Alaska Science Center


Geoenvironmental Model for Epizonal Hg-Sb-As-Au Systems of the Tintina Gold Province

The geochemical character of the epizonal ore deposits of the Tintina gold province indicates that these ores are likely to be of important environment concern.

Abstract


The geochemical character of the epizonal ore deposits of the Tintina gold province (e.g. Brewery Creek, True North, Donlin Creek) indicates that these ores are likely to be of important environment concern. Establishment of pre-mining background and baseline information, particularly regarding arsenic, mercury, and antimony levels in soils and waters, is critical information required by land managers and regulators involved with development in interior Alaska and adjacent Yukon. Also, the potential impact on local soils and waters from mining these ores in the arctic environment has yet to be evaluated. This task has been attempting to determine metal and acid concentrations in soils surrounding and waters downstream from mercury-, antimony, and arsenic-rich gold deposits of the Tintina gold province. Collected data will be used to assess the degree of metal contamination in local streams due to both natural weathering of deposits and development of such deposits by mining. Pathways of metal dispersion within the secondary environment will be comprehensively evaluated Epizonal gold deposits, in part due to the relatively high degree of oxidation of their upper parts, are major targets for development among the various types of intrusion-related gold deposits in the Tintina gold province. The deposits are recognized with and have been developed or are being considered for development from the Kuskokwim region, east to the Fairbanks district, and into adjacent parts of central Yukon. As expressed by both private industry and other government agencies, the availability of data focused on the natural environmental effects of metal dispersion from these systems, and any changes due to mining, is critical for many land planning issues.
Products
Title Type
Surface water, ground water, and sediment geochemistry of epizonal and shear-hosted mineral depositsPublication
Post-mining hydrogeochemical conditions, Brewery Creek Gold Deposit, central YukonPublication
Chemical analyses of ground and surface waters, Ester Dome, central Alaska, 2000-2001Publication
Surface and Ground Water Geochemistry Near the Donlin Creek Gold Deposit, Southwestern AlaskaPublication
Trace, minor, and major element data for ground water near Fairbanks, AlaskaPublication
Tintina Gold Province Study, Alaska and Yukon Territory, 2002-2007Publication

Contacts

Goldfarb, Richard J., 303-236-2441

Status: completed
Start Year: 2003
End Year: 2007

Project Sites

Location
City of Fairbanks
Donlin Creek

USGS Mission Area and Program
Energy and MineralsMineral Resources

Keywords
Solid Earth > Geochemistry