ft (600 m) southwest of deposit 

are Upper Mississippian volcanic rocks (K-Ar age 333 +/- 17 m.y.) and sandy 

limestone of the Mississippian Utukok formation. Volcanic rocks probably were 

originally dacite or andesite. Utukok formation rocks mapped as part of a higher 

thrust sheet and unrelated to barite deposit.

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration:

Alaska's Mineral Industry, 1995 (p. 62) reports widespread stream-sediment Ba 

anomalies in area indicate further barite potential.

Age:

Late Mississippian?

Deposit model:

Lode; barite

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Status: Inactive 

Production notes:

31b 

Production: No

Reserves:

'Alaska's Mineral Industry, 1995' (p.62) reports deposit estimated to contain at least 

1.36 million tonnes (1.5 million tons) of barite.

Additional comments:

See MAS/MILS Sequence #0020190008, U.S. Bureau of Mines (1995)

References:

Mayfield and others, 1979, OFR 79-1092; Mayfield and others, 1979, C 804-B; Cobb 

and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995; Bundtzen and others, 

1996
Alaska Resource Data File Page 2

Primary reference: Mayfield and others, 1979, OFR 79-1092

Reporter: M.T. Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt, J.H. Dover 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Page3

Site: Misheguk Mountain west

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU002 

Latitude: 68.25 

Longitude: 161.06

Quadrangle: MU A-4

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is midway between localities 229 and 231 of Degenhart and others 

(1978, fig. 8); about 1 mi (1.6 km) northeast of Misheguk Mountain summit; located 

to within 1 mi (1.6 km).

Commodities:

Main: Cr, Platinum-group elements (PGE) Other: Ni

Ore minerals: Chromite, garnierite? 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Chromite, along with a greenish mineral tentatively identified as garnierite, occurs in 

discontinuous bands less than an inch (25.4 mm) wide, small pods, and 

disseminations in part of a large serpentinized dunite-peridotite body. Misheguk 

Mountain is part of an ultramafic body approximately 32 miles long in a 

northeastern direction and about 13 miles wide. It is part of an ophiolite complex 

composed of a central core of the serpentinized ultramafic and gabbroic rocks 

flanked on three sides by mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks of Jurassic, Triassic, 

and (or) Permian age.

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration:

Assay values of 4.3% Cr and 0.22% Ni were obtained by the U.S. Bureau of 

Mines(Degenhart and other, 1978, p. 126, 232-40, 491) over a 50 ft sample length. 

Also, chromite pods in dunte and pyroxenite contained up to 0.123 troy ox/st (4200 

ppb Ir, 45 ppb Os, 360 ppb Rh, 98 ppb Ru, and 14 ppb Au. Plagioclase periodotite 

containing accessory pyrrhotite assayed up to 0.004 troy oz/st Pd and 0.005 troy 

ox/st Pt, and dunite contained 0.001 troy oz/st (42 ppb) Pt, 22 ppb Pd, 1 ppb Ir, and 

6 ppb Rh. Sperrylite and argentite were identified by Scanning Electron Microscope 

analysis of a PGE-rich iorn-rich chromian spinel sample.

Age:

Jurassic?

Deposit model:

Lode; podiform chromite

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Status: Inactive

8a 

Production: No

Production notes:

Reserves:
Alaska Resource Data File Page 4

Additional comments:

Additional work is required to test the entire ultramafic body for significant 

occurrences of chromium, nickel, asbestos, and platinum. See MAS/MILS Sequence 

# 0020190022 (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995)

References:

Degenhart and others (1978); Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A; Grybeck, 1977; 

ADGGS, 1989; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995

Primary reference: Degenhart and others (1978)

Reporter: M.T. Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt; J.H. Dover 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 9/24/96
Alaska Resource Data File Pages

Site: Misheguk Mountain east

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU003 

Latitude: 68.25 

Longitude: 161

Quadrangle: MU A-4

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted encompasses MAS/MILS Sequence #'s 0020190002-4 (U.S. Bureau 

of Mines, 1995); and localities 228, 233, 236, and 238 of Degenhart and others 

(1978, fig. I); 1-2 mi (1.6-3.2 km) east of and on opposite (south) side of canyon from 

MU002; located to within 1 mi. (1.6 km).

Commodities:

Main: Asbestos, Cr, Cu? Other:

Ore minerals: Chromite 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Rubble sample of serpentinite containing bands and disseminations of chromite, 

presumably from underlying mafic-ultramafic complex.

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration:

One sample contains up to .22% nickel and 7.5% chromium (Degenhart, 1978, p. 

236).

