Canning Prospect, Chistochina Mining District, Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Canning Prospect	Prospect
Chistochina Mining District	Mining District
Valdez-Cordova Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

This prospect is within the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Location: This prospect is located near lower Benito Creek; it is at an elevation of 2,600 feet in the SE1/4 section 9, T. 3 S., R. 7 E., of the Copper River Meridian. This prospect is approximately located, perhaps to within 1 mile. It is locality 74 of Cobb and Matson (1972) and locality 59 of Winkler and others (1981 [OFR 80-892-B]). Cobb (1979 [OFR 79-1241]) incuded this prospect under the name 'Elliot Cr.'.
Geology: Quartz-calcite veins in mafic intrusive and metavolcanic rocks of the Paleozoic Skolai Group contain bornite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and free gold. Secondary minerals include local malachite and azurite stains. The principal vein is 2 to 3 feet wide, strikes northwest, and dips steeply to the southeast (Moffit, 1921; Moffit and Mertie, 1923, p. 142-143). This vein has been traced over a distance of about 600 feet by five shallow holes and several open cuts produced by sluicing. It is extensively oxidized and gossanous at the surface. Other veins are present nearby, one of which may contain specular hematite. The Skolai Group is locally intruded by mafic to intermediate Jurassic plutons in this area. The veins postdate the Paleozoic Skolai Group and appear to postdate the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous deformation and metamorphism in the region (Winkler and others, 1981[OFR 80-892-A; MacKevett and others, 1997).
Workings: The principal vein at this prospect has been traced over a distance of about 600 feet by five shallow holes and several open cuts produced by sluicing.
Age: The veins postdate the Paleozoic Skolai Group and appear to postdate the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous deformation and metamorphism in the region (Winkler and others, 1981[OFR 80-892-B]; MacKevett and others, 1997).
Alteration: Oxidized; extensive development of iron oxides near the surface.

Commodities (Major) - Ag, Au, Cu
Development Status: Undetermined.
Deposit Model: Polymetallic veins? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c)

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	VA026

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References