RECONNAISSANCE FOR RADIOACTIVE DEPOSITS IN SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA, 1952

Journal Article · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959 · U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1058-A Page(s): 35 and 3 illus.

OSTI ID:4300856

Houston, J R; Bates, R G

Reconnaissance for radioacttve deposits in southeastern Alaska in 1952 was centered in three localities: the northern part of Prince of Wales Island and parts of adjacent islands, the Taku Harbor-Point Astley district, and the Hyder area. Significant concentrations of radioactive minerals were found only in the vicinity of Salmon Bay on the northeastern shore of Prince of Wales Island. In this area radioactive carbonatehematite veins occur along the coast for about 8 miles. The veins are generally short, irregular, and lenticular, but a few can be traced for more than 300 ft between the low-tide line and the forest cover. The width of the veins normally ranges from less than 1 in. to 2.5 ft; several, however, are 5 to l0 ft wtde. The most abundant minerals in the veins are dolomite-ankerite and alkali feldspar with decreasing amounts of red hematite, specular hematite, pyrite, siderite, magnetite, quartz, chalcedony, and chlorite. Parisite, bastnaesite, muscovite, fluorite, apatite, thorite, zircon, monazite, epidote, topaz, garnet, chalcopyrite, and marcasite have also been identified. Most of the radioactivity is due to thorium contained chiefly in the minerals thorite and monazite. The highest grade grab sample assayed 0.13% equivalent uranium or about 0.64% equivalent thorium. The average of 7 channel samples taken along 100 ft of one of the more radioactive veins was 0.034% equivalent uranium or 0.16% equivalent thorium. The rare-earth fluocarbonates parisite and bastnaesite, occur in small amounts in some veins. four chipchannel samples taken from a high-grade rare-earth vein about 1,150 ft longaveraged 0.79% rare-earth oxides over an average width of 7.4 ft. One high-grade grab sample from this vein assayed 5.0% rare-earth oxides. (auth)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-13-000145
• OSTI ID: 4300856
• Journal Information: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1058-A Page(s): 35 and 3 illus., Journal Name: U.S. Geol. Survey Bull. 1058-A Page(s): 35 and 3 illus.
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALASKA
ALUMINUM SILICATES
APATITES
BASTNAESITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM PHOSPHATES
CALCIUM SILICATES
CARBONATES
CHALCOPYRITE
CHLORITES
COPPER SULFIDES
DEPOSITS
DOLOMITE
EPIDOTE
FELDSPARS
FLUORIDES
FLUORITE
GARNETS
GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY
HEMATITE
IRON CARBONATES
IRON OXIDES
IRON SULFIDES
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNETITE
MARCASITE
MICA
MINERALS
MONAZITES
PYRITE
QUARTZ
RADIOACTIVITY
RARE EARTHS
SAMPLING
SIDERITE
THORITE
THORIUM SILICATES
TOPASE
URANIUM
YTTRIUM PHOSPHATES
ZIRCONIUM SILICATES