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1 STATE OF ALASKA I Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological 8 Geophysical Surveys ' 400 Wlloughb~ 3601 C St (8th fU Pouch 7-028 P.0. Box 772116 191 Univ. Ave (Bunt) P.0. Box 7438 Juneau 99801 * Anchorage 99503* Anchorage 99501 Eagle River 99577 Fairbanks 99701*+ Ketchikan 99901*

Vol. XXXIII July 1984 No. 3

Published Quarterly

Bill Sheffield-Governor Esther C. Wunnicke-Commissioner Ross G. Schaff-State Geologist

IN THIS ISSUE -P DGGS summarizes Alaska's 1983 exploration and Geologist believes gas causes massive plumes production DGGS prints Prudhoe Bay Guidebook, new RIs, ICs State clerks have a field day Miners, state battle over access across preserve State not learning quake lessons, State Geologist says Kusko kwim village mayor pushes fight with mining 1,923 new claims filed; down somewhat over last year firm Mining grant bill okayed Our Gangue DGGSer a 'biker' Metals Market

*Mining-information office +Publications office (Division of Mining) (DGGS)

DGGS summarizes Alaska's 1983 copper deposit near Talkeetna. exploration and production The state's administration indi- By DGGS geologists T.K. Bundtzen and G.R. Eakins cated its support of the mining in- (fromMining Engineering, May 1984) dustry. The Offjce of Management and Total value of 1983 production in Budget will begin developing regula- Alaska (excluding oil and gas) was tions to streamline permitting pro- $232.4 million, up nearly 18 percent cesses and establish offices in from 1982. The sand-and-gravel and Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. building-stone industries were respon- Governor Rill Sheffield directed Alas- sible for the high overall values.. ka's Department of Natural Resources About 5.3 t (169,000 oz) of gold were (DNR) Commissioner Esther C. Wunnicke produced from 300 placer mines last to establish a Division of Mining year, about the same as 1982. No within DNR. The governor said this lode-gold production was reported. division will give specific attention Although development expenditures to the state's administration of min- decreased $27.8 million and explora- ing issues. The new division became tion continued to drop from record effectj.ve Feb. 1, 1984. levels set from 1979 to 1981, the total 1983 value for exploration, de- velopment, and production was $294.3 Exploration million, up nearly 4 percent from 1982's $283 million. Grass-roots ex- While reported exploration expen- ploration continued, and at least two ditures for 1983 indicate an overall important discoveries were made or decline from previous years, interest announced in 1983---the Johnson River in precious metals, tin, and tungsten precious- and base-metal deposits west remained high. The potential for new of Anchorage and the Coal Creek tin- di.scoveries and large-scale mineral 2 ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

