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Democrat Lode

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

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10001704
MRDS ID A012486
Record type Site
Current site name Democrat Lode
Alternate or previous names John Mitchell Lode
Related records 10208828

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -146.35674, 64.33357 (WGS84)
Relative position The Democrat Lode is located on Democrat Creek (BD013), a tributary of Banner Creek (BD001). The lode is approximately 3.5 miles north of the town of Richardson on the Richardson Highway in NE1/4SE1/4 section 4, T. 7 S., R. 7 E., of the Fairbanks Meridian. Numerous unimproved roads provide access to the mine. It is identified by an approximately 900 foot-long and 70 foot-deep open cut in the hillside along Democrat Creek. There are placer workings up- and downstream of the site. It is locality 1 of Cobb and Eberlein (1980), who summarized relevant references under the name 'Democrat'.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Fairbanks North Star(Borough)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Big Delta B-5(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Big Delta SW(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Big Delta(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary
Antimony Critical Secondary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Gangue = carbonate

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Arsenopyrite Ore
Gold Ore
Pyrite Ore
Stibnite Ore
Ankerite Gangue
Muscovite Gangue
Quartz Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Areas of the rhyolite at the Democrat Lode exhibit several types of alteration. The lode contains fractures filled with gossanized quartz veins with voids and localized sericite. McCoy and others (1997) describe several stages of alteration at the Democrat Lode. An early stage of alteration consists of quartz-tourmaline-muscovite +/- biotite +/- K-spar +/- clinozoisite. The stage more commonly associated with gold is an assemblage of quartz-white mica +/- ankerite +/- carbonaceous material. Albite is present in veins with quartz (R.J. Newberry, oral communication, 1998). The surrounding gneiss displays evidence of hornfelsing (K. Ausburn, oral communication, 1998).

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -146.35674, 64.33357
ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = The Richardson area is characterized by gentle slopes and broad, alluvium-filled valleys (Prindle and Katz, 1913, p. 140). The area is unglaciated and largely overlain by windblown silt, sand, and loess, locally up to 50 meters thick (Foster and others, 1979). The bedrock in the region comprises greenschist to amphibolite facies schist, marble, and gneiss that have been intruded by various igneous bodies (Bundtzen and Reger, 1977, p. 29). The schist and marble are probably Paleozoic, and the gneiss has a probable protolith of Precambrian and Paleozoic sedimentary and igneous rocks (Weber and others, 1978). The intrusive bodies in the area range in composition from rhyolite to andesite. Fine-grained rhyolite containing quartz and feldspar phenocrysts is common throughout the area (Olson and others, 1985). At the Democrat Lode, the rhyolite contains arsenopyrite, gold, and pyrite, and is albitic, clay, and sericite altered (R.J. Newberry, oral communication, 1998). Structurally, the Richardson region is cut by a northwest-trending fracture system termed the Richardson Lineament. The lineament appears to correspond to the distribution of the rhyolite and other intrusive bodies and placer gold deposits (Bundtzen and Reger, 1977, p. 29). Also, the lineament tends to separate gneissic rocks to the northeast from schistose rocks to the southwest (Swainbank and others, 1984). ? the Democrat Lode is located on a section of the lineament termed the Democrat dike. The deposit is primarily hosted in rhyolite consisting of quartz, plagioclase, and K-spar phenocrysts in an aphanitic groundmass. Quartz stringers, locally containing sulfides are present (Olson and others, 1985). The lode contains fractures filled with gossanized quartz veins with voids and localized sericite. McCoy and others (1997) describe several stages of alteration at the Democrat Lode. An early stage of alteration consists of quartz-tourmaline-muscovite +/- biotite +/- K-spar +/- clinozoisite. The stage more commonly associated with gold is an assemblage of quartz-white mica +/- ankerite +/- carbonaceous material. Locally, the plagioclase and K-spar phenocrysts are weathered to montmorillonite and kaolinite, respectively (D.J. Szumigala, oral communication, 1998). Albite is present in veins with quartz (R.J. Newberry, oral communication, 1998). In addition, the surrounding gneiss displays evidence of hornfelsing (K. Ausburn, oral communication, 1998). Mineralization in the rhyolite includes arsenopyrite, gold, pyrite, and stibnite (McCoy and others, 1997). An assay of a gossanized rock chip sample collected from the portal of an adit at the Democrat Lode contained 0.32 ppm Au, 7.5 ppm Ag, 58 ppm Cu, 137 ppm Pb, 21 ppm Zn, 6 ppm Mo, 150 ppm Sb, 20.5 ppm U, and 22.5 ppm Th (Bundtzen and Reger, 1977). Metz and Hawkins (1981) reported the average gold fineness to be 928. K-spar from the rhyolite yielded a K-Ar minimum age of 86.9 +/- 2.6 Ma (Bundtzen and
  • Geologic Description = Reger, 1977).? Gold was first discovered in the Richardson district in 1905. Placer mines began operating in several streams in the immediate area. These include Tenderfoot Creek (BD039), Banner Creek, Buckeye Creek (BD005), and Democrat Pup Creek (BD013). After peak gold production in 1908, mining in the area declined. In 1913, B.E. Shuff discovered gold at the Democrat Lode. Subsequently, a 93-foot adit was driven through a veined zone. An ore processing mill was built in 1921, but there are no records of actual production (Olson and others, 1985). Further exploration activities have occurred on and around the lode in recent years. These include geochemical, geological, biochemical, and geophysical sampling and analysis (F.L. Blystone, written communication, 1994). In 1998, a 100,000 ton bulk sample was collected from an open cut at the Democrat Lode. The sample will be processed in Fairbanks, Alaska, to assess the total amount and recoverability of gold from the rhyolite (F.L. Blystone, written communication, 1998). Results are currently not available.? From 1905 through 1921, production in the Richardson district was approximately 95,000 ounces of gold and 24,000 ounces of silver (Bundtzen and Reger, 1977). Since 1980, the district has produced approximately 10,000 additional ounces of gold from intermittent mining (Olson and others, 1985). However, information regarding individual mine production in the Richardson district is not available. In 1989, a sluicing operation took place at the Democrat Lode. During the operations, approximately 3,000 ounces of gold and 450 ounces of silver were recovered (F.L. Blystone, press release, 1998). F.L. Blystone (press release, 1994) has estimated a resource of 1,000,000 +/- 200,000 ounces of gold at the lode and surrounding areas.
  • Age = Veins cut Cretaceous rhyolite intrusion

