(Itkillik Cr.) Copper

Canning district Mt. Michelson (15.6, 0.85)
69°O2'N, 144°31'W

Chalcopyrite in phyllite interbedded with chert and volcanic rocks of
Cambrian-Ordovician Neruokpuk Formation.

( Itkilyariak Cr.) Copper

Canning district Mt. Michelson (12.8, 11.5)
69°38'N, 144°45'W

Native copper reported in basalt. Includes reference to (Mt. Weller).

(Katak Cr.) Tin
Canning district Mt. Michelson (14.25, 5.45)
MF-462, loc. 4 69°18'N, 144°42'W

Cassiterite in Mississippian Kekiktuk Conglomerate; may have been derived
from apophyses of granite mass of Romanzof Mts. Some cassiterite may
still remain in contact zones or in greisens and pyritic zones in the
granite.

(Katakturuk R.) Phosphate, Uranium

Canning district Mt. Michelson (8.6, 10.35)
. 69°35'N, 145°36'W

Sample collected from basal 20 ft of a 100-ft-thick sequence of black
oolitic limestone near base of Triassic Shublik Formation contained
35.8% P90, and 0.008% U. Phosphate rock is fine-grained containing
equigradular phosphatic pellets about 0.2 mm long; angular quartz grains
make up about 3% of the rock.

(Kolotuk Cr.) Copper, Fluorite, Rare-earth elements(?)

Canning district Mt. Michelson (15.9-16.05, 5.1-5.45)
69°16'-69°17'N, 144°25'-144°26'W

At 69°16'N, 144°26'W azurite-malachite stains on limestone in thermally
altered zone at granite contact. No sulfides seen [W. P. Brosgé, personal
observation, 1976]. Heavy-mineral fraction of a concentrate sample of
stream-sediments collected at 69°17'N, 144°25'W contained yttrocerite(?),
fluorite, and 0.030% eU.

(Leffingwell Glacier) Molybdenum

Canning district Mt. Michelson (17.9, 6.15)
69°20'N, 144°O7'W

Scattered single crystals and small aggregates (less than 0.5 in diameter)
of molybdenite in relatively fresh granite of Okpilak batholith.

Al9


Unnamed prospect Lead

Lisburne district De Long Mountains (13.0, 4.25)

68°14'N, 163°00'W
Only one of four color anomalies northwest of Red Dog prospect at which
a base-metal mineral was found. A piece of sandstone(?) was estimated

to contain less than 0.1% galena, No geochemical sample more than moder-
ately anomalous in Zn, Pb, or Ag was collected.

DEMARCATION POINT QUADRANGLE

(Aichillik R.) Rare-earth elements

Canning district Demarcation Point (5.75, 9.25)
69°32'N, 143°09'W

High yttrium and ytterbium in sample of efflorescent salt that is mainly
aluminum sulfate.

(Arey Cr. tributary) Copper, Lead, Zinc(?)

Canning district Demarcation Point (0.5, 5.25)

69°18'N, 143°55'W
Galena, sphalerite(?), and chalcopyrite in highly deformed pods or string-
ers of vein quartz and schistose rock a few inches wide along sheared con-
tacts between granite and quartz monzonite dikes. Includes reference to
(Dark Cr. tributary).
(Hubley Cr.) Copper (?)

Canning district Demarcation Point (2.5, 5.8) approx.
69°20'N, 143°36'W approx.

Chalcopyrite in quartz was tentatively identified in sheared zones parallel
to bedding in lower part of Neruokpuk Formation. Includes references to
(Boulder Cr.).

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Canning district Demarcation Point (2.4, 4.9)
69°17'N, 143°36'W

Malachite and azurite in calcareous hornfels in Cambrian sandstone near
contact with granite of Jago stock.

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Canning district Demarcation Point (7.3, 8.3)
69°28'N, 142°49'W

Chalcopyrite in quartz vein in mafic volcanic rocks.

Al3


Small occurrence of purple fluorite associated with white calcite vein-
lets cutting gray limestone of Devonian or Mississippian age. [C. F.
Mayfield, personal observation, 1978].

POINT LAY QUADRANGLE

(Kukpowruk R.) Thorium, Uranium

Wainwright district Point Lay (14.25-14.35, 7.5-7.6)
69°25'N, 162°41'-162°42'W

33 samples of sandstone and shale from a stratigraphic thickness of 1,424 m
of the Cretaceous Nanushuk Group on the south limb of the Barabara syncline
contain an average of 7.30 ppm Th and 1.58 ppm U; maximum contents are
16.14 ppm Th and 3.17 ppm U.

TABLE MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE
(Bear Mtn.) Copper, Lead, Silver, Zinc

Sheenjek district Table Mountain (12.6-12.9, 6.85-7.2)
68°23'-68°24'N, 142°00'-142°03'W

Mountain is a dome of lower Paleozoic and possibly older phyllite, phyl-
litic sandstone, and fine-grained quartzite overlain by thick probably
Devonian conglomerate and, on the east side of the mountain, Mississippian
shale; a little greenstone intercalated with some of the older rocks; all
intruded by small bodies of rhyolite, galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite
at contact of a rhyolite dike in quartzite. Galena is abundant in quartz
veins at the contacts of some rhyolite dikes and occurs as tiny veinlets,
some with and some without quartz, along foliation and small fractures

in phyllitic sandstone and greenstone, but not in rhyolite. Samples from
which metallic minerals were not reported contained anomalous amounts of
Sn and W and as much as 25 ppm Ag. Includes references to (Galena Cr.).

(Double Mtn.) Copper

Sheenjek district Table Mountain (0.9, 13.2)
68°45'N, 143°52'W

Azurite in volcanic rocks [H. N. Reiser, oral communication, 1960]. Sub-
sequent analysis of a sample of a quartz vein showed 0.15% Cu and 0.5% Pb.