Age:

Deposit model:

Lode; podiform chromite

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Status: Inactive

8a 

Production: No

Production notes: 

Reserves:

Additional comments:

See MAS/MILS Sequence #'s 0020190002-4 (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995)

References:

Degenhart and others (1978); U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995

Primary reference: Degenhart and others (1978)

Reporter: J.H. Dover 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 9/24/96
Alaska Resource Data File Page 6

Site: Kagvik Creek

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU004 

Latitude: 68.38 

Longitude: 161.43

Quadrangle: MU B-5

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is Kagvik Creek of Churkin and others (1978, fig. 3); on ridge about 

7 mi (11.2 km) north of confluence of Kagvik Creek and Kugururok River; located to 

within 2 mi (3.2 km).

Other: Ba, Gypsum(?)

Commodities: 

Main: Bentonite

Ore minerals: Barite, gypsum 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Prominent iron-stained, yellow clay (bentonite?) horizon contains local sparse barite 

and gypsum?; at contact between intensely deformed dark chert and shale of the 

Carboniferous Lisburne group and maroon and gray shale of the overlying Siksikpuk 

formation.

Alteration:

Iron-oxide stain

Workings/Exploration:

Contains 1000-3000 ppm Ba (Churkin and others, 1978, p.20).

Age:

Carboniferous

Deposit model:

Lode; stratiform

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Production: No Status: Inactive

Production notes:

Reserves:

Additional comments:

References:

Churkin and others (1978); Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A

Primary reference: Churkin and others (1978)

Reporter: M.T. Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Page?

Site: Inaccessible Ridge

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU005 

Latitude: 68.47 

Longitude: 161.85

Quadrangle: MU B-5

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is Inaccessible Ridge locality of Churkin and others (1978, fig. 3); on 

continuation of Inaccessible Ridge on southwest side of westernmost fork at head of 

Kagvik Creek and about 0.5 mi (0.8 km) northeast of hill 3770; within 2 mi (3.2 km).

Commodities:

Main: Ba, Cu Other:

Ore minerals: Barite, malachite 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Malachite stains on fractures and marcasite nodules in tightly folded Triassic chert; 

yellow clay partings in chert near contact between intensely folded and faulted 

Lisburne Group and Siksikpuk Formation.

Alteration:

Iron and copper staining

Workings/ Exploration:

Contains 700 to more than 5000 ppm Ba (Churkin and others, 1978, p.20, 30-31).

Age:

Mississippian (barite)

Deposit model:

Lode; stratiform

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Production: No Status: Inactive 

Production notes:

Reserves:

Additional comments:

References:

Churkin and others (1978); Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A

Primary reference: Churkin and others (1978)

Reporter: M.T. Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Pages

Site: Unnamed

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU006 

Latitude: 6S.OS 

Longitude: 159.37

Quadrangle: MUA-1

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is from Cobb and others (1981, p. A18); occurrence is in low 

cutbank along south side of Noatak River, across from mouth of Itimtikrak Creek; 

located to within 2 mi (3.2 km).

Commodities:

Main: Cu Other:

Ore minerals: Malachite 

Gangue minerals: Vein quartz

Geologic description:

Malachite stains in two quartz veins about 2 ft. thick that cut Upper Devonian gray 

shale and sandstone.

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration: 

Age:

Deposit model:

Lode; veins

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Production: No Status: Inactive 

Production notes:

Reserves:

Additional comments:

References:

Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A

Primary reference: Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A

Reporter: M.T. Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Page 9

Site: Ginny Creek

Type: Prospect 

ARDFno. MU007 

Latitude: 68.29 

Longitude: 161.3

Quadrangle: MU B-4

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is prospect locality of Mayfield and others (1979, pi. 1); on ridge 

between Kugururok River and Trail Creek, about 7 mi (11.2 km) northwest of 

Misheguk Mountain; located to within 1 mi (1.6 km).

Commodities:

Main: Pb, Zn Other: Ag?, Cu

Ore minerals: Chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite 

Gangue minerals: Pyrite, siderite

Geologic description:

Sphalerite, galena, pyrite and rare chalcopyrite occur mainly as minute crystals 

scattered throughout mineralized sandstone, which also contains considerable 

siderite where mineralized and none elsewhere. Thin quartz veins cut the 

sedimentary beds; most are barren, but sulfides occur sparely in some of them, rock 

and stream sediment samples indicate that the deposit may also contain silver, but 

the mineral(s) in which silver occurs has not been determined. Mineralized area is at 

least 1 mile long and up to 1/2 mile wide. Deposit appraently formed by 

hydrothermal open-space filling and replacement rather than by hot-spring 

deposition on sea floor, deposit is in lowest (Brooks Range) thrust sequence in area. 

