Alaska State Rocks and Minerals How to Guide
Alaska the largest State in
the US and the coldest state, yet despite the harsh cold mining of minerals and
gems continues to this day. We will investigate the state mineral and state
rock, as well as a few others that are noteworthy. At the bottom of the page
you will find links to nonaffiliated sites that showcase or sell gems and
minerals from Alaska, as well as some affiliate links for guidebooks on
rockhounding in Alaska. This is not an exclusive list of Alaska’s rocks and
minerals merely a look at some of the most notable.
Gold Alaska State
Mineral
It is probably not a
surprise that gold would be picked as the state mineral, as gold is still
actively mined today, and popular TV shows are dedicated to several gold miners
in Alaska. Gold was a motivating force in the settling of the Alaska frontier,
starting in the mid-1800s. Gold was designated as the state mineral in 1968.
Gold has been located through out much of the state apart from the Yukon Flats.
Most well noted locations for gold are in the areas of Fairbanks, Juneau and
Nome, that includes the famous Nome beach gold. Also, the Klondike area has
been mined sense the late 1800s. Total Alaska gold mined is 40,300,000 troy ounces (1,250,000 kg) of gold from 1880 through the end of 2007! The gold is found as nuggets and grains or
flour along the rivers and stream beds, also veins and gold in quartz are found
in the hard rock deposits. Alaska is a great place to look and pan for gold. Be
sure to follow all the laws and to respect private property. This should be
easy since the state has set aside areas for you to go and pan for gold.
Locations for Gold
Today Alaska can be found in many places within the state
especially along the riverbanks. The Yukon River basin, the Kuskokwim River and
Copper River are just a few of the hundreds of areas within the state where
gold has been discovered in Alaska. Most of Alaska’s major towns are nearby to
rich gold mining areas. This is true of Nome, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
Platinum
Although rare platinum is also found in Alaska, and some good-sized
nuggets have been found at Fox Gulch, at Goodnews Bay.
Copper
Native copper has been located at the McCathy area of south-central
Alaska
Alaska State Gemstone and
Gemstones
Jade, Nephrite
Alaska’s jade is nephrite type, and was adopted as the
state gem in 1968. Jade deposits occur near Jade Mountain and the Kobuk River,
also near Dall and Shungnak rivers. This is a very remote area and
archaeological sites have unearthed Jade artifacts. There is a literal mountain
of Jade on the Seward Peninsula. The term jade refers to three variations,
Jadeite. Nephrite and chloromenlanite. The quality of jade in Alaska varies from
very good to yard rock. The best material is usually smooth, stream tumbled
rocks and boulders, many fine specimens are covered with a rind of brown weathered
materiel, so chipping an edge off will show the fine green color varying in shades
of yellow, red, black and white, and possible the prized lavender.
Fluorite
Fluorite is another mineral
that you should look for in Alaska. You can find fluorite veins in the on the
Kuiu Island on its northern end. Although these veins are mainly comprised of
quartz and intrude into Cornwallis limestone, the veins can have sizable
quantities of purple and green fluorite. Findings include cubic or octahedral
crystals of fluorite.
Garnet
Garnets
are quite common in Alaska. You may find the valuable deep raspberry colored,
octagonal shaped garnets in Wrangell within southeastern Alaska. These garnets
contain both aluminum and iron that makes them almandine. The garnets are very
nice gemstones to add to your collection and enjoy.
Amethyst
Usually,
the Amethyst can be found in weathered feldspar or pegmatite pockets of quartz.
In Alaska, you can find amethyst crystals in the granite-rich uplands regions
of Northway and Tok. You will generally find these amethysts as light
pinkish-purple crystals formed in groups or single crystals.
You may find other varieties of quartz in Alaska. There are crystals of clear quartz in the Brooks mountain range in the north of Alaska specifically to the Nolan Creek drainage. Quartz can be found embedded in fissures or cavities in metamorphic rocks. Some pure quartz crystals contain rutile needles of various colors that range between brown and reddish copper.
You may find other varieties of quartz in Alaska. There are crystals of clear quartz in the Brooks mountain range in the north of Alaska specifically to the Nolan Creek drainage. Quartz can be found embedded in fissures or cavities in metamorphic rocks. Some pure quartz crystals contain rutile needles of various colors that range between brown and reddish copper.
Other Rocks
Other
rocks and minerals to be collected include Rhodonite, agates, jaspers, and
petrified wood. Various types of agates can be found in gravel pits and riverbeds
at several locations in the Chicken Creek area near the border with the Yukon
Territory. Agates, jasper, and petrified wood can be found on many beaches,
including those on the islands of Adak, Admiralty, Attu, Kuiu, Kupreanof,
Nelson, Popof, Tanaga, Unalaska, and Zarembo. Other well-known sources are the
outlet of Becharof Lake, Little Nelchina River, and Caribou Creek.
Woolly
Mammoth Fossil
Alaska is well
known to have many fossils. The Woolly Mammoth was named Alaska's state fossil
in 1986. The Woolly Mammoth belonged to the elephant family and inhibited
Alaska a estimated 10,000 years ago before it became extinct.
New fossil discoveries are made in Alaska all the time, due to the remoteness of so much of the state. There are so many areas that you can explore for a variety of fossils, gems and minerals that have been virtually unexplored.
New fossil discoveries are made in Alaska all the time, due to the remoteness of so much of the state. There are so many areas that you can explore for a variety of fossils, gems and minerals that have been virtually unexplored.
Alaska
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