A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
George Case
George is a Research Economic Geologist for the Alaska Science Center.
Science and Products
Alaska Resource Data File
Alaska Critical Mineral Resource Assessments
GIS Prospectivity Analysis for Critical Minerals in Ore-Forming Systems in Alaska
Mineral Resource Assessment Training
Data for Uranium-Lead Geochronology, Carbon and Sulfur Stable Isotopes, and Raman Spectroscopy from Graphite Creek, Alaska
Whole Rock Major and Trace Element Chemistry for Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks from the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Alaska
Data from the Chemical Analysis of Archived Stream-Sediment Samples, Alaska
Qualitative Mineral Potential Map of Tungsten Skarn in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, Eastern Alaska, USA, 2021
Data and results for GIS-based identification of areas that have resource potential for lode gold deposits in Alaska
A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
A view of the old Lost River tin mine located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. The mine produced tin and tungsten from the early 20th century and ceased around 1955. The site is currently being studied by USGS for lithium potential.
A view of the old Lost River tin mine located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. The mine produced tin and tungsten from the early 20th century and ceased around 1955. The site is currently being studied by USGS for lithium potential.
This is the Jack Hills Conglomerate from Western Australia, which yielded the oldest known zircon grains on Earth at about 4.4 billion years old.
This is the Jack Hills Conglomerate from Western Australia, which yielded the oldest known zircon grains on Earth at about 4.4 billion years old.
USGS scientists George Case, Garth Graham, Anne McCafferty, and Josh Coyan visited Australia while participating in a Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) field trip. The CMMI is a collaborative effort between the USGS, Geological Survey of Canada, and Geoscience Australia to conduct research on mineral systems that contain critical commodities.
USGS scientists George Case, Garth Graham, Anne McCafferty, and Josh Coyan visited Australia while participating in a Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) field trip. The CMMI is a collaborative effort between the USGS, Geological Survey of Canada, and Geoscience Australia to conduct research on mineral systems that contain critical commodities.
Scientists use the SHRIMP or sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe to measure the ration of lead to uranium (Pb/U) in order to calculate the age of the mineral grain.
Scientists use the SHRIMP or sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe to measure the ration of lead to uranium (Pb/U) in order to calculate the age of the mineral grain.
Geologist, Sue Karl, at Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. She is making field observations and measurements about the flake graphite deposit and the surrounding host rocks. These observations were used in developing a model of flake graphite genesis. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US depends entirely on imports.
Geologist, Sue Karl, at Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. She is making field observations and measurements about the flake graphite deposit and the surrounding host rocks. These observations were used in developing a model of flake graphite genesis. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US depends entirely on imports.
The Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, crops out here at Graphite Creek. Mining in this area previously took place from roughly 1900-1916. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US relies entirely on imports.
The Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, crops out here at Graphite Creek. Mining in this area previously took place from roughly 1900-1916. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US relies entirely on imports.
USGS Geologist Susan Karl investigates an outcrop of massive flake graphite (dark gray rock) at the Graphite Creek deposit located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. An adit, a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage, from historical mining is visible in the corner.
USGS Geologist Susan Karl investigates an outcrop of massive flake graphite (dark gray rock) at the Graphite Creek deposit located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. An adit, a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage, from historical mining is visible in the corner.
View of the Kigluaik Mountains gneiss dome which is the location of the Graphite Creek Deposit. The rocks of the gneiss dome were metamorphosed to as high as granulite facies during the middle Cretaceous (ca. 100 – 90 Ma), forming flake graphite ore in the process.
View of the Kigluaik Mountains gneiss dome which is the location of the Graphite Creek Deposit. The rocks of the gneiss dome were metamorphosed to as high as granulite facies during the middle Cretaceous (ca. 100 – 90 Ma), forming flake graphite ore in the process.
Scenic view of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Photo taken from a ridge above Graphite Creek, looking northwest towards the Imruk Basin. This area of the Seward Peninsula holds the largest graphite deposit in the US known as the Graphite Creek Deposit.