A23


ARCTIC QUADRANGLE
(Chandalar R., headwaters) Copper

Chandalar district Arctic (18.5, 17.1)
68°57'N, 144°04'W

Malachite and azurite in Devonian sandstone.
(Ivishak R.) Fluorite

Canning district Arctic (1.5, 14.75) approx.
68°51'N, 146°46'W approx.

Fluorite and pyrite in veinlets and fracture fillings in siliceous
sedimentary rocks.

(Koness R., headwaters) Copper

Sheenjek district Arctic (15.5, 7.5) approx.
68°25'N, 144°36'W approx.

Malachite and pyrite in green shale associated with red hematitic shales.
Sediment samples from area contain more than 1% Mn.

(Porcupine Lake) Fluorite

Canning district Arctic (3.5, 14.4) approx.
68°49'N, 146°28'W approx.

Cobbles and small boulders of fluorite, generally purple, in carbonaceous
argillaceous chert. Sample contained a trace of Pb.

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Chandalar district Arctic (4.2, 1.5) approx.
68°O5'N, 146°21'W approx.

Siderite, limonite, chalcocite, and traces of bornite and malachite in
fine- to medium-grained andesitic tuff.

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Chandalar district Arctic (1.75, 4.7) approx.
68°16'N, 146°44'W approx.

Malachite in Upper Devonian green shale associated with red hematitic
shales. Sample of green shale contained 4,200 ppm Cu.

A4


(Nanook Cr.) Copper

Canning district Mt. Michelson (5.65-5.8, 9.4-9.6)

69°30'-69°33'N, 146°04'-146°05'W
Native copper and malachite and azurite stains in basalt. Axurite and
malachite in breccia zone in Devonian or older dolomite overlying the
basalt.

(Okpilak R.) Fluorite, Molybdenum, Rare-earth elements(?),

Uranium
Canning district Mt. Michelson (18.45, 5.75)

69°18'N, 144°O1L'W
Fluorite, molybdenite, and yttrocerite(?) in samples of granite of
Okpilak batholith. Heavy-mineral fractions of concentrates contained
0.034%-0.080% eU; 0.010%-0.033% U.
(Okpilak R., near head) Gold(?)

Canning district Mt. Michelson (18.45, 4.05) approx.
69°13'N, 144°02'W approx.

Only known placer gold claim in Arctic Wildlife Range. No production
reported, but there probably was enough of a showing to have warranted
bringing in the equipment found a few miles away.

(Old Man Cr.) Phosphate

Canning district Mt. Michelson (16.9, 8.5)
69°28'N, 144°15'W

Sample from Triassic Shublik Formation contained 22% P,0. and 0.007% eU.
Location given in Patton and Matzko, 1959 (P 302-A) is probably not correct.

(Sadlerochit R.) Phosphate

Canning district Mt. Michelson (11.2, 8.2)
69°28'N, 145°11'W

Sample from black siltstone unit of basal Shublik Formation (Triassic)
containing black phosphate nodules contained 18.4% P40, and 0.003% eU.

(Shublik I.) Uranium
Canning district Mt. Michelson (5.3, 7.1)
MF-462, loc. 2 69°24'N, 146°08'W

Sample of black limestone from Triassic Shublik Formation contained
0.001% U.

A20


60 ppm Au and more than 0.1% Sn in panned concentrate of stream sediments
collected downstream from zone of altered schist on west flank of Okpilak
batholith.

Unnamed occurrence Phosphate

Canning district Mt. Michelson (15.8, 11.4)
69°38'N, 144°25'W

Sample from 10-ft-thick bed 25 ft above base of Triassic Shublik Forma~

tion contained 20% P40, and 0.004% eU.

Unnamed occurrence Phosphate, Uranium
Canning district Mt. Michelson (4.65, 8.2)
MF-462, loc. 1 69°28'N, 146°1L5'W

Sample from 165 ft above base of Triassic Shublik Formation contained 14.7%
P,0, and 0.001% U. Bluish-black shale and limestone common throughout
265=ft-thick section of Shublik.

Unnamed occurrence Tungsten

Canning district Mt. Michelson (17.95, 6.85)
69°22'N, 144°06'W

Panned~concentrate sample of stream sediment a short distance downstream

from edge of Okpilak batholith contained 0.030% eU, pyrite, ilmenite,
zircon, sphene, brookite, and scheelite.

NOATAK QUADRANGLE
(Asik Mtn.) Chromite

Noatak district Noatak (20.7, 8.75) approx.
67°27'N, 162°25'W approx.

Disseminated chromite and magnetite in dunite of an ultramafic body with
poorly defined layering; near southwest part of Asik Mtn.

(Maiyumerak Mtn.) Copper

Noatak district Noatak (22.85-23.1, 14.1-14.3)
67°47'N, 162°01'-162°03'W

Minor amounts of pyrite and chalcopyrite in serpentinite and basalt.
Unnamed occurrence Fluorite

Noatak district Noatak (18.5, 7.35)
67°24'N, 162°21'W

A22


western Brooks Range. Rock and stream-sediment sampling indicate that
the deposit may contain silver; host mineral(s) not determined. Some
quartz veins cut sedimentary rocks; most are barren, but some contain
rare sulfides.

(Inaccessible Ridge) Copper
Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (1.0, 8.25)
68°28'N, 161°51'W

Malachite stains on fractures and marcasite nodules in tightly folded
Triassic chart.

(Kagvik Cr.) Barite, Gypsum(?)

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (3.7, 6.6) approx.
68°22'N, 161°25'W approx.

Prominent iron-stained yellow clay (bentonite?) horizon with local sparse
barite and gypsum(?). Zone is at contact between intensely deformed dark
chert and shale of the Carboniferous Lisburne Group and maroon and gray
shale of younger Siksikpuk Formation.

(Kugurorok R.) Chromite

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain
sw 1/4 SW 1/4 SW 1/4 quad.