Surface rubble is a discontinuous mixture of gossan and partly iron-stained 

sandstone. Sulfides are preserved only in the least weathered surface rocks. 

Surface leaching produces a pitted appearance on many of the limonite-rich rocks. 

Deposit is in region of extreme thrust faulting.

Alteration:

Iron-staining, leaching

Workings/Exploration:

Analyzed samples contain 0.3-1% Zn and variable Pb concentrations (Mayfield and 

others, 1979, p. 9-17).

Age:

Deposit model:

Sediment-hosted Pb-Zn.

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Production: No Status: Inactive

Production notes:

Reserves:

Additional comments:

See MAS/MILS Sequence # 0020190007 (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995)
Alaska Resource Data File Page 10

References:

Mayfield and others, 1979, OFR 79-1092; Mayfield and others, 1979, C 804-B; 

Curtis and others, 1980; Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A; U.S. Bureau of 

Mines, 1995

Primary reference: Mayfield and others, 1979, OFR 79-1092

Reporter: M.T.Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Page 11

Site: Avan River

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU008 

Latitude: 68.24 

Longitude: 161.93

Quadrangle: MU A-5

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is at center of area cited by Cobb and others (1981, p. A16), in 

headwaters area of Avan River about 1.5 mi (2.4 km) northeast of peak 3970; located 

to within 1 mi (1.6 km).

Commodities:

Main: Cr Other: Ni

Ore minerals: Chromite 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

The geology at the Avan River occurrence is dominated by a Jurassic? ultramafic 

complex approximately 300 square miles in area, that structurally overlies a variety 

of Paleozoic and Mesozoic marine sedimentary rocks. The assemblages are 

characterized by extremely complex folding and faulting. The chromite occurs as 

small layers or bands and as disseminated grains in the north-central part of 

ultramafic complex. Pyrrhotite and pentlandite have been identified in polished 

sections of a few samples of chromite-bearing rocks. 

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration:

None

Age:

Jurassic?

Deposit model:

Lode; podiform chromite

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Status: Inactive 

Production notes:

8a 

Production: No

Reserves:

Additional comments:

References:

Degenhart and others (1978); Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A; Grybeck (1977); 

Foley and others (1985)

Primary reference: Degenhart and others (1978) 

Reporter: M.T. Powers; D.F. Huber; J.M. Schmidt
Alaska Resource Data File Page 12

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Page 13

Site: Avan Hills

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU009 

Latitude: 68.25 

Longitude: 161.9

Quadrangle: MU A-5

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is locality 1 of Foley and others (1989, p. 2); in headwaters area of 

Avan River about 2.3 mi (3.7 km) northeast of peak 3970; located to within 2 mi (3.2 

km).

Commodities:

Main: Cr, Platinum-group elements (PGE) Other:

Ore minerals: 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Bedrock consists of variably serpentinized rocks of a Jurassic? mafic/ultramafic 

complex that includes dunite, wehrlite, peridotite, clinopyroxenite, and gabbro.

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration:

Platinum and palladium were detected in chromite-bearing dunite (0.014 troy oz/st 

Pt) and in chromite concentrates (0.016 troy oz/st Pd). Iridium was detected in a 

pan concentrate sample (0.0036 troy oz/st).

Age:

Jurassic?

Deposit model:

Podiform chromite

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

8a

Production: No Status: Inactive

Production notes:

Reserves:

Estimated Cr2O3 content measured in 26 deposits ranges from 465,000 to 

1,734,000 short tons. The area contains at least 50 other minor or unmeasured 

chromite lode occurrences, and also has potential for large, low-grade chromite and 

PGE placer deposits.

Additional comments:

References:

Foley and others (1989); Cobb and others, 1981, OFR 81-767A; Foley and others 

(1985)

Primary reference: Foley and others (1989)
Alaska Resource Data File Page 14

Reporter: J.M. Schmidt 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 10/22/92
Alaska Resource Data File Page 15

Site: Kugururok River Chromite

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU010 

Latitude: 68.12 

Longitude: 161.56

Quadrangle: MU A-5

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is locality listed for Sequence #0020190001 in U.S. Bureau of Mines 

(1995), about 3 mi (4.8 km) southwest of confluence of Trail Creek with Kugururok 

River and 1 mi. (1.6 km) southeast of VABN Rok; located to within 2 mi (3.2 km).

Commodities:

Main: Or Other:

Ore minerals: Chromite 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Type of occurrence and geologic setting unspecified, but other chromite occurrences 

in the region have a source in the Jurassic? Avan mafic/ultramafic complex.

