i TERRITORY OF ALASKA !I 1 DEPARTMENT OF MINES [ B. D. STEWART ~omrnissionerof Mines s$@ 'i Industrial Minerals as a Field for t4 Prospeding in Alaska including I a . A Glossary of Elemenis and 1E Minerals $1 JUNEAU, ALASKA March, 1946 CONTENTS PREFACE Page Foreseeing that Alaska must develop industrial enterprise in .............................................................. preface ................................................................. 3 order to support further population increases, it is the hope of the ............................................... author that the information presented here will awaken an Introduction ................ 5 i~~terestin many metallic and non-metailic minerals that can ilI- ....................................................................... Mineral ldentlflcadoll ............... 6 afford .to be overlooked if there is to be an orderly development ............................ Assaying ........................... .: ........................... --:............... 5 of Alaska. Industrial growth and substantial population gains mglrserlngservi,ys md exrminal\o~u.................................................... 6 must *go hand in hand. One cannot exist in Alaska without the other. Lapidary ~IVIC(J......................................................................................... The success and even the existence of new industries may well Ol,,errervi .................................................................... 7 depend up011 local develupment of minerals previously deemed ................................................. 9 The elemen& .... ....-.,,.. .................................... .. valueless. As an illustration; should the paper and pulp industry in Territory, there would immediately ~h~ rnlnerals .................................................................................................................... 30 become established the exist an interest in paper clays, talc, sulphur, and. other raw materials. Markets may indeed be small at first, but advance knowledge of the existence and location of certain minerals may be the deciding factor in influencing the establishment of small industry which, we may trust, will thrive. The average person fails to realize the extremely important part that minerals play in the everyday existence of modem civilization. To produce this . sheet of paper required the use, in some way or another, of , sulphur, limestone, salt, gypsum, talc, and even the lowly sand- stone and clay. No attempt has been made in this report to restrict it to those - minerals of immediate value in Alaska. Some of those listed will remain more or less valueless ,until such time as the development of the Territory makes possible their local 'utilization. The ex- ploitation of some may be hastened by industrial expansion along the coast of Washington, Oregon and California. (This is a strong possibility due to the development and availability of cheap hydroelectric power and, if that occurs, it would seem likely that some minerd raw materials, produced in Alaska and shipped by boat, could compete favorably with transcontinental rail deliv- eries.) Some, as will be readily seen, are in good demand, at high prices and warrant the fuIlest attention of the prospector. Still others, producible in small quantity, yet having high unit value, are of special importance to the average prospector as a means of ' financing himself for further prospecting. Of particular impart- 4 INDUSTRIAL MINERALS AS A FlEtD ance in this class is the collecting and sale of specimen material and gem'stones, both semi-precious and precious. Great detail is not possible in a report of this nature. It is hoped that the reader will supplement and amplify the informa- fion presented by co~lsultingup to date standard texts, especially INTRODUCTION those on mineralogy. Xt should be mentioned, however, that accurate identification of most of these minerals had best be done The information presented in these pages is based upon avail- in a wellequipped laboratory, and it is suggested that the pros- able information up to recent date, but during the present world pector avail himself of the free services offered by the Territorial collfIict there have been many outstanding technical developments Department of Mines, and send in all samples for identification taking place, so far unpublicized. When peace has been won we or for confirmation of his findings. The Department would also will learn of these new developments ; of new uses for both metals welcome the opportunity to be of service in suggesting or locating and minerals, many of them finding use in quantity for the first market outlets for any new mineral production. time. Others, the majority in fact, have long ago proven indispens- able tp the degree of civilization rve know today. To acquaint the prospector with these minerals; to assist him to realize the greatest benefits from his efforts, even though he map be primarily search- ing for gold, is the purpose of this report. Further development of the Territory largely depends upon his discoveries. Conversely, much of the ultimate value of his discoveries depends upon devel- opment of and by the Territory. To stimulate and encourage development of mining in the Territory is one primary purpose of the Territorial Department of Mines. No single project can accomplish more in that direction than the offering of the fullest support and assistance to the prospector and, of course, receiving his cooperation. The foll~ing services are available, free of charge. Mineral ldentif ication Mineral identification service .is provided at the Juneau office and at the Assay Offices at Ketchikan, Anchorage and College (Fairbanks). Specimens sent for identification are elassif ied, and if ally commercially important mineral or metal is present, a brief. doscripti.on of its use and value is included in the report. If, in the opinion of the mineralogist, the specimen warrants an assay for any particular element, such assay is made and reported without the necessity of a specific request therefor. Assaying Fully equipped assay offices are maintained at Xekhikan, Anchorage and College (Fairbanks). Prospectors are encouraged to submit samples to the most convenient office. When possible to do so, carefully taken channel samples should be submitted EN FOR PROSPECTING ALASKA 7 rather than band samples. Often samples are received with a rock or mineral suspected of being useful as an ornamental stone be sent be request for certain assays entailing much work, when a proper or gem may to this office where a polished surface will along knowledge of the rock, or possibly qualitative tests, would show prepared and returned to the sender with a report of its such work to be unnecessary and unwarranted. It is, therefore, possible usefulness and value- often necessary for the assayer to exercise his best judgment in determining how much labor is actually warranted in such cases. Other Services Although such informa'tion is not required, a brief description All offices of the Territorial Department of Mines welcome visits and inquiries. Files are kept that may be helpful in locating of the approximate location of the source of the sample would be appreciated by the Department. This information is most helpful purchasers for various minerals or in suggesting local utilization.. S. in maintaining files on the mineral resources of the Territory. All A library of U. Geological Survey bulletins, other Alaskan reports, and available for by anyone such information is kept strictly confidential. maps are study interested. Display collections of minerals also are accessible for study. It has been observed that some persons, fearing. thai they may become "bothersome", hesitate about submitting,samples. When- ever the prospector has any question as to the identity or content of any rock or mineral, the Department of Mines hopes that a - specimen wiH be submitted for examination. Many important minerals occur in inconspicuous and common appearing rocks. Engineering Services and Examinations Field engineers in the employ of the Department of Mines are available for examining prospects, the owners of which are unable to afford the services of a private engineer. Requests for such examinations should be ltddressed to the Commissioner of Mines, Juneau, Alaska. Services available include sampling and mapping of mineral showings if a preliminary examination indi- cates that type of work is justified. The information obhined is made available to the owner of the prospect in a form suitable for, , presenting to companies or individuals who might be interested in financing development and mining operations. Advice of the . engineer may also be obtained if desired on development and mining problems that are met in the course of bringing a newly discovered mineral deposit to the productive stage. Requests for engineering service should be accompanied by information that would be useful to an examining engineer, including location, nature and extent of the deposit so far as known, transportation available, season of the year most favorable for an examination, etc. Lapidary Services Equipment for the sawing and polishing of sheis a part of the facilities of the department office at College (Fairbanks). Any THE ELEMENTS Although some 86 elements are known to exist, 21 of them are of no present practical value. The remaining 65, from the familiar aluminum, copper or gold, to the less well known zirconium, are all more or less important