Cape Nome

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

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10002009
MRDS ID A012854
Record type Site
Current site name Cape Nome

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -165.01047, 64.43651 (WGS84)
Relative position Cape Nome is on the coast of Norton Sound 12.5 miles southeast of Nome. The map location is at an elevation of about 250 feet on the north side of the Nome-Council road, in section 23, T. 12 S., R. 32 W., Kateel River Meridian. This is locality 55 of Cobb (1972 [MF 463], 1978 [OFR 78-93]); the location is probably accurate to within 1 mile.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Nome B-1 NE(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Solomon SW(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Nome(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Federal lands

Sitnasuak Native Corporation(ANCSA Village)

ANCSA Village NTVPIC(Type of land area)

NTVPIC(Federal land areas administered by NTVPIC)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Chromium Critical Tertiary
Fluorine-Fluorite Critical Tertiary
Gold Secondary
Chromium Critical Secondary
Fluorine-Fluorite Critical Secondary
Tungsten Critical Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chromite Ore
Fluorite Ore
Goethite Ore
Gold Ore
Scheelite Ore
Biotite Gangue
Chlorite Gangue
Garnet Gangue
Muscovite Gangue
Sericite Gangue
Sphene Gangue

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Gneiss

Nearby scientific data

(1) -165.01047, 64.43651

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = Bedrock at Cape Nome is mostly granitic orthogneiss (Sainsbury, Hummel, and Hudson, 1972 [OFR 72-326]). In an investigation of the orthogneiss for radioactive minerals, heavy mineral analysis revealed trace amounts of chromite (one location), fluorite, and possibly scheelite (White and others, 1953). Gold, claims have been located in the Cape Nome area (Kardex site Kx 286, Heiner and Porter, 1972). The orthogneiss reportedly is late Precambrian in age (Patrick and McClelland, 1995).
  • Age = Patrick and McClelland (1995) report a uranium/lead age for the orthogneiss at Cape Nome of 676 +/- 15 million years.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Occurrence
Commodity type Both

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Inactive

Mining district

District name Nome

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Quarries for road construction materials are present in the Cape Nome area.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = White and others, 1953

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Accessory minerals in Precambrian orthogneiss.
Deposit Other Comments = Cape Nome is an important locale for heavy riprap; riprap may be hauled on trucks or loaded on barges at the base of the cliff.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-JUL-00 Hawley, C.C. Hawley Resource Group
Reporter 10-JUL-00 Travis L. Hudson Hawley Resource Group

Beyond USGS

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

Authoritative Alaska resources

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