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VW, VABM West

Prospect in Alaska, United States with commodities Copper, Molybdenum, Gold
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Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10308379
Record type Site
Current site name VW, VABM West

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -142.83468, 63.74573 (WGS84)
Relative position The VW prospect is located just north along the ridge from the Peternie prospect (TC022), and it covers an area of about 2 square miles, centered at the coordinates above. The prospect occurs in sections 26 and 27, T. 23 N., R. 13 E., of the Copper River Meridian. There are two centers of prospecting, one in each section. The coordinates refer to the eastern location, and the other is approximately one mile away, in nearly the center of section 27, T. 23 N., R. 13 E., of the Copper River Meridian. The location is accurate within 1 to 2 miles.
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Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Molybdenum Primary
Gold Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Pyrite Ore
Quartz Gangue
Sericite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) The prospect contains broad areas of pervasive hydrothermal alteration, including well-developed silicification, secondary sericite, and secondary pyrite (Doyon Ltd., 1998).

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 79
USGS model code 21a
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu-Mo
Mark3 model number 2

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock unit name Peternie
    Chronological age 102.8
    Uncertainty 0.5
    Dating method Ar-Ar
    Type of media Potassium feldspar
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Cretaceous

Nearby scientific data

(1) -142.83468, 63.74573
ListMap

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = The mineralization at this prospect and at the Peternie prospect (TC022) consists of disseminated sulfide minerals in altered quartz monzonite and latite porphyry (Singer and others, 1976). These rocks intrude quartz-biotite schist, chlorite schist, muscovite schist, and quartz-biotite gneiss. This property shows broad areas of pervasive hydrothermal alteration, including well-developed silicification, secondary sericite and secondary pyrite. Propylitic alteration is not seen widely (Doyon Ltd., 1998). The intrusive rocks and alteration assemblages at VW are similar to those at the nearby Peternie prospect (TC022). Vein potassium feldspar at the Peternie prospect has a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 102.8 +/- 0.5 Ma (Newberry and others, 1996). It is likely that mineralization at the VW prospect formed at approximately the same time as mineralization at the Peternie prospect, but there are no age data for the VW prospect. . The VW prospect is believed to be part of the same system as the Peternie (TC022) and North Peternie (TC020) prospects. Resource Associates of Alaska drilled 8 holes in the property in the 1970's and interpreted it as a Mo-Cu porphyry prospect. Soil samples have revealed low-level gold values (Doyon Ltd., 1998). IP line data suggest that the property is a porphyry Mo deposit (Doyon Ltd., 1998).
  • Age = Vein potassium feldspar at the Peternie prospect has a 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 102.8 +/- 0.5 Ma (Newberry and others, 1996). It is likely that mineralization at the VW prospect formed at approximately the same time as mineralization at the Peternie prospect, but there are no age data for the VW prospect.
  • Age = Chronological age is for the Peternie prospect.

Economic information

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Prospect

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Active

Mining district

District name Fortymile

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = In the 1970's, Resource Associates of Alaska drilled 8 holes at the VW prospect. In 1979 WGM Inc. conducted a reconnaissance soil program for molybdenum. In 1980, Anaconda did airphoto analysis, selective rock geochemistry, and airborne magnetics interpretation. In 1981, Arctic Resources Inc. sampled a soil grid, and in 1982 Doyon Ltd. conducted prospecting traverses and did an IP resistivity line. In 1984, Doyon Ltd. conducted a brief prospect examination.

Reference information

Links to other databases

Agency Database name Acronym Record ID Notes
USGS Alaska Resource Data File ARDF TC030

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Foster, H.L., 1970, Reconnaissance geologic map of the Tanacross quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geological Investigations Map I-593, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    Singer, D.A., Csejtey, Bela, Jr., and Miller, R.J., 1978, Map and discussion of the metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral resources of the Talkeetna Mountains quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 78-588-Q, 33 p., 1 plate, scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    Doyon, Limited, 1998, Veta Prospects 1997 Volume 1: Fairbanks, Alaska, Doyon, Limited., unpublished report 98-10, 256 p. (Report held by Doyon, Limited, Fairbanks, Alaska.)

  • Deposit

    Newberry, R.J., Layer, P.W., Burleigh, R.E., and Solie, D.N., 1996, New 40Ar/39Ar dates for intrusions and mineral prospects in the eastern Yukon-Tanana terrane, Alaska - Regional patterns and significance, in Gray, J.E., and Riehle, J.R., eds., Geological Studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1595, p. 131-159.

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Doyon Ltd., 1998

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Porphyry Mo deposit (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 21a)
Deposit Other Comments = This property is located on Doyon Ltd. selected land. For more information, contact Doyon Ltd.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 13-APR-99 Cameron, C.E. Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys