General Information
Secondary Commodities: iron
Deposit Type(s): Iron Formation
Location(s): 68.499720 N, -136.5225 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 117A09
Location Comments: .5 Kilometres
Hand Samples Available at YGS: No
Capsule
Work History
First noted by the GSC in 1971 and later studied extensively by mineralogists and gem collectors.
This occurrence lies within a large area withdrawn from staking in July, 1978 pending creation of a National Wilderness Park, settlement of native land claims, and development of a management plan for the Porcupine Caribou Herd.
Capsule Geology
Thick deposits of siderite and phosphatic ironstone occur in shale within the Rapid Creek Formation, part of a flyschoid clastic wedge of Early Cretaceous age. The sequence consists of three units of cyclically interbedded siderite, mudstone and shale separated by two grey montmorillonite shale units.
A spectacular suite of approximately thirty unusual phosphate minerals, including ten new species, are present as epigenetic fracture fillings (veins) and lesser concentrations in vugs, bedding plane partings and fillings in fault breccia. Calcium-rich phosphate minerals occur in phosphatic mudstone, barium-rich minerals in conglomeratic slump deposits, sodium-rich minerals with phosphatic sandstone and iron-magnesium rich minerals with sideritic sandstone. Phosphate mineralization at this location is largely confined to recrystallized spherulitic replacements of ammonites and pelecypods and oblate concretionary phosphate nodules. The main minerals are pyrite, wolfeite, satterlyite, maricite, vivianite-baricite and varulite.
First noted by the GSC in 1971 and later studied extensively by mineralogists and gem collectors.
This occurrence lies within a large area withdrawn from staking in July, 1978 pending creation of a National Wilderness Park, settlement of native land claims, and development of a management plan for the Porcupine Caribou Herd.
Capsule Geology
Thick deposits of siderite and phosphatic ironstone occur in shale within the Rapid Creek Formation, part of a flyschoid clastic wedge of Early Cretaceous age. The sequence consists of three units of cyclically interbedded siderite, mudstone and shale separated by two grey montmorillonite shale units.
A spectacular suite of approximately thirty unusual phosphate minerals, including ten new species, are present as epigenetic fracture fillings (veins) and lesser concentrations in vugs, bedding plane partings and fillings in fault breccia. Calcium-rich phosphate minerals occur in phosphatic mudstone, barium-rich minerals in conglomeratic slump deposits, sodium-rich minerals with phosphatic sandstone and iron-magnesium rich minerals with sideritic sandstone. Phosphate mineralization at this location is largely confined to recrystallized spherulitic replacements of ammonites and pelecypods and oblate concretionary phosphate nodules. The main minerals are pyrite, wolfeite, satterlyite, maricite, vivianite-baricite and varulite.
Location Map
Last Updated: Nov 5, 2019
Work History
| Year | Work Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Geochemistry: Rock | |
| 1974 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1974 | Lab Work/Physical Studies: Petrographic | Samples of various minerals studied. |
Regional Geology - Terrane
Group: Ancestral North America
Affinity: W Laurentia
Name: North America - basinal strata
Realm: Laurentia
Regional Geology - Bedrock
Supergroup:
Group/Suite: Fish River
Formation: Tent Island
Member:
Terrane:
Period Max: Cretaceous
Age Max: 100 MA
Period Min: Cretaceous
Age Min: 66 MA
Rock Major: mudstone/siltstone/sandstone/conglomerate
Rock Minor:
Reference: Norris (1981) - GSC Map 1516A
Geological Unit (1M): KT
Geological Unit (250K): KT1
Related References
| Number | Title | Page(s) | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992GeolVol3_02 | Phosphorites, ironstones, and secondary phosphates in Mid-Cretaceous flysch of the blow trough, northern Yukon | Annual Report Paper |
| Citations |
|---|
| Coleman, L.C. and Robertson, B.T., 1981. Nahpoite Na2HPO4, a new mineral from the Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 19, p. 373-376. |
| Gordey, S.P., 1981. Assessment of mineral and fuel resource potential of the proposed northern Yukon national park and adjacent areas (Phase 1). Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 760. |
| Mandarino, J.A. and Sturman, B.D., 1976. Kulanite, a new barium iron aluminum phosphate from the Yukon Territory. Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 14, p. 127-131. |
| Mandarino, J.A., Sturman, B.D. and Corlett, M.I., 1977. Penikisite, the magnesium analogue of kulanite, from Yukon. Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 15, p. 393-395. |
| Mandarino, J.A., Sturman, B.D. and Corlett, M.I., 1978. Satterlyite, a new hydroxyl-bearing ferrous phosphate from the Big Fish River area, Yukon. Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 16, p. 411-413. |
| Norris, D.K. (ed), 1997. The geology, mineral and hydrocarbon potential of northern Yukon Territory and northwestern District of Mackenzie. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 422. |
| Norris, D.K., 1980. Geology, northern Yukon Territory and northwestern District of Mackenzie. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 715. |
| Robertson, 1980. Stratigraphic setting of some new and rare phosphatic minerals in the Yukon Territory. Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Saskatchewan. |
| Robertson, B.T., 1982. Occurrence of epigenetic phosphate minerals in a phosphatic iron-formation, Yukon Territory. Canadian Mineralogist, vol. 20, p. 177-187. |
| Young, F.G., 1972. Cretaceous stratigraphy between Blow and Fish rivers, Yukon Territory, In: Report of activities, part A: April to October, 1971. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper no. 72-1A, p. 229-235. |
