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Kahiltna River

Mine, Probably inactive

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Commodities and mineralogy

Main commodities Au
Other commodities Pt; REE; Sn; Th; Ti; U; W; Zr
Ore minerals cassiterite; monazite; native gold; platinum; rutile; scheelite; uranothorianite
Gangue minerals garnet; hematite; ilmenite; magnetite; quartz; sphene; tourmaline; zircon

Geographic location

Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale TY
Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale D-2
Latitude 61.93
Longitude -150.69
Nearby scientific data Find additional scientific data near this location
Location and accuracy MacKevett and Holloway (1977, locality 6) locate this placer prospect as covering approximately four miles along the Kahlitna River centered at about the middle of Section 11 in T. 22 N, R. 18 W. (U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1998, MAS # 0020840001; Cobb, 1979, MF 385, locality 6; U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1973, localites 58, 68, and 70; and Carnes, 1976, localities 1, 2 and 3). This site is a continuation of the placers upstream described at ARDF TY027 and downstream of ARDF TY029.

Geologic setting

Geologic description

Quaternary gravels reconcentrated from Tertiary continental rock, glacial deposits or older bedrock to the north in the Talkeetna Quad. Samples are reported to contain up to 0.08% uranium and 0.03% thorium (Cobb, 1979, OFR 80-86, p. 17). Probably some small production prior to 1919. Drilling for possible dredging was done in the early 1900s. Limited prospecting may have been done more recently.
Geologic map unit (-150.692235666252, 61.9294709657979)
Mineral deposit model Placer gold (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a)
Mineral deposit model number 39a
Age of mineralization Quaternary

Production and reserves

Workings or exploration Probably some small production prior to 1919. Drilling for possible dredging was done in the early 1900s. Limited prospecting may have been done more recently.
Indication of production Yes; small

Additional comments

See Kahiltna River occurrences in the Tyonek Quadrangle (ARDF numbers TY027 and TY029) and to the north in the Talkeetna Quadrangle.

References

MRDS Number A010585

References

Bates, R.G., and Wedow, Helmuth, Jr., 1953, Preliminary summary review of thorium-bearing mineral occurrences in Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 202, 13 p.
Carnes, D.R., 1976, Active Alaskan placer operations, 1975: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 98-76, 90 p., 40 plates, scale 1:250,000.
Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Tyonek quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-385, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
Cobb, E.H., 1979, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than minerals fuels and construction materials) in the Kenai and Tyonek Quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-86, 36 p.
Joesting, H.R., 1942, Strategic mineral occurrences in interior Alaska: Alaska Territorial Department of Mines Pamphlet 1, 50 p. 
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.
Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1919, Platinum-bearing gold placers of the Kahiltna Valley, in Martin, G.C., and others, Mineral resources of Alaska, report on progress of investigations in 1917: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 692, p. 233-264.
Overstreet, W.C., 1967, The geologic occurrence of monazite: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 530, 327 p.
Smith, P.S., 1930, Mineral Industry of Alaska in 1928: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 813-A, p. 1-72.
U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1998, Minerals Availability System/Minerals Industry Location System (MAS/MILS), Talkeetna quadrangle: Worldwide Web URL http://imcg.wr.usgs.gov/data.html.
Reporters Madelyn A. Millholland (Anchorage), James Riehle (USGS)
Last report date 6/1/1998