Cascade Mine (Snowdrift Mine), Twelvemile Arm, Kasaan Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Ketchikan Mining District, Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Cascade Mine (Snowdrift Mine)	Mine
Twelvemile Arm	- not defined -
Kasaan Bay	Bay
Prince of Wales Island	Island
Ketchikan Mining District	Mining District
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Location: The Cascade Mine is probably about 0.2 mile northwest of the center of section 1, T74S, R83E and 1.6 miles SW of the Puyallup Mine (CR103), which is named on the USGS 1:63,360-scale topographic map. In recent years, several workers have not been able to find the property (Herreid and Rose, 1966; Maas and others, 1991).

Geology: The rocks in the vicinity of the Cascade Mine are graywacke, siltstone, shale, and minor limestone of the Descon Formation of Silurian and Ordovician age (Herreid and Rose, 1966). A small granodiorite-quartz diorite intrusion is nearby. The deposit is a quartz-calcite vein about 2 feet wide that strikes N53W and dips 70 SW (Wright and Wright, 1908; Roehm, 1939 [PE 119-17]; Herreid and Rose, 1966; Maas and others, 1995). The vein contains chalcopyrite, pyrite, silver, sphalerite, galena, and gold in varying amounts from sparse to nearly massive ore. As described by Roehm (1939 [PE 119-17]), an upper tunnel followed the vein for 175 feet. A lower tunnel did not intersect the vein. The vein is irregular, banded and cut by numerous faults. The best gold values are associated with concentrations of sulfides. Several samples of the vein in the tunnel contained up to 0.24 ounce of gold per ton and 1.60 ounces of silver per ton. A sulfide-rich lens on the surface nearby could not be sampled but is said to have much higher values, reportedly nearly $100 per ton in gold and silver. The Cascade deposit was found in 1900 and the following year two tunnels, 50 and 240 feet long, were driven on the property (Wright and Wright, 1908; Roehm, 1939 [PE 119-17]). During the development, a large gold-rich boulder on the property was broken up and shipped. In 1914, an arrastre was built and produced 30 ounces of gold. In 1915, a small stamp mill was installed and produced a small amount of gold. The property remained idle until 1932 when it was restaked. The property was restaked again in 1938 and the mill was upgraded with modern equipment. As of 1995, there was an active claim on the property (Maas and others, 1995). The deposit at the nearby Snowdrift prospect is similar to the one at the Cascade Mine, as are several other properties in the area, one of which is marked by a caved adit (Chapin, 1916; Herreid and Rose, 1966).

Workings: The Cascade deposit was found in 1900 and the following year two tunnels, 50 and 240 feet long, were driven on the property (Wright and Wright, 1908; Roehm, 1939 [PE 119-17]). During the development, a large gold-rich boulder on the property was broken up and shipped. In 1914, an arrastre was built and produced 30 ounces of gold. In 1915, a small stamp mill was installed and produced a small amount of gold. The property remained idle until 1932 when it was restaked. The property was restaked again in 1938 and the mill was upgraded with modern equipment. As of 1995, there was an active claim on the property (Maas and others, 1995).
Age: Unknown, other than that the vein is in Silurian or Ordovician rocks.

Production: Somewhat more than 30 ounces of gold.

Reserves: None.

Commodities (Major) - Ag, Au; (Minor) - Cu, Pb, Zn

Development Status: Yes; small

Deposit Model: Polymetallic vein (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c).

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	CR100

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References