Rock sample analysis shows gold mineralization in creek watershed

Patricia Jones

Petroleum News contributing writer

The Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys has released rock sample analysis showing gold mineralization in the Livengood Creek watershed. The geochemical data is for surface rock samples collected in 2001 and 2003 in the central Livengood Quadrangle some 60 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Sixty rock samples were analyzed for geochemical trace-element analysis and 50 samples were analyzed for whole-rock analysis. One highly anomalous sample from a known lode prospect in the area yielded slightly more than one ounce of gold per ton of rock.

The mineralized zone drains into the Livengood Creek watershed, along which 10 inactive and two active placer mines are located.

Since 1914, more than 500,000 ounces of placer gold have been mined from the Livengood subdistrict.

Part of the Tolovana mining district, the sample collection area covers approximately 130 square miles, including the Money Knob area, which contains eight known lode gold prospects.

The Jan. 20 data release is part of the Alaska Airborne Geophysical/Geological Mineral Inventory Program, which provides both airborne and ground-based geological mapping.