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Bee Creek

Prospect in Alaska, United States with commodities Copper, Molybdenum, Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc
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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. Alteration
  9. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Ownership information
  17. Reserves and resources
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10161576
MAS/MILS ID 0021330017
Record type Site
Current site name Bee Creek
Alternate or previous names Bee Creek Prospect, Dry Creek

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -158.3846, 56.5117 (WGS84)
Elevation 305
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position This prospect is near the headwaters of an unnamed creek entering Dry Creek approximately 1 mile north of Chignik Bay. The location is accurate.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Lake and Peninsula(Borough)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Chignik C-2(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Chignik NE(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Chignik(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Port Heiden(hydrologic unit)

Kvichak-Port Heiden(hydrologic accounting unit)

Southwest(hydrologic subregion)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Far West, Incorporated(ANCSA Village)

ANCSA Village NTVPIC(Type of land area)

NTVPIC(Federal land areas administered by NTVPIC)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Seward 042 S 058 W 26,27,34,35 Alaska

Comments on the location information

  • Drill Hole B-2, Bear Creek Mining Co.; USGS Ofr 80-543; Plate 3; Bee Creek Sulfide System Covers Most Of Sec. 26, 27, 34 And 35, T.42s, R.58w Land Status Value Calculated 6-94 Using Gis Overlay Analysis With Blm 1:2,500,000 Scale Ownership Status Map (1991).

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Molybdenum Secondary
Gold Tertiary
Silver Tertiary
Lead Tertiary
Zinc Critical Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Low but anomalous amounts of Au present

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Chalcopyrite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Malachite Ore
Gold Ore
Galena Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Pyrrhotite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Sericite Gangue
Biotite Gangue
Gypsum Gangue
Sericite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Potassic Core Zone Surrounded By Propylitic Periphery
  • (Local) Discontinuous Sericite Zone Superimposed On Potassic/Propylitic Zones
  • (Local) Local Argillic Alteration In Inner Portions Of The Prospect
  • (Local) Potassic Zone Contains Pervasive Secondary Biotite
  • (Local) Small Area Of Quartz-Magnetite Alteration
  • (Local) Local Carbonate-Actinolite Assemblage In Arkose
  • (Local) Intense Biotitic Alteration

Analytical data

Result MAXIMUM AVERAGE VALUES OF 0.25% CU, 0.01% MO AND 0.06 PPM AU IN 500 FT DRILL HOLE-B2
Result AVERAGE VALUES FOR 4 OTHER DRILL HOLES ON THE ORDER OF 500-1200 PPM CU, 5-28 PPM MO WITH BACKGROUND BASE AND PRECIOUS METAL CONTENT: SURFACE VALUES FOR AU RANGE FROM 0.04-0.18 PPM

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 53
USGS model code 17
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu
Mark3 model number 4
Model code 79
USGS model code 21a
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu-Mo
Mark3 model number 2

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Dacite
    Rock unit name Naknek Formation;Naknek Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Naknek Formation;Naknek Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pliocene

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -158.3846, 56.5117
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Deposit Is Truncated On The North By A N-Dipping, Low Angle Thrust Fault
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Prospect Is Near The Axis Of An Overturned Ne-Trending Anticline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Steep To Overturned Se Limb And Shallow-Dipping Nw Limb
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Associated E-Ne Faults And Shear Zones

Ore body information

  • Thickness 548.64M
    Length 3000M
    Width 2500M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Lithologic And Fracture Control
  • Copper Minerals Are Mainly In Naknek Fm

Comments on the geologic information

  • From ARDF record CG007
    At the Bee Creek prospect, sandstone, siltstone, argillite, and conglomerate of the Jurassic Naknek Formation have been intruded by a small dacite stock, which is surrounded by a sulfide system and alteration halo covering approximately 2 square miles (Fields, 1977). The intrusive is mainly dacite, but quartz diorite, andesite, and quartz porphyry have also been reported. The intrusive is part of a nearly east-west trending linear belt extending from Weasel Mountain (ARDF CG008) on the east to Cathedral Creek (ARDF CG001) on the west.

