| Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale | SV |
|---|---|
| Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale | C-2 |
| Latitude | 59.575 |
| Longitude | -150.638 |
| Nearby scientific data | Find additional scientific data near this location |
| Location and accuracy | The Alaska Hills mine consists of four tunnels, an old mill and a campsite located on the east side of Nuka River Valley and about one and a half miles northeast of the mouth of Beauty Bay. Beauty Bay is a northwest trending fjord within the West Arm of Nuka Bay; it is about 60 miles southwest of Seward, Alaska. The lower tunnel is at 370 feet elevation and intersects the vein 460 feet from the portal. The upper most tunnel is at 569 feet elevation. This is Cobb's (1972, MF-397) location 20 and Richter's (1970) location 3. Cobb (1972, OFR 80-84) summarized the relevant references under the name Alaska Hill (Mines Corp.). |
Geologic descriptionGraywacke and slate of the Cretaceous Valdez Group host the mineralized quartz veins (Richter, 1970). Mining has occurred on two quartz veins which are mostly in the graywacke. The veins are white crystalline quartz which carry considerable arsenopyrite and free gold. The principal vein ranges from 6 to 30 inches wide, strikes east-west and dips 55N. The other vein that has been mined averages 11 inches wide; it has a general east-west strike and northerly dip. The veins occur mostly in the graywacke and pinch out when they cross into slate (Richter, 1970). The mine consists of four tunnels and other workings that total about 950 feet, excluding stopes and raises. Improvements on the site included a 1,000 foot aerial tram, a 10-ton jaw crusher, a Worthington Ball Mill with amalgamator, and a Diester sand table. Power was provided by a 66 inch Pelton wheel with 94 feet of head. In normal milling operations, the concentrates assayed $107 to $112 per ton gold (Pilgrim, 1933). Pilgrim, (1933) reported production of $40,000 or 1,935 fine ounces of gold. | |
| Geologic map unit | (-150.6401004485, 59.5744147088245) |
|---|---|
| Mineral deposit model | Low-sulfide, Au-quartz vein (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 36a) |
| Mineral deposit model number | 36a |
| Age of mineralization | Tertiary; Boden and others (1991) report other veins in the district are about 55 m.y. old. |
| Alteration of deposit | None reported, although Borden and others (1991) report other veins in the Nuka Bay district show carbonization, sulfidization, sericitization, and silicification of the wall rock adjacent to the veins. |
| Workings or exploration | The mine consists of four tunnels and other workings that total about 950 feet, excluding stopes and raises. Improvements on the site included a 1,000 foot aerial tram, a 10-ton jaw crusher, a Worthington Ball Mill with amalgamator, and a Diester sand table. Power was provided by a 66 inch Pelton wheel with 94 feet of head. In normal milling operations, the concentrates assayed $107 to $112 per ton gold (Pilgrim, 1933). |
|---|---|
| Indication of production | Yes; small |
| Reserve estimates | None. |
| Production notes | Pilgrim (1933) reported production of $40,000 or 1,935 fine ounces of gold. Richter, (1970) reported a total production of $45,000 from 1924-1931. |
Additional commentsOne of two principal producing mines in the area in 1935. This mine is now within the Kenai Fjords National Park and the park is closed to mineral entry. | |
| MRDS Number | A010579 |
|---|---|
ReferencesPilgrim, E.R., 1933, Nuka Bay district, in Stewart, B. D., Making mining investigations and mine inspection in Alaska, biennium ending March 31, 1933: Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Annual Report 1933B, p. 26-51.
| |
| Reporters | Jeff A. Huber (Anchorage) |
| Last report date | 2/8/1999 |