Unnamed Prospect (ARDF - TN034; in Morelock Creek), Melozitna Mining District, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Unnamed Prospect (ARDF - TN034; in Morelock Creek)	- not defined -
Melozitna Mining District	Mining District
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Morelock Creek flows through lands selected by or conveyed to Doyon, Ltd. For further information, contact Doyon, Ltd., at 1 Doyon Place, Suite 300, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99701-2941.
Location: This record represents a lode prospect exposed in the placer workings in Morelock Creek (TN033) (Cobb, 1972). The site of the Morelock Creek placer mine and lode prospect is at the cabin adjacent to the creek, at the east edge of section 30, T. 6 N., R. 18 W., of the Fairbanks Meridian.
Geology: Bedrock in the area of the Morelock Creek gold-cassiterite('tin') placer deposit consists of greenstone, metachert, dolomite, marble, calcareous schist, and siliceous mica schist (Mertie, 1934; Chapman and others, 1982). Although granitic rocks were reported by Eakin (1916), none were found in later mapping by Chapman and others (1963, 1982). The bedrock is complexly folded, faulted, and locally cut by sulfide-bearing quartz-calcite veins (Thomas and Wright, 1948 [RI 4322]; North Star Exploration, Inc., 1999 [Report 99-34]). WGM, Inc., and Union Carbide Corporation respectively explored the Morelock Creek area from 1975 to 1979 and in 1982. Placer Dome had a joint venture with Doyon, Ltd., in 1988-89. North Star Exploration, Inc. (1999 [Report 99-34]) explored Doyon block 20 in 1998, and reported that Morelock Creek (along with other prospects) had potential for stockwork and vein gold deposits. Trenching of some of the placer deposits exposed mineralized quartz-calcite veins. Placer Dome (1989) reported geochemical anomalies that included gold, silver, tin, tungsten, lead, zinc, and trace amounts of copper. The Morelock Creek vein system is oriented along a northwesterly trend (Placer Dome, 1989). It is at least 500 feet long and 25 feet wide. Placer Dome described the system as heavily fractured, structurally controlled, and containing quartz, calcite, and arsenopyrite. In one 25-foot interval, the mineralization graded 0.08 ounce of gold per ton, or more than 2.5 grams of gold per ton. The highest value was 0.10 ounce of gold per ton in a 7 foot interval. A select sample containing 25 percent arsenopyrite and 15 percent pyrite reportedly contained 5,030 parts per billion gold (about 0.15 ounce of gold per ton). Reconnaissance soil sampling to the east in the lower Morelock Creek area showed locally anomalous lead and zinc values (North Star Exploration, Inc., 1999 [Report 99-34]). Extensive stockwork vein systems have been identified in association with the faults in the Morelock Creek area, including the intersection of a northwest fault with northeast-trending faults in the Rosa Creek and Quartz Creek drainages (North Star Exploration, Inc., 1999 [Report 99-34]).
Workings: WGM, Inc., and Union Carbide Corporation respectively explored the Morelock Creek area from 1975 to 1979 and in 1982. Placer Dome had a joint venture with Doyon, Ltd., in 1988-89. North Star Exploration, Inc. (1999 [Report 99-34]) explored Doyon block 20 in 1998, and reported that Morelock Creek (along with other prospects) had potential for stockwork and vein gold deposits. Trenching of some of the placer deposits exposed mineralized quartz-calcite veins. Placer Dome (1989) reported geochemical anomalies that included gold, silver, tin, tungsten, lead, zinc, and trace amounts of copper. The Morelock Creek vein system is oriented along a northwesterly trend (Placer Dome, 1989). It is at least 500 feet long and 25 feet wide. Placer Dome described the system as heavily fractured, structurally controlled, and containing quartz, calcite, and arsenopyrite. In one 25-foot interval, the mineralization graded 0.08 ounce of gold per ton, or more than 2.5 grams of gold per ton. The highest value was 0.10 ounce of gold per ton in a 7 foot interval. A select sample containing 25 percent arsenopyrite and 15 percent pyrite reportedly contained 5,030 parts per billion gold (about 0.15 ounce of gold per ton).
Production: North Star Exploration, Inc. (1999 [Report 99-34]) reported that the Morelock Creek placer mine (TN033) (which is in Block 20 of the Doyon, Ltd., holdings) produced most of the 11,400 ounces of gold credited to the Gold Hill-Melozitna mining district.

Commodities (Major) - Au; (Minor) - Ag, Cu, Pb, Sn, W, Zn
Development Status: None
Deposit Model: Low-sulfide Au-quartz veins (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 36a).

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Link to USGS - Alaska:	TN034

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References