Alteration:

Workings/Exploration:

Age:

Deposit model:

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Production: No Status: Inactive 

Production notes:

Reserves:

Additional comments:

References:

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995

Primary reference: U.S. Bureau of Mines (1995)

Reporter: J.H. Dover 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 9/24/96
Alaska Resource Data File Page 16

Site: Kugururok River

Type: Occurrence 

ARDFno. MU011 

Latitude: 68.17 

Longitude: 161.43

Quadrangle: MU A-5

Location description and accuracy:

Location plotted is locality 2 of Grybeck (1977, p. 10), on Trail Creek about 2 mi (3.2 

km) above confluence with Kugururok River; located to within 2 mi (3.2 km).

Commodities:

Main: Or Other:

Ore minerals: Chromite 

Gangue minerals:

Geologic description:

Specimen of chromite collected from a 'large amount of similar material said to occur 

in that area' (Grybeck, 1977, p. 10). Chromite probably derived from the gabbroultramafic complex at Misheguk Mountain.

Alteration: 

Workings/ Exploration:

Age:

Jurassic?

Deposit model:

Lode; podiform chromite?

Deposit model number (After Cox and Singer, 1986 or Bliss, 1992):

Status: Inactive

8a? 

Production: No

Production notes:

Reserves:

Additional comments:

References:

Grybeck, 1977

Primary reference: Grybeck, 1977

Reporter: J.H. Dover 

Reporter affiliation: USGS 

Last report date: 9/24/96
Alaska Resource Data File Page 17

References Cited

Bliss, J.D, ed., 1992, Developments in deposit mineral deposit modeling: U.S. 

Geological Survey Bulletin 2004, 168 p.

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, p.62

Churkin, M., Jr., Mayfield, C.F., Theobald, P.K., Barton, H., Nokleberg, W.J., Windier, 

G.R., and Huie, C., 1978, Geological and geochemical appraisal of metallic mineral 

resources, southern National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 78-70A, 82 p.

Cobb, E.H., Mayfield, C.F., and Brosge', W.P., 1981, Summaries of data on and lists of 

references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral occurrences in eleven 

quadrangles of northern Alaska; Part A, Summaries of data to January 1, 1981: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 81-767A, 25 p.

Cox, D.P., and Singer, D.A., eds., 1986, Mineral deposit models: U.S. Geological Survey 

Bulletin 1992, 379 p.

Curtis, S.M., Ellersieck, I.F., Mayfield, C.F., and Tailleur, I.L., 1980, Silver, copper, lead, 

and zinc stream-sediment geochemical anomalies in Misheguk Mountain 

quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-315, scale 

1:250,000

Degenhart, C.E., and others, 1978, Mineral studies of the western Brooks Range: U.S. 

Bureau of Mines Open File Report 103-78,

Foley, J.Y., Barker, J.C., and Brown, L.L., 1985, Critical and strategic minerals in 

Alaska: Chromium: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open File Report 97-85, 54 p.

Foley, J.Y., Burns, L.E., Schneider, C.L., and Forbes, R.B., 1989, Preliminary report of 

platinum group element occurrences in Alaska: Alaska Department of Geological 

and Geophysical Surveys Public Data File 89-20, 33 p.

Grybeck, D., 1977, Known mineral deposits of the Brooks Range, Alaska: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-166C, 45 p, 1 over-size map, scale 

1:1,000,000

Jansons, U., and Baggs, D.W., 1980, Mineral investigations of the Misheguk Mountains 

and Howard Pass quadrangles, National Petroleum Reserve- Alaska: U.S. Bureau of 

Mines Open File Report No. 38-80, 76 p.

Jansons, U., and Parke, M.A., 1981, 1978 mineral investigations in the Misheguk 

Mountain and Howard Pass quadrangles: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open File Report 

No. 26-81

Mayfield, C.F., Curtis, S.M., Ellersieck, I.F., and Tailleur, I.L., 1979a, Reconnaissance 

geology of the Ginny Creek zinc-lead-silver and Nimiuktuk barite deposits, 

northwestern Brooks Range, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 79- 

1092, 20 p, 2 over-size plates

Mayfield, C.F., Curtis, S.M., Ellersieck, I.F., and Tailleur, I.L., 1979b, The Ginny Creek 

zinc-lead-silver and Nimiuktuk barite deposits, northwestern Brooks Range, Alaska, 

in Johnson, K.M., and Williams, J.R., The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: 

Accomplishments during 1978: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 804-B, p. Bl 1-B12

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995, Spatial data extracted from the Minerals Availability 

System/Mineral Industry Location System (MAS/MILS): U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Special Publication 12-95 (CD-ROM)
Alaska Resource Data File Page 18

U.S. Geological Survey, 1996, Descriptions of the fields used to report brief descriptions 

of mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences in Alaska and Hawaii: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 96-79, 5 p.