Venus

Prospect in Alaska, United States with commodities Silver, Gold, Copper, Molybdenum

Sections on this page

Identification information
Geographic coordinates
Site location context
Geographic areas
Commodities
Materials information
Alteration
Mineral occurrence model information
Host and associated rocks
Nearby scientific data
Economic information about the deposit and operations
Mining district
Links to other databases
Bibliographic references
General comments
Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID	10094023
MRDS ID	A012153
Record type	Site
Current site name	Venus

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates:	-149.32333, 67.62972 (WGS84)
Relative position	The Venus prospect is centered about 3 1/4 miles north-northwest along Big Spruce Creek from its confluence with the Bettles River (NW1/4 sec. 3 and NE1/4 sec. 4, T. 32 N., R. 8 W. and sec. 34, T. 33 N., R. 8 W., of the Fairbanks Meridian) and 11 miles east-northeast of Sukakpak Mountain. The Venus prospect is part of a large claim group (now inactive?) that also encompasses the Victor (CH064) and Eva (CH063) prospects. The location of the reference point is accurate within a 1/2-mile radius.

Geographic coordinates:

-149.32333, 67.62972 (WGS84)

Relative position

The Venus prospect is centered about 3 1/4 miles north-northwest along Big Spruce Creek from its confluence with the Bettles River (NW1/4 sec. 3 and NE1/4 sec. 4, T. 32 N., R. 8 W. and sec. 34, T. 33 N., R. 8 W., of the Fairbanks Meridian) and 11 miles east-northeast of Sukakpak Mountain. The Venus prospect is part of a large claim group (now inactive?) that also encompasses the Victor (CH064) and Eva (CH063) prospects. The location of the reference point is accurate within a 1/2-mile radius.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Yukon-Koyukuk(Census area)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Chandalar C-5(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Chandalar N(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Chandalar(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Doyon, Limited(ANCSA Region)

ANCSA Region NTVPIC(Type of land area)

NTVPIC(Federal land areas administered by NTVPIC)

Geographic areas

Country	State
United States	Alaska

Commodities

Commodity	Importance
Silver	Primary
Gold	Primary
Copper	Primary
Molybdenum	Secondary

Materials information

Materials	Type of material
Bornite	Ore
Chalcopyrite	Ore
Magnetite	Ore
Molybdenite	Ore
Pyrite	Ore
Epidote	Gangue

Alteration

(Local) Extensive propylitic alteration, along with restricted areas of sericitic to potassic alteration in meta-intrusives, and hornfels and skarn in adjacent calcareous rocks.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code	53
USGS model code	17
Deposit model name	Porphyry Cu
Mark3 model number	4
Model code	58
USGS model code	18a
Deposit model name	Porphyry Cu, skarn-related
Mark3 model number	9

Host and associated rocks

Host or associated Associated

Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
Host or associated Host

Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite

Host or associated	Associated
Rock type	Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite

Host or associated	Host
Rock type	Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite

Nearby scientific data

(1)	-149.32333, 67.62972	ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

Geologic Description = The Venus prospect is generally described as a porphyry copper deposit associated with Cu-Au-Ag skarns (Cobb and Cruz, 1983, Nokleberg and others, 1987). The skarn occurrences at Venus, along with a number of other skarn prospects in the Chandalar district, were described in general by Newberry and others (1986), who noted that many of them exhibit both prograde and retrograde mineral assemblages and that their mineralogy, mineralization, and alteration classify them as continental-margin, porphyry-related copper skarns. Nicholson (1990) noted that some workers have suggested that some of the prospects in the area may have volcanogenic affinities. The local geology at Venus is described by Ventures Resource Corporation (1998) as an elongated, altered and foliated granodiorite pluton bounded on the east by overthrust Skajit Limestone and on the west by Skajit Limestone and gray phyllite, felsic calc-schist, and chloritic schist.? the porphyry mineralization at Venus consists of disseminations and fracture fillings of pyrite, chalcopyrite, and minor molybdenite in schistose Devonian meta-granodiorite porphyry. The meta-granodiorite porphyry is extensively propylitically altered and pyritized (2 percent to 3 percent pyrite), along with restricted zones of sericitic to potassic alteration. The intrusive hosted mineralization grades approximately 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent Cu and generally less than 0.01 ounce of gold per ton (Ventures Resource Corporation, 1998). A hand specimen described by Newberry and others (1986) as porphyry contains quartz, sericite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, chlorite, and molybdenite. An analysis of the hand specimen returned 0.38 percent Cu, 1 ppm Ag, less than 0.1 ppm Au, 0.002 percent Zn, and 0.001 percent Pb.? the skarn mineralization is massive pyrite-chalcopyrite. The skarns are in Devonian Skajit Limestone and calc-schists adjacent to, and as xenoliths within, the meta-intrusives. The skarns are principally garnet-magnetite-diopside bodies displaying retrograde vein and replacement epidote-amphibole-chlorite-calcite-quartz. Mineralization in the skarns is variable but generally runs 1.5 percent to 6 percent Cu, less than 0.01 ounce of gold per ton, and as much as about 1 ounce of silver per ton (Newberry and others, 1986; Nicholson, 1990; Ventures Resource Corporation, 1998). The mineralogy of a skarn hand specimen described by Newberry and others (1986) includes garnet, magnetite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, epidote, actinolite, serpentine and talc. An analysis of this hand specimen returned 2.0 percent Cu, 14.5 ppm Ag, 0.14 ppm Au, 0.014 percent Zn, and 0.002 percent Pb.
Age = Devonian based on reported Early Devonian Pb/Pb zircon ages from the associated Baby Creek batholith and Horace Mountain plutons (Dillon and others, 1996).

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status	Prospect
Commodity type	Metallic

Comments on exploration

Status = Active

Mining district

District name	Koyukuk

Comments on the reserve resource information

Reserves = Reserve estimates made on very limited data for the porphyry mineralization range from 300,000 tons of 0.3 percent Cu (Nicholson, 1990) to a potential resource of 495 million pounds of Cu (Ventures Resource Corporation, 1998). In general, the Cu deposits discovered to date in the Chandalar quadrangle have been characterized by relatively small tonnages in high-grade deposits and low grades in disseminated deposits.

Comments on the workings information

Workings / Exploration = Initial claim block was staked from 1967 to 1970 by Bear Creek Mining (Kennecott). Their exploration programs from 1970 to 1974, directed toward evaluating the porphyry copper potential, included 2,465 feet of diamond drilling in five diamond drill holes (all in meta-intrusives) in 1973-1974. Information posted on the Ventures Resource Corporation website (URL http://www.venturesresource.com/) in 1998 describes a 2,000-foot x 7,000-foot geochemical soil survey grid on the property with Cu values greater than 100 ppm and maximum values greater than 2,000 ppm, extending over several thousand feet (Ventures Resource Corporation, 1998). Reconnaissance exploration was reported in 1983, 1990-1991, and 1996.

Reference information

Links to other databases

Agency	Database name	Acronym	Record ID	Notes
USGS	Mineral Resources Data System	MRDS	A012153
USGS	Alaska Resource Data File	ARDF	CH065

Bibliographic references

Deposit

Grybeck, D.J., 1977, Known mineral deposits of the Brooks Range, Alaska: US Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-166C, 41 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:1,000,000.
Deposit

DeYoung, J.H., Jr., 1978, Mineral resources map of the Chandalar quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-878-B, 2 sheets, scale 1:250,000.
Deposit

Arctic Environmental Information and Data Center, 1982, Mineral terranes of Alaska: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Arctic Environmental Information and Data Center, 7 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.
Deposit

Cobb, E.H., and Cruz, E.L., 1983, Summaries of data and lists of references to metallic and selected nonmetallic mineral deposits in the Chandalar quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 83-278, 91 p.
Deposit

Adams, D.D., and Dillon, J.T., 1985, Geochemical investigations in the Chandalar C-5 and C-6 quadrangles, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public-Data File 85-26, 37 p., 3 sheets, scale 1:63,360. (Superseded by RI 88-15.)
Deposit

Newberry, R.J., Dillon, J.T., and Adams, D.D., 1986, Regionally metamorphosed calc-silicate-hosted deposits of the Brooks Range, northern Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 81, p. 1728-1752
Deposit

Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Berg, H.C., Brew, D.A., Grybeck, D.J., Robinson, M.S., Smith, T.E., and Yeend, W., 1987, Significant metalliferous lode deposits and placer districts of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1786, 104 p.
Deposit

