Western Alaska Range Metallogeny and Tectonics

The western Alaska Range is a region of great mineral resources interest, but it is also a region where the geologic framework is poorly known. This project includes both framework geology and mineral resources studies.

Abstract

The western Alaska Range is an ideal location for the USGS to better define mineral deposits, igneous belts, tectonic framework, and geologic maps of the region. This project combines field, geochemical, geochronology and geophysical data to improve our understanding of the complexly interrelated metallogenic and tectonic evolution of a potentially resource-rich region in the western Alaska Range of south-central Alaska. Our primary objectives relate to understanding the origin and metallogenesis of the western Alaska Range and particularly the magmatic, tectonic, and stratigraphic differences that distinguish this area from adjacent tectonic blocks. Our main focus is on igneous rocks associated with gold and base metal mineralization. The mineralized areas selected for detailed work will depend on availability and budget constraints. We aim to improve mineral resource and ore deposit investigations in south-central Alaska by 1) selective mapping, petrographic, mineral chemistry, age investigations, and geophysical work on recently discovered major igneous rock-related prospects, and re-examining new and old mines, 2) obtaining modern geochronology that will include zircon U-Pb work by traditional methods and by SHRIMP, 3) obtaining geochemical information on the host rocks and mineral deposits, and 4) applying modern geologic concepts to establish the metallogenic evolution of this area relative to the growth of the Alaska Range magmatic arc.

Products

Title	Type
Fission Track Data and Ages of Apatite and U-Pb Isotopic Data and Ages of Igneous and Detrital Zircon from Selected Rocks from the Lake Clark and Lake Iliamna Region of South-Central Alaska	Data
U-Pb Ages, Hafnium Isotope Ratios, and Trace Element Concentrations by Laser-Ablation Split Stream (LASS) Analysis of Igneous Zircons from the Western Alaska Range	Data
Whole Rock Major and Trace Element Chemistry for Igneous Rocks from Tyonek, Lime Hills, Talkeetna, McGrath, and Lake Clark Quadrangles, Western Alaska Range, Alaska	Data
Whole Rock Major and Trace Element Chemistry for Igneous and Sedimentary Rocks from the Western Alaska Range, Alaska	Data
U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar Geochronologic Data for Selected Rocks from the Western Alaska Range, Alaska	Data
U-Pb Isotopic Data and Ages of Zircon and Titanite from Rocks from the Western Alaska Range, Northern Aleutian Range, Taylor Mountains, and Tikchik Mountains Regions, Alaska	Data
U-Pb Isotopic Data and Ages of Titanite and Detrital Zircon from Selected Rocks from the Western Alaska Range, Alaska	Data
U-Pb Isotopic Data and Ages of Detrital Zircon Grains, Whole Rock Major and Trace-element Geochemistry, and Whole Rock Isotopic Data from Selected Rocks from the Western Alaska Range, Medfra area, and Livengood area, Alaska	Data
The Mystic subterrane (partly) demystified: New data from the Farewell terrane and adjacent rocks, interior Alaska	Publication
U-Pb Isotopic Data and Ages of Detrital Zircon Grains and Graptolite Fossil Data from Selected Rocks from the Western Alaska Range, Livengood area, and Seward Peninsula, Alaska - 2018	Data

Contacts

Haeussler, Peter J., 907-786-7447
Jones, James V., 907-786-7442

Status: completed
Start Year: 2009
End Year: 2014

Project Sites

Collaborators

USGS - Alaska Science Center

USGS Mission Area and Program

Energy and Minerals → Mineral Resources

Keywords

Solid Earth > Natural Resources > Metals
Solid Earth > Tectonics