production in Alaska has not lessened, geochemical and geophysical surveys and companies are continuing to do were conducted to evaluate the deposit assessment work and explore claims for base and precious metals. Anaconda acquired during the past few years. reported one drill hole assayed 41 g/t A surge in prospecting and de- (1.2 oz per st) of gold and 24.8 per- velopment of offshore minerals in cent zinc. CIRI said exploration will Alaska has occurred during the past continue for another 2 years before a 2 years. DNR is reactivating the decision is made whether to develop state's offshore program and will the property. issue permits to explore for minerals Anaconda continued drilling, on submerged lands. trenching, and geologic studies of a Total reported 1983 expenditures major tin deposit at Kougarok Moun- for exploration were $34.1 million, tain, 130 km (80 miles) north of Nome down 26 percent from 1982 and 56 per- on the Seward Peninsula. Anaconda has cent from 1981. Other indicators of applied for a permit to construct a mineral-exploration activities are the 1.8-km (6,000-ft)-long airstrip on number of claims on which assessment Budd Creek and a connecting 16-km work was performed and the number of (10-mile)-long access road to serve new claims staked. Both declined the prospect area. sharply last year. Exploration by Houston Interna- tional Minerals Corp. at Coal Creek, 8 Company Activities km (5 miles) west of the Parks Highway near Hurricane Station, resulted in The Wulik basin in the De Long discovery of a tin-bearing sheeted Mountains is the site of extensive 'greisen' vein system. The veins con- study and exploration centered around tain cassiterite, sphalerite, arseno- the Red Dog, Lik, and Sue &posits. pyrite, and subordinate pyrite, chal- Cominco Alaska, Inc., in partnership copyrite, and pyrrhotite. Drilling with NANA Regional Crop., considers indicated a 4.5-Mt (5-million-st) de- the Red Dog deposit in the development posit grading better than 0.2 percent stage. Additional drilling last season tin. Most veins lie within an early did not significantly change previous- Tertiary granite that intrudes older ly announced reserve estimates for the granite and metasedimentarg rocks. 'Main' deposit. Cominco also continued Hanson Properties, Inc. , of work on the Sue deposit just west of Spokane encountered difficulties in Red Dog. Its assessment work in the reactivating the Goodnews Bay platinum Ambler district included drilling and dredge. During the 1983 season, most geological, geochemical, and geophysi- of the company's efforts were directed cal surveys. toward exploring its pl&er gravel by Bear Creek Mining Co. conducted digging test pits. baseline exploration in the Noatak Noranda Exploration, Inc., evalu- district, assessment work on its giant ated deep, meandering bench placers on Arctic Camp deposits in the Ambler Mud Creek in the Fairhaven district district, and drilling on its Bornite 5.6 km (3.5 miles) west of Candle. A (Ruby Creek) deposit in the Cosmos company geologist said the gold may be Hills. in old strandlines and ancient Anaconda has an agreement with sandbars. Using a Hawker Sidley Super- the Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) to drill, the company hopes to locate a explore CIRI ' s lands in south-central 7. 6-hm3 (10-million-yd3) deposit. Alaska. Under the agreement, Anaconda Noranda reentered the old Nabesna had a sizable crew on the Johnson Gold mine in the eastern Alaska Range. prospect south of Tuxedni Bay on the The company built a 3.2-km (2-mile) west side of Cook Inlet. Drilling and long road, restored portals, and per- JULY 1984 3 formed bulk sampling, about 365 m Exploration and engineering (1,200 ft) of surface drilling, and studies are proceeding at several underground work. Alaskan coal fields. Valley Coal Teton Exploration Drilling, in a drilled Matanuska Valley coal leases joint venture with Resource Associates northeast of Palmer. The Korean Alaska of Alaska, drilled the Zakley property Development Corp. and Chugach Natives, on the south flank of the Alaska Range Inc., conducted mapping in the Bering in the Mt. Hayes Quadrangle. The River coal field. When the field is gold-silver-copper deposit is in a developed, Chugach proposes to export skarn zone that reportedly extends for 2.7-4.5 ~t/a(3-5 million stpy) of 1.6 km (1 mile) along the granite- high-quality coal to South Korea. limestone contact. Placer Amax and Diamond Shamrock each Aspen Exploration is seeking a have environmental and marketing permit from the U.S. Army Corps of studies underway in the Beluga coal Engineers to sample gravel and mineral field. deposits at 31 sites along the shore of Cook Inlet from Kalgin Island to Development Projects and Reserves Knik Arm and along the coast of the Kenai Peninsula. Exploration was conducted in 1984 Placid Oil Co. continued to ag- in conjunction with several well-known gressively explore a large block of Alaskan development projects. claims in the Cleary area 32 km (20 Doyon Regional Corp. continued miles) north of Fairbanks. Both vein exploration and development drilling systems and placer deposits are being on its Slate Creek asbestos deposit tested, primarily for precious metals. despite problems in the asbestos in- Also in the Cleary district and at dustry. Reserves are an estimated 55 Livengood, Mohawk Resources Alaska and Mt (61 million st) of 5-6 percent Alaska Mineral Services conducted ex- 4A-7D-quality asbestos fiber. ploration and worked on mills for pro- Reserve estimates at the Greens cessing local ores. Creek deposit 29 km (18 miles) west of Hawley Resource Group continued Juneau have been enlarged to 3.6 Mt (4 drilling at the old Big Hurrah gold .million st) of 8-10 percent zinc, 2.5 mine on the southern coast of the percent lead, 0.5 percent copper, 343 Seward Peninsula. The project has been g/t (10 oz per st) silver, and 3.4 glt underway for the past two seasons. The (0.1 oz per st) gold. Many analysts principal developer is Cornwall believe this project is the most like- Pacific of Vancouver. The ore contains ly of the Alaskan mineral developments primarily gold, but tungsten values to reach production on schedule. are also reported. Several hundred employees will mine Alaska Apollo Gold Mines, Ltd., and mill 770 t1.d. . (850 stpd) using dominated exploration news in the underground cut-and-fill methods. Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Island re- The Juneau Gold Mining Co. com- gion last year. The company began a pleted exploration of the old 6-km (20,000-ft) surface and under- Gastineau Mine mill tailings. Begin- ground drilling program at the old ning this spring, Juneau Gold estimat- Apollo and Sitka Mines on Unga Island ed that 3.6 Mt (4 million st) of a in the Shumagain Island group. Eight total 10 Mt (11 million st) of tail- ore zones have been defined. The Em- ings deposited in Gastineau Channel pire Ridge area east of the Apollo between 1915 and 1920 will be re- Mine may have a potential for produc- covered by a floating 'cutter' dredge tion. Teton Exploration Drilling and and processed using centrifuge tech- Resource Associates of Alaska were nology. also exploring on Unga Island. On the basis of 76 km (250,000 4 ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

ft) of diamond drilling, U.S. Borax estimates its mfneral deposit at Quartz Hill east of Ketchikan contains more than 1.4 Gt (1.5 billion st) of minable ore grading 0.136 percent MoS . This figure includes 272 Mt (300 million st) of near-surface ore grading more than 0.2 percent MnS . In 1983, a 15-km (9.5-mil P)-lonp 'road accessing the ore bodv to the coast was completed, and a 4.5-kt (5,000-st) bulk sample was shipped to Hanna Re- search Center in Minnesota. Results of metallurgjcal testing proved the ore will be inexpensive to process and is Earthmovers crew inspects wash plant at Ester Placer relatively clean. Deposit. X State clerks have a field day United States and consists mostly of By Kathi Smoyer, DGGS student intern placer operations. The Grant Mine is not now pro- Normally, geologists go out into ducing because of gold prices, but the field and their secretaries and Tri-Con has a crew diamond drilling in receptionists stay in the office. But hopes of expanding ore reserves on June 13, members of the clerical (p* 15). staffs of the DGGS, the DNR Division of Mining, the UA Mineral Industry Re- Ester Placer Deposit search Laboratory, the UA School of Mineral Engineering, the state Office Next on the agenda was the Ester of Mineral Development, and the placer deposit, owned by James Thurman Northern Alaska Environmental Center and operated by Earthmovers of Fair- were taken on a mines tour of the banks. Foreman Robert Sparks gave the Fairbanks district. group a tour of the grounds; their equipment was idle because they are Grant Mine expanding their operation. But from Four mines---two hard rock and two placer---were visited by the 17 participants. First was the Grant Gold Mine, owned by Silverado Mines and operated by Trl-Con Mining. The Grant mine is an underground hard-rock operation located on Ester Dome. Vice- president Wayne Murton told the group, "One of the big problems facing miners today is land use." Jeff Burton, former mining engi- neer for the Grant Mine, said that ideally, land should be mined before it is subdivided for homes because mining cleans up the area and removes Sandy Garbowski (Division of Mining) and Norma arsenic and permafrost from the soil. Wynen (Office of Mineral Development) try not to Burton said that Fairbanks is the think about trapped-miner headlines as they prepare seventh largest mining district in the to enter the silver Fox Mine. JULY 1984 5

