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Copper Wonder

Prospect, Inactive

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Commodities and mineralogy

Main commodities Cu
Other commodities Fe
Ore minerals azurite; chalcopyrite; hematite; malachite; pyrite
Gangue minerals quartz

Geographic location

Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale TK
Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale B-5
Latitude 62.3283
Longitude -149.1335
Nearby scientific data Find additional scientific data near this location
Location and accuracy The Copper Wonder claims are at an elevation of about 2,900 feet on the south side of the Iron Creek valley, south of the junction of Iron Creek with the Middle Fork. The prospect is in the SW1/4 sec. 20, T. 26 N., R. 2 E., Seward Meridian. The location is accurate to within a 1/4 mile radius.

Geologic setting

Geologic description

The Copper Wonder prospect is in a strongly sheared basalt (Schmidt and others, 2002). A 2- to 3-foot-thick layer of specular hematite is exposed over a vertical distance of 20 feet in a shear zone. Chalcopyrite with minor pyrite and quartz, occurs as clots up to 4 inches wide. Malachite and azurite coatings are prominent in the altered, shear zone. Scattered specks of sulfides occur in the greenstone away from the shear zone (Capps, 1919 [692]). Three large open cuts expose the shear zone.
Geologic map unit (-149.135722761391, 62.3278028886955)
Mineral deposit model Basaltic Cu (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 23)
Mineral deposit model number 23
Alteration of deposit The shear zone material as well as the greenstone adjacent to the shear zone is described as altered, but the type of alteration is not specified (Capps, 1919 [B 692]). Local oxidation of chalcopyrite to azurite and malachite.

Production and reserves

Workings or exploration Three large open cuts expose the shear zone.
Indication of production None

Additional comments

MAS/MILS numbers 20760008 and 20760034.

References

MRDS Number A012191

References

Capps, S.R., 1919, Mineral resources of the upper Chulitna region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 692-D, p. 207-232.
Capps, S.R., 1924, Geology and mineral resources of the region traversed by the Alaska Railroad: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 755-C, p. 73-150.
Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-370, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Cobb, E.H., and Csejtey, Bela, Jr., 1980, Summaries of data on and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-716, 63 p.
Csejtey, Bela, Jr., and Miller, R.J., 1978, Map and table describing metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral deposits in the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-558-B, 22 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Csejtey, Bela, Jr., Nelson, W.H., Jones, D.L., Silberling, N.J., Dean, R.M., Morris, M.S., Lanphere, M.A., Smith, J.G., and Silberman, M.L, 1978, Reconnaissance geologic map and geochronology, Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, northern part of Anchorage quadrangle, and southwest part of Healy quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-558-A, 60 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
MacKevett, E.M., Jr., and Holloway, C.D., 1977, Map showing metalliferous and selected non-metalliferous mineral deposits in the eastern part of southern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-169-A, 99 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:1,000,000.
Schmidt, J.M., Werdon, M.B., and Wardlaw, B., 2003, New mapping near Iron Creek, Talkeetna Mountains, indicates presence of Nikolai Greenstone, in Clautice, K.H., and Davis, P.K., eds., 2003, Short Notes on Alaska Geology 2003: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Professional Report 120, p. 101-108.
Singer, D.A., Csejtey, Bela, Jr., and Miller, R.J., 1978, Map and discussion of the metalliferous and selected non-metalliferous mineral resources of the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 78-558-Q, 33 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Reporters R.K. Rogers (U. S. Geological Survey contractor)
Last report date 10/1/2002