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51 H3dVd IVNOISSHdOHa A3AHOS 1VDI9O1O39 'S'Q Cover. Tliffs of the Challis Volcanics in the Twin Peaks Caldera, Idaho. USGS photograph by Frederick S. Fisher. Geology and Mineral Resource Assessment of the Challis I°x2° Quadrangle, Idaho Edited by Frederick S. Fisher and Kathleen M. Johnson U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1525 A study of the geologic and tectonic settings of mineral deposits and an assessment of the mineral resources in the Challis 7°x2° quadrangle, Idaho UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1995 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director For Sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this pubh'cation is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Geology and mineral resource assessment of the Challis I°x2° Quadrangle, Idaho / edited by Frederick S. Fisher and Kathleen M. Johnson. p. cm. (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1525) Includes bibliographical references. SupL of Docs, no.: I19.16:P1525 1. Geology Idaho Challis Region. 2. Mines and mineral resources Idaho Challis Region. I. Fisher, Frederick S., 1937- . II. Johnson, Kathleen M. III. Geological Survey (U.S.) IV. Series. QE104.C46G46 1993 557.96 dc20 92-27779 CIP CONTENTS Abstract............................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction, by Frederick S. Fisher.................................................................................... 2 Geologic setting and history of mineralization, by Frederick S. Fisher.............................. 4 Geologic terranes, by Frederick S. Fisher........................................................................... 7 Proterozoic terrane, by S. Warren Hobbs and Theresa M. Cookro............................. 12 Proterozoic rocks................................................................................................. 12 Yellowjacket Formation.............................................................................. 12 Hoodoo Quartzite........................................................................................ 13 Big Geek Formation................................................................................... 14 Apple Creek Formation............................................................................... 14 Gunsight Formation..................................................................................... 15 Swauger Formation..................................................................................... 15 Lawson Creek Formation............................................................................ 15 Rocks of uncertain age........................................................................................ 16 Interbedded quartzite, dolomite, and argillite of Leaton Gulch and Pennal Gulch areas (Ordovician(?), Cambrian(?), and LateProterozoic(?))................................................................................. 16 Roof pendants (Paleozoic(?) or Proterozoic(?)).......................................... 16 Relationship of mineral deposits to Proterozoic terrane..................................... 16 Carbonate terrane, by S. Warren Hobbs...................................................................... 18 Carbonate rocks in the Bayhorse mining district................................................ 18 Basal dolomite of Bayhorse Creek.............................................................. 18 Bayhorse Dolomite...................................................................................... 20 Ella Dolomite.............................................................................................. 21 Saturday Mountain Formation.................................................................... 22 Upper carbonate of Cash Creek.................................................................. 23 Carbonate sequence east of the Salmon River lineament................................... 23 Relationship of mineral deposits to carbonate terrane ....................................... 23 Black shale terrane, by Wayne E. Hall and S. Warren Hobbs.................................... 25 Bayhorse district subterrane................................................................................ 25 Garden Creek Phyllite................................................................................. 25 Ramshorn Slate and its basal conglomerate................................................ 27 White Cloud Peaks subterrane............................................................................ 27 Salmon River assemblage........................................................................... 27 Wood River Formation................................................................................ 29 Grand Prize Formation................................................................................ 29 Relationship of mineral deposits to black shale terrane...................................... 30 Base- and precious-metal vein deposits...................................................... 30 Miscellaneous vein deposits........................................................................ 31 Stratabound (syngenetic) deposits............................................................... 31 Skarn deposits............................................................................................. 32 Idaho batholith terrane, by Thor H. Kiilsgaard and Earl H. Bennett.......................... 36 Lithology and major-element composition of batholithic rocks......................... 36 TonaHte........................................................................................................ 36 Hornblende-biotite granodiorite.................................................................. 36 Porphyritic granodiorite.............................................................................. 36 Biotite granodiorite..................................................................................... 38 Muscovite-biotite granite............................................................................ 38 Leucocratic granite...................................................................................... 39 Aplite and pegmatite dikes.......................................................................... 39 HI IV CONTENTS Age relation of batholithic rocks......................................................................... 39 Relationship of mineral deposits to batholith terrane................................... 40 Challis volcanic terrane, by Frederick S. Fisher and Kathleen M. Johnson............... 41 Distribution and character................................................................................... 41 Hydrothermal alteration...................................................................................... 42 Mining activity.................................................................................................... 42 Relationship of mineral deposits to the Challis volcanic terrane........................ 42 Eocene plutonic terrane, by Thor H. Kiilsgaard and Earl H. Bennett......................... 44 Lithology............................................................................................................. 44 Diorite complex........................................................................................... 44 Gray porphyry............................................................................................. 44 Pink granite................................................................................................. 44 Tertiary dikes............................................................................................... 45 Regional hydrothermal alteration................................................................ 45 Relationship of mineral deposits to Eocene intrusive rocks............................... 45 Alluvial terrane, by Thor H. Kiilsgaard and Frederick S. Fisher................................ 48 Trans-Challis fault system terrane, by Thor H. Kiilsgaard and Frederick S. Fisher... 50 Location and general characteristics................................................................... 51 Age of faulting.................................................................................................... 51 Relationship of mineral deposits to faults........................................................... 51 Geophysical anomalies, by Michael W. Webring and Don R. Mabey............................... 53 Regional gravity and magnetic features...................................................................... 53 Gravity and magnetic anomalies................................................................................. 53 Western block...................................................................................................... 56 Monumental Peak high................................................................................ 56 Grimes Creek (44°01' N., 115°51' W.) magnetic high............................... 56 Paddy Flat (44°47' N., 115°57' W.) high.................................................... 56 Central block....................................................................................................... 56 Thunder Mountain cauldron complex........................................................