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Ophir Creek

Producer in Alaska, United States with commodities Gold, Silver
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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. Mineral occurrence model information
  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 10308981
MRDS ID A015011
Record type Site
Current site name Ophir Creek
Related records 10185755, 10002576

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -156.53407, 63.12314 (WGS84)
Relative position Ophir Creek has been mined for about 2 1/2 miles above its mouth, near the town of Ophir on the Innoko River. Mining also took place near its head. The coordinates are for the approximate midpoint of mine tailings marked on the U.S. Geological Survey Ophir A-2 topographic map (1954, minor revisions 1965). This point is on lower Ophir Creek, in sec. 26, T. 27 S., R. 12 E., Kateel River Meridian. Ophir Creek corresponds to localities 13 and 14 of Cobb (1972 [MF 367]). The location is accurate.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Yukon-Koyukuk(Census area)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

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

Ophir SE(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Ophir(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

BLM(Federal land areas administered by BLM)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore
Ilmenite Ore
Magnetite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Quartz Gangue

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 119
USGS model code 39a
Deposit model name Placer Au-PGE
Mark3 model number 54

Nearby scientific data

(1) -156.53407, 63.12314
ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = Bedrock in the vicinity of Ophir Creek consists of shale and siltstone (Chapman and others, 1985). The creek also drains small monzonite intrusive bodies, and igneous rock pebbles and cobbles are reported in the stream gravels (Mertie, 1936). Some vein quartz is also reported in the gravels (Mertie, 1936). Most of the gold on Ophir Creek is in crevices in the top 2 to 5 feet of bedrock (Maddren, 1910). The gold is coarse with many nuggets. It also occurs in bench and stream gravels (Maddren, 1910; Maddren, 1911). In 1933, one claim on Ophir Creek averaged $7 to 8 per square foot of bedrock. Nuggets as large as 14 ounces have been recovered (Mertie, 1936). The gold averages 898 fine (Smith, 1941). Heavy minerals in pan concentrates include magnetite, ilmenite, edenite, zircon, rutile, orthoferrosilite, and pyrite (Bundtzen and others, 1987). The likely source of the gold is nearby rhyolite dikes and monzonite plutons (Bundtzen and others, 1987). Gold was discovered on Ophir Creek in 1908, and mining occurred nearly continuously until 1940 (Cobb, 1976 [OFR 76-576]). In 1950, at least one person was mining along Ophir Creek (Williams, 1950). Mining is also reported during 1959, but the operator at that time planned to move to the Ruby district in 1960 (Saunders, 1960). More recent exploration or mining is probable but not documented. The estimated production from Ophir Creek from 1908 to1961 is 66,489 ounces of gold and 7,004 ounces of silver. Production figures for more recent mining from 1978 to 1985 are unknown (Bundtzen and others, 1987).
  • Age = Quaternary. The likely source of placer gold at Ophir Creek is nearby Cretaceous or Tertiary rhyolite dikes and monzonite plutons (Bundtzen and others, 1987).

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Active?

Mining district

District name Innoko

Comments on the production information

  • Production Notes = The estimated production from Ophir Creek from 1908 to1961 is 66,489 ounces of gold and 7,004 ounces of silver. Production figures for more recent mining from 1978 to 1985 are unknown (Bundtzen and others, 1987).

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Gold was discovered on Ophir Creek in 1908, and mining occurred nearly continuously until 1940 (Cobb, 1976 [OFR 76-576]). By 1914, the creek was one of the chief gold-producing streams in the area, and 8 mines were operating (Eakin, 1914; Brooks, 1915). Drifting, draglines, and hydraulicking were all used to recover the gold. In 1950, at least one person was mining along Ophir Creek (Williams, 1950). Mining is also reported during 1959, but the operator at that time planned to move to the Ruby district in 1960 (Saunders, 1960). More recent exploration or mining is probable but not documented.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Cobb, 1976 (OFR 76-576)

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Placer Au (stream and bench) (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a)

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-AUG-01 Cameron, C.E. Northern Associates Inc.

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.