Tectonic and metallogenic evolution of the eastern Yukon-Tanana upland, Alaska

Field-based investigations focused on the geologic, metallogenic, and geophysical framework of the Yukon-Tanana upland in eastern Alaska and correlation of geologic units and features across the Alaska-Yukon border

Abstract

This four-year study focuses on the geologic, metallogenic, and geophysical framework of the Yukon-Tanana upland in eastern Alaska. The project builds on a strong legacy of previous and recent USGS work in eastern Alaska and involves close collaboration with Canadian counterparts in the Yukon Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, and University of British Columbia Mineral Deposit Research Unit. The area of interest–– the eastern Tanacross and southern Eagle quadrangles, Alaska–– includes the Fortymile and Sixtymile mining districts as well as other areas with active mineral exploration. Despite significant placer resources, lode deposits in the area remain poorly classified and incompletely understood. This project fully capitalizes on a new airborne geophysical dataset collected in 2016 and will provide the most comprehensive constraints on the evolution of the region by integrating framework geologic studies, ore deposit studies, analysis of regional placer systems, and geophysical interpretation and modeling.

---

Products

Title	Type
Central Alaska Cosmogenic Isotope Burial Age Data Collected 2020-2022	Data
New U-Pb Geochronology and Geochemistry of Paleozoic Metaigneous Rocks from Western Yukon and Eastern Alaska	Data
U-Pb Ages, Hafnium Isotope Ratios, and Trace Element Concentrations by Laser-ablation Split Stream (LASS) Analysis of Igneous and Metamorphic Zircons from the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Eastern Alaska	Data
Totatlanika River Terrace Luminescence Age Data Collected 2020-2022	Data
Whole Rock Major and Trace Element Chemistry for Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks from the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Alaska	Data
Charley River Cosmogenic Isotope Data Collected 2019-2021	Data
Zircon Trace Element Data for Igneous Units Related to Mineralization in the Eastern Yukon-Tanana Upland and nearby areas, Eastern Alaska	Data
Re-Os Geochronologic Data for Porphyry Deposits in the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Eastern Alaska	Data
Field Data Collected 2018 to Document Human-induced Gorge Incision at The Kink (Fortymile River, Alaska)	Data
40Ar/39Ar Isotopic Data and Ages for Rocks from the Yukon-Tanana Upland of Eastern Alaska and the Northern Aleutian Range of South-Central Alaska	Data
U-Pb Isotopic Data and Ages of Zircon and Titanite from Rocks from the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Alaska	Data
Fortymile River Cosmogenic Isotope and Luminescence Data Collected 2016-2019	Data
Tectonic and Metallogenic Evolution of the Eastern Yukon-Tanana Upland, Alaska	Project Website

Contacts

Jones, James V., 907-786-7442

Status: completed
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2019

---

Project Sites

USGS Mission Area and Program

Energy and Minerals → Mineral Resources

Keywords

Solid Earth > Geochemistry
Solid Earth > Geodetics/Gravity > Gravity
Solid Earth > Geomagnetism
Solid Earth > Geomorphology > Fluvial Landforms/Processes
Solid Earth > Geomorphology > Tectonic Landforms/Processes
Solid Earth > Natural Resources > Metals
Solid Earth > Rocks/Minerals > Age Determinations
Solid Earth > Rocks/Minerals > Bedrock Lithology
Solid Earth > Rocks/Minerals > Igneous Rocks
Solid Earth > Rocks/Minerals > Metamorphic Rocks
Solid Earth > Rocks/Minerals > Sedimentary Rocks
Solid Earth > Tectonics
Solid Earth > Tectonics > Faults
Solid Earth > Tectonics > Neotectonics