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

Alaska Resource Data File 

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. 

OPEN-FILE REPORT 99-40 

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Distribution of mineral occurrences in the Afognak 

1:250,000-scale quadrangle, 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 Donald J. Grybeck, USGS, 

4200 Unversity Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4667, email dgrybeck@usgs.gov, telephone 

(907) 786-7424. This compilation is authored by:

 

 Steven H. Pilcher

 12026 Wilderness

 Anchorage, AK 99516

Afognak 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.
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 2 

Site name(s): Wm. Douglas Group 

Site type: Prospect 

ARDF no.: AF001 

Latitude: 58.857 Quadrangle: AF D-6 

Longitude: 153.964 

Location description and accuracy:

 This site represents a large claim block noted on U.S. Bureau of Mines maps in 1973. It 

is located west of the Douglas River and centered in sec. 21, T. 15 S., R. 28 W. 

(MacKevett and Holloway, 1977, locality 4; Church and others, 1992, sheet 1, locality 

10). 

Commodities: 

 Main: Au ? 

 Other: Ag ? 

Ore minerals: 

Gangue minerals: 

Geologic description:

 No significant mineralization was found during a brief reconnaissance of the area 

(Church and others, 1992); however, some quartz veining and disseminated pyrite has 

been noted in the general area (Church and others, 1994). Some potential for polymetallic 

veins exists. Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks underlie the claims. A small 

Tertiary intrusive has been tentatively mapped approximately 2 miles east of the site location as plotted. 

Alteration:

 

Age of mineralization:

 

Deposit model:

Polymetallic vein ? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c). 

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

22c 

Production Status None 

AF001 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 3 

Site Status: Inactive 

Workings/exploration:

 

Production notes:

 

Reserves:

 None. 

Additional comments:

 Site is in Katmai National Park. 

References:

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1973; MacKevett and Holloway, 1977; Church and others, 1992; 

Church and others, 1994. 

Primary reference: Church and others, 1992 

Reporter(s): S.H. Pilcher (Anchorage) 

Last report date: 08/11/98 

AF001 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 4 

Site name(s): Big River 

Site type: Occurrence 

ARDF no.: AF002 

Latitude: 58.68 Quadrangle: AF C-6 

Longitude: 153.87 

Location description and accuracy:

 This site is northeast of the Big River on an unnamed tributary in sec. 26, T. 17 S., R. 

28 E. (Church and others, 1992, sheet 1, locality 11). The location is accurate to within 

1/2 mile. 

Commodities: 

 Main: Cu 

 Other: Ag, Au, Mo, Pb, Zn 

Ore minerals: Chalcopyrite, molybdenite, pyrite, sphalerite 

Gangue minerals: Quartz 

Geologic description:

 At this site quartz-sulfide veins and disseminated sulfides occur in an altered Tertiary 

plug exposed in a creek drainage. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and molybdenite are 

present in quartz veins up to 6 centimeters in width. Metal values run to greater than 

20,000 ppm copper, and up to 2000 ppm zinc, 200 ppm lead, 200 ppm silver, 200 ppm 

cobalt, 100 ppm molybdenite, and 1.1 ppm gold (Church and others, 1994, table 15). Bedrock in this general area consists of sedimentary units of the Kaguyak Formation (Late 

Cretaceous) and sill-like and crosscutting Tertiary intrusive bodies of tonalite and granodiorite. 

 This site occurs within a broad zone of geochemical anomalies located southwest of 

Fourpeaked Mountain and northeast of the mouth of Big River. Within this zone many 

silt samples are anomalous in arsenic, cobalt, copper, lead, and zinc (Church and others, 

1994). Panned concentrates contain arsenopyrite, barite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, scheelite, 

sphalerite, and wulfenite. The site is also within a smaller zone of silts which are anomalous in boron, molybdenum, and tungsten. 

Alteration:

 The intrusive rock at this site exhibits argillic and quartz-sericite alteration associated 

with abundant quartz veining. 

AF002 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 5 

Age of mineralization:

The mineralization is associated with a small Late Tertiary stock. 

Deposit model:

Polymetallic vein, concealed porphyry copper or porphyry copper-molybdenum (Cox and 

Singer, 1986; models 22c, 17, 21a). 

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

22c, 17, 21a 

Production Status None 

Site Status: Inactive 

Workings/exploration:

 Samples were collected and analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey. 

Production notes:

 

Reserves:

 

Additional comments:

 Site is located in Katmai National Park. 

References:

Church and others, 1992; Riehle and others, 1993; Church and others, 1994. 