    The Bee Creek prospect was explored by Bear Creek Mining Company in 1975 and 1976 and by Resource Associates of Alaska in 1979 and 1981. The prospect is marked by a geochemical and color anomalies. Clusters of arsenic, copper, gold, lead, silver, and zinc anomalies surround the deposit. The main mineralized area is in a steep cirque basin that varies from 500 to 1,500 feet in elevation. Work by Resource Associates of Alaska (Anderson and others, 1979) suggest that mineralization may extend southwest into the McKinsey Valley. The mineralization is mainly at the border of the dacite stock in arkose, conglomerate, and quartzite. Resource Associates of Alaska (Anderson and others, 1979) claim that the hornfelsed sediments near the contact contain the best mineralization and that the mineralization decreases towards the core of the intrusive. The age of the mineralization is between 3.2 and 3.8 million years (Wilson, 1980).

    The deposit is a porphyry copper. Chalcopyrite and pyrite occur in a stockwork of hairline fractures containing quartz-sulfide veinlets throughout an area about 2,000 feet in diameter. Disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite occur in biotitized hornfels and these sulfides replace mafic minerals in the dacite. Molybdenite is finely disseminated in quartz veinlets, in gypsum veinlets, and in clots of chalcopyrite. Pyrite forms a halo on the periphery of the system. Some magnetite veins have been reported; they appear to be early in the mineralization sequence and contain no sulfides. Veins containing lead and zinc values are peripheral to the copper zone. Within the copper zone, richer surface samples contained 500 to 2,000 parts per million (ppm) copper, 0.04 to 0.18 ppm gold, 20 to 220 ppm molybdenum, and 0.4 to 0.18 ppm silver (Fields, 1977). Secondary biotite is widely distributed both within and beyond the chalcopyrite zone. It replaces mafic minerals and forms fine-grained aggregates both in the pluton and in the surrounding sediments. The biotite zone centers on the stock and extends irregularly southward over an area of 1,500 by 3,400 feet. Discontinuous zones of sericitic alteration are peripheral to the biotite zone and are locally superimposed on the potassic and propylitic alteration. Propylitic alteration of chlorite and epidote forms an outer alteration zone. A strong zone of argillic alteration located between the phyllic and propylitic zones also has been reported (Butherus and others, 1981).

    Bear Creek drilled 5 holes in the copper zone in 1975-76. Four holes averaged 500-1200 ppm copper and 5-28 ppm molybdenum. The best hole averaged 0.25 percent copper, 0.01 percent molybdenum, and 0.06 ppm gold over 500 feet. In 1979 Resource Associates of Alaska discovered two areas of polymetallic quartz veins. Samples of this material contained up to 5700 ppm copper, 4.4 ppm gold, 1.18 percent lead, 530 ppm molybdenum, 4.2 ounces silver per ton, and 1.62 percent zinc (Anderson and others, 1979). A resource of 4.5 to 9 million tonnes grading 0.25 percent copper and 0.01 percent molybdenum has been estimated (Young and others, 1997).
  • From ARDF record CG007
    Full Metal Minerals and Metallica Resources drilled 2 holes on the Bee Creek porphyry in 2006 that totaled 1,000 meters (Full Metal Minerals, 2008, Alaska Peninsula; Metallica Resources, 2008). They interpret the deposit as a multiphase dioritic intrusion within a coincident copper-gold-molybdenum anomaly centered on a magnetic high about 2 kilometers in diameter. Notable intercepts in the two holes were: 1) 34 meters that contained 0.26 percent copper and 0.085 gram of gold per ton, 2) 118 meters that contained 0.32 percent copper and 0.212 gram of gold per ton, and 3) 40 meters that contained 0.51 percent copper and 0.212 gram of gold per ton. The holes were mostly in sedimentary rocks cut by numerous intermediate to felsic dikes. The copper mineralization is mostly in hornfelsed sedimentary rocks; some is in altered diorite as stockworks of quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veinlets.
  • From ARDF record CG007
    The alteration at this prospect appears to be the classic porphyry type with a potassic core grading outward through phyllic, argillic, and propylitic alteration zones although these may not all be developed fully. The best copper mineralization is in the potassic zone.
  • Intrusion Of Naknek Formation By Tonalite Body Caused Intese Contact Metamorphism Resulting In Peripheral "Hybrid" Zones Along Intrusive Contact; "Hybrid" Zones Consist Of Composite Rocks With Both Sedimentary And Igneous Features; Metallization And Alteration Are Concentrated In Favorable Lithologies Within Composite Rocks External To The Intrusion; Prospect Is Cut By Post-Mineralization Dacite Intrusion Which Gives K/Ar Age Of 2.15 +/- .15 M.Y. (Hornblende); Late Stage Gypsum Veining At Prospect Increases At Depth Within Sediments. Naknek Formation; Arkosic Sandstone, Quartzite, Minor Grit And Intraformational Breccia. Hosted In Arkosic Sandstone With Weakly Carbonitic Matrix; Minor Grit.
  • Copper-gold-molybdenum geochemical anomaly, in a dioritic porphyry stock, in a magnetic high measuring approximately two kilometers in diameter. (Full Metal Minerals website)
    http://www.fullmetalminerals.com/s/alaskapeninsula.asp

