318 Economic Geology (Posters)

Wednesday, 28 September 2016
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall E/F

IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS WITH CRITICAL MINERALS RESOURCE POTENTIAL IN SIX GROUPS OF MINERAL DEPOSIT TYPES IN ALASKA

Paper number: 318-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Alaska has considerable potential for undiscovered resources of critical minerals. We present recently completed estimates of mineral resource potential and certainty for six groups of mineral deposit types: (1) rare earth element (REE) ± Th, Y, Nb, and Zr, associated with peralkaline to carbonatitic intrusive rocks; (2) placer and paleoplacer Au deposits ± platinum group elements (PGE), Cr, Sn, W, Ag, or Ti; (3) PGE deposits ± Co, Cr, Ni, Ti, and V, associated with mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks; (4) carbonate-hosted Cu deposits with Ag, ± Co, Ge, and Ga; (5) sandstone-hosted U deposits ± V or Cu; and (6) Sn-W-Mo deposits, ± In, ± fluorspar associated with tin-specialized granites.

Statewide datasets were selected and scored based on their relevance for a specific deposit group, area covered, and importance for identifying mineral concentrations. High, medium, or low potential scores and certainty values were estimated using the areas of 12-digit hydrologic units as the spatial classification unit. Assignment of resource potential for specific deposit groups was determined based on scoring criteria; certainty values were based on the number of datasets contributing to the potential score.

Results are shown on maps keyed with the HUC-scale mineral resource potential for each deposit group. Noteworthy areas of potential are: 1) western and northern Alaska Range, Yukon-Tanana uplands, and known areas in the Darby-Hogatza, Kokrines-Hodzana, and southeast Alaska igneous belts, and Tofty-White Mountains for both REE-bearing peralkaline to carbonatitic intrusive rocks and tin-specialized granites, 2) southwestern Alaska and the Alaska Range for placer Au, in addition to known districts, 3) Yukon-Tanana uplands and known areas in the Brooks Range, Goodnews Bay, Kokrines-Hodzana belt, Alaska Range, Chugach Mountains, Kenai Peninsula, and southeastern Alaska for PGE-bearing deposits associated with mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks, 4) Seward Peninsula, the western and northern Alaska Range, Yukon-Tanana uplands, and southeastern Alaska, and known areas in the southern Brooks Range and Wrangell Mountains for carbonate-hosted Cu, and 5) Kokrines-Hodzana belt, Yukon-Tanana uplands, and western and northern Alaska Range, and known areas of the Darby-Hogatza igneous belt for sandstone U.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-286305

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