Primary reference: Church and others, 1994 

Reporter(s): S.H. Pilcher (Anchorage) 

Last report date: 08/11/98 

AF002 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 6 

Site name(s): Raspberry Beach 

Site type: Mine 

ARDF no.: AF003 

Latitude: 58.1 Quadrangle: AF A-5 

Longitude: 153.34 

Location description and accuracy:

 This site is the beach at Drivers Bay on the northwest coast of Raspberry Island (Cobb, 

1972, MF 468, locality 2; Cobb, 1973, Bulletin 1374, figure 11, locality 6; MacKevett 

and Holloway, 1977, locality 2). The beach is approximately 1/2 mile long and probably 

has been placered at various locations. 

Commodities: 

 Main: Au 

 Other: 

Ore minerals: Gold 

Gangue minerals: 

Geologic description:

 This site was first mentioned by Brooks (1915, p. 47) who reported that low grade 

placer gold had been found on Raspberry Island. The latest reported activity took place in 

1935. The deposition of beach placer gold is thought to have resulted from the reworking 

of coastal deposits of glacial gravels and tills. 

Alteration:

 

Age of mineralization:

Quaternary 

Deposit model:

Gold placer (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a). 

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

39a 

Production Status Yes; small 

AF003 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 7 

Site Status: Inactive 

Workings/exploration:

 In 1935 it was reported that 2 or 3 men were prospecting and mining here. Some drilling was done on valley gravels located between Raspberry Beach and Onion Bay to test 

the viability of a dredge operation (Capps, 1937, p. 172). Results were apparently poor 

and the drill project was abandoned. 

Production notes:

 A small amount of gold was produced but no records are available. 

Reserves:

 

Additional comments:

 

References:

Brooks and others, 1915; Capps, 1937; Cobb, 1972, (MF 470); Cobb, 1973, (B 1374); 

Cobb, 1979, (OFR 79-860); MacKevett and Holloway, 1977. 

Primary reference: Capps, 1937 

Reporter(s): S.H. Pilcher (Anchorage) 

Last report date: 08/11/98 

AF003 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 8 

Site name(s): Malina Bay 

Site type: Prospect 

ARDF no.: AF004 

Latitude: 58.24 Quadrangle: AF A-4 

Longitude: 153.05 

Location description and accuracy:

 This prospect is located on the north shore of Malina Bay which is 2.5 miles southeast 

of Tanaak Cape on the west coast of Afognak Island (Cobb, 1972, MF 470, locality 1; 

Berg and Cobb, 1967, figure 15, locality 1; MacKevett and Holloway, 1977, locality 2). 

Location is probably accurate to within 1/2 mile. 

Commodities: 

 Main: Ag, Au 

 Other: 

Ore minerals: Gold, unknown silver mineral 

Gangue minerals: Quartz 

Geologic description:

 The discovery of an auriferous quartz vein at Malina Bay was first reported in 1911

( Brooks and others, 1912). The vein is described as being up to 14 feet in width and occurring along a contact between slate and granite and diorite (Martin, 1913, p. 133-134). 

No additional information on this site has been reported. 

 The intrusive rocks appear to be part of the Afognak Plutonic Complex of probable Jurassic age. The slate belongs to a schistose belt of Jurassic-age metasedimentary and 

metavolcanic rocks which extends northeast from Kodiak Island. 

Alteration:

 

Age of mineralization:

 

Deposit model:

Auriferous quartz vein 

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

 

Production Status None 

AF004 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 9 

Site Status: Inactive 

Workings/exploration:

 Information received by Martin (1913, p. 133-134) indicated that a 140-foot-long adit 

had been driven several years previously; however, there was some uncertainty as to 

whether the work was done on this prospect. 

Production notes:

 

Reserves:

 

Additional comments:

 The site is located on land conveyed to Koniag Corporation. 

References:

Brooks and others, 1912; Martin, 1913; Capps, 1937; Cobb, 1972, (MF 470); MacKevett 

and Holloway, 1977; Cobb, 1979, (OFR 79-860); Connelly and Moore, 1979. 

Primary reference: Martin, 1913 

Reporter(s): S.H. Pilcher (Anchorage) 

Last report date: 08/11/98 

AF004 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 10 

Site name(s): Unnamed 

Site type: Occurrence 

ARDF no.: AF005 

Latitude: 58.3 Quadrangle: AF B-2 

Longitude: 152.4 

Location description and accuracy:

 This occurrence is located southeast of Portage Lake in T. 22 S., R. 19 W. The location 

is only accurate to within 5 miles. 

Commodities: 

 Main: Au(?) 

 Other: 

Ore minerals: Unknown sulfide minerals 

Gangue minerals: 

Geologic description:

 An unknown person reported to S.W. Nelson (USGS) in 1979 that sulfide minerals occur in calcareous rocks and that a possible granitic intrusive was nearby. 

Alteration:

 

Age of mineralization:

 

Deposit model:

Polymetallic vein ? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c). 

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

22c 

Production Status None 

Site Status: Inactive 

Workings/exploration:

 

Production notes:

AF005 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 11 

 

Reserves:

 None. 

