Unnamed Prospect (ARDF - KC054; western Gravina Island), Ketchikan District, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, USA
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Geology: The country rocks at this prospect consist of Upper Triassic rhyolite and rhyolite tuff (Berg, 1973, Berg and others, 1988). This formation is depositionally overlain by, and locally in fault contact with, Upper Triassic carbonate, clastic, and basaltic volcanic rocks. The strata were regionally metamorphosed to prehenite-pumpellyite or to low-greenschist grade in Late Cretaceous time. Locally, the limestone is dolomitized, and the rhyolite contains conspicuous hydrothermal hematite. The deposit is in iron-stained metarhyolite(?) and consists of a ten-foot-wide breccia zone containing quartz, hematite, dolomite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite (Berg, 1973, p. 37). An analysis of a sample of the mineralized breccia showed 1.5 ppm Ag and 2% Cu (Koch and Elliott, 1978; OFR 78-156A). In 1970, workings consisted of a water-filled adit that probably was driven in the early 1900s. Prospecting in this area in the 1960s and 70s reportedly revealed disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite, and traces of molybdenite and secondary copper minerals in complexly sheared, hydrothermally altered metamorphic and intrusive country rocks (Berg, 1973, p. 37). Assuming that the mineralized breccia postdates the regional metamorphism, the deposit is Late Cretaceous or younger.
Workings: In 1970, workings consisted of a water-filled adit that probably was driven in the early 1900s. An analysis of a sample of the mineralized breccia showed 1.5 ppm Ag and 2% Cu (Koch and Elliott, 1978 [OFR 78-156A]). Prospecting in this area in the 1960s and 70s reportedly revealed disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite, and traces of molybdenite and secondary copper minerals in complexly sheared, hydrothermally altered metamorphic and intrusive country rocks (Berg, 1973, p. 37).
Age: Late Cretaceous or younger.
Alteration: Limestone locally is dolomitized, and rhyolite locally contains conspicuous hydrothermal hematite. Local iron- and copper-staining.
Commodities (Major) - Ag, Cu; (Minor) - Mo(?)
Development Status: None
Deposit Model: Polymetallic veins? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c)
Mineral List
6 entries listed. 6 valid minerals.
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References
Berg, H.C., 1973, Geology of Gravina Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1373, 41 p. Berg, H.C., Elliott, R.L., and Koch, R.D., 1988, Geologic map of the Ketchikan and Prince Rupert quadrangles, southeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Investigations Series Map I-1807, 27 p., scale 1:250,000. Elliott, R.L., Berg, H.C., and Karl, S.M., 1978, map and table describing metalliferous and selected non-metalliferous mineral deposits, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-73-B, 17 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000. Koch, R.D., and Elliott, R.L., 1978, Analyses of rock samples from Ketchikan quadrangle, southeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-156-A, 162 p., 1 sheet, scale l:250,000.
