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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY AND GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE HEALY QUADRANGLE, ALASKA By Bela Csejtey, Jr. 1, Michael W. Mullen1, Dennis P. Cox1, Wyatt G. Gilbert2, Warren E. Yeend1, Thomas E. Smith^, Clyde Wahrhaftig1, Campbell Craddock4, Wayne M. Brewer4, Kirk W. Sherwood4, Robert G. Hickman4, Gary D. Stricker5, Dennis R. St. Aubin , and David J. Goerz HI Pamphlet comprising Abstract, Introductory remarks, Description of map units, Structure, Tectonics, Table of potassium-argon age determinations, Table of fossil data, and Reference list to accompany the four map sheets of Open-File Report 86-396 This pamphlet and accompanying four map sheets are preliminary and have not been edited or reviewed for con formity with Geological Survey editorial standards and stratigraphic nomenclature U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 2 Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Juneau, Alaska 3 Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, College, Alaska 4 University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 5 U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 1986 CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................... 1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ....................................... 1 DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS ...................................... 2 Sedimentary and volcanic rocks ...................................2 Qs Surficial deposits, undifferentiated .......................... 2 Thd Hornblende dacite ..................................... 2 Tng Nenana Gravel ........................................2 Tcbu Coal-bearing rocks, undivided ............................ 2 Tfv Fluviatile and subordinate volcanic rocks .....................4 Cantwell Formation ........................................5 Tcv Volcanic rocks unit ..................................5 Tc Sedimentary rocks unit ................................6 Tsu Tertiary sedimentary rocks, undivided ....................... 8 Tertiary volcanic rocks ......................................8 TV Volcanic flows, pyroclastic rocks, and subordinate subvolcanic intrusives ..................................8 Tim Mafic subvolcanic intrusive rocks .......................9 Tif Felsic subvolcanic intrusive rocks ........................9 Plutonic rocks ............................................... 9 Tgr Granitic rocks ........................................9 Tgrv Granitic and volcanic rocks, undivided ..................... 10 TKgr Granitic and hypabyssal intrusive rocks .................... 10 Northern, eastern, and south-central parts of quadrangle. .................. 11 Sedimentary and volcanic rocks .................................. 1J. Yukon-Tanana terrane .....................................11 Kvb Basaltic volcanic rocks ..............................11 TRcs Calcareous sedimentary rocks ........................ 11 Pzy Yanert Fork sequence ............................... 13 Pzmf Felsic met a volcanic rocks........................... 15 Pzmb Metabasalt and subordinate metasedimentary rocks ..............................................16 Pzms Metasedimentary rocks. ............................ 17 Pzts Totatlanika Schist, undivided ......................... 18 kp Keevy Peak Formation ............................... 20 pqs Pelitic and quartzose schist sequence .................... 22 Kva Andes!tic volcanic intrusives............................. 23 KJf Flysch sequence ...................................... 24 KJf£ Overthrust flysch sequence ............................. 26 KJcg Conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale, and volcanic rocks, undivided ................................ 26 Talkeetna superterrane ..................................... 28 TRvs Metavolcanic, metavolcaniclastic, and subordinate metasedimentary rocks ....................... 28 TRcl Chitistone and Nizina Limestones, undivided.............. 29 TRn Nikolai Greenstone ................................ 30 TRPs Metasedimentary sequence .......................... 32 PPv Andesitic volcanic rocks ............................. 33 CONTENTS Continued Page Plutonic rocks .............................................. 33 Kgr Granitic rocks ....................................... 33 Kgrt Tourmaline-bearing granite ............................. 35 KJum Ultramafic rock .................................... 35 Jgb Alkali gabbros ....................................... 36 Pzmg Metagabbro ........................................36 Southwestern and west-central parts of quadrangle .......................36 Sedimentary and volcanic rocks ..................................36 Ohio Creek area (Chulitna district) ............................ 36 JTRrs Red and brown sedimentary rocks and basalt, undivided ..................................... 