Scenic view of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Photo taken from a ridge above Graphite Creek, looking northwest towards the Imruk Basin. This area of the Seward Peninsula holds the largest graphite deposit in the US known as the Graphite Creek Deposit.
Insights into the metamorphic history and origin of flake graphite mineralization at the Graphite Creek graphite deposit, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA
Alaska focus area definition for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals in Alaska for antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium
Geospatial analysis delineates lode gold prospectivity in Alaska
Tungsten skarn potential of the Yukon-Tanana Upland, eastern Alaska, USA—A mineral resource assessment
GIS-based identification of areas that have resource potential for lode gold in Alaska
Chemical analysis of archived stream-sediment samples, Alaska
Evaluation of the analytical methods used to determine the elemental concentrations found in the stream geochemical dataset compiled for Alaska
Science and Products
- Science
Alaska Resource Data File
The Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF) site provides descriptions of mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences for individual U.S. Geological Survey 1:250,000-scale quadrangles in Alaska.Alaska Critical Mineral Resource Assessments
Alaska has potential for a wide range of critical minerals including, but not limited to, graphite, lithium, tin, tungsten, rare earth elements, and platinum-group elements.GIS Prospectivity Analysis for Critical Minerals in Ore-Forming Systems in Alaska
Alaska is dominated by a history of tectonic events that foster mobilization and concentration of a wide variety of mineral commodities that are critical to the US economy and are vital to national defense, renewable-energy, and emerging electronics technologies.Mineral Resource Assessment Training
The USGS Mineral Resources Program conducts mineral resource assessments and is training USGS scientists in how to conduct these assessments for future work. As a practical exercise, the scientists will conduct an assessment for tungsten in the U.S. - Data
Data for Uranium-Lead Geochronology, Carbon and Sulfur Stable Isotopes, and Raman Spectroscopy from Graphite Creek, Alaska
This data release supports the paper titled, "Insights into the metamorphic history and origin of flake graphite mineralization at the Graphite Creek graphite deposit, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA", published in the journal Mineralium Deposita. The data release includes zircon and titanite U-Pb-Thisotope and age data, monazite U-Pb-Th isotope, trace element and age data, carbon and sulfur stableiWhole Rock Major and Trace Element Chemistry for Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks from the Yukon-Tanana Upland, Alaska
This data set consists of one table containing whole-rock geochemistry data for 753 igneous and metamorphic rocks from the Yukon-Tanana upland of eastern interior Alaska, collected between 2013 and 2019. All materials were analyzed by ALS Global, between 2014 and 2020, by a range of different techniques, so multiple unique entries for a given element relate to different analytical methods or prepaData from the Chemical Analysis of Archived Stream-Sediment Samples, Alaska
This data release contains the elemental concentration data for more than 1700 archived stream-sediment samples collected in Alaska. Samples were retrieved from the USGS Mineral Program's sample archive in Denver, CO, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage, AK. All samples were analyzed using a multi-element analytical method involvingQualitative Mineral Potential Map of Tungsten Skarn in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, Eastern Alaska, USA, 2021
This data release supports the paper titled, "Tungsten skarn potential of the Yukon-Tanana Uplands, Eastern Alaska, USA-A mineral resource assessment", published via open-access license in the Journal of Geochemical Exploration and available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2020.106700. The data release includes GIS data that map potential for tungsten skarn mineralization in permissive tractsData and results for GIS-based identification of areas that have resource potential for lode gold deposits in Alaska
This data release contains the analytical results and evaluated source data files of geospatial analyses for identifying areas in Alaska that may be prospective for different types of lode gold deposits, including orogenic, reduced-intrusion-related, epithermal, and gold-bearing porphyry. The spatial analysis is based on queries of statewide source datasets of aeromagnetic surveys, Alaska Geochemi - Multimedia
Critical mineral veins
A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
Critical mineral veinsA fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
A fluorite-lepidolite-wolframite vein intersected in drill core from the Lost River Sn-W mine, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Lepidolite is a lithium-bearing mica, and wolframite an ore of tungsten.