Sparks and our two gufdes, Burton and The Silver Fox Mine, donated to DGGS geologist Larry Lueck, we learned the U,niversity of Alaska by longtime much about processing methods and the interior miner Tury F. Anderson, con- history of gold mining. Sparks said tains lead, zinc, tungsten, and his operation was "bigger than the silver. average placer mine." (Actually, it is The mines tour, which was one of the largest operating placer sponsored jointly by DGGS and DOM, was mines in Alaska.) coordinated and guided by Burton and Lueck to better educate the clerical EVECO Mine staff of state agencies on mining methods and techniques. Burton re- After a refreshing lunch at Fox ferred to it as a "hands-on field Springs, the group went to the placer trip." deposit of EVECO, Inc., near Fox. A The tour received an enthusiastic According to EVECO vice-president response. DOM Resource Technician Alice Ebenal, the mine produces gold Sandy Garbowski said, "It was nice to as a byproduct of its sand-and-gravel get out and see the actual mjnes operation. Mine tailings are ideal for rather than just hear about them all private access roads, Ebenal sajd. The the time. It would have been even more streamlined organization, efficiency, interesting, though, if we could have and environmental awareness of this seen the mines in operation." operation is outstanding because each DGGS clerk-typist Bernie Syvert- mining product is separated and used, son said, "I really like history, resulting in no waste. Ebenal, named especially local history. Mining has Fairbanks 1982 Businesswoman of the always been a fascinating thing and a Year, predicts about 12 more years of part of Fairbanks history, and I en- reserves for the operation. joyed just getting out and doing it!" Another clerk-typist said, "Now Silver Fox Mine I'll be better able to understand what I'm typing and proofreading." Perhaps the highlight of the trip As for myself, I found the trip was the Silver Fox Mine. After donning to be quite an experience, but I think survival packs and headlamps, the I've come down with a touch of gold group was led single-file into a fever! tunnel to observe minerals in the rock X and mine workings. State not learning quake lessons, State Geologist says (from Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, June 1,2984) Many geologic lessons of the great Alaska earthquake of 1964 have been ignored, and buildings have sprouted on unstable or dangerous ground in cities hard hit by the tremor, the State Geologist said Thursday. Scientists gained enormous knowl- edge about the seismic dynamics of Alaska, but seldom was it put to use outside of the scientific community, Ross G. Schaff told a symposium at the annual meeting of the Geological Wayne Murton shows drill core from gold-bearing vein Society of America. of Grant Mine. "Those lessons did not, as they 6 ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

should have, become fundamental to the marked by historic sufference of formulatjon of public policy," Schaf f slides and resultant wave runup," he said. added. He pointed to bullding develop- "Kodiak harbor is one of the ment in Anchorage, Seward, and Valdez busiest fishing ports in the nation, as examples of lessons not learned and yet tsunami warning and protection from the Good Friday earthquake of remains inadequate since the 10 1964. seismic sea waves rushed through the He noted that a scientific and town in 1964." engineering task force recommended Despite what he called the les- that construction in the L Street sons unlearned, Schaff said there were slide zone, which affected 30 blocks positive results from the 1964 earth- in the midtown area, be limited to quake, including a general awareness light structures no more than two among Alaskans of the potential for stories high. damage and death from earthquakes, and "These recommendations were not the need to remain aware of their in- followed, and within a year after the evitability. earthquake the L Street slide area was "While we learned the lessons of rezoned to permit heavv occupancy and nature well and can say that we are high-rise constr~ction,~'Schaff said. dealing with a seismic time bomb in "Today, large buildings are Alaska, as a scientific and engineer- perched on the leading edge of this ing community we need to learn better slide zone. The collapsed zone at the how to translate our scientific con- back of the slide has been backfilled clusions so they become more useful in with unconsolidated material and the development of public policy, law, office buildings erected. This does and attitudes," Schaff said. not make good sense." R Schaff also said the task force 1,923 new claims filed; down somewhat over recommended that the Turnagain slide last year area in Anchorage, where 75 homes were destroyed, be declared unsuitable for The number of mining claims filed safe habitation and turned into a park during the second quarter of 1984 because of future seismic hazards. totaled 1,923. This is down almost 20 "Although those who lost their percent from rhe previous quarter's homes and land in 1964 received lots total of 2,431; 2,188 claims were on state land elsewhere in the city at filed during this period last year. a nominal cost, the state of Alaska Filing activity is expected to failed to acquire title to the land- rise during the last 3 months of the slide lots," Schaff said. year, when many prospectors file. 11 Today, resettlement of the slide Most of the mining-claim activity zone is occurring, and the lots that during this period was concentrated in dropped 30 feet and slid horizontally the Fairbanks, Iliamna, and Petersburg as much as 2,000 feet are now selling areas. The claims by recording dis- at $100,000 per lot." trict are : Schaff also pointed to resettle- ment of the original townsite of Apr. May June Valdez, which was abandoned because of unstable ground and damage caused by Fairbanks 161 335 244 submarine slides and seismic sea Barrow - - 1 waves. Manley Hot Spr. 1 3 8 "The recent increased interest in Nulato - 6 20 the Seward port area is forcing major Nenana 22 16 22 construction efforts along a shoreline Rampart - - 11 JULY 1984 7

