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Bornite

Prospect in Alaska, United States with commodity Copper
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10136228
MRDS ID A000006
MAS/MILS ID 0020280002
Record type Site
Current site name Bornite
Alternate or previous names Ruby Creek, Cosmos Creek, Aurora Mountain, Bear Creek Mng. Co., Rhinehart Berg, Creek Bottom, Cottonwood, Abulbul, Abdul, Chadwick, Bear Creek Mng., Kennecott Copper Co., Whitney, Wallace, Berg, Rhinehart, Bullock, John L., Yukon Placer Mng. Co., Wallace Witney Group, Jay Cr. #17-#39, Ruby Cr., Cosmos Cr., Augustus, Cabin Fever, Caribou, Chinook, Drizzle, Freedom, Gee Pole, Gopher, Hardtack, Hill Billy, Hillside, Hilltop, Igloo, Malamute, Portage, Potlatch, Ptarmigan, Ridgetop, Norman Lutz, Bannock, Porcupine, Grizzly, Ferguson, Archie, Packboard, Sea Biscuit, Prospector
Related records 10112241, 10136442

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -156.94376, 67.06624 (WGS84)
Elevation 280
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Northwest Arctic(Borough)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Ambler River A-2(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Ambler River SE(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Ambler River(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Middle Kobuk River(hydrologic unit)

Kobuk-Selawik Rivers(hydrologic accounting unit)

Northwest(hydrologic subregion)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Kateel River 019 N 009 E 08 Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Barite Unknown
Bornite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Dickite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Pyrrhotite Unknown
Siderite Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown
Tennantite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) Pzcn
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N90E
    Dip 15N
    Thickness 15M
    Length 1081M
    Width 810M
    Area 90HA
    Depth to top 327M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control BEDDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N90E:15N
    Minimum Depth to Top 106
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 90
    Date of Last Modification 860825

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Prospect
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1948
Mining method Open Stope - Sublevel
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Shungnak

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Kennecott Corp.
    ID 5000485
    Interest 100
    Home office Washington
    Year 1977

Comments on the ownership information

  • OWNER ADDRESS: BEAR CREEK MINING COMPANY BOX 9 7821 EAST SPRAGUE AVENUE SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99213

Comments on the production information

  • CORE DRILLING EFFORT 790715=1000 FT.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1961
    Total resources 90718000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1 wt-pct Copper Major 1961
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 4536000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 4 wt-pct Copper Major 1984
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1984
    Total resources 36288000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2 wt-pct Copper Major 1984

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 327M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock SOFT NONPLASTIC FISSURED MODERATE WATER
    Rock Support Chars. SUPPORTING MAY BACK SLAB
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Number of Shafts 1
    Capacity 907
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 57.51
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 330
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1984

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Comments on the references

  • RUNNELLS, 1965, P. 599-603, 609, J. OF SED PET

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 24-APR-1996 Rdc U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 08/20/1979
MSHA mine ID5000485
Mine name (MSHA)Bornite Mine
Current operatorBear Creek Mining Company
Mine typeUnderground (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

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.