| Basis for focus area |
Prospectivity analysis highlights multiple moderate and high prospectivity HUCs across the region. Devonian to Mississippian tectonic regime was favorable for the development of volcanogenic seafloor systems across the Yukon-Tanana upland in eastern interior Alaska. |
| Identified resources |
None. |
| Production |
None recorded. |
| Status |
Minimal past exploration. |
| Estimated resources |
None. |
| Geologic maps |
Statewide geologic map database; Wilson, Hults and others (2015), scale 1:1,584,000; sparse additional modern mapping at 1:63:360 or better. |
| Geophysical data |
Geophysical needs are being increased to cover more than 70% of the focus area with Tier 2 geophysics as part of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Earth MRI funding. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Mineralized Mississippian-Devonian meta felsic volcanic and sedimentary packages including the Totatlanika schist and the Paleozoic Proterozoic Healy schist |
| Deposits |
None. |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
ARDF occurrences including the Boundary occurrence. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Sediment and soil anomalies in pathfinder elements including Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cd, or Co. Additional geochemical evidence comes from pan concentrates containing anglesite, cerussite, chalcopyrite, copper sulfide/oxide, galena, or sphalerite. Heavy Mineral concentrates containing Cu, Pb, Zn or Ag. |
| Geophysical evidence |
No data. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Moderate to high potential defined by prospectivity analysis; Karl and others (2016). |
| Comments |
During the Devonian-Mississippian time period, the geologic setting was favorable for the development of multiple VMS-related mineral systems in both seafloor and continental margin extensional settings. Several ARDF occurrences are clustered on the Yukon-Canada border, and favorable geology extends through much of the remote Yukon-Tanana upland in interior Alaska. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Unknown. |
| Authors |
Douglas C. Kreiner, James V. Jones, III. |
| New data needs |
New geologic mapping, and well-constrained geochemical sampling. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Mapping at 1:100,000 scale or better. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
Ensuring entirety of belt is covered by FY19-FY20 aeromagnetic surveys and infill any remaining portions. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
IfSAR coverage is complete over entire focus area. |