Specimen of chromite said to have come from near mouth of Kugururok R.
Could have been derived from one of the ultramafic bodies to the north
or northeast.

(Misheguk Mtn.) Chromite, Nickel(?)

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (6.1-6.25, 4,35)
68°15'N, 161°02'-161°04'W

Chromite occurs as discontinuous bands less than an inch wide, small
pods, and disseminations in part of a large serpentinized ultramafic
body. A greenish mineral tentatively identified as garnierite was found.

(Nimiuktuk R.) Barite

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (13.55, 7.5)
68°25'N, 159°54'W

Small hill surrounded by tundra made up of cobble- and boulder-size frag-
ments of barite. Nearest bedrock exposures, 500-600 m away, are Upper
Mississippian black shale and chert in contact with Cretaceous clastic
rocks and altered volcanic rocks (K-Ar age 333 + 17 m.y.) and sandy lime-
stone of Mississippian Utukok Formation. Volcanic rocks probably were
originally dacite or andesite. Utukok Formation rocks probably are part of
a higher thrust sheet and unrelated to barite deposit. Deposit above level
of tundra contains a minimum of 12,500 tonnes of high-grade barite; entire
deposit likely to be several times as large.

Al?


(Temby) Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (16.45, 10.4)
MF-386, loc. 3 67°35'N, 159°33'W

Quartz veins in graphite-chlorite phyllite are 6 in to 3 ft thick, can

be traced for 100-250 ft along strike, and contain small blebs and discon-
tinuous stringers of pyrite and chalcopyrite; some malachite. Average of
assays of 4 samples is 1.1% Cu, 0.07 oz/ton Ag, and trace of Au. Called
(Salmon R.) in some of references listed in Part B.

(Timber Cr.) Gold(?)

Kiana district Baird Mountains (9.0-10.2, 5.3-6.4) approx.
67°18'-67°22'N, 160°30'-160°40'W approx.

Placer gold has been reported.

(Trinity) Fluorite
Kiana district Baird Mountains (12.8-13.0, 0.5-1.0)

67°01'-67°03'N, 160° 06'-160°08'wW
Sporadic occurrences of fluorite associated with metamorphosed tactite
adjacent to a 2- to 3-mi-long metagranite dike. Scintillometer anomaly
also associated with the mineralized zone. [I. L. Tailleur, written
communication, 1976].

Uhl Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (1.75, 3.1) approx.
67°11'N, 161°45'W approx.

Chalcopyrite in quartz vein in schist and phyllite.
Unnamed prospect Barite, Zinc(?)

Kiana district Baird Mountains (8.5, 8.15) approx.
67°27'N, 160°44'W approx.

Zinc and barite mineralization extending for about 1 km. Data insufficient
to determine if a zinc mineral was identified or if there was only a Zn
geochemical determination.

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (17.65, 10.7)
67°36'N, 159°21'wW

Malachite stain in small quartz vein cutting interlayered marble and
phyllite. [I. L. Tailleur, written communication, 1974].

Ag


Chevron Copper

Kiana and Noatak districts Baird Mountains (14.7, 15.5)
67°52'N, 159°46'W

Quartz lens or lenses and rubble in an area about 100 x 75 ft contain
pyrite, chalcopyrite, and a little malachite. Assays of samples indicate
grade of about 0.37% Cu.

(Cross Cr.) Gold(?)

Kiana district Baird Mountains (8.9, 3.35) approx.
67°11'N, 160°42'W approx.

Unconfirmed reports of placer gold.

(Eli R.) Copper
Noatak district Baird Mountains (3.8-3.9, 11.15-11.25)
MF-386, loc. 1 (in part) 67°38'N, 161°25'-161°26'W

At 67°38'N, 161°26'W a quartz vein in limestone contains malachite and
limonite; sample contained 1% Cu. At 67°38'N, 161°25'W a float boulder
of quartz contained small blebs of chalcopyrite and minor malachite.
Includes reference to (Agashashok R.).

Eskimo Copper

Noatak district Baird Mountains (2.15, 8.9) approx.
67°30'N, 161°41'W approx.

Chalcocite and malachite in bleached limestone.
Frost Barite, Copper, Zinc

Kiana district Baird Mountains (8.95-9.1, 8.4-8.6)
67°28'-67°29'N, 160°39'-160°40'W

Lenses and pods of barite at least 10 m thick and 25-30 m long occur along
a strike distance of about 1.6 km in Devonian dolomite. At least some
lenses are 75% barite. Resource probably at least 1 million tonnes;
possibly as much as 10 million tonnes. Pinching-and-swelling quartz-
calcite-barite veins contain sphalerite and chalcopyrite; sample across
2.4 m contained 0.49% Cu, 13.2% Zn, and 20.7% barite.

Gallahorn Copper

Noatak district Baird Mountains (0.6, 3.3) approx.
67°11'N, 161°55'W approx.

Two quartz veins in schist and phyllite contain chalcopyrite.

A6


Unnamed occurrence Copper

Canning district Arctic (5.0, 16.9) approx.
68°58'N, 146°13'W approx.

Malachite, disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite in gray chert and silicic
siltstone.

BAIRD MOUNTAINS QUADRANGLE

(Bear Cr.) Gold
Kiana district Baird Mountains (11.65-11.75, 2.85-2.95)
MF-386, loc. 9 67°09'N, 160°16'-160°17'W

Bedrock limestone and schist. Placer mining 0.5 mi below forks. Pro-
duction through 1930 was reported to have been about 95 oz of gold.

(Boldrin Cr.) Gold
Kiana district Baird Mountains (10.4, 2.8)
MF-386, loc. 5 67°09'N, 160°28'W

Fine, flaky placer gold reported; bedrock mainly schist. Includes refer-
ence to (Baldwin Cr.).

(Canyon Cr.) Gold(?)