Talkeetna to loans and the state will get its Palmer investment back. Nome Seward The act, approved by the Governor June Juneau 22, 1984, took effect July 1, 1984. It Haines is reprinted in its entirety Petersburg below.---Ed. note. Ke tchikan Chapter 131 Sitka Anchorage An Act Iliamna Chit ina Relating to the management and Bethel use of water in mining; and providing Kuskokwim for an effective date. Kodiak *Section 1. AS 46 is amended by adding Totals 642 823 458 a new chapter to read: X Mining grant bill okayed CHAPTER 16. MANAGEMENT AND (fromFairbanks Daily News-Miner, June 23, 1984) USE OF WATER IN MINING. Sec. 46.16.010. MINING WATER USE Gov. Bill Sheffield Friday signed REVIEW COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. The min- into law a bill that will allow the ing water-use review committee is es- state's placer miners to receive tablished. The review committee is grants of up to $100,000 to study dif- responsible for reviewing and making ferent techniques of meeting federal recommendations on applications for water-quality standards in streams and grants under this chapter. more efficient ways of finding gold. Sec. 46.16.020. MEMBERSHIP OF THE The law, sponsored by state Sen. REVIEW COMMTTTEE. (a) The review com- Bettye Fahrenkamp, is desjgned to ad- mittee consists of the commissjoner of vance mining technology, Sheffield natural resources, the commissioner of said while signing the bill into law environmental conservation, the dean during a meeting of the Farthest North of the school of mineral industry at Chapter of the Alaska Press Club. the University of Alaska, two indi- Sheffield also said he will ap- viduals appointed by the governor who prove the bill appropriating $1.5 have placer-mining experience, and one million for each area of the grants. public member appointed by the gover- Fahrenhamp, D-Fairbanks, said nor. Friday the law will better allow all (b) An individual described in uses of the state's rivers such as (a) of this section who serves ex mining and fishing. officio may designate an alternate to Under the law, placer miners can serve on the review committee. receive up to $100,000 to study and (c) An individual appointed by test new mining techniques to control the governor serves for a three-year the water pollution that results from term. mining. Also, up to $50,000 could be Sec. 46.16.030. RESPONSIRILITY OF given to miners who try to recycle THE REVIEW COMMITTEE (a) The review water in placer-mining operations. committee shall select a presiding If the experiments work, the min- officer and establish procedures nec- er owes the state nothing, and the essary to implement its responsibil- technology can be passed on to miners ities. working in other streams. But if the experiments fail, the grants convert (b) The review committee shall 8 ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

review each application for a grant resources may not make a grant under filed under this c and make a this section to a person in excess of $100,000. (d) The commissioner of natural resources shall monitor and evaluate the results of grants made under this ecommendat3-on, section. Sec. 46.16.080. INNOVATIVE POL- placer-mining LUTION CONTROL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. (a) The jnnovative pollution control demonstration grant program is es- tablished as a direct grant program to give a person engaged in placer mining COWISSIONER OF NAT RESOURCES. The the opportunity to study and test in- commissioner of ral resources novative and economically viable min- ing techniques for waste disposal and pollution control in placer mining. (b) The commissioner of environ- mental conservation may make grants under this section to a person that has (1) a proven history of suc- cessful placer mining in the state; (2) the capability to pro- duce verifiable results; and UNIFORM REGU- (3) the capability to study and test innovatjve and economically viable techniques for waste djsposal and pollution control in placer min- ing. (c) The commissioner of environ- gram established mental conservation mev not make a Sec. 46.16. grant under this section to a person RECOVERY DEMONS GRANT. (a! The in excess of $100,000. innovative gold (d) The commissioner of environ- mental conservation shall monitor and evaluate the results of grants made under this section. Sec. 46.16.090. ACCESS TO INFOR- MATION. (a) All information generated t ion. as a result of grants made under this chapter is public information. The commissioner of natural resources and the commissioner of environmental con- servation shall compile, analyze, and distribute the information for the benefit of the placer mining industry and the state and federal governments. (b) The contents of an applica- tion for a grant are available to the extent permitted under AS 09.25.110 and 09.25.120. Sec. 46.16.100. PATENTS. A person JULY 1984 9 who applies for a grant under this foresee a professional career in it. chapter shall assign to the state the I' I enjoy bjcycling because it's some- right to patent any patentable procesP thing 1 can do with my entire family. developed as a result of a grant under My wife bikes and we have a carrier this chapter. The department making for our daughter," he said. It's also the grant shall seek to patent any an excellent way to stay in shape,'' he patentable process developed as a re- added. sult of a grant under this chapter. In early July, Reifenstuhl The state shall license without cost finished 11 seconds behind the winner to a person engaged in placer mining in snother hike race, the Denali in the state the right to use in the Classic, a two-weekend affair. He had state a patented process that was de- almost canceled at the last minute veloped as a result of a grant under because of the pending birth of a this chapter. second child, but his wife "came through on time," delivering another *Set. 2. This Act takes effect July 1, daughter, 8-lb, 10-02 Kirsten, on June 1984. 21. R In other personnel notes, geolo- DGGSer a 'biker' gist Mary Albanese caught a fish. Big deal, you say? Well, on June 9, she Rocky Reifenstuhl is a year-round boated a 68-lb king salmon from the cyclist. The DGGS geological assistant Kenai River. In mid-July, Marv and her puts as many miles on his bfcycle as husband left for Korea, where they some people put on their car. Reifen- picked up their newly adopted stuhl, based in Fairbanks, is one of daughter, Yvonne. (The fish stayed the top cyclists in the state. home to watch the house.) Although Rocky has only raced Also on the DGGS baby front new competitively for 2 pears, he has en- to the world is Panika Dillon, who joyed traveling by bicvcle con- weighed 10 lb, 8 oz when she was born siderably longer. One of his major on May 18. Panika, which means 'my expeditions included a 1,500-mile trip daughter' in Upik, is the second child through Europe. of DGGS geologist Mary Moorman and her Rocky, a member of the Fairbanks husband, John Dillon, also a DGGS geo- Cycle Club, competes in as many races logist. as he can. One of his most notable On Julv 2, DGGS geologist Laurel victories thfs summer was a second- Burns gave birth to her first child, place finish in the Kenai Peninsula an 8-lb son, Martin. Laurel's husband, race from Girdwood to Homer. The Ranier Newberry, teaches geology at grueling 225-mile race took place over UAF . 3 days, which Rocky says he prefers to Leaving DGGS during the quarter the shorter races. "They're better were geological assistant Kathy Goff, because they test the endurance and clerk-typists Marlys Stroebele and capabilities of a racer to the Collette Hernandez in Fairbanks, fullest ," he said. hydrologist Roger Clay in Eagle River, Rocky doesn't necessarily need and data-entry clerk Cindy Olivera, the competitiveness of a race situa- historian Judith Bittner, DP manager tion to test his endurance. At the end Lloyd Eggan, and clerk-typists Nancy of the Geological Society of America Dann and Crystal Burgess of the conference in Anchorage in June, he Anchorage office. Bob Bennett was rode his bicycle back to Fairbanks named acting manager for Eggan. (350 miles) in a nonstop 25 hours. New faces include chemist Babette While Rejfenstuhl plans to con- Faris, clerk-typist Norma Sizemore tinue his cycling mania, he doesn't (who transferred from the Anchorage ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