37 TRlb Limestone and basalt sequence ....................... 37 TRr Red beds ........................................ 38 TRDs Volcanogenic and sedimentary rocks, undivided ..........................................38 Dsb Serpentine, basalt, chert, and gabbro .................... 39 KJs Argillite, chert, sandstone, and limestone................. 40 JTRta Crystal tuff, argillite, chert, graywacke, and limestone ....................................... 40 KJfa Flysch sequence ..................................... 41 TRcg Conglomerate and volcanic sandstone ..................... 42 Nixon Fork terrane ........................................ 42 DOs and D Is Sedimentary sequence ........................42 KJf Flysch sequence ...................................... 44 TRbd Basalt, diabase, and subordinate sedimentary interbeds ............................................44 TRPzs Flysch-like sedimentary rocks .......................... 45 Tectonic melange (?) units ................................... 46 mj and Uj Melange (?) rocks ............................. 46 m2» ^2* an^ um Melange rocks ............................48 STRUCTURE .................................................. 50 TECTONICS................................................... 55 Table 1 Selected potassium-argon age determinations from the Healy quadrangle, Alaska .............................58 Table 2. Fossil data from the Healy quadrangle, Alaska ................... 64 REFERENCES CITED............................................ 83 li CONTENTS Continued LIST OF MAPS Sheet 1 of 4: Geologic map of the Heady quadrangle...................................... In pocket Sheet 2 of 4: Additional bedding and structural data for the Healy quadrangle geologic map...........................................In pocket Sheet 3 of 4: Fossil localities map for the Healy quadrangle geologic map ............................ In pocket Sheet 4 of 4: Interpretive tectonostratigraphic terrane map of the Healy quadrangle, and the approximate extent of the middle Cretaceous Maclaren metamorphic belt in the quadrangle ................................... In pocket 111 GEOLOGY AND GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE HEALY QUADRANGLE, ALASKA Bela Csejtey, Jr., Michael W. Mullen, Dennis P. Cox, Wyatt G. Gilbert, Warren E. Yeend, Thomas E. Smith, Clyde Wahrhaftig, Campbell Craddock, Wayne M. Brewer, Kirk W. Sherwood, Robert G. Hickman, Gary D. Stricker, Dennis R. St. Aubin, and David J. Goerz HI ABSTRACT The Healy quadrangle Is underlain by a wide variety of sedimentary, volcanic, and plutonic rocks, ranging In age from Precambrlan and (or) early Paleozoic to Recent. There are fifty five map units on the geologic map. All the pre- Cenozolc rocks are Intensely deformed, mainly by overthrusting and folding, and most of them underwent at least one period of low- to medium-grade regional metamorphlsm. This deformation 1s the result of the middle Cretaceous collision and subsequent obductlon of the northward-moving Talkeetna superterrane with and onto the Yukon-Tanana and Nixon Fork terranes of the ancient North American continent. Late Cenozoic deformation, the result of continued northward plate motions, has modified but not substantially altered the geology of the quadrangle. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Geologic mapping of the Healy quadrangle was undertaken between 1978 and 1982 by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a multidisciplinary effort to assess the mineral resource potential of. the quadrangle. The multidisciplinary effort included geological, geochemical, and geophysical investigations, all carried out under the auspices of the Survey's Alaska Mineral Resource Assessment Program (AMRAP). The geologic map and accompanying discussions of this report constitute the first of a series of planned publications presenting the results of these investigations. To a large extent, the geologic map of this report is a compilation and reinterpretation of the work of a number of geologists who within the last twenty years, in association with a number of geologic research organizations, conducted geologic mapping in the Healy quadrangle. Most of these geologists who were principal investigators are listed as authors in this report. As in the case of any geologically complex area investigated by a number of geologists, a unanimity of opinion among them could not be reached on either all details of the geologic map or larger interpretations. Thus, the geologic map and interpretations of this report primarily reflect the views and opinions of the first three authors, and not necessarily those of the others. Geologists with differing opinions and views on the geology of the Healy quadrangle and adjacent regions are encouraged to publish those views in the geologic literature in the hope that a full exposition of the diversity of views on this