thumbnail

Links between tectonics, magmatism, and mineralization in the formation of Late Cretaceous porphyry systems in the Yukon-Tanana upland, eastern Alaska, USA

By: , and 

Links

  • The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Cretaceous-Paleocene porphyry Cu(±Mo±Au) occurrences are scattered throughout the Yukon-Tanana upland in eastern Alaska. Known occurrences in eastern Alaska are poorly characterized, despite a resurgence in exploration. Porphyry deposits in the upland are emplaced into structurally complex metamorphic rocks representing a variety of tectonic environments, resulting in diverse alteration and mineralization assemblages. New mapping, drill core logging, petrography, geochemistry, geochronology, and structural analysis allow improved characterization of the parameters of porphyry systems and identify key linkages to regional tectonic and magmatic events. New sericite 40Ar/39Ar and zircon U/Pb dates constrain porphyry systems to the Late Cretaceous-earliest Paleocene (ca. 71-63 Ma). Zircon Hf-isotope ratios and Ce and Eu concentrations indicate that Late Cretaceous-Paleocene intrusions emplaced into basement dominated by Triassic and Jurassic plutons are more isotopically juvenile, reflecting more oxidized conditions. In contrast, those emplaced into basement dominated by mid-Cretaceous plutons are more reduced crustal geochemical-affinity. Diversity in mineral assemblages in contrasting systems may reflect emplacement into crustal domains of varying compositions and oxidation states. Those formed within a domain containing more-oxidized Triassic and Jurassic plutons are molybdenite-rich and apparently lack gold. In contrast, systems formed within domains dominated by more reduced mid-Cretaceous plutons contain lower-sulfidation state mineral assemblages with reported gold.

Study Area

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Links between tectonics, magmatism, and mineralization in the formation of Late Cretaceous porphyry systems in the Yukon-Tanana upland, eastern Alaska, USA
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA)
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center Geology Minerals
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Proceedings of the 15th biennial meeting for geology applied to mineral deposits
First page 939
Last page 942
Conference Title 15th Biennial Meeting of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits 27
Conference Location Glasgow, Scotland
Conference Date Aug 27-30, 2019
Country Canada, United States
State Alaska, Yukon
Other Geospatial Yukon-Tanana upland
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details