Kiana district . Baird Mountains (11.4, 1.4) approx.
67°04'N, 160°20'W approx.

Unconfirmed reports of placer gold.

(Caribou Cr.) Gold
Kiana district Baird Mountains
MF-386, loc. 6 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 quad.

Small tributary (not shown on available maps) of Klery Cr. from which
45-50 oz of coarse placer gold with much attached quartz was mined.

(Central Cr.) Gold

Kiana district Baird Mountains (11.5-11.7, 2.2)
MF-386, loc. 10 67°07'N, 160°16'-160°18'W
Bedrock mainly limestone. Placer gold fine and flaky. Some of gravel

_ contained about 50¢ worth of gold (at $20.67) per ydTM. Total production
through 1930 was probably about 145 oz. Activity reported in later years
all may have been prospecting. Includes reference to (Center Cr.).

AS


Unnamed occurrence Copper

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (17.2, 1.9)
68°05'N, 159°22'w

Two quartz veins about 2 ft thick cut Upper Devonian gray shale and
sandstone. Malachite stains in fractures in the quartz vein. Outcrop
is a stream cut on north side of Noatak R. [I. L. Tailleur, written
communication, 1966].

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (17.5, 9.7)
68°32'N, 159°15'W

Sparse malachite staining in a small quartz-jasper vein cutting Carbon-

iferous chert. Outcrop is isolated in Cretaceous mudstone and wacke by
thrust faults. [C. F. Mayfield, personal observation, 1978].

MT. MICHELSON QUADRANGLE

(Canning R.) Gold(?), Mercury(?)
Canning district Mt. Michelson
SW 1/4 quad.

Doubtful reports of an auriferous quartz vein and of cinnabar.

(Esetuk Glacier) Copper, Fluorite, Lead, Zinc

Mt. Michelson (16.35, 5.65)
69°18'N, 144°22'wW

Skarn contains galena, sphalerite, malachite, azurite, and quartz-tourma-
line-fluorite veins. As much as 300 ppm Sn and 1,500 ppm W, but no tin
or tungsten minerals reported. Schist contains fluorite. In contact
zone west of Okpilak batholith. Includes reference to (Esotuk Glacier).

(Fire Cr.) Phosphate, Rare-earth elements

Canning district Mt. Michelson (11.0, 9.5)
69°32'N, 145°12'W

Phosphate rock from Triassic Shublik Formation contains as much as 19.17%
P,0. and several times the average concentrations of rare-earth elements
for similar rocks.

(Hulahula R.) Phosphate

Canning district Mt. Michelson (16.15, 8.75)
69°29'N, 144°23'W

Sample of black limestone with phosphate nodules from top of exposed
section of Triassic Shublik Formation contained about 15% P05.

A18


(Maiyumerak Mts.) Chromite, Copper

Noatak district Baird Mountains (0.6, 13.8) approx.
67°48'N, 161°53'W approx.

Limited geologic work indicated minor disseminated pyrite, chalcopyrite,
and chromite in an ultramafic body. Occurrence may be in Noatak quad.
Use of Asik Mtn. in Grybeck, 1977 (OF 77-166C) is probably a lapsus for
Maiyumerak Mts. See also (Maiyumerak Mts.) Noatak quad.

(Mink Cr.) Gold(?)

Kiana district Baird Mountains (11.65, 11.75) approx.
67°O2'N, 160°18'W approx.

Unconfirmed report of placer gold.
Omar Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (7.45-7.7, 8.5-9.0)
67°29'-67°30'N, 160°51'-160°53'W

Compound fracture 3 km long with individual zones 30 m wide and 300-1,000 m
long in tan-weathering Devonian dolomite. Ore deposit formed by breccia
and fracture filling with chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, and malachite.
Faulted and brecciated gossan. Deposit explored by about 900 m of diamond
drilling. Selected samples assayed up to 1.5% Cu; several were more than
2% Cu. .

(Pelu(c)k Cr.) Gold

Kiana district Baird Mountains (9.8, 2.75)
MF-386, loc. 4 67°09'N, 160°33'W

Man who did winter prospecting about 1931 reported finding coarse placer
gold.

(Salmon R.) Copper, Silver

Kiana district Baird Mountains (14.4, 12.3)
67°41'N, 159°50'W

Rubble of quartz vein in schist contains chalcopyrite and as much as
11 ppm Ag. See also (Temby).

(Salmon R., headwaters) Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (16.05, 13.95)
67°47'N, 159°35'E

Stream float contains chalcopyrite. Source at or near Hub prospect.

A8


Synonyms, Owners, Operators, and Claim Names

Baird Mountains quadrangle

(Agashoshok R.) -- see (Eli R.)
Armstrong & Baldwin -- see (Boldrin Cr.)
(Asik Mtn.) -- see (Maiyumerak Mts.)
(Baldwin Cr.) -- see (Boldrin Cr.)

Bear Creek Mining Co. -- see Frost, Omar
(Center Cr.) -- see (Central Cr.)
Columbia -- see (Klery Cr.)

Geffe -- see (Klery Cr.)

Gopher -- see (Klery Cr.)

Greenberg and associates -- see (Klery Cr.)
Hansen -- see (Central Cr.)

Hark Luck -- see (Klery Cr.)

(Kiana) -- see (Klery Cr.)

Klery Creek Mines Co. -- see (Klery Cr.)
Klery Placers, Inc. -- see (Klery Cr.)
Kozak -- see (Peluk Cr.)

Lesamis and associates -- see (Klery Cr.)
Liberty -- see (Klery Cr.)

Missing Link -- see (Klery Cr.)

Oregon -- see (Klery Cr.)

(Squirrel R.) -- see (Klery Cr.)

Star -- see (Klery Cr.)

Suksdorf -- see (Central Cr.)

Teddy -- see (Klery Cr.)

Vera -- see (Klery Cr.)

