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Boxer River

Occurrence, Inactive

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Commodities and mineralogy

Main commodities Pb
Other commodities Mo; Cu; Ag
Gangue minerals pyrite

Geographic location

Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale SL
Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale C-6
Latitude 63.37
Longitude -171.54
Nearby scientific data Find additional scientific data near this location
Location and accuracy This site is located about 3 miles upstream from the mouth of the Boxer River which flows south to its mouth on the southwest coast of St. Lawrence Island. The site is on the east side of the river, at an elevation of about 300 feet, just upstream of the first east tributary. This site was not included by Cobb (1972, 1980).

Geologic setting

Geologic description

The occurrence is characterized as polymetallic sulfide mineralization in altered volcanic rocks. A Cretaceous volcanic assemblage of diverse lithologies and compositions makes up the bedrock in the Boxer River drainage (Patton and Csejtey, 1980). A pyrite gossan in volcanic rocks is mapped in the area between the first east tributary and the main drainage of Boxer River (Patton and Csejtey, 1971, p. C9, C12). Stream sediment samples from this east tributary (Patton and Csejtey, 1972) indicate a polymetallic character to nearby mineralization. These stream sediment samples contain up to 150 ppm lead, 2 ppm silver, 50 ppm molybdenum, 700 ppm copper, and 30 ppm tin.
Geologic map unit (-171.542769327845, 63.3690708763842)
Mineral deposit model Polymetallic veins? (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 22c?).
Mineral deposit model number 22c?
Age of mineralization Mid-Cretaceous (?) - the age of K/Ar dated intrusive and volcanic rocks on western St. Lawrence Island (Patton and Csejtey, 1980). However, younger Late Cretaceous and Tertiary igneous rocks are also present on the island (Patton and Csejtey, 1980) and the age of mineralization could be younger than mid-Cretaceous.
Alteration of deposit A pyrite gossan in volcanic rocks is present here and alteration is probably significant but it has not been described. The volcanic assemblage is commonly propylitically altered in the region (Patton and Csejtey, 1980).

Production and reserves

Workings or exploration Stream sediment samples from this east tributary (Patton and Csejtey, 1972) indicate a polymetallic character to nearby mineralization. These stream sediment samples contain up to 150 ppm lead, 2 ppm silver, 50 ppm molybdenum, 700 ppm copper, and 30 ppm tin.
Indication of production None

References

MRDS Number A106324

References

Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Saint Lawrence quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-465, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Cobb, E.H., 1980, Summaries of data and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in fifteen quadrangles in southwestern and west-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-909, 103 p.
Patton, W.W., Jr., and Csejtey, Bela, Jr., 1971, Preliminary geologic investigations of western St. Lawrence Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 684-C, p. C1-C15.
Patton, W.W., Jr., and Csejtey, Bela, Jr., 1972, Analysis of stream-sediment and rock samples from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, 1966-1971: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 72-293, 78 p.
Patton, W.W., Jr., and Csejtey, Bela, Jr., 1980, Geologic map of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigation Series Map I-1203, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Reporters Travis L. Hudson (Applied Geology)
Last report date 9/10/1998