Standard Copper Mines Co. Mine, Copper River Mining District, Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Standard Copper Mines Co. Mine	Mine
Copper River Mining District	Mining District
Valdez-Cordova Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Nelson and others (1985) interpret the country rocks as accreted ocean crust. Crowe and others (1992; 1993) and Sainsbury (1993) discuss the genesis of the volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in this area. Chugach Alaska Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska has control of these lands.
Location: This mine is at an elevation of about 1800 feet, about 0.5 mile southeast of Copper Mountain. It is in the NW1/4 sec. 1, T. 12 S., R. 8 W., of the Copper River Meridian. The location of the site is accurate to within 1000 ft. This site is loc. 13 in Cobb (1972: MF-392) and loc. C-77 in Jansons and others (1984).
Geology: The country rocks at this mine are mafic volcanic rocks and sedimentary rocks of the Tertiary Orca Group (Nelson and others, 1985). The deposit consists of quartz, calcite, and massive sulfides in shear zones cutting the volcanic rocks. A 6 ft. x 32 ft. lens of massive sulfide was observed by Mihelich and Wells (1957), but most of the sulfide bodies are smaller (Jansons and others, 1984). The sulfide minerals are chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, and sphalerite. Chip samples collected in 1955 (Mihelich and Wells,1957) contained 0.07% to 6.1% Cu. Jansons and others (1984) report that three chip samples from the 660-ft.-long adit contained 280 ppm to 0.89% Cu, 200 ppm to 0.9% Zn, 0.01 ppm to 0.11 ppm Au, and 0.5 ppm to 2.5 ppm Ag. Three grab samples from the adit contained 0.70% to 2% Cu, 200 ppm to 2% Zn, 0.08 ppm to 0.19 ppm Au, and 2.3 ppm to 6.1 ppm Ag.
Workings: Grant and Higgins (1909) report five adits on the steep slopes of Copper Mountain and a tram to an ore bunker on the shore of Landlocked Bay. Only three of the adits could be located in the 1980s (Jansons and others, 1984). Chip samples collected in 1955 (Mihelich and Wells,1957) contained 0.07% to 6.1% Cu. Jansons and others (1984) report that three chip samples from the 660-ft.-long adit contained 280 ppm to 0.89% Cu, 200 ppm to 0.9% Zn, 0.01 ppm to 0.11 ppm Au, and 0.5 ppm to 2.5 ppm Ag. Three grab samples from the adit contained 0.70% to 2% Cu, 200 ppm to 2% Zn, 0.08 ppm to 0.19 ppm Au, and 2.3 ppm to 6.1 ppm Ag.
Age: Probably Tertiary based on the age of the host rocks.
Production: 32,000 lbs. Cu, 518 oz. Ag, and 36 oz. Au were recovered from 1,100 tons of ore. However, it is felt that not all the recovered gold and silver were reported (Mihelich and Wells, 1957).
Reserves: Inferred reserves of 4,300 tons @ 2.89% Cu (Jansons and others, 1984).

Commodities (Major) - Cu, Zn; (Minor) - Ag, Au
Development Status: Yes
Deposit Model: Cyprus massive sulfide (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 24a)

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	CV016

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References