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Active?

Mining district

District name Fairbanks

Comments on the production information

  • Production Notes = From 1905 through 1921, production in the Richardson district was approximately 95,000 ounces of gold and 24,000 ounces of silver (Bundtzen and Reger, 1977). Since 1980, mining in the district has produced an additional 10,000 ounces of gold (Olson and others, 1985). However, information regarding individual mine production in the Richardson district is not available. During the 1989 sluicing operations at the Democrat Lode, approximately 3,000 ounces of gold and 450 ounces of silver were recovered (F.L. Blystone, written communication, 1998).

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Reserves = F.L. Blystone (press release, 1994) has estimated a resource of 1,000,000 +/- 200,000 ounces of gold at the lode and surrounding areas.

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Gold was first discovered in the Richardson area in 1905. Placer mines began operating in several streams in the immediate area. These include Tenderfoot Creek, Banner Creek, Buckeye Creek, and Democrat Pup. After peak gold production in 1908, mining in the area declined. In 1913, B.E. Shuff discovered gold at the Democrat Lode. Subsequently, a 93-foot adit was driven through a vein-rich zone. An ore processing mill was built in 1921, but there are no records of production (Olson and others, 1985). In 1989, a crushing and trommel sluicing operation took place. Further exploration activities have occurred on and around the lode in recent years. These include geochemical, geological, biochemical, and geophysical sampling and analysis (F.L. Blystone, written communication, 1994). In 1998, a 100,000 ton bulk sample was collected from an open cut at the Democrat Lode. The sample will be processed in Fairbanks, Alaska, to assess the total amount and recoverability of gold from the rhyolite (F.L. Blystone, written communication, 1998).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Ellsworth, C.E., and Parker, G.L., 1911, Placer mining in the Yukon-Tanana region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 480, 325 p.

  • Deposit

    Prindle, L.M., and Katz, F.J., 1913, Detailed description of the Fairbanks district, in Prindle, L. M., A geologic reconnaissance of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 525, p. 59-152.

  • Deposit

    Saunders, R.H., 1965, A geochemical investigation in the Richardson area, Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska: Alaska Division of Mines and Minerals Geochemical Report 3, 11 p.

  • Deposit

    Bundtzen, T.K., and Reger, R.D., 1977, The Richardson lineament-a structural control for gold deposits in the Richardson mining district, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Geologic Report 55, 46 p.

  • Deposit

    Eberlein, G.D., Chapman, R.M., Foster, H.L., and Gassaway, J.S., 1977, Map and table describing known metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral deposits in central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-168-D, 132 p., 1 map, scale 1:1,000,000.

  • Deposit

    Weber, F.R., Foster, H.L., Keith, T.E.C., Dusel-Bacon, C., 1978, Preliminary geologic map of the Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-529A, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    Menzie, W.D., and Foster, H.L., 1979, Metalliferous and selected nonmetalliferous mineral resource potential in the Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-529D, 61 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    Cobb, E.H., and Eberlein, G.D., 1980, Summaries of data on and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in the Big Delta and Tanacross quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-1086, 77 p.

  • Deposit

    Metz, P.A., and Hawkins, D.B., 1981, A summary of gold fineness values from Alaska placer deposits: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Mineral Industry Research Laboratory Report No. 45, 63 p.

  • Deposit

    Swainbank, R.C., Burton, J.P., and Metz, P.A., 1984, Bedrock geology of the Richardson mining district, Alaska: University of Alaska, Mineral Industry Research Laboratory Open-File Report 84-2, 60 p., 8 maps, scale 1:40,000.

  • Deposit

    Olson, B.G., Burton, J., Wolff, E.N., and Swainbank, R.D., 1985, Mining and minerals in the golden heart of Alaska: Fairbanks North Star Borough Publication, 80 p.

  • Deposit

    Chapin, Theodore, 1914, Placer mining in the Yukon-Tanana region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 592-J, p. 357-362.

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Bundtzen and Reger, 1977

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Plutonic-related mesothermal

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 26-APR-1999 Cameron S. Rombach Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys

Beyond USGS

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

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