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Nikiska #1

Prospect in Alaska, United States with commodity Diatomite
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Host and associated rocks
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  9. Mining district
  10. Links to other databases
  11. Bibliographic references
  12. General comments
  13. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10000466
MRDS ID A010642
Record type Site
Current site name Nikiska #1

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -151.3957, 60.68838 (WGS84)
Relative position Numerous small occurrences are found near Cabin Lake, Nikiski Wharf and Salamatof Village. The main deposit and the only site identified as being of sufficient extent and purity to warrant possible economic interest is located 10 1/2 miles north of Kenai, Alaska within section 21, T. 7 N., R. 12 W., of the Seward Meridian. This location is accurate to a quarter of a mile.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Kenai Peninsula(Borough)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Kenai C-4(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Kenai NE(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Kenai C(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Kenai Peninsula(hydrologic unit)

Kenai Peninsula(hydrologic accounting unit)

South Central Alaska(hydrologic subregion)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Diatomite Primary

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene

Nearby scientific data

(1) -151.3957, 60.68838
ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = The entire northwest Kenai Peninsula is underlain by glacial outwash sediments which were deposited between 8,000 to 14,000 years ago (Pewe and others, 1953). Overlying the outwash sediments, locally there are up to 13 feet of older lake sediments consisting of layered silts and clays. The diatomaceous earth deposits locally overlie the lake sediments and range from less than 2 feet to over 12 feet thick. When wet, diatomaceous earth is a mottled brown to green color with a jelly-like consistency. In contrast, the dried material is massive, very light weight, chalk white to buff color, and friable. Dried samples contained by weight 65 to 75 percent recent fresh-water diatoms. The most common forms identified were Stephanodiscus, Melosira, and Cybella. The remainder of the diatomaceous earth is composed of 13 percent organic matter and between 10 to 20 percent wind deposited silts and clays (Plakfer, 1956).
  • Age = Recent.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Prospect
Commodity type Non-metallic

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Inactive

Mining district

District name Hope

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Reserves = the deposit contains 210,000 cubic yards of material containing about 70,000 tons of diatomaceous earth (Plafker, 1956).

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Twenty-five auger-core samples were taken in 1952. The samples contained 65 to 75 percent (by weight) of dry diatomaceous earth (Plafker, 1956).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Plafker, George, 1996, Geologic compilation of the southwestern corner of the Skagway quadrangle, in Dusel-Bacon, C., Brew, D.A., and Douglass, S.L., Metamorphic facies map of southeastern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1497-D, 46 p.

  • Deposit

    Cobb, E.H., 1979, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than minerals fuels and construction materials) in the Kenai and Tyonek Quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-86, 36 p.

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Plafker, 1956

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Diatomaceous earth above lake sediments

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 03-MAR-1999 Jeff A. Huber U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Alaska resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.