Westlake -- see (Klery Cr.)

Wise -- see (Homestake Cr.)

Wood -- see (Bear Cr.), (Klery Cr.)
Xavier & Quillen -- see (Gold Run Cr.), (Joe Gulch), (Klery Cr.)
Xavier & Southward -- see (Klery Cr.)

Chandler Lake quadrangle
(Monotis Cr.) -- see (Kiruktagiak Cr.)
(Skimo Cr.) -- see (Tiglukpuk Cr.)

De Long Mountains quadrangle
(Pitmegea R.) -- see (Ikuk Cr.)
(Red Dog Cr.) -- see Red Dog
Suds -- see Hot Dog

Wulik -- see Lik

Demarcation Point quadrangle
(Dark Cr. tributary) -- see (Arey Cr. tributary)
(Boulder Cr.) -- see (Hubley Cr.)

Mt. Michelson quadrangle
(Esotuk Glacier) -- see (Esetuk Glacier)
(Mt. Weller) -- see (Itkilyariak Cr.)

Table Mountain quadrangle
(Galena Cr.) -- see (Bear Mtn.)

A24


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

SUMMARIES OF DATA ON AND LISTS OF REFERENCES TO
METALLIC AND SELECTED NONMETALLIC MINERAL OCCURRENCES
IN ELEVEN QUADRANGLES IN NORTHERN ALASKA,

SUPPLEMENT TO OPEN-FILE REPORT 75-628

PART A -- SUMMARIES OF DATA TO JANUARY 1, 1981
Arctic, p. AG Howard Pass, p. A14
Baird Mountains, p. A5 Misheguk Mountain, p- Al6
Chandler Lake, p- Al0 Mt. Michelson, p. A18
De Long Mountains, p. All Noatak, p. A22
Demarcation Point, p- A13 Point Lay, p+ A23

Table Mountain, p. 423

By Edward H. Cobb, Charles F. Mayfield, and William P. Brosgé

Open-File Report 81-767A
1981

This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed
for conformity with U. S$. Geological Survey editorial
standards and stratigraphic nomenclature.


(Tiglukpuk Cr.) Fluorite, Phosphate, Vanadium

Colville district Chandler Lake (7.05-7.4, 5.2-5.25)
68°18'N, 151°52'-151°55'W

A 36-ft-thick sequence of the black chert and shale unit of the Mississippian
Alapah Limestone averages 8% P.0,; a 43-in-thick sequence averages 21% PLO.

and 6 beds, none more than 5.5 in thick, contain 30% P40 . Samples analvzéd

for vanadium contained 0.04%-0.10% V205- Fluorite was’a constituent of

all samples studied.

DE LONG MOUNTAINS QUADRANGLE
Hot Dog Lead, Zinc

Lisburne district De Long Mountains (13.8, 3.15)
68°10'N, 162°53'W

Gossan, exposed along upper Ikalukrok Cr. and a small tributary, contains
sphalerite and galena. Host rock appears to be black shale and chert of
Carboniferous age. Believed to have stratigraphic setting and origin similar
to those of the Red Dog and Lik deposits. Hot Dog prospect also called Suds.
[I. F. Ellersieck, personal communication, 1979].

(Ikuk Cr.) Gold(?)

Lisburne district De Long Mountains
SE 1/4 NW 1/4 quad.

Auriferous pyrite(?) reported on Ikuk Cr. in late 1880's was said to carry
$3.50 to $8.00 in gold per ton. Iron-sulfide nodules known from sedimentary
formations that extend into area, but no gold known or considered likely.
Includes reference to (Pitmegea R.). See also (Mt. Kelly).

Lik Barite, Lead, Silver, Zinc

Lisburne district De Long Mountains (11.7, 3.15)
68°10'N, 163°12'W

Host rocks are dolomite, black chert and shale of Mississippian(?)
Lisburne Group. Stratiform deposit of barite in lenses and pods as much
as 10 m thick and 1,600 m long and fine-grained sphalerite and galena.
Industry has announced reserves of 35 million tons with 10% combined lead
and zinc and 2 oz/ton silver. Very little has been published about this
prospect. Includes reference to Wulik.

(Mt. Kelly) Gold(?)

Lisburne district De Long Mountains
Central 1/4 quad.

Rich gold quartz reported from near Mt. Kelly, which may be the mountain
now called by that name at the head of the Pitmegea R. Region is geolo-
gically not likely to contain gold. May be the same occurrence as that

reported on Ikuk Cr. See also (Ikuk Cr.).

All


Unnamed occurrence Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (19.1, 14.25)
67°47'N, 159°06'W

Malachite and minor azurite stain along fractures in quartz veins which
cut phyllite. [I. L. Tailleur, written communication, 1976].

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (18.95, 15.15)
67°50'N, 159°08'W

Chalcopyrite and malachite in sheared quartz vein cutting black schistose
rock. Mineralized zone occurs along a small scarp; may be localized
along a fault. [I. L. Tailleur, written communication, 1976].

CHANDLER LAKE QUADRANGLE
(Anaktuvuk R.) Fluorite, Phosphate

Colville district Chandler Lake (9.2-10.1, 4.7-4.75) approx.
68°16'N, 151°27'-151°35'W approx.

Samples of phosphate rock from black chert and shale unit of Mississippian
Alapah Limestone contained as much as 21.4% Po05- Purple fluorite also
present.

(Chandler Lake) Fluorite, Phosphate, Vanadium

Colville district Chandler Lake (3.1, 5.8) approx.
68°20'N, 152°31'W approx.

Sample of phosphate rock from Mississippian Alapah Limestone contained

25.6% PLO. and 0.02% V505- Purple fluorite also present.
(Kiruktagiak R.) Fluorite, Phosphate, Uranium, Vanadium
Colville district Chandler Lake (0.75-0.9, 6.6-6.65)

69°23'N, 152°51'-152°53'W

A 38-ft-thick zone of a chert and shale unit in the Mississippian Alapah
Limestone contains an average of 12% PO 3 a 27-in-thick sequence contains
27% P50 . Samples analyzed for vanadium contained 0.07%-0.49% v,0 . One
sample Contained 0.021% U. Fluorite was a constituent of all sanples
studied.

