General Information
Abstract: The Keno Hill-Galena Hill area is underlain by Yukon Group metasedimentary rocks which form the southern flank of the McQuesten anticline in the area. A series of faults, striking northeast and dipping steeply southeast, host the silver-lead-zinc lode deposits.
In excess of 65 ore deposits and prospects have been identified within the district. The principal lode deposits occur within the Central Quartzite in areas where brittle failure of the competent quartzite has allowed open areas conducive to ore deposition. Ore zones are also known to occur in the Lower Schist where a competent unit, such as greenstone lense, forms one or two of the walls of the vein fault.
The Husky Mine, located near the base of Galena Hill, is currently the main underground producer. Ore production from Husky to December 31, 1984 has totalled 359,450 tonnes (396,230 tons) grading 1450 g/t Ag (42.32 oz/ton). The lead and zinc content within Husky Deposit averages 3.96% and 0.27% Zn. The 10.7:1 silver to lead ratio (ounces silver to percent lead) in the Husky Deposit is the third highest among the district's major silver producers. The low zinc content is also unusual in light of the fact that the Husky Deposit exhibits very little evidence of oxidation.
The Husky S.W. Deposit is located 1400 m southwest of the Husky shaft. The Husky S.W. Vein zone is a highly fractured breccia structure with a quartz-rich gangue. Mineralization occurs as native silver with some argentite (acanthite) and stephanite within fracture veinlets with a pyrite/graphite matrix. The ore is completely non-visual.
The amount of lead and zinc within the deposit is very low (0.2% Pb aand 0.03% Zn). The silver to lead ratio of 195:1 in this deposit is an order of magnitude higher than in any deposit ever mined in the area (district average is 6:1).
In excess of 65 ore deposits and prospects have been identified within the district. The principal lode deposits occur within the Central Quartzite in areas where brittle failure of the competent quartzite has allowed open areas conducive to ore deposition. Ore zones are also known to occur in the Lower Schist where a competent unit, such as greenstone lense, forms one or two of the walls of the vein fault.
The Husky Mine, located near the base of Galena Hill, is currently the main underground producer. Ore production from Husky to December 31, 1984 has totalled 359,450 tonnes (396,230 tons) grading 1450 g/t Ag (42.32 oz/ton). The lead and zinc content within Husky Deposit averages 3.96% and 0.27% Zn. The 10.7:1 silver to lead ratio (ounces silver to percent lead) in the Husky Deposit is the third highest among the district's major silver producers. The low zinc content is also unusual in light of the fact that the Husky Deposit exhibits very little evidence of oxidation.
The Husky S.W. Deposit is located 1400 m southwest of the Husky shaft. The Husky S.W. Vein zone is a highly fractured breccia structure with a quartz-rich gangue. Mineralization occurs as native silver with some argentite (acanthite) and stephanite within fracture veinlets with a pyrite/graphite matrix. The ore is completely non-visual.
The amount of lead and zinc within the deposit is very low (0.2% Pb aand 0.03% Zn). The silver to lead ratio of 195:1 in this deposit is an order of magnitude higher than in any deposit ever mined in the area (district average is 6:1).
Authors: Watson, K.W.
Citation: Watson, K.W., 1986. Silver-lead-zinc deposits of the Keno Hill-Galena Hill area, central Yukon. In: Yukon Geology Volume 1, J.A. Morin and E.S. Emond (eds.), Exploration & Geological Services Division, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada, p. 83-88.
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Related Publications
| Number | Relationship | Authors | Title |
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| 1986GeolVol1 | Contained By | Morin, J.A. and Emond, D.S. (eds.) | Yukon Geology Volume 1 |