Adams, D.D., and Dillon, J.T., 1985, Geochemical investigations in the Chandalar C-5 and C-6 quadrangles, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public-Data File 85-26, 37 p., 3 sheets, scale 1:63,360. (Superseded by RI 88-15.)
Deposit

Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Berg, H.C., Brew, D.A., Grybeck, Donald, Robinson, M.S., Smith, T.E., and Yeend, Warren, 1988, Metallogeny and major mineral deposits of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 88-73, 97 p., 2 plates, scale 1:5,000,000.
Deposit

Nicholson, L.M., 1990, Porphyry copper, copper skarn, and volcanogenic massive sulfide occurrences in the Chandalar copper district, Alaska: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, M.Sc. thesis, 164 p.
Deposit

Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Grybeck, D.J., Koch, R.D., Eremin, R.A., Rozenblum, I. S., Sidorov, A.A., Byalobzhesky, S.G., Sosunov, G.M., Shpikerman, V.I., Gorodinsky, M.E., 1993, Metallogenesis of mainland Alaska and the Russian Northeast: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-0339, 3 sheets, 230 p.
Deposit

Ventures Resource Corporation, 1998, 1997 Annual Report and Website (Worldwide Web URL http://www.venturesresource.com/).
Deposit

Nokleberg, W.J., Bundtzen, T.K., Dawson, K.M., Eremin, R.A., Goryachev, N.A., Koch, R.D., Ratkin, V.V, Rozenblum, I.S., Shpikerman, V.I., Frolov, Y.F., Gorodinsky, M.E., Melnikov, V.D., Diggles, M.F., Ognyanov, N.V., Petrachenko, E.D., Petrochenko, R.I., Pozdeev, A.I., Ross, K.V., Wood, D.H., Grybeck, D., Khanchuck, A.I., Kovbas, L.I., Nekrasov, I.Y., and Sidorov, A.A., 1996, Significant metalliferous and selected non-metalliferous lode mineral deposits and placer districts, and for metallogenesis of the Russian Far East, Alaska, and the Canadian Cordillera: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-513-B, 385 p.; U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-513-B, 385 p. (CD-ROM format).
Deposit

Maas, K.M., 1987, Maps summarizing land availability for mineral exploration and development in northern Alaska, 1986: U.S. Bureau of Mines Open-File Report 10-87, 33 quadrangle overlays.
Deposit

Newberry, R.J., Allegro, G.L., Cutler, S.E., Hagen-Levelle, D.D., Adams, D.D., Nicholson, L.C., Weglarz, T.B., Bakke, A.A., Clautice, K.H., Coulter, G.A., Ford, M.J., Myers, G.L., and Szumigala, D.J., 1997, Skarn deposits of Alaska, in Goldfarb, R.J., and Miller, L.D., eds., Mineral Deposits of Alaska: Economic Geology Monograph 9, p. 355-395.

Comments on the references

Primary Reference = Ventures Resource Corporation, 1998

General comments

Subject category	Comment text
Deposit	Model Name = Porphyry Cu and Cu porphyry skarn-related deposits (Cox and Singer, 1986; models 17 and 18a)
Deposit	Other Comments = See also: Victor (CH064), Evelyn Lee (CH059), Eva (CH063), and Geroe Creek (CH053). Most of the publications describing this area provide a combined description of the Venus-Victor-Eva prospects. The land (and presumably the original claims) have been acquired by Doyon, Limited via its Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act selections. Alaska Kardex No. 031-53D (Kardex is a card file mining claim information system located at the State of Alaska DNR Public Information Center in Fairbanks).

Subject category

Comment text

Deposit

Model Name = Porphyry Cu and Cu porphyry skarn-related deposits (Cox and Singer, 1986; models 17 and 18a)

Deposit

Other Comments = See also: Victor (CH064), Evelyn Lee (CH059), Eva (CH063), and Geroe Creek (CH053). Most of the publications describing this area provide a combined description of the Venus-Victor-Eva prospects. The land (and presumably the original claims) have been acquired by Doyon, Limited via its Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act selections. Alaska Kardex No. 031-53D (Kardex is a card file mining claim information system located at the State of Alaska DNR Public Information Center in Fairbanks).

Reporter information

Type	Date	Name	Affiliation	Comment
Reporter	17-NOV-1999	J.M. Britton	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

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