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  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Morzhovoi Bay

Occurrence in Alaska, United States with commodities Silver, Gold, Copper
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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. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  12. Mining district
  13. Links to other databases
  14. Bibliographic references
  15. General comments
  16. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10003357
MRDS ID A106108
Record type Site
Current site name Morzhovoi Bay

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -163.07742, 54.94251 (WGS84)
Relative position Approximate location is near south end of unnamed lake west of Kenmore Head at the mouth of Morzhovoi Bay. Anomaly no. 44 of Christie (1974) and no. 7 of MacKevett and Holloway (1977, p. 11).

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Aleutians East(Borough)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

False Pass D-4(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

False Pass(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

False Pass(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Cold Bay(hydrologic unit)

Aleutian Islands(hydrologic accounting unit)

Southwest(hydrologic subregion)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge(National Wildlife Refuge)

National Wildlife Refuge FWS(Type of land area)

FWS(Federal land areas administered by FWS)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Silver Primary
Gold Primary
Copper Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Tourmaline Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Christie (1974) reports minor epidote in southeast corner of occurrence, as well as chlorite, clay, and possibly sericite. This mineral assemblage suggests propylitic, argillic, and possibly sericitc alteration. Leaching is partial to locally complete in the anomaly.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 53
USGS model code 17
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu
Mark3 model number 4
Model code 105
USGS model code 25a-d
Deposit model name Epithermal vein, generic
Mark3 model number 119

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Holocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Holocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Volcanic Breccia (Agglomerate)

Nearby scientific data

(1) -163.07742, 54.94251
ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = Christie (1974) briefly examined a weak color anomaly 1.5 by 3 mi (2.4 by 5 km) in size, trending roughly east-west (110x). He reports finding a variety of rock types, including diorite, feldspar porphyry(?), monzonite, epiclastic rocks, and volcanic flows. His geologic description is scant, but he suggested further work if geochemistry indicated copper mineralization. It didn't, but there still is an unevaluated central covered area, including part of a lake, that is at least 1.5 mi (4 km) square. Fracturing is reported to be strong only locally on the west end of the anomaly. MacKevett and Holloway (1977) reported an altered zone associated with a breccia zone containing tourmaline, developed in a young volcanic terrane.
  • Age = Miocene or younger

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Occurrence
Commodity type Metallic

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Inactive

Mining district

District name Alaska Peninsula

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Brief reconnaissance geologic mapping and geochemical sampling reported by Christie (1974). Geochemical results showed copper typically less than 50 ppm and molybdenum less than 5 ppm, whereas silver ranged from 1.2 to 2.1 ppm and gold was as high as 0.03 ppm.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Christie, J.S., 1974, Aleut-Quintana-Duval 1974 joint venture, final report: Unpublished Quintana Minerals Corporation report, 24 p., 3 appendices, 2 maps. (Report held by the Aleut Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska.)

  • Deposit

    MacKevett, E.M., Jr., and Holloway, C.D., 1977, Map showing metalliferous mineral deposits in the western part of southern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-169-F, 38 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:1,000,000.

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Christie, 1974

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Copper porphyry, epithermal gold vein
Deposit Model Number = 17, 25
Deposit Other Comments = MacKevett and Holloway's (1977) report was based on an unreferenced industry source originally thought to be Christie (1974); however Christie (1974) does not mention breccia or tourmaline at this occurrence.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 06-MAY-1994 G.D. DuBois U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 06-MAY-1994 F.H. Wilson 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.