(Natvakruak Lake) Phosphate

Colville district Chandler Lake (8.5, 5.6) approx.
68°19'N, 151°41'W approx.

Sample of phosphate rock, probably from black chert and shale unit of
Mississippian Alapah Limestone, contained 27.9% P,0.-

A10


(Gold Run Cr.) Gold

Kiana district Baird Mountains (11.2, 5.3)
MF-386, loc. 8 67°18'N, 160°21'W

A few ounces of placer gold recovered during assessment work, 1931 or
earlier.

(Homestake Cr.) Gold

Kiana district Baird Mountains (10.8, 6.45) approx.
MF-386, loc. 7 67°22'N, 160°24'W approx.

One man placer mined coarse gold for 12 summers; production probably not
much more than 50 oz.

Hub Copper

Kiana district Baird Mountains (15.9-15.95, 13.75)
67°46'N, 159°36'W

Two 6-in quartz-calcite veins in dolomite above phyllite contain chalco-
pyrite and pyrite; average of 2 assays is 0.72% Cu.

(Joe Gulch) Gold
Kiana district Baird Mountains
MF-386, loc. 6 . SW 1/4 SE 1/4 quad.

Placer gold near mouth is fine and flaky; more than 0.5 mi upstream it is
coarse. Prospecting, but no mining, reported. Small tributary of Klery Cr.

(Klery Cr.) Copper, Gold, Lead(?), Tin(?)
Kiana district Baird Mountains (10.5-11.1, 2.4-5.4)
MF-386, loc. 6 67°08'-67°18'N, 160°21'-160°28'W

Bedrock is limestone and schist with many small quartz veins, the probable
source of gold in placers. Placer gold was mined from lowest part of

stream gravel and the top foot of weathered bedrock. Gold from several
claims was coarse (at least one 8.5-oz nugget) with attached quartz or
graphitic schist, but the rest was fine and flaky. Some of the richest
deposits may have been reconcentrated from an old channel. Concentrates
contained much magnetite, some ilmenite, pyrite, and limonite, and very lit-
tle garnet. Gold was discovered in 1909 and mining was reported in almost
all years until World War II; probably has been some since, but the area was
in ative in 1975. Through 1931 estimated production was about 31,300 oz;

no data for later years. Mining was mainly by hand methods, but draglines,
hydraulic methods, and a small dredge were also used. Copper minerals,
galena, and cassiterite have been reported [Anderson, 1947 (TDM 5-R)], but
recent exploration has confirmed only the presence of copper minerals,
which were found at several places near the Kobuk-Noatak divide. Includes
references to (Kiana) and (Squirrel R.) and general references to Kiana
district. Some references listed in Part B may be to mining on tributaries
or neighboring streams rather than to mining on Klery Cr. itself.

— AT


Unnamed occurrences Aluminum

Canning district Mt. Michelson (8.1, 6.65); (15.7, 8.2)
69°22'N, 145°42'W; 69°27'N, 144°27'W

Slightly metamorphosed "pocket-type" ferruginous bauxite (diaspore and
pyrophyllite present) on a pre-Mississippian angular unconformity. The
average composition of 4 samples from the above localities is: 18.73%
S$i0,; 35.00% Al 033 7.38% Fe,0,; 22.25% FeO; 2.96% combined Mg0, Ca0, Na,0,
OF; 0.40% H,0-5 3.65% Tid

K,03 10.25% H. 3 0.32% P.0,; 0.18% MnO; 0.21%
(3um 100.33) .7 2 id 2
Unnamed occurrence Copper

Canning district Mt. Michelson (14.6, 0.5)

69°O1'N, 144°40'W
Chalcopyrite in brecciated quartzite of Mississippian Kekiktuk Conglomerate.
Unnamed occurrence Copper

Canning district Mt. Michelson (14.55, 1.35)
69°O4'N, 144°41'W

Chalcopyrite in sheared volcanic rocks.
Unnamed occurrence Copper

Canning district . Mt. Michelson (11.9, 11.3)
69°38'N, 145°03'W

Copper sulfides in amygaloidal basalt.
Unnamed occurrence Fluorite

Canning district Mt. Michelson (18.45, 6.5)
69°21'N, 144°01'W

Fluorite in vein quartz.
Unnamed occurrence Fluorite, Lead, Rare-earth elements(?)

Canning district Mt. Michelson (18.0, 6.35)
69°20'N, 144°06'W

Heavy-mineral fraction of pan-concentrate sample contained tourmaline,
yttrocerite(?), fluorite, and galena; 0.040% eU.

Unnamed occurrence Gold

Canning district Mt. Michelson (15.4, 4.3)
69°14'N, 144°32'W

A21




Unnamed occurrence Fluorite

Canning district Demarcation Point (0.15, 5.15)
69°18'N, 143°59'W

Fluorite in greisen in granite of Okpilak batholith.
Unnamed occurrence Fluorite

Canning district Demarcation Point (0.3, 6.2)
69°21'N, 143°59'W

Fluorite in small isolated granite body near Okpilak batholith.
Unnamed occurrence Gold, Silver

Canning district Demarcation Point (0.65, 4.6)
69°16'N, 143°54'W

Traces of gold and silver in pyritic zone in granite of Okpilak batholith.
Unnamed occurrence Manganese

Canning district Demarcation Point (10.65, 1.8)
69°06'N, 142°18'W

About 175 ft of highly manganiferous beds in middle of 520-ft thickness

of pebble-shale member of Lower Cretaceous Kongakut Formation. Manganifer-
ous section is black, with small pellets and thin beds of sedimentary
manganese carbonates; exact chemical composition not known; analyses

of a few samples indicated about 5% Mn.