Additional comments:

 Report of sulfides based on oral communication to S.W. Nelson (USGS) in 1979. 

References:

This record 

Primary reference: This record 

Reporter(s): S.H. Pilcher (Anchorage) 

Last report date: 08/11/98 

AF005 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 12 

Site name(s): Muskomee Bay 

Site type: Occurrence 

ARDF no.: AF006 

Latitude: 58.1 Quadrangle: AF A-4 

Longitude: 153.07 

Location description and accuracy:

 This site is located just south of Muskomee Bay in sec. 17, T. 24 S., R. 23 W. 

(MacKevett and Holloway, 1977, locality 3; Foley and others, 1989, locality 34). Location is probably accurate to within 1/2 mile. 

Commodities: 

 Main: Au 

 Other: Pb, PGE 

Ore minerals: 

Gangue minerals: 

Geologic description:

 Data from U.S. Bureau of Mine files indicate lode claims with gold, lead, and PGE 

listed as commodities (Foley and others, 1989). No other data are available. 

Alteration:

 

Age of mineralization:

 

Deposit model:

Polymetallic vein ? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c). 

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

22c 

Production Status None 

Site Status: Inactive 

Workings/exploration:

 

AF006 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 13 

Production notes:

 

Reserves:

 None. 

Additional comments:

 This site is on land conveyed to Koniag Corporation. 

References:

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1973; MacKevett and Holloway, 1977; Foley and others, 1989. 

Primary reference: MacKevett and Holloway, 1977 

Reporter(s): S.H Pilcher (Anchorage) 

Last report date: 08/11/98 

AF006 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 14 

REFERENCES 

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

2004, 168 p. 

Brooks, A.H.,1912, The Alaska mining industry in 1911, in Brooks, A.H., and others, Mineral resources 

of Alaska, 1911: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 520, p. 17-44. 

Brooks, A.H.,1915, The Alaska mining industry in 1914, in Brooks, A.H., and others, Mineral resources 

of Alaska, 1914: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 622, p.15-65. 

Capps, S.R., 1937, Kodiak and adjacent islands, Alaska, in Smith, P.S. and others, Mineral resources of 

Alaska, 1934: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 880, p. 111-184, 1 map sheet, scale 1:250,000. 

Church, S.E., Riehle, J.R, Magoon, L.D, and Campbell, D.L., 1992, Mineral and energy resource assessment maps of the Mount Katmai, Naknek, and western Afognak quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. 

Geological Survey Map MF 2021F, 22 p. 2 map sheets, scale 1:250,000. 

Church, S.E., Riehle, J.R., and Goldfarb, R.J., 1994, Interpretation of exploration geochemical data for 

the Mount Katmai quadrangle, and adjacent parts of the Afognak and Naknek quadrangles, 

Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2020, 67 p., 3 map sheets, scale 1:250,000. 

Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resource map of Afognak quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Map MF 470, I map sheet, scale 1:250,000. 

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

Cobb, E.H., 1979, Summary of references to mineral occurrences in the Afognak, Karluk, Kodiak, and 

Trinity Islands quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 79-860, 49 p. 

Connelly, W., and Moore, J., 1979, Geologic map of the northwest side of Kodiak and adjacent islands, 

Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Map MF 1057, 1 map sheet, scale 1:250,000. 

Cox, D.P., and Singer, D.A., eds., 1986, Mineral deposit models: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1693, 

379 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 Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public 

Data File 89-20, 32 p., 1 map sheet, scale 1:2,500,000. 

MacKevett, E.M., and Holloway, C.D., 1977, Table describing metalliferous mineral deposits of the 

western part of southern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 77-169F, 39 p., 1 

map sheet, scale 1:1,000,000. 

MacKevett, E.M., Singer, D.A., and Holloway, 1978, Maps and tables describing metalliferous mineral 

resource potential of southern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 78-1E, 45 p., 1 

map sheet, scale 1:1,000,000. 

Martin, G.C., 1913, Mineral deposits of Kodiak and neighboring islands, in Brooks, A.H., and others, 

Mineral resources of Alaska, 1912: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 542, p. 125-136. 

Ransome, A.L., and Kerns, W.H., 1954, Names and definitions of regions, districts, and subdivisions in 

Alaska: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 7679, 91 p. 

Riehle, J.R., Dettermen, R.L., Yount, M.E., and Miller, J.W., 1993, Geologic map of the Mount Katmai 

References 
Alaska Resource Data File 

Page 15 

quadrangle and adjacent parts of the Naknek and Afognak quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Map I 2204, 1 map sheet, scale 1:250,000. 

U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1973, Quadrangle map overlays showing mineral deposit locations in Alaska: U.

S. Bureau of Mines Open File Report 20-73, 95 map sheets, scale 1:250,000. 

References