| Basis for focus area |
Mineral occurrences interpreted to represent both clastic and carbonate dominant Pb-Zn occurrences are documented along the belt. This belt is also highlighted by prospectivity analyses relying on favorable stratigraphy and geochemical signatures of sediments and rocks. |
| Identified resources |
None. |
| Production |
None recorded. |
| Status |
Past exploration. |
| Estimated resources |
None. |
| Geologic maps |
Till and others (2011), scale 1:500,000; Statewide geologic map database; Wilson, Hults and others (2015), scale 1:1,584,000. |
| Geophysical data |
Mostly (>90%) inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
On the Seward Peninsula, Late Proterozoic to Devonian metasedimentary rocks of the Nome Complex which represent a continental margin carbonate platform and related rocks (Till and others, 2014). On St Lawrence Island, Triassic limestone, chert, shale, and siltstone host clastic-dominated Pb-Zn deposits (Patton and Dutro, 1969). |
| Deposits |
None. |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
Numerous ARDF occurrences including Aurora Creek, Galena, Quarry, Wheeler North and Nelson. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Sediment and panned concentrate samples contain Ag, Ba, Pb, and Zn anomalies well above background. Rock samples contain elevated Ag, Ba, Pb, Zn with isolated Co, Cu, Ge, and Tl. |
| Geophysical evidence |
No data. |
| Evidence from other sources |
Prospectivity analysis for sediment hosted Pb-Zn deposits delineates the belt as having moderate and high prospectivity (Kelley and others, 2021). |
| Comments |
Known mineral occurrences determined through stable isotope and detailed mapping at Aurora Creek, Galena and elsewhere fit the sediment-hosted Pb-Zn mineral deposit and Basin related mineral systems. Additional prospectivity analyses show this region as highly prospective. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Unknown. |
| Authors |
Douglas C. Kreiner, James V. Jones, III. |
| New data needs |
New mapping, geophysics, updated geochemical sampling with a focus on increasing trace element datasets for Ge, In and other critical minerals. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
Mapping at 1:100,000 scale or better. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
Aeromagnetics and radiometrics collected at Rank 2. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
IfSAR coverage is complete over entire focus area. |