Lost River tin mineA view of the old Lost River tin mine located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. The mine produced tin and tungsten from the early 20th century and ceased around 1955. The site is currently being studied by USGS for lithium potential.
A view of the old Lost River tin mine located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. The mine produced tin and tungsten from the early 20th century and ceased around 1955. The site is currently being studied by USGS for lithium potential.
Jack Hills Conglomerate from Western AustraliaThis is the Jack Hills Conglomerate from Western Australia, which yielded the oldest known zircon grains on Earth at about 4.4 billion years old.
This is the Jack Hills Conglomerate from Western Australia, which yielded the oldest known zircon grains on Earth at about 4.4 billion years old.
USGS scientists on CMMI field tripUSGS scientists George Case, Garth Graham, Anne McCafferty, and Josh Coyan visited Australia while participating in a Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) field trip. The CMMI is a collaborative effort between the USGS, Geological Survey of Canada, and Geoscience Australia to conduct research on mineral systems that contain critical commodities.
USGS scientists George Case, Garth Graham, Anne McCafferty, and Josh Coyan visited Australia while participating in a Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) field trip. The CMMI is a collaborative effort between the USGS, Geological Survey of Canada, and Geoscience Australia to conduct research on mineral systems that contain critical commodities.
Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP)Scientists use the SHRIMP or sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe to measure the ration of lead to uranium (Pb/U) in order to calculate the age of the mineral grain.
Scientists use the SHRIMP or sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe to measure the ration of lead to uranium (Pb/U) in order to calculate the age of the mineral grain.
Navigating a slippery slope at Graphite Creek DepositNavigating a slippery slope at Graphite Creek DepositGeologist, Sue Karl, at Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. She is making field observations and measurements about the flake graphite deposit and the surrounding host rocks. These observations were used in developing a model of flake graphite genesis. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US depends entirely on imports.
Geologist, Sue Karl, at Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. She is making field observations and measurements about the flake graphite deposit and the surrounding host rocks. These observations were used in developing a model of flake graphite genesis. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US depends entirely on imports.
Graphite Creek, namesake of the Graphite Creek depositGraphite Creek, namesake of the Graphite Creek depositThe Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, crops out here at Graphite Creek. Mining in this area previously took place from roughly 1900-1916. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US relies entirely on imports.
The Graphite Creek Deposit on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, crops out here at Graphite Creek. Mining in this area previously took place from roughly 1900-1916. Graphite is a critical mineral which the US relies entirely on imports.
Graphite Creek aditUSGS Geologist Susan Karl investigates an outcrop of massive flake graphite (dark gray rock) at the Graphite Creek deposit located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. An adit, a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage, from historical mining is visible in the corner.
USGS Geologist Susan Karl investigates an outcrop of massive flake graphite (dark gray rock) at the Graphite Creek deposit located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. An adit, a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage, from historical mining is visible in the corner.
Kigluaik Mountains Gneiss DomeView of the Kigluaik Mountains gneiss dome which is the location of the Graphite Creek Deposit. The rocks of the gneiss dome were metamorphosed to as high as granulite facies during the middle Cretaceous (ca. 100 – 90 Ma), forming flake graphite ore in the process.
View of the Kigluaik Mountains gneiss dome which is the location of the Graphite Creek Deposit. The rocks of the gneiss dome were metamorphosed to as high as granulite facies during the middle Cretaceous (ca. 100 – 90 Ma), forming flake graphite ore in the process.
A Seward Peninsula VistaScenic view of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Photo taken from a ridge above Graphite Creek, looking northwest towards the Imruk Basin. This area of the Seward Peninsula holds the largest graphite deposit in the US known as the Graphite Creek Deposit.
Scenic view of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Photo taken from a ridge above Graphite Creek, looking northwest towards the Imruk Basin. This area of the Seward Peninsula holds the largest graphite deposit in the US known as the Graphite Creek Deposit.
