Geology and Ore Deposits in the Reid Inlet Area, Glacier Bay, Alaska - with Added Notes on a Mineralized Zone near Lituya Bay

Sep 20, 2026

A gold-bearing area of about 70 square miles was first discovered in 1921 near the head of Glacier Bay between Reid and Lamplugh Glaciers. The dominant rock type is granodiorite intruded into bedded rocks of probable Paleozoic age, including conglomerate, limestone, and black graphitic schist, with a younger quartz diorite cropping out to the south. Most ore occurs in fissure-type quartz veins in both granodiorite and older bedded rocks; alteration around fissures may be gold-bearing, but gold is often too low for profitable mining, making ore spotty and discontinuous below the surface.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages42

Reading Time1 h 46 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Geology and ore deposits in the Reid Inlet area

Introduction

Geography and accessibility

Acknowledgments

History

Production

Geology

Ore deposit

LeRoy mine

Ingle property

Monarch No. 1

Monarch No. 2

Rainbow mine

Sentinel vein

Highland Chief claim

Rambler claims

Other veins

Conclusion

A mineralized area near Lituya Bay

References cited

SUPERSEDEDlyhull A⁵5.B UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTBRIOR GEOLOGICAL S!3VEY EOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS IN THE REID INLET AREA,GLACTER BAY,ALA3KAWITH ADDED NOTES ON A MI NERAL1ZED ZONE NEAR LIUYA BAY y Dawin L.Rossmn 1955 This report 13 prelLninay and has not beanedited or revlewed for confrnity with U.3.Ceological Survey standards and nomenclatun CONTENTS Page Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 Geology and ore deposits in the Reid Inlet area……………………………………3 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Geography and accessibility……………………………………………………………………………3 Acknowled gments……………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 History……………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Production…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………l1 Geclogy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11 Bedded rocks…………………………………………………………………………………………11 J emeous rocks……………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Dike rocks………………………………………………………………………………………15 Ore deposft………………………………………………………………………………………………………………18 LeRoy wine…………………………………………………………………………………………………………21 Ineag property………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2: Monarch No。1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………25 Monareh No.2…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27 Rainbow mine……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Sentinel vein…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………30 Highland Chief clain…………………………………………………………………………………………………31 Rambler claims………………………………………………………………………………………………………………32 Other velns………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………33 Conclusicn………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………35 A mineralized area near Lituya Bay……………………………………………………………………………37 References cited…………………………………………………………………………………………………………39 IL:?ASIONS Fipue? 2.蓝·deAπp showia0J*tion uf the Beid Inlet urea…………Atbach 3. Ge10ic ma the:018-bern area between Refd Jniet and IALmpiug: Cer,.15nt…………………………………………………At.DK .M”workinrn :1dzyf the Ieoy mine, G11.:ie: Bsy, ies……………………………………………………………………………………AtBCK h. Veins and working at t:e:1:55 propert……………………………………At Veirs ard wor?ins Et t?黄r;arch Nc.)erty………t?x r,Veint. and workins 出t tne Monaren Ne.2 property……………Atback ?. Map shcwin io51:0n of some hyd?cth1700lly t1ered 0;附5 心r ii Bay,AL:往……………………………………T,(iack 3EOLBY AND ORE DEPSITS IN THE REID INI3T AREA,3LACIM BAY,ALASKANITH A DDEI)NOTE3 ON A MINRAI,1Z20 ZONE NEA3 LITTA BAY By Darn²n L。Rossman A38THACT A goid-ueaiag area of about 7号square miles,first discover!by Mr。oseph Ibach in 1921,exs5s nea:the heai of Glacier Baybetween Reid and Lamplugh Jlanlers. The dominant rock type in the ara is granodiorite whch is in-trzmuded into bedded rock3 that nxy be of Paleozois age。The beddelrocks consist of conglomerate,limestone,and black graphitic schist。A light-colored quartz diorite younger than the granodiorite cropsout 3ou th of the ma?ped area◆ Most of the ore deposits are found in fissure type quartz vein3.Tnese occur in both the granodionite and in the older bedded rocis.The mineralizing sol1tions which brought in the gold have altered thecountry rock for as much as a few tens of feet to each 3ide of tnefissures。Locallv,this altered rock is gold-baarinz,but in theplaces Smpled the gold content was found to be too low to permitprofitable mining。 Most of the quartz veins tend to be lentiaular,botn horizontallyand vertically,and the gold tends to be concentratad in diserete spot3along the veins.These factors tend to make the ore spotty and itslocation unpredictable。This has gjven rise to the concept that theore in the area has a tendency not to continue below the surface。 G ! the arpea 二心：nc 0: e g th Did mi 21乙ut0:is C.71(t0 r!::了叶…p. Ey: ineW properties sre :oriy二wo that isve yield- s1: 三：es:f :e ppec nres.bu:tine vei:s C, g.d 一f nrd i6 a Lo be ofsiftii

FAQs

What is the main focus of the report?

The report examines geology and ore deposits in the Reid Inlet area of Glacier Bay, Alaska, including added notes on a mineralized zone near Lituya Bay.

What are the dominant rock types and how do they relate to mineralization?

Granodiorite is the dominant rock, intruding bedded rocks (conglomerate, limestone, black graphitic schist). Ore is mainly associated with fissure-type quartz veins found in both granodiorite and the older bedded rocks.

Why is the ore considered spotty or unpredictable?

Quartz veins tend to be lenticular both horizontally and vertically, and gold occurs in discrete spots along the veins, leading to uneven distribution and an apparent tendency for ore not to continue well below the surface.

Sep 20, 2026

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