Geologic descriptionThe occurrence is characterized as polymetallic sulfide mineralization in altered volcanic rocks. An area of pyrite enrichment in Cretaceous volcanic rocks, over a mile across, was identified by Patton and Csejtey (1971, Figure 4). Although samples and descriptions of this area are not available, stream sediments from the drainage on its north side contain anomalous levels of several metals. These stream sediment samples, collected over a distance of 2 1/2 miles downstream from the pyrite-enriched area, contain up to 700 ppm copper, 70 ppm molybdenum, 500 ppm lead, 1 ppm silver, and 700 ppm zinc (Patton and Csejtey, 1972). These values suggest a polymetallic character to mineralization in the headwaters of this drainage. |
Geologic map unit |
(-171.512772163451, 63.4290730296533) |
Mineral deposit model |
Polymetallic veins? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c?). |
Mineral deposit model number |
22c? |
Age of mineralization |
Proximity of this mineralized area to the Poovookpuk Mountain prospect , although apparently more polymetallic in character, suggests that it is probably mid-Cretaceous, the age of K/Ar-dated intrusive and volcanic rocks on western St. Lawrence Island (Patton and Csejtey, 1980). |
Alteration of deposit |
Pyrite-enrichment of the Cretaceous volcanic rocks is noted but other aspects of alteration here are not described. |