Bonanza Creek

Alaska, United States

GoldZincArsenicCopper

⌖ Show on map USGS source ↗

Commodities

PrimaryGold

SecondaryZinc, Arsenic, Copper

Commodity typeM

Deposit

Model119: Placer Au-PGE

Materials

Ore mineralsGold

Geology

Host rockGravel

AlterationSulfide mineralization in Bonanza Creek is largely restricted to graphitic and calcareous quartzites. The sample line along lower Bonanza Creek by Freeman and others (1988) indicates that sulfide minerals make up 10% of the rock. Sulfide mineralogy is dominated by subequal amount of pyrtie and arsenopyrite with rare chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Sulfide minerals occur as extremely fine-grained disseminations within the foliation of the schists. Late stage quartz veins commonly contain small amounts of pyrite or arsenopyrite. Iron oxides have formed after pyrite and pale green scorodite has formed after arsenopyrite. Local pale yellow stibiconite indicates the presence of antimony-bearing minerals (Freeman and others, 1988).

Economic & production

Development statusPast Producer

Identification

Deposit ID10001475

MRDS IDA012225

RegionNA

Data scoreB

Coordinates65.54862, -145.33184

References

Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1932, Mining in the Circle district: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 824, p. 155-172.Smith, P.S., 1932, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1929, in Smith, P.S., and others Mineral resources of Alaska, report on progress of investigations in 1929: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 824-A, p. 1-81.Smith, P.S., 1933, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1930: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 836, p. 1-83.Smith, P.S., 1934, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1932: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 857-A, p. 1-91.Smith, P.S., 1934, Mineral industry of Alaska in 1933: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 864-A, p. 1-94.Smith, P.S., 1936, Mineral industry in Alaska in 1934: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 868-A, p. 1-91.Smith, P.S., 1937, Mineral industry in Alaska in 1935: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 880-A, p. 1-95.Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1938, Gold placers of the Fortymile, Eagle, and Circle districts, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 897-C, p. 133-261.Smith, P.S. 1939, Mineral industry in Alaska in 1937: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 910-A, p. 1-113.Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Circle quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Misc. Field Studies Map MF-391, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Circle quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-633, 72 p.Eakins, G.R., Jones, B.K. and Forbes, R.B., 1977, Investigation of Alaska's uranium potential: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Open-File Report 109, 213 p., 10 sheets, scale 1:40,000.Menzie, W.D., Foster, H.L., Tripp, R.B., and Yeend, W.E., 1983, Mineral resource assessment of the Circle quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 83-170-B, 61 p., 1 sheet, 1:250,000.Freeman, C.J., Adams, D.D., Balla, J.C., and Metz, P.A., 1988, Circle joint venture 1988 final report: Fairbanks, Alaska, Fairbanks Exploration Inc. 23 p.Yeend, W.E., 1991, Gold placers of the Circle district, Alaska - past, present, and future: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1943, 42 p.Lampright, R.L., 1996, Gold placer deposits near Fairbanks Alaska: Iron Fire Publications, Nederland, Colorado, 135 p.Bundtzen, T.K., Swainbank, R.C., Clough, A.H., Henning, M.W., and Charlie, K.M., 1996, Alaska's mineral industry, 1995: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Special Report 50, 72 p.Metz, P.A., 1991, Metallogeny of the Fairbanks mining district, Alaska and adjacent areas: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Mineral Industry Reserarch Laboratory Report No. 90, 370 p.