Unnamed occurrence Molybdenum

Canning district Demarcation Point (0.2, 4.5)
69°15'N, 143°58'W

Molybdenite at contacts of quartz veins with granite of Okpilak batholith.

HOWARD PASS QUADRANGLE

(Drenchwater Cr.) Barite, Fluorite, Lead, Zinc

Colville district Howard Pass (1.15-2.1, 9.9-10.1)
68°34'N, 158°40'-158°44'W

Stratiform volcanogenic deposit of fine-grained galena, sphalerite, and
pyrite with minor amounts of barite and rare fluorite in black chert,
shale, volcanic graywacke, and interbedded volcanic rocks (possibly some
sills) of the Mississippian (Lower Pennsylvanian?) Lisburne Group. Spor-

adic occurrences of sphalerite and galena occur along a 1.25-mi linear zone
that parallels the strike of bedding. Country rock dismembered by thrust
faults into tectonic breccia, but individual thrust sheets are still recog-
nizable. Host rock for sulfides appears to be black shale and chert of
Carboniferous age; some barite in siltstone, shale, and chert of younger

Al4


(Siniktanneyak Mtn.) Chromite, Silver

Noatak district Howard Pass (3.5-4.65, 5.45-6.4)
68°19'-68°22'N, 158°17'-158°28'W

Peridotite in mafic-ultramafic complex contains widespread disseminated
chromite and small (largest 8 in thick and 12 ft long) chromite-bearing
lenses. Sample of pyrite-bearing feldspathic dike(?) in pillow basalt at
eastern edge of complex (68°21'N, 158°17'W) contained 20 ppm Ag.

(Story Cr.) Lead, Zinc

Colville district Howard Pass (6.9, 6.8)
68°23'N, 157°56'W

Sphalerite and galena in quartz veins in Upper(?) Devonian to Lower(?)
Mississippian sandstone, siltstone, and shale cut by fine-grained igneous
dikes.

Unnamed occurrence Copper

Colville district Howard Pass (13.7, 11.5)
68°38'N, 156°51'W

Chalcopyrite blebs in Triassic limestone and chert adjacent to a small
mafic sill or dike. [I. L. Tailleur, written communication, 1968].

MUSHEGUK MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE
(Avan R.) Chromite, Nickel

Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (0.2-0.6, 4.0-4.4)
69914'-69°15'N, 161°54'-161°57'W

Small layers or bands of chromite in north-central part of an ultramafic
pluton. Disseminated chromite widely distributed. During polished-
section studies pyrrhotite and pentlandite were found in a few specimens.

(Ginny Cr.) Copper, Lead, Silver(?), Zinc
Noatak district Misheguk Mountain (4.6, 5.15)

68°17'N, 161°18'W

Deposit is in lowest (Brooks Range) thrust sequence in area; host rocks

are Devonian-Mississippian Noatak Sandstone and a thin limestone tongue of
the gradationally overlying Utukok Formation. Sulfide minerals (sphaler-
ite, galena, pyrite, and rare chalcopyrite) occur mainly as minute crys-
tals scattered through sandstone, which contains considerable siderite
where mineralized and none elsewhere. Some outcrops of massive sulfides.
Mineralized area is at least 1 mi long and up to 1/2 mi wide. Deposit
apparently formed by subsurface hydrothermal open-space filling and re-
placement rather than by hot-spring deposition on sea floor as seems to have
happened at other presumably contemporaneous base-metal deposits in the

Al6


in other reports, such as Degenhart and others, 1978 (USBM OF 103-78)
and Grybeck, 1977 (OF 77-166C).

Staff, Alaska Field Operations Center, 1978, Mineral data appraisal
of the proposed Noatak National Ecological Reserve, Alaska: a
preliminary comment: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 67-
78, 33 p.

» 1978, Mineral appraisal of the proposed Gates of the Arctic
Wilderness National Park, Alaska: a preliminary comment: U.S.
Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 109-78, 29 p.

» 1978, Mineral appraisal of the proposed Kobuk Valley National
Park, Alaska: a preliminary comment: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-
File Report 110-78, 31 p.

» 1979, A mineral appraisal of the areas traversed by the Kobuk,
Killik, Alatna and John Rivers and the North Fork of the Koyukuk
River, Brooks Range, Alaska: a summary report: U.S. Bureau of
Mines Open-File Report 36-79, 23 p.

» 1979, A mineral appraisal of the areas traversed by the Salmon
and Noatak Rivers in the western Brooks Range: a summary report:
U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 50-79, 16 p.

» 1980, Mineral appraisal of the proposed Utukok and Colville
Wild and Scenic Rivers: a summary report: U.S. Bureau of Mines
Open-File Report 37-80, 8 p.

» 1980, Mineral deposits of the Cape Krusenstern area, Alaska:

a preliminary comment: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 42-
80, 22 p.

A2


Introduction

This report was prepared as a supplement to a 1975 report which sum—
marized data on mineral occurrences in northern Alaska (Cobb, E. H.,
1975, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral
fuels and construction materials) in northern Alaska: U.S. Geological
Survey Open-File Report 75-628, 106 p.). As a result of suggestions from
users of the series of which the 1975 report is a part, this supplement
is released in two parts; Part A, which presents summaries of data to
January 1, 1981, and Part B, which consists of reference lists for each
occurrence.