DNR Personnel sectior), geological as- amounts of natural gas were trapped sjstant Bi I1 Petrik., archaeologists beneath the permafrost during the last Chuck Holmes (who returned to the DGGS glacial age. Now the permafrost is fold), and J. David McMahon, hydrolo- breaking down as the sea reclaims the gist Jennifer East, and administrative area, and the gas is escaping, he officer Bob Jensen, who also trans- said. ferred from DNR Perscnnel. The USGS has detected similar In the marrfage department, con- plumes underwater in the Bering Sea gratulations are extended to Anchorape while studping geologic formations in clerk-typist Irene Richards (nee anticipation of offshore oil and gas Cutts), who was marrfed Julv 30, and lease sales. Fairbanks clerk-typist Donna Mursch, Rjsing as high as 3 miles into who will become Krs. Lewis Allen on the atmosphere and stretching more August 25. than 150 miles, the Bennett Island In mid-August, student intern plumes were first detected in 1982 on Paula Barclay will 1.eave DGGS to en- photographs taken by passing weather roll at the University of Missouri, satellites. Six were discovered be- where she was a-cepted at its tween March 1982 and December 1983 and prestigous School of Journalism. three more have been spotted since X then, including one as recently as April , Kienl e said. Geologists believes gas c massive plumes The discoveries prompted a review (from Anchorage of satellite photos dating back to Massive plumes sembling streams Decemher 1974, revealing as many as 50 plumes. Sometjmes there were dual plumes, usually extending east or be methane gas tr below the ocean northeast from a spot about 9 miles floor during the glacial age, a off the is,land. "This has really been quite a know what it detective story. The suspects orig- a scientist at inally were either Mother Nature or te at the TTni- Mother Russia" said Kienle, a noted irbanks, said volcanologist. to do is go Kienle said that when he first ere is a prob- detected the plumes, he suspected vol- canic activity. He sent his data to t Bennett Is- Soviet scientjsts, who also thought le chunk of the plumes must be of volcanic origin, and they sent an expedition to the island. But they told Kienle they were unable to find any ash or cinder cones lite photos. in the area. Kienle said the nearest known volcano is more than 600 miles to the south, and the last recorded activity there was in the late 1700s. Because of the size and the in- tensity---lo trillion watts---of the plumes, they also attracted the jnterest of the U.S. military. In a synopsis of Kienle's report, prepared with assistance from G.E. Shaw and Juan Roederer of the Geophysical In- JULY 1984 11

stitute, the scientists said, "time- .RI 84-9, 'Rock, pan-concentrate, limited chemical burns are unlikely to and stream-sediment geochemistry, produce such massive high-altitude Sleetmute R-5 Quadrangle, Alaska, ' by plumes." M.S. Robinson (1 sh., scale 1:40,000). In the Institute's annual re- $1. search summary, the scientists said, 11 a man-made origin of these events .RI 84-11, 'Rock, pan-concen- cennot be fully ruled out. In that trate, and stream-sediment geo- case, they would be of substantial chemistry, Sleetmute B-6 Quadrangle, strategic signjficance." Alaska,' by M.S. Robinson (1 sh., X scale 1:40,000). $1. DGGS prints Prudhoe Bay Guidebook, new RIs, ICs The fourth new RI js: DGGS published its fifth perma- .RI 84-15, 'Surficial geologlc frost guidebook, four Reports of In- map of the Seward D-6 Quadrangle, vestigations, and two new Information Alaska,' by R.A. Combellick (1 sh., Circulars during the quarter. scale 1:63,360). $1.

