40Ar/39Ar geochronology data from the Big Delta, Eagle, and Mount Hayes quadrangles, Alaska

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
40Ar/39Ar geochronology data from the Big Delta, Eagle, and Mount Hayes quadrangles, Alaska
Abstract:
40Ar/39Ar geochronology data from the Big Delta, Eagle, and Mount Hayes quadrangles, Alaska, Raw Data File 2025-11, presents 40Ar/39Ar geochronological results from samples collected during 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping across approximately 3,100 mi² (8,000 km²) in the Big Delta, Eagle, and Mt. Hayes quadrangles, an area known for gold (Au) mineralization. A total of twenty-four 40Ar/39Ar ages are reported, including three crystallization ages from intrusive rocks, two ages from mineralized veins, one age from a skarn, and eighteen metamorphic cooling ages, comprising six from the Yukon-Tanana Terrane and twelve from parautochthonous North America. These samples were analyzed to refine our understanding of igneous rock crystallization ages, metamorphic rock exhumation history, and the timing of mineralization. These data and report are available from the DGGS website: http://doi.org/10.14509/31534.
Supplemental_Information:
data:    Identification numbers, coordinates, sample descriptions, and summary ages of each sample; power output levels and resultant measurements from each sample run; and an index of the contents, format, and structure of the data.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Truskowski, C.M., Heizler, M.T., Naibert, T.J., Newberry, R.J., Twelker, Evan, and Szumigala, D.J., 2025, 40Ar/39Ar geochronology data from the Big Delta, Eagle, and Mount Hayes quadrangles, Alaska: Raw Data File RDF 2025-11, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 21 p.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -146.190260
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -143.178860
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 64.481370
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 63.844140
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 2022
    Ending_Date: 2025
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: csv
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a point data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is WGS84.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS 84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    rdf2025_011_summary_data.csv, rdf2025_011_step_heating_data_dictionary.csv, rdf2025_011_step_heating_data.csv, df2025_011_summary_data_dictionary.csv
    Identification numbers, coordinates, sample descriptions, and summary ages of each sample; power output levels and resultant measurements from each sample run; and an index of the contents, format, and structure of the data. (Source: DGGS, see report for additional detail.)

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Sample collection and analyses for the Mount Harper-Richardson project was jointly funded by the State of Alaska and the U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) through cooperative agreement G22AC00288. We thank Peter Grieve and Koza Limited for the drill core sample from Naosi. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Geological Survey. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
    Metadata Manager
    3354 College Road
    Fairbanks, AK
    USA

    (907)451-5020 (voice)
    (907)451-5050 (FAX)
    dggspubs@alaska.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except State holidays
    Contact_Instructions:
    Please view our website (https://www.dggs.alaska.gov) for the latest information on available data. Please contact us using the e-mail address provided above when possible.

Why was the data set created?

The Mount Harper project area contains known gold (Au) mineralization, which has recently been explored in the Richardson mining district - including the Sam Project, the nearby Democrat Lode, and associated prospects - as well as in the Goodpaster mining district at the LMS and Healy intrusion-related gold prospects. The area also hosts a cluster of molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) prospects, including Mo and W skarns. Ultramafic rocks are present in the South Fork Goodpaster and Volkmar River drainages, where their potential to host platinum group elements (PGE), chrome (Cr), cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni) resources remains poorly understood. These geochronological ages provide further insight into the crystallization history of igneous rocks, the exhumation of metamorphic rocks, and the timing of mineralization.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2022 (process 1 of 3)
    Sample Collection - Fresh, unweathered samples from surface outcrops or pits dug to expose fragmented bedrock were collected by DGGS field geologists and were selected for dating based on the presence of sufficiently large crystals appropriate for analysis. Sample 22Z405 was collected from unidentified drill core found on the ground near the LMS prospect by David Szumigala, and sample 22MLB313 is drill core from the Naosi deposit at 90.00-91.50 m depth, obtained by Mike Barerra and Evan Twelker. Sample location coordinates (in WGS84 datum) were collected using GPS-enabled field tablets with a typical reported accuracy of +/- 10 meters. We examined samples under a binocular microscope and/or in thin section to select unaltered mineral phases appropriate for analysis.
    Date: 2023 (process 2 of 3)
    Sample preparation - Twenty-four samples submitted to the New Mexico Geochronological Research Laboratory (NMGRL) in Socorro, New Mexico, yielded acceptable mineral separates for 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology. Muscovite, hornblende, and sericite were separated from rock samples using standard magnetic, heavy liquid, and handpicking procedures. The samples were loaded into machined aluminum discs and irradiated for 20 hours at the USGS reactor in Denver, Colorado, (NM-327) along with the Fish Canyon Tuff sanidine standard (FC-2; assigned age-28.201 Ma; Kuiper and others, 2008) as a neutron flux monitor.
    Date: 2024 (process 3 of 3)
    Analytical methods - After irradiation, the samples and monitors were analyzed by step-heating with a defocused 810 nm diode laser. The samples were step-heated using between 10 and 18 increments, and most age spectra yielded moderate-quality to complex patterns. Reactive gases were removed by a 45-second reaction with a SAES GP-50 getter at 450 degrees C, and gas was also exposed to a cold finger at -140 degrees C. The samples were analyzed in a Thermo-Fisher Scientific Helix MC-plus mass spectrometer at NMGRL. Total system blanks were 3.5 x 10-17 mol 40Ar, 8 x 10-18 mol 39Ar, 5 x 10-19 mol 38Ar, 3 x 10-18 mol 37Ar, and 5 x 10-19 mol 36Ar. Isotopic ratios were corrected for blank, radioactive decay, and mass discrimination but were not corrected for interfering reactions.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Buchanan, J.W., Wypych, Alicja, Barrera, M.L., Biegel, J.M., Gavel, M.M., Harvey, D.A., Ketcham, R.A., Muller, I.P., Naibert, T.J., Newberry, R.J., Regan, S.P., Szumigala, D.J., Twelker, Evan, and Wildland, A.D., 2025, Geochemical data from samples collected in 2023 for the Chena and Mount Harper projects, Big Delta, Circle, Fairbanks, and Eagle quadrangles, Alaska: Raw Data File RDF 2024-2, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 5 p
    Gavel, M.M., Twelker, Evan, Wypych, Alicja, Naibert, T.J., Newberry, R.J., Szumigala, D.J., Wildland, A.D., Barrera, