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Marmot

Prospect, Inactive

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Commodities and mineralogy

Main commodities Cu
Other commodities Ag
Ore minerals azurite; bornite; chalcocite; chalcopyrite; malachite; pyrite
Gangue minerals calcite; epidote; quartz

Geographic location

Quadrangle map, 1:250,000-scale VA
Quadrangle map, 1:63,360-scale C-1
Latitude 61.6453
Longitude -144.0779
Nearby scientific data Find additional scientific data near this location
Location and accuracy This prospect is between Castle and Pouch Creeks on the north side of Elliott Creek; it is at an elevation of about 4,500 feet in the SE1/4 section 35, T. 2 S., R. 7 E., of the Copper River Meridian. This prospect is approximately located, perhaps to within one-quarter mile. It is locality 67 of of Cobb and Matson (1972).

Geologic setting

Geologic description

Thin veins, films, and disseminations of bornite, chalcocite, and pyrite cut Triassic Nikolai Greenstone in this area (Moffit and Maddren, 1908, 1909; Moffit and Mertie, 1923). Gangue minerals are commonly quartz, calcite, and epidote; secondary copper minerals include malachite and azurite. Some mineralization occurs as irregular pods in greenstone. The Nikolai Greenstone and overlying Chitistone Limestone are deformed into a large, asymmetric anticline with its axis approximately parallel to Elliott Creek. The copper mineralization is believed to be related to the regional mineralizing event that produced the rich Kennecott copper deposits in the McCarthy quadrangle (MacKevett and others, 1997).
Geologic map unit (-144.07999441665, 61.644833161757)
Mineral deposit model Thin veins, impregnations, and fracture fillings in greenstone; probably related to Kennecott-type copper deposits (Mackevett and others, 1997)
Age of mineralization The copper mineralization is believed to be related to the mineralizing event that produced the rich Kennecott copper deposits in the McCarthy quadrangle to the east (MacKevett and others, 1997). This event is interpreted to have accompanied Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous deformation and metamorphism (MacKevett and others 1997, p. 88).

Production and reserves

Workings or exploration This prospect was probably explored by small open cuts.
Indication of production None

Additional comments

This prospect is within the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

References

References

Cobb, E.H., and Matson, N.A., Jr., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Valdez quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-438, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.
MacKevett, E.M., Jr., Cox, D.P., Potter, R.W., III, and Silberman, M.L., 1997, Kennecott-type deposits in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska--High-grade copper ores near a basalt-limestone contact, in Goldfarb, R.J., and Miller, L.D., eds., Mineral deposits of Alaska: Economic Geology Monograph 9, p. 66-89.
Moffit, F.H., and Maddren, A.G., 1908, The mineral resources of the Kotsina and Chitina valleys, Copper River region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 345-C, p. 127-175.
Moffit, F.H., and Maddren, A.G., 1909, Mineral resources of the Kotsina-Chitina region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 374, 103 p.
Moffit, F.H., and Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1923, The Kotsina-Kuskulana district, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 745, 149 p.
Reporters Travis L. Hudson
Last report date 12/14/2001