Guidebook 5, 'Permafrost and re- Information Circulars lated features at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, ' was edited by DGGS geologist DGGS also released two new Infor- Stuart E. Rawlinson. It was originally mation Circulars this quarter. They prepared for the Fourth Jnternational are : Conference on Permafrost, held in Fairbanks a year ago. The information .IC 29, 'Drilling a water well.?'. 11will be of interest to a less techni- This is a 12-page c3rcular that cally oriented audience," said provides some guidelines in selecting Rawlinson. Guidebook 5 describes the a driller and also lists registered Prudhoe Bay area, its physical set- water-well contractors hy region. tlng, climate, area, vegetation, soils, wildlife, and its onshore, .IC 30, 'Alaska Heritage Re- offshore, and inland permafrost. GB-5 sources Survey'. This two-page foldout has 178 pages, including 23 color explains the work on Alaska's in- figures, and sells for $6. ventory of documented prehistoric and historic sites. The pa~phlet also de- Reports of Investigations scribes the restrictions of the Alaska Historic Preservation Act. All IC's DGGS also published four Reports are free. of Investigations in the past 3 months. Three of the reports pertain As mentioned last issue, a state- to the Sleetmute Quadrangle Ln wide geothermal-resources map is now southwestern Alaska. The reports avai1abl.e through DGGS. The multi- profile the rock, pan-concentrate, and colored map, produced in conjunction stream-sediment geochemistry of the with the National Oceanic and Atmos- , southwestern part of the quadrangle. pheric Administration (scale They are.: 1 :2,500,000), is the final product of a 4-year assessment of Alaska's geo- I .RI 84-7, 'Rock, pan-concentrate thermal resources. (Also still avail- and stream-sediment geochemistry, able is DGGS Special Report 33, 'Alas- Sleetmute A-6 Quadrangle, Alaska,' by ka's Mineral Industry - 1983. ') M.S. Robinson (1 sh., scale 1:40,000). The work included reconnaissance $1. 12 ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

mal-spring and fumarole temperature pendence Party candidate for governor. and flow rates, and geochemical "I told the judge I either have prop- sampling of thermal waters of over 100 ertv rights or I didn't, and I didn't thermal-spring sites and fumarole want the government for a partner." fields. The map, formally called 'Geo- Fitzgerald's decision effectively thermal resources of Alaska, ' sells stopped the equipment about 18 miles for $5 and is available for inspection within the preserve. It also served to and purchase at all DNR mining-infor- block Vogler's mining of his unpatent- mation offices. Mail orders should be ed claims in the preserve until he sent to the DGGS Fajrbanks office submits an operations plan. Burggraf said state officials have failed to respond to miners' Miners, state battle over access across preserve pleas to formally designate historic (fromAnchorage Daily News, July 21,1984) mining trails so that they would be protected under federal law. Gold miner Joe Vogler vowed Fri- During a meeting of the asso- day he would not apply for permits the ciation's Fairbanks chapter Friday, National Park Service says he needs to miners said the designation of a path- move heavy equipment across the 1.7 way as a mining trail should be inter- million-acre Yukon-Charley River Na- preted to mean no permit requirements, tional Preserve to his mining claims. and that such trails should be treated And Fairbanks miners on Friday as corridors rather than a defined blamed state officials for many of the width. problems now facing Vogler. X "We don't have to have a permit Kuskokwim village mayor pushes fight with to drive down the road. It's going to mining firm he a hot issue. I think it's something (from Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, June 28,1984) we're going to have to take a strong stand on," said Roger Burggraf, presi- When Anna Phillip took over as dent of the Alaska Miners Association. mayor of Tuluksak in November of 1983, U.S. District Judge James she was already deeply involved in a Fitzgerald earlier granted a prelimi- growing battle between her village and nary injunction requested by the Na- a mining company operating 40 miles tional Park Service that halted two upriver. pieces of heavy equipment Vogler had Tuluksak---a Yupik Eskimo commu- been moving across the preserve. nity of just over 300---lies 50 air The government claimed the equip- miles northeast of Bethel on the ment was being driven along a path off Tuluksak River, a mile upstream from a winter trail, causing extensive dam- the Kuskokwim River. age to the environment. Vogler claims For just more than a year, the trail is a mining trail and has Phillip and her village have been been in use for decades. He also opposing mining activity by the claimed access to mining claims is Northland Gold Dredging Co. 40 air guaranteed by federal law. miles upriver at Nyak, after residents The Park Service argued that an discovered excess silt in the water access permit and a required plan of flowing past their community in June mining operation are reasonable regu- of 1983. Local claims are that the lations under the Alaska National In- mining is damaging subsis- terest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. tence---especially the salmon re- "There's a hell of a lot of dif- source---and making the water in the ference between reasonable in their river unfit to drink. eyes and access to mining in my eyes," II It seems that this gold, a said Vogler , twice the Alaskan Inde- mineral," Phillip said, "is more im- JULY 1984 13 portant than the people." Fisher further indicated rhat of The village in effect stopped the the 20 seasonal emplovees the company mining this past year, but after a employs, one resident from Akiak---a series of public hearings with both village close to Tuluksak---works in the company and a number of government their powerhouse and others from agencies, the state issued a permit to Bethel also work for the company. Ad- Northland to resume operations under ditionally, he said that Northland strict regulations. probably spent $250,000 in the local ''We feel we've gone out of our economy in 1982 alone. way to addresss these environmental The issue has received consider- problems," sai d Joe Fisher, able statewi-de media coverage, to the Northland's project manager. point that people recognize Phillip Nevertheless, Phillip is con- when she's traveling out of town. cerned that Northland's track record "In Anchorage, when we mention is none too promising. the work 'Tuluksak,' people say, 'keep "The state doesn't look back at it up, we're for you.' That has been when Northland polluted the river last really surprising. It makes me feel year. That's the past. It's gone. I good that there's concerned people out don't like that ," she said. "When the there.'' permit was finally given to the compa- Fisher said outsiders are part of ny, the people in the village were the problem. upset. It was like losing something. ''Because of outsiders," he said, It was really upsetting, losing your "we have never been able to sit down protection." with the village and resolve the ques- Fisher admits that the company tion. We feel we've gone out of our made no attempt to inform the village way to address these environmental of their intentions prior to resuming problems. We'd like to be good neigh- mining after an almost two-decade lay- bors and be a part of the community." off, but it certainly didn't antici- 1' I always have to be careful with pate the village's strong reaction. what I'm saying," she said. "I don't "We didn't think there's be a want the village or the people to be problem because of the past history," hurt. I've learned a lot. There are said Fisher, explaining that the area davs when I say to myself, 'what am I above Tuluksak was mined from 1926 to doing?' but somebody has to do it." 1964, and that his company resumed the At 26, Phillip has lived with her mining there in 1981. In addition, he parents most of her life, except for a said that although Tuluksak is 40 air brief stint Outside to study miles from the mining operation at phychology at Seattle Pacific Unlver- Nyak, it is 70 to 80 miles by river sity. She has nine brothers and sis- ---so that much of the silting is more ters. "We're a real close family," she the natural turbidjty of the river said, adding that her parents have than the mining operation. encouraged her in local politics. Phillip said that Northland does "I guess they like it. They help not employ any local people in the me. Thev give me a lot of feedback and surrounding villages, it pays no local advice," she said. taxes, and that the miners live in Yupik is Phillip's first lan- Anchorage and fly in only during the guage, as it is for the rest of the summer months to mine. village. She said the Native language "We have not had the people re- snd traditions remain strong in the quest jobs," Fisher said. "Part of the Bethel region, including the role of problem in recent years has been that the elders as spiritual and political the Natives have not been interested advisors, who have continuouslp guided in that type of work.'' the village's unanimous sentiments 14 ALASKA MINES & GEOLOGY

