| Basis for focus area |
Hall (1977) noted that the intense potassium metasomatism and late calcite-fluorite-quartz veins present in the bottom 400 meters of a 700-meter core hole from the Red Mountain area is indicative of a carbonatite body at depth (Kohrt, 1991). Known deposit types are metallic-lode deposits including intrusive complexes, carbonate replacements, veins in igneous rocks, skarns, and disseminated deposits hosted by intrusives. Historical production was from gold-silver telluride quartz veins that are associated with occurrences of vanadium and fluorite. This focus area is listed as potential Magmatic REE as well as Alkalic porphyry mineral systems. |
| Identified resources |
Identified resources for gold. Historical production of gold, silver, and base metals. |
| Production |
Unknown. |
| Status |
Past mining. |
| Estimated resources |
Gies mine (1990): Demonstrated reserves of 43,545 metric tons of ore with a grade of 9.3g/metric ton Au. |
| Geologic maps |
Goddard (1988), scale 1:31,680. |
| Geophysical data |
Inadequate aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Favorable rocks and structures |
Alkali-calcic suite: quartz monzonite, monzonite, quartz diorite, diorite, syenite and rhyolite. Alkaline suite: alkali gabbro, syenite, ijolitic rocks, gray tinguaite, green tinguaite, carbonatite (?) with associated fenite and alkali granite. |
| Deposits |
Gies mine (MRDS dep_id: 10196569), Spotted Horse mine (MRDS dep_id: 10071386), Maginnis mine (MRDS dep_id: 10071340). |
| Evidence from mineral occurrences |
MRDS. |
| Geochemical evidence |
Late veins containing calcite, fluorite, quartz, barite, rutile, aegirine and scapolite were present in the bottom 400 meters of a 700-meter core hole in the Red Mountain area. |
| Geophysical evidence |
Unknown. |
| Evidence from other sources |
None. |
| Comments |
Younger alkalic rock types, fenitization, and late calcite-fluorite-quartz veins are common in alkaline complexes that host REE-rich carbonatites. |
| Cover thickness and description |
Late veins containing calcite, fluorite, quartz, barite, rutile, aegirine and scapolite noted in drill core. Surface exposure of other rock types. |
| Authors |
Allen K. Andersen, Stanley L. Korzeb, Kaleb C. Scarberry, Jay A. Gunderson, Joshua M. Rosera. |
| New data needs |
High resolution geophysics, whole-rock geochemistry for all critical minerals, geologic mapping, lidar. |
| Geologic mapping and modeling needs |
1:24,000 scale geologic mapping. |
| Geophysical survey and modeling needs |
High resolution aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric coverage. |
| Digital elevation data needs |
Lidar in progress only over western third; rest has no lidar coverage. |
