Unnamed Occurrence (ARDF - CA021; headwaters of Quartz Creek), Fairhaven Mining District, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Unnamed Occurrence (ARDF - CA021; headwaters of Quartz Creek)	- not defined -
Fairhaven Mining District	Mining District
Northwest Arctic Borough	Borough
Alaska	State
USA	Country

This site is one of numerous occurrences of argentiferous galena, sphalerite, pyrite and arsenopyrite in an 18-mile-long, 2- to 5-mile-wide zone of altered andesite surrounding the Quartz Creek quartz monzonite pluton. The altered zone trends N 15 W, across the drainage basins of Quartz Creek and the Kiwalik River, parallel to prominent lineaments in the area.
Location: This occurrence is at an elevation of about 800 feet near the headwaters of Quartz Creek. The site is in section 25, T. 1 N., R. 13 W., of the Kateel River Meridian. Cobb, 1972 (MF-389), location 10, and Miller and Elliott (1969), figure 2, sample locations 24, 25, and 26.
Geology: This occurrence is located adjacent to the mid-Cretaceous Quartz Creek pluton, a hook-shaped, quartz monzonite body. The pluton is surrounded by a N 15 W-trending alteration zone about 18 miles long and 2 to 5 miles wide. The alteration zone is in Jurassic-Cretaceous andesitic volcanic rocks, and is marked by carbonate-quartz replacement, and tourmaline. Fine-grained dikes of varying composition cut the andesites near the pluton. Dikes near the Quartz Creek pluton are locally mineralized. This occurrence consists of a galena-bearing calcite vein 18 inches thick in altered quartz monzonite. The altered quartz monzonite consists of quartz-carbonate-sericite rock containing disseminated pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, and tourmaline. A composite grab sample contained 44 ppm Ag, 2.25% Pb, and 4.67% Zn (Miller and Elliott, 1969).
Workings: The area has been mapped and examined by the U.S. Geological Survey and by various exploration companies.
Age: Late Cretaceous.
Alteration: Tourmaline and sericite alteration along closely spaced fractures; quartz-carbonate replacement.

Commodities (Major) - Ag, Pb, Zn; (Minor) - Cu
Development Status: None
Deposit Model: Sulfides in altered quartz monzonite.

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	CA021

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References