since this past year's upheaval: "The paraphrase former Secretary of Agri- elders want no mining. Period." culture Earl Butz, loose pants. It Phillip seems to have learned the must also have a vest. It must fit quiet, nonaggressive strategy neces- reasonably well. (Color and style? sary for survival as a village leader, Minor details. Slade, you see, is a but explains it in a different way: Fairbanksan.) Mostly, though, the suit "At public meetings in Tuluksak, offi- must not be too expensive. It must not cials from out of town think I'm cost more than, say, $15 ....Slade, the quiet. But I want the people's feel- gentleman DGGS ragpicker (oops) rock- ings heard to the officials. That's picker, selects his spring ensemble why I always just sit back and Listen off the rack at a 'store-front' de- at the meetings." partment store---the Salvation Army, How does Phillip feel overall the Humane Society, the Bishop's Attic about being mayor? ("No credit, no alterations"). .. .Every 11 It's a hard job," she said. spring, I accompany him on his shop- ping trips, for he relies on my patrician taste and innate sense of Our Gangue .... style to guide him in his quest for By Frank Larson, editor sartorial perfection.. ..No pleats for my friend. No Nehru jackets. No How much gear do you take to the leisure suits. Nosirree. My Man has to field? It varies. Some geologists are go to the bush in style.. .."Are cuffs thorough and prepare for every contin- 'in' this year?" he asks. /"Sure," I gency'. One DGGS veteran said that reply, "wide lapels, too. " (Well, they geologists probably take more gear were,- last time I got dressed up---to than is needed, certainly more than get married; my daughter Is now a the average backpacker ....Others lead high-school senior.) ....Anyhow, after a spartan existence in the field. One painstaking deliberation, Slade such was former DGGS mining engineer selects his summer ensemble, pays for Cleland Conwell. For trips to it, and departs, suit in arm southeastern Alaska, Cle used to take (actually, in a paper bag). ..Then, grease, a frying pan, and fishing about June 15, he arises, dons the tackle. Period...But my favorite suit, kisses the wife and kids good- example of innovations in ascetic bye, and heads for work like millions living in the field is provided every of other nattily attired American summer by my good iriend Slade. Slade males. But with a difference: Slade's has a few idiosyncracies. He doesn't 'work1 is in the central Alaska bush. like jeans. ("Too tight," he says.) He There, for the next month or two, the wears slacks instead. Slade doesn't luckier local denizens may catch like down vests. ("Too warm.") In- occasional glimpses of Slade the stead, he wears suit vests. ("1 like Impeccable, sartorially correct in his the extra pockets .ll)....Slade prepares matching three-piece suit as he for the field each summer by going on traverses mountains, ravines, and a shopping spree---but not at your streams, pockets bulging with rock usual outfitters. No Eddie Bauer or samples and sodden bags of river L.L. Bean togs for 01' Slade. No muck.. ..Wearing a suit to the field sir ....Slade, you see, dresses for the has many advantages, the veteran rock- field. Slade wears a suit to the picker avows. "First, it has lots of field. Yes, a regular Sunday-go-to- pockets. Second, it has a vest. Third, church-style suit....He buys a new it is comfortable, not too tight. sult every year, just for the Fourth is style, of course. I always field---but not just any suit, mind like to look my best around a smoky you. Certain requisites have to be campfire. A fifth advantage is met. First off, the suit must have, to laundry. There is Done." He continues, JULY

