Red Wing (ARDF #SD038) Au

Red Wing

Prospect, Undetermined

Commodities and mineralogy

Main commodities	Au
Other commodities	Cu; Pb; Zn
Ore minerals	chalcopyrite; galena; pyrite; pyrrhotite; sphalerite
Gangue minerals	quartz

Geographic location

Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale	SD
Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale	C-4
Latitude	57.59624
Longitude	-133.31726
Nearby scientific data	Find additional scientific data near this location
Location and accuracy	The Red Wing prospect is about 0.7 mile east of the mouth of Spruce Creek at the head of Windham Bay; it is about 0.4 mile northwest of the center of section 25, T. 49 S., R. 75 E. The location is accurate.

Geologic setting

Geologic description The Red Wing prospect is one of many auriferous lodes at the head of Windham Bay, most of which have been known since at least 1904 (Wright and Wright, 1906; Kimble and others, 1984). The prospect consists of a caved adit at least 75 feet long that extends to a stope that has been mined vertically for less than 10 feet (Kimble and others, 1984). There is also the remains of a small mill on the property. The deposit consists of several thin quartz veins that contain pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite. Kimble and others (1984) sampled veins in the old stope. A channel sample across a 1-foot-long quartz vein contained 30 parts per million (ppm) silver and 0.70 ppm gold. The deposits at the nearby Marty prospect (SD041) and the Sumdum Chief Mine (SD028) have been dated at about 55 million years (Goldfarb and others, 1997). This prospect is geologically similar and probably of the same age. Goldfarb and others (1997) also propose that most gold-quartz vein deposits along the Juneau Gold Belt such as this one were formed from fluids generated by Cretaceous metamorphism and then forced to the site of deposition by the emplacement of the Coast Range Batholith.
Geologic map unit	(-133.318966778287, 57.5958999898836)
Mineral deposit model	Low-sulfide gold-quartz vein (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 36a).
Mineral deposit model number	36a
Age of mineralization	The deposits at the nearby Marty prospect (SD041) and the Sumdum Chief Mine (SD028) have been dated at about 55 million years (Goldfarb and others, 1997). This prospect is geologically similar and probably of the same age.

Production and reserves

Workings or exploration	An adit at least 75 feet long and a small stope.
Indication of production	Yes; small
Production notes	The presence of a small stope and a mill on the property suggests that there was production of a small amount of gold.
Additional comments There may be patented claims or private holdings on this and other properties at the head of Windham Bay but most of the area is part of the Chuck River Wilderness Area which is closed to prospecting and mining.

References

MRDS Number	A013344
References Berg, H.C., and Cobb, E.H., 1967, Metalliferous lode deposits of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1246, 254 p. Brew, D.A., and Grybeck, Donald, 1984, Geology of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness study area and vicinity, Alaska, in U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral resources of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness study area and vicinity, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 1525, p. 19-52. Brooks, A.H., 1904, Placer mining in Alaska in 1903: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 225, p. 43-59. Buddington, A.F., 1925, Mineral investigations in southeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 773-B, p. 71-139. Goldfarb, R.J., Miller, L.D., Leach, D.L., and Snee, L.W, 1997, Gold deposits in metamorphic rocks in Alaska, in Goldfarb, R.J., and Miller, L.D., eds., Mineral Deposits of Alaska: Economic Geology Monograph 9, p. 151-190. Kimble, A.L., Still, J.C., and Rataj, J.L., 1984, Mineral deposits and occurrences in the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness study area and vicinity, Alaska, in U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines, Mineral resources of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness study area and vicinity, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1525, p. 105-210. Moffit, F.H., 1927, Mineral industry in Alaska in 1925: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 792-A, p. 1-39. Redman, Earl, 1988, History of the mines and miners in the Juneau gold belt: Juneau, Alaska, privately printed, 294 p. Smith, P.S., 1929, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1926 and Administrative Report: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 797-A, p. 1-50. Spencer, A.C., 1904, The Juneau Gold Belt in Franklin, S.F., and Hayes, C.W., Contributions to economic geology, 1903: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 225, p. 28-42. Spencer, A.C., 1906, The Juneau Gold Belt, Alaska; and A Reconnaissance of Admiralty Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 287, 161 p. U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1984, Mineral resources of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror wilderness study area and vicinity, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1525, 308 p. Wright, F.E., and Wright, C.W., 1905, Economic developments in southeastern Alaska, in Brooks, A.H., Report on Progress of Investigations of Mineral Resources of Alaska in 1904: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 259, p. 47-68. Wright, F.E., and Wright, C.W., 1906, Lode mining in southeastern Alaska, in Brooks, A.H., 1906, Report on Progress of Investigations of Mineral Resources of Alaska in 1905: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 284, p. 30-54.
Reporters	Donald Grybeck (U.S. Geological Survey)
Last report date	10/8/2004