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Prospect
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1975

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Inactive

Ownership information

  • Type Joint Venture Operator
    Owner FULL METAL MINERALS LTD
    Interest 35
    Home office 409 Granville Street\nSuite 1500\nVancouver BC V6C 1T2\nCanada\n
    Year 2009
    First year 2006
  • Type Joint Venture Owner-Op
    Owner NEW GOLD INC
    Interest 65
    Home office 666 Burrard Street\nSuite 3110\nVancouver BC V6C 2X8\nCanada\n
    Year 2009
  • Type Unknown
    Owner Metallica Resources Inc

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Total resources 4000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold 0.6 g/mt Gold Trace 1981
    Molybdenum 0.01 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1981
    Copper 0.25 wt-pct Copper Major 1981

Comments on development

  • From ARDF record CG007
    In 1975-76 Bear Creek Mining Company did detailed mapping and sampling and drilled 5 holes totaling 1,865 feet. Resource Associates of Alaska explored the deposit in 1979 and 1981. Additional mapping and sampling was done by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1980 and 1981. Full Metal Minerals and Metallica Resources drilled 2 holes on the Bee Creek porphyry in 2006 that totaled 1,000 meters (Full Metal Minerals, 2008, Alaska Peninsula; Metallica Resources, 2008).
  • Five shallow diamond drill holes completed in 1975, up to 0.25% Cu, 0.011% Mo and 0.062 g/t Au over 152 meters. IP geophysics suggests higher grade porphyry-hosted sulfide mineralization at depth. (Newgold website)
    http://www.newgold.com/MediaCentre/NewGoldNews/PressReleaseDetail/2006/FullMetalandMetallicaCommenceExplorationinSouthwestAlaska/default.aspx

Reference information

Bibliographic references

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Sulfide System Covers 2.5 By 3 Km Area Centered On Small Intrusive Complex; 1800 Ft Of Known Vertical Extent; Extensive Hairline Stockwork Fractures Containing Chalcopyrite And Minor Molybdenite, And Disseminated Biotite Replacements Are Concentrated Within Favorable Units (Arkosic Ss And Grit) Of Naknek Formation Overlapping The Margin Of Central Quartz Diorite Stock; Metallization Decreases Within Intrusive; Maximum Cu Mineralization Is Associated With Strong Biotite Alteration Or Areas Overprinted With Sericite Veinlets; Sulfide Zoning: Pyritic Halo Of 3-10 Volume % Sulfides, With Pyrite Chalcopyrite Ratio On The Order Of 5-10/1 Grades Into Inner Cu-Bearing Core Area Of 1-3 Volume % Sulfides With Pyrite: Chalcopyrite Ratio Of 2-3/1; Magnetite Occurs In Small Veinlets And Disseminations Locally

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 27-JUN-94 Unknown U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-APR-84 Elliott, R. L. U.S. Geological Survey
Editor 13-APR-94 Mosier, Dan U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 01-OCT-86 Leonard, Kenneth R. (Huber, Donald F.) U.S. Geological Survey
Editor 02-SEP-94 Mosier, Dan U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 04-MAR-08 S.H. Pilcher (Anchorage); D.J. Grybeck (Port Ludlow, WA) U.S. Geological Survey ARDF reporters.
Editor 07-JUL-10 Schruben, Paul U.S. Geological Survey Merged ARDF record. Copyrighted comments paraphrased and moved into fields.

Beyond USGS

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

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