"There is only one drawback to the no- hearing on the recently released ELS laundry solution, though." He pauses, on the proposed mine is set for Sept. wistfully. "It concerns my friends. 6. Stay tuned....Silverado Mines, Ltd. You see, I usually lose them after the is plowing $5 million into the Grant first week or so.")....What does he do Mine (p. 4) on drilling, underground when he gets back to town, you ask? development, construction, and a mill. "Ahhh, that1s the best part ," Slade It hopes to resume operations at a says. "I take the suit off ," he says. 200-tpd clip next fall. Recent drill- "Then I have a party and burn it." ing turned up gold contents of 0.7 to Brooks Brothers, eat your hearts 2.7 ozlton ore at depths between 100 out....The Alaska Miners Association and 200 ft....The Cook Inlet Reg$on, will hold its ninth annual convention Inc., wants to mine gravel on land it and trade show November 1-3 at the new owns in Kachemak Bay State Park. CIRI, Egan Convention Center in Anchorage. which wants to extract 9 million ft9 Space for displays is available though of gravel from the abandoned bed of Sandi Thomas, Rainbow Resources Labs, the Doroshin River, hopes to begin 5331 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage 99502 (ph barging gravel to Homer later this 561-1017) ....Ten tracts of state-owned year. However, Division of Parks land in the Matanuska Valley's Wish- director Neil Johannsen said that the bone Hill area with 'moderate to high' chance of the Native Corporation potential '(13,760 acres, total) may be getting the necessary permits "is offered for sale this December. DNR slim."....Resource Associates of Alas- has scheduled hearings to allow public ka signed a joint-venture agreement comment on the proposed offerings, the with Freeport Exploration of Reno, first of three for the Matanuska field Nevada to explore for gold and other over the new 4 yr. For further info, minerals on the central Alaska Penin- contact Laurel Murphy (DOM, Pouch 7- sula. Freeport will conduct an ex- 016, Anchorage 99510, ph 265- ploration program on land held by RAA 4191).. ..The DNR Division of Parks under a mineral agreement with the received more than $0.5 million to Aleut Native Corporation ....The List stabilize and restore old buildings at of USGS Geologic and Water-Supply Re- Independence Mine State Historic Park. ports and Maps for Alaska states that The mine, whlch sits on 271 acres of Helen Beikman's Miscellaneous Field land and has numerous old buildings, Studies Map MF-673, 'Preliminary geo- including a 1940-era assay office, and logic map of southeastern Alaska,' has has 21 miles of tunnels....Is the a scale of 1:1,000,001. Now that's secretary of Anaconda Minerals' Dave finite mapping. .. .DGGS is getting Heatwole a fan of writer John Irving? ready for its annual update of In- Could be. A letter from Heatwole to formation Circular 8, 'Consultants DGGS geologist Gar Pessel was available for work in Alaska.' So, you addressed to "Garp Sell."....Residents consultants, both Alaskan and Outside, of the Marine View Apartments in drop us a line and state your address Juneau have been told to move because afid services offered. We'll add it in two studies have found that the 10- the next version....If you wanted to year-old building would be unsafe in bid on the nine parcels of 17 termi- an earthquake. We'll have more on this nated Alaskan oil leases, you'd have next issue, along with the fate (and had to go to (select one): a) Anchor- new address) of the DGGS Juneau age, b) Fairbanks, c) Juneau, or d) office, which is located on the fourth Cheyenne, Wyoming. The answer, of floor of the nine-story build- course, is' d. (But there is no truth ing....The Ketchikan Gateway Borough to the rumor that the BLM will hold wants to annex the Quartz Hill molyb- the next Simultaneous Oil and Gas denum site to increase its tax base. Lease Program for Alaska land in Yazoo U.S. Borax objects. Also, a public City, Mississippi.) ...... Cheers. Metals Market 3 Months Ago 1 Year Apo July 9, 1984) (4/2/84) (7/11/84)

Anti.mony metal per lb (NY dealer) $ 1.54 Beryllium ore, stu* $100-1 20 Chrome ore per long ton (Transvaal) $ 48-52 Copper per lb (MW-prod) $ 0.66 Gold per oz (Handy & Harman) $ 364.10 Lead per lb f 0.31 Mercury per 76-lb flask $ 318.00 Molybdenum conc. per lb (MW oxide) $ * * Nickel per lh (cathode) $ 2.25 Platinum per oz (MIT KY dlr) $ 360.00 Silver per oz (Handy & Harmon) $ 7.95 Tin per lb (MW composite) $ 6.33 Titanium ore per ton (ilmenite) $ 70-75 Tungsten per unit (GSA domestic) $ 80.74 Zinc per lb (MW-US PV) $ 0.50

* - Standard ton unit (20 lb). ** - Climax-concentrate list price suspended.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Bulk Rate Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys lJ.S. Postage Paid 794 University Avenue (Basement) Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

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