Gold and associated industrial heavy minerals in the Icy Cape District:White River to Icy Cape, Alaska, USA

摘要

Portions of the Icy Cape placer Au district have been described and exploited since the early 1900s. Industrial studies of Au-bearing garnet-rich intervals promoted a 3.5 million troy ounces resource in the western half of the district. This estimate is not compliant with CIM and SME definition standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. We note high variability in the textures of sediments and their heavy mineral (HM) content and composition in the district, probably as a function of depositional environment. Sediments are medium- to fine-grained sands with a valuable HM assemblage that averages 26.0% in a range of 1.1% to 72.6%. Valuable heavy minerals (VHMs) garnet, magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, and zircon, but not including Au, average 7.9% in a range of 1.0% to 37.6% of the HM assemblage. Trace quantities of uraninite, thorite, monazite, xenotime, and others are noted. Analyses show garnets have an average Y content of 726 ppm in a range of 0-2150 ppm. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence confirms compositions commensurate with Ca, Al, and Mg silicates. In this brief report we provide empirical analytical data and note high variability in the textures, HM content, and compositions as a probable function of depositional environment. Icy Cape District land and resources are owned by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and managed by the Trust Land Office (TLO).