In Part A data from most reports released between the cut-off date
(January 1, 1975) for the original report and January 1, 1981, have been
incorporated in new or rewritten summaries where appropriate. For each
occurrence described in Part A, the name, U.S. Bureau of Mines mining dis-
trict, reference (if any) that has the occurrence plotted on a map at a
scale of 1:250,000, list of mineral commodities, and location data are in
the same format as in the 1975 report. This report does not include refer-
ences to bentonite because it is so widespread in rocks of Cretaceous age
north of the Brooks Range that including the few occurrences for which
there are specific data would give a false impression of scarcity. Data
on mineral occurrences in the Ambler River, Philip Smith Mountains, and
Survey Pass quadrangles have been or will be released in separate reports.
The only commodity listed in the 1975 report in the Umiat quadrangle is
bentonite, so that quadrangle does not appear in this report. Also in-
cluded at the end of Part A are updated lists of synonyms, owners, opera-
tors, and claim names.

In both parts citations are in standard bibliographic format with the
exception that references to reports and maps in numbered publication
series also show, in parentheses, an abbreviation for the report or map
series and the number of the report or map. Abbreviations used are:

B U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin

c U.S. Geological Survey Circular

OF U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report

MF U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies
Map

P U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper

TDM Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Pamphlet

USBM OF U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report

In Part B each citation to the principal references used in preparing
summaries in Part A is preceded by an asterisk. The form of citation used
in the reference list for each occurrence is considered sufficient identi-
fication for each numbered report or map to be found easily in most lib-
raries. Complete references to reports without identifying numbers are
listed at the end of Part B.

The following seven U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Reports were not
used in preparing this supplement because descriptions of most occurrences
are not sufficiently detailed to allow evaluation of deposits. In many
descriptions it is not possible to determine if a potentially valuable min-
eral was identified or if the report is based solely on an analysis of a
sample collected during a geochemical survey. Most specific data are also

Al


Red Dog Barite, Lead, Silver, Zinc

Lisburne district De Long Mountains (14.25, 1.45)
MF-404, loc. not numbered 68°O4'N, 162°50'W

2

Area about 9,000 x 3,500 ft (1.13 mi~) contains stratiform deposits of
barite, sphalerite, galena, and minor amounts of pyrite in Carboniferous
black shale and chert of Lisburne Group; volcanic rocks exposed about 0.6 mi
to the northeast. Rocks displaced by many low-angle thrust faults which
juxtaposed different facies of coeval rocks; some higher sheets probably
were removed by erosion. Mineralization syngenetic; probably the result

of sea-floor precipitation from hot-spring waters. Some sulfides appear

as veins and breccia fillings. Barite-rich rock with variable amounts of
sulfides appears to be most widely distributed; stratigraphically highest
and may mask other sulfide zones. Mapping reveals 3 massive sulfide lenses
between 5 and 15 ft thick with horizontal dimensions greater than 1,000 ft.
Representative grades are 19.5% Zn, 9.5% Pb, and 3.7 oz Ag per ton. Some
samples from veins and from breccia zones are higher in tenor. Some samples
of barite-rich material average 83.4% BaSO, and about 3.5% combined Pb and Zn.
No drill-hole data on resources are available. Includes references to (Red
Dog Cr.).

(Wulik Knot) Copper

Lisburne district De Long Mountains (12.8, 6.6)
68°22'N, 163°01'W

Coating of malachite and azurite on fractures in small outcrop of gray
chert surrounded by maroon shale of Mesozoic age. [C. F. Mayfield,
personal observation, 1979].

Unnamed occurrence Barite

Lisburne district De Long Mountains (11.2, 2.8)
68°O9'N, 163°16'W

Barite cobbles on hillside in a zone 11 x 124 m. Zone is surrounded
by argillite of the Siksikpuk Fm. Nearby drainage cut has blocks of

ferricrete breccia. [I. L. Tailleur, written communication, 1979].
Unnamed occurrence Copper
Lisburne district De Long Mountains (14.4, 7.85)

68°26'N, 162°46'W

Coating of malachite along a 6-in-wide fracture zone subparallel to

maroon shale which crops out on a stream cut on the east side of the upper
Kukpowruk River. Creek gravels nearby iron stained because of leaching along
fracture zone. [C. F. Mayfield, personal observation, 1979].

Al2


Siksikpuk Formation. Sulfides apparently syngenetic and deposited by
submarine volcanic exhalations at or near the top of the sedimentary pile;
some sulfides also present as fracture fillings. K-~Ar ages on biotite in
volcanic rocks associated with deposit are 330 +17 my. and 319 +10 my.,
about the same as ages of volcanic rocks associated with other base-metal
deposits of western Brooks Range. No data on quantity of resource at
Drenchwater Cr.

(Kiligwa R.) Barite

Colville district Howard Pass (6.25, 10.35)
68°35'N, 158°30'W

Lens of nearly pure barite 1 m thick and at least 10 m long on south-
facing slope of tributary valley of Kiligwa R. Lens is parallel to bedding
in shale of the Siksikpuk Fm. [C. F. Mayfield, personal observation, 1977].
(Lisburne Ridge) Phosphate, Vanadium

Colville district Howard Pass (14.4, 11.4) approx.
68°38'N, 156°45'W approx.

A sample from a rubble zone of black chert, black paper shale, black shaly
dolomite, and oolitic phosphate rock derived from the Carboniferous Lisburne

Group contained 24.8% P,0, and 0.17% Vi05-
(Mt. Bupto) Fluorite, Phosphate, Uranium
Colville district . Howard Pass (9.4, 9.2) approx.

68°31'N, 157°32'W approx.
Sample of mudstone from dark-colored rocks probably correlative with
the Carboniferous Alapah Limestone contained 13.7% P50. and 0.004%, U.
Talus contains green and purple fluorite.

(Rolling Pin Cr.) Barite

Colville district Howard Pass (1.55, 10.65)
68°36'N, 158°45'W

Lag deposits of small barite nodules and local thin barite seams in
intensely folded chert of Siksikpuk Formation.

(Safari Cr.) Barite
Colville district Howard Pass (8.75, 7.6)

' 68°26'N, 157°38'W

Sparse, rich concentrations of barite nodules weathered out of Siksikpuk
Formation.

Al5