Alaska

Summary

Funding assistance from STATEMAP, Earth MRI, and NGGDPP is allowing the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys to revitalize mineral and hydrocarbon exploration in Alaska, as well as to generate new data and archive existing data for decision-making related to development, transportation and human safety.

STATEMAP

Since 1993 Alaska has been awarded over $6M in Federal funds and has matched (or overmatched) these funds with state support.

  • Results:
    • Discovery of Pikka Field yielding between 500 and 3,750 million barrels of oil, wells producing at 4,000 barrels per day.
    • Mineral claim staked on >32,000 acres for zinc-silver-lead-gold-copper development.
    • Discovery of 19.5-million-ounce gold resource.
    • Hazards identified for proposed road corridors and development.
  • Outcomes:
    • High quality mapping of well over 15,000 sq miles of land (larger in area than Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined).
    • More than 160 maps and reports published to date.

Earth MRI

Alaska has received $21 million in Earth MRI funding since 2019, which has drastically expanded the scope of available geophysical data and geologic mapping. This program has been an important component of many successful resource exploration programs, including a discovery of more than 22 million ounces of gold.

  • Completed & Active projects:
    • Airborne Geophysics – Earth MRI has funded over 30,000 sq miles (equivalent to South Carolina) of high-quality airborne magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric data to support Alaskan resource exploration, transportation and environmental stakeholders. Data collection continues.
    • 2019 – Eastern Tanacross 1:100,000 Geologic Map, 1,900 square mile area prospective for REE and other critical minerals, and conventional minerals (gold, copper, molybdenum and silver). 13 Publications released.
    • 2020 – Western Tanacross: 1:100,00 scale Geologic Map focusing on historic and potential mineral development (Au, Cu-Au). 7 publications released.
    • 2021 – Taylor Mountain: Area of quartz vein Au mineralization, placer Au deposits, granite-hosted tin mineralization, and intrusion related Cu-Au deposits. ~2,500 square miles mapped and 7 publications released.
    • 2022 – Mount Harper – Richardson: Upgrade geologic data in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands. Complete modern 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping, geochemistry, and geochronology. Maps and 7 publications released.
    • 2023 – Chena – Pogo Mine: ~5,560 sq mi mapping in 1:100,000 scale. Includes Pogo mine and surrounding prospects (Au, with potential to produce Bi and Te), and the Furs W-skarn prospect, among others. Work in progress with 5 publications released.
    • 2024 – Steese Area: ~3,700 sq mi area mapped at 1:100,000 scale. Includes multiple mining districts 1)18 million ounces of gold produced to date; potential for W, Bi, Sb, As coproduction, 2) U, Th, REE, F including total REE up to 15%, 3) granite-related Sn-W prospects (Au, W). Work in progress with 3 publications released.

NGGDPP (Data Preservation)

Because of Alaska’s size and remoteness, and due to land protections, much of the geologic data in the state are either irreproducible or prohibitively expensive to replicate. Data Preservation funds have been used to preserve, archive, and serve to the public many valuable geologic data.

  • Recent projects:
    • Hyperspectral scanner for documentation of samples and core ($600K federal funds plus state matching funds).
    • Sample rescue from University of Alaska Fairbanks; includes samples from the Alaska Volcano Observatory, Tectonics and Sedimentation Research group, Economic Geology program, Alaska Quaternary Center.
    • SE Alaska mapping preservation and digital conversion (George Gehrel collection).
    • Geologic Materials Center–many projects funded by NGGDPP.
    • 3,096 Alaska energy wells.
    • 26,500,000 feet of energy strata drilled.
    • 16,700,000 representative feet of energy core and cuttings.
    • 3,096 Alaska energy wells.
    • 76,000 linear feet of energy core.
    • 22,000 Alaska minerals boreholes.
    • 766,000 feet of mineral rock drilled
    • 617,000 representative feet of mineral core and cuttings
    • 354,000 linear feet of mineral core
    • 250,000 processed slides and thin sections
    • 507,000 surface samples
    • Value of collection over $35 billion

Impact for Alaska:

  • Strengthens state economic resilience by expanding highest revenue source: petroleum development.
  • Works toward economic diversification through identification of natural resource opportunities.
  • Preserves tens of billions of dollars in existing geologic data and makes those data easily available online or onsite.
  • Generates information to increase residents’ preparedness for landslides, flooding, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.