| Main commodities | Zn |
|---|---|
| Other commodities | Pb |
| Ore minerals | smithsonite |
| Gangue minerals | dolomite; ferricrete; secondary calcite |
| Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale | MD |
|---|---|
| Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale | B-3 |
| Latitude | 63.406 |
| Longitude | -154.345 |
| Nearby scientific data | Find additional scientific data near this location |
| Location and accuracy | The Saddle prospect occurs in the divide between Nixon Fork and Soda Creek drainages and about 1.3 miles (2 km) north of Reef Ridge deposit in Section 13, T. 22 S., R. 22 E., of the Kateel River Meridian. Location is precisely known to within 100 feet (30 meters). |
Geologic descriptionThe Saddle prospect is underlain by a continuous sequence of laminated to thinly bedded, light to dark gray dolomite of the Lower to Middle Silurian Paradise Fork Formation (Dutro and Patton, 1982). Host units strike N 80 to 85 West and dip 55 degrees South. The bedded sequence hosting the smithsonite mineralization is underlain on the north and south by dolomitic shale beds of the Middle to Upper Telsitna Formation (Dutro and Patton, 1982). Mineralization occurs in a 10 foot (3m) wide by 20 feet (6 m) long Amphipora-bearing horizon of bedded dolomite containing smithsonite, secondary dolomite, ferricrete, and secondary calcite in solution breccia. Host rock age is Silurian, based on Amphipora sp. found in ore zone of Paradise Fork Formation (Blodgett, 1982). The age of the mineralization is unknown. Soil sampling from surface exploration indicates a weak to moderate zinc anomaly extending in an east-west direction for about 1,200 feet (366 m). Three grab samples in the smithsonite-bearing solution breccia zone averaged 15.79 percent zinc with no appreciable lead (Schmidt, 1997). | |
| Geologic map unit | (-154.347330076558, 63.4054044585359) |
|---|---|
| Mineral deposit model | Southeast Missouri Pb-Zn (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 32a) or Mississippi Valley type (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 32b). |
| Mineral deposit model number | 32a or 32b |
| Age of mineralization | Host rock age is Silurian, based on Amphipora found in ore zone of Paradise Fork Formation (Blodgett, 1982). The age of the mineralization is unknown. |
| Alteration of deposit | Smithsonite and sulfide species altered to ferricrete by groundwater. |
| Workings or exploration | The Saddle prospect was discovered by WGM Inc. and Patino Ltd. during exploration for base metals in the late 1970s. Intermittent exploration work was continued by Pasminco Ltd. until about 1989 (Schmidt, 1997). Soil sampling from surface exploration indicates a weak to moderate zinc anomaly extending in an east-west direction for about 1,200 feet (366 m). Three grab samples in the smithsonite-bearing solution breccia zone average 15.79 percent zinc and no appreciable lead (Schmidt, 1997). |
|---|---|
| Indication of production | None |
| Reserve estimates | None. |
Additional commentsSee Soda Creek (MD056), Reef Ridge (MD055), Midway (MD046) and Bear Pass (MD044) prospects in Medfra Quadrangle. | |
| MRDS Number | 10307798 |
|---|---|
ReferencesAnderson, G.M., and Macqueen, R.W., 1988, Mississippi Valley Type lead-zinc deposits, in Roberts, R.G., and Sheahan, P.A., eds., Ore deposit models: Geoscience Canada Reprint Series 3, Ottawa, Canada, p. 79-90.
Blodgett, R.B., 1982, Stratigraphy of Reef Ridge project area; WGM Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, Reef Ridge Project area, Block 10, Doyon region: WGM Inc., 34 pages.
Schmidt, J.M., 1997, Shale-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag and barite deposits of Alaska, in Goldfarb, R.J., and Miller, L.D., eds., Mineral deposits of Alaska, 1997: Economic Geology Monograph 9, p. 35-65.
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| Reporters | Bundtzen, T.K. (Pacific Rim Geological Consulting) |
| Last report date | 6/1/1998 |