- Publications
Insights into the metamorphic history and origin of flake graphite mineralization at the Graphite Creek graphite deposit, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA
Graphite Creek is an unusual flake graphite deposit located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA. We present field observations, uranium-lead (U–Pb) monazite and titanite geochronology, carbon (C) and sulfur (S) stable isotope geochemistry, and graphite Raman spectroscopy data from this deposit that support a new model of flake graphite ore genesis in high-grade metamorphic environments. The GraphAuthorsGeorge N. D. Case, Susan M. Karl, Sean P. Regan, Craig A. Johnson, Eric T Ellison, Jonathan Caine, Christopher Holm-Denoma, Laura Pianowski, Jeff A. BenowitzAlaska focus area definition for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals in Alaska for antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium
Phase 3 of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) focuses on geologic belts that are favorable for hosting mineral systems that could contain the critical minerals antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium. Prior phases of the Earth MRI program in Alaska focused only on rare earth elements, aluminum, cobalt, graphiAuthorsDouglas C. Kreiner, James V. Jones, George N. CaseGeospatial analysis delineates lode gold prospectivity in Alaska
Comprehensive, data-driven geographic information system analyses utilize publicly available lithologic, geochemical, geophysical, and mineral occurrence datasets to delineate gold resource potential in Alaska. These prospectivity analyses successfully identify areas containing known lode gold occurrences, expand areas of high prospectivity around known occurrences, improve the precision of delineAuthorsSusan M. Karl, Douglas C. Kreiner, George N. D. Case, Keith A. LabayTungsten skarn potential of the Yukon-Tanana Upland, eastern Alaska, USA—A mineral resource assessment
Tungsten (W) is used in a variety of industrial and technological applications and has been identified as a critical mineral for the United States, India, the European Union, and other countries. These countries rely on W imports mostly from China, which leaves them vulnerable to supply disruption. Consequently, the U.S. government has a current initiative to understand domestic resource potentialAuthorsGeorge N. D. Case, Garth E. Graham, Erin E. Marsh, Ryan Taylor, Carlin J. Green, Philip J. Brown, Keith A. LabayGIS-based identification of areas that have resource potential for lode gold in Alaska
Several comprehensive, data-driven geographic information system (GIS) analyses were conducted to assess prospectivity for lode gold in Alaska. These analyses use available geospatial datasets of lithologic, geochemical, mineral occurrence, and geophysical data to build models for recognizing different types of gold deposits within physiographic units defined by stream drainage basins that are appAuthorsSusan M. Karl, Douglas C. Kreiner, George N. D. Case, Keith A. Labay, Nora B. Shew, Matthew Granitto, Bronwen Wang, Eric D. AndersonChemical analysis of archived stream-sediment samples, Alaska
Geochemical data are presented for more than 1,500 archived stream-sediment samples and accompanying quality control samples. The archived sediments were reanalyzed to improve the stream geochemical dataset for Alaska and to support ongoing U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) studies. Sediment samples were primarily from the USGS Mineral Resources Program’s sample archive in Denver, Colorado, but a fewAuthorsBronwen Wang, George N. D. Case, Mathew Granitto, Keith A. Labay, Nora B. Shew, Andrew D. Ingraham, Jaime S. Azain, Zachary C. Bueghly, Susan M. Karl, Karen D. KelleyEvaluation of the analytical methods used to determine the elemental concentrations found in the stream geochemical dataset compiled for Alaska
A recent U.S. Geological Survey data compilation of stream-sediment geochemistry for Alaska contains decades of analyses collected under numerous Federal and State programs. The compiled data were determined by various analytical methods. Some samples were reanalyzed by a different analytical method than the original, resulting in some elements having concentrations reported by multiple analyticalAuthorsBronwen Wang, Karl J. Ellefsen, Matthew Granitto, Karen D. Kelley, Susan M. Karl, George N. D. Case, Douglas C. Kreiner, Courtney L. Amundson