Geologic descriptionThis is a volcanogenic massive sulfide prospect that was explored by Houston Oil and Minerals (HOM) in the 1970s. Exploration included core drilling. Drilling encountered up to 5 % sphalerite in felsic schist with some galena and silver values (R. Cunningham, written communication, 1998). The felsic schist is probably similar to other felsic schist sequences that are present in a belt to the east, south, and west of Kiwalik Mountain. The metamorphic assemblage containing felsic schist was not mapped separately by Till and others (1986) except along a part of Independence Creek. It is inferred to be of Devonian age, the age of the Kiwalik Mountain gneiss (Till and others, 1986). The geologic setting for this prospect and that at Big Bar (BN083, south of Kiwalik Mountain) seems to be similar to that of the Ambler district in the southern Brooks Range. |
Geologic map unit |
(-162.322679584447, 65.7493147684398) |
Mineral deposit model |
Kuroko massive sulfide (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 28a) |
Mineral deposit model number |
28a |
Age of mineralization |
Devonian ?; this is a stratiform deposit and the host felsic schist is interpreted to be similar in age to the Devonian gneiss at Kiwalik Mountain (Till and others, 1986). |
Alteration of deposit |
The deposit is oxidized; quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration is inferred to be present. |