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Tapisaghak River

Occurrence in Alaska, United States with commodity Tin
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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 10003573
MRDS ID A106331
Record type Site
Current site name Tapisaghak River

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -168.91316, 63.26918 (WGS84)
Relative position Tapisaghak River is a north-flowing stream that drains the Kinipaghulghat Mountains at the east end of St. Lawrence Island. This site includes all the southwest tributaries of the river. This area was not included by Cobb (1972; 1980).

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Nome(Census area)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Saint Lawrence B-0(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Saint Lawrence SE(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Saint Lawrence E OE(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

St. Lawrence Island(hydrologic unit)

Norton Sound(hydrologic accounting unit)

Northwest(hydrologic subregion)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Tin Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Cassiterite Ore

Alteration

  • (Local) Specific data for bedrock in these drainages are not available but quartz monzonite (granite) and alaskite from this pluton are reported to be intensely altered to sericite, chlorite, and some epidote (Csejtey, Patton, and Miller 1971, p. D73). Float of tourmaline-rich granite samples from unidentified streambeds of eastern St. Lawrence Island have high (but unspecified) tin values (Patton and Csejtey, 1971, p. 7).

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 47
USGS model code 15b
Deposit model name Sn veins
Model code 49
USGS model code 15c
Deposit model name Sn greisen

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Cretaceous
    Chronological age 104
    Dating method K-Ar
    Type of media Biotite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -168.91316, 63.26918
ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = The Tapisaghat River has headwaters that drain the main part of the mid-Cretaceous (104 +/1 3.1 Ma) Kinipaghulghat pluton (Csejtey, Patton, and Miller, 1971; Patton and Csejtey, 1980). This 65 square mile pluton makes up the resistant upland on the east end of St. Lawrence Island. It is a composite intrusion that contains several phases including monzonite, syenite, biotite quartz monzonite, quartz monzonite (granite), and alaskite (Csejtey, Patton, and Miller, 1971, Figure 6). Monzonite and syenite appear to make up discontinuous border phases on the north and south sides of the main pluton. Biotite quartz monzonite makes up the main part of the pluton and has border phases developed against monzonite and syenite. Quartz monzonite (granite) and alaskite forms small intrusive bodies that are emplaced in monzonite, syenite, and biotite quartz monzonite. Two hypabyssal latite to quartz latite intrusions are intruded in the northeast part of the pluton. Stream sediment samples, particularly from the western headwater tributaries of the Tapisaghat River, contain 10 to 15 ppm tin, up to 5 ppm beryllium, and one contains 200 ppm boron (Patton and Csejtey, 1972). Bedrock in the area of these anomalies includes small (about 1/2 mile across) alaskite intrusions into monzonite, syenite, and biotite quartz monzonite (Csejtey, Patton, and Miller, 1971, Figure 6). Specific data for bedrock in these drainages are not available but quartz monzonite (granite) and alaskite from this pluton are reported to be intensely altered to sericite, chlorite, and some epidote (Csejtey, Patton, and Miller 1971, p. D73). Float of tourmaline-rich granite samples from unidentified streambeds of eastern St. Lawrence Island have high (but unspecified) tin values (Patton and Csejtey, 1971, p. 7).
  • Age = Potential tin mineralization in this area would be similar in age to that of the host intrusive rocks. The one K/Ar age from the Kinipaghulghat pluton is for biotite from the monzonite and syenite on the south side of the pluton. This age, 104 +/- 3.1 Ma (Patton and Cesjtey, 1980), may not accurately reflect the age of the more felsic and late-forming intrusions potentially associated with tin mineralization elsewhere in the pluton. However, a mid- to Late Cretaceous age for the potential tin mineralization is indicated.
  • Age = Chron age is for host rock.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Occurrence
Commodity type Metallic

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Inactive

Mining district

District name Bering Sea

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Stream sediment samples, particularly from the western headwater tributaries of the Tapisaghat River, contain 10 to 15 ppm tin, up to 5 ppm beryllium, and one contains 200 ppm boron (Patton and Csejtey, 1972).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Patton and Csejtey, 1971 (OFR 71-224)

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Cassiterite-bearing vein or greisen in felsic intrusive rocks. Deposit models 15b or 15c; Sn veins or Sn greisen deposits
Deposit Model Number = 15b, 15c

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-SEP-1998 Travis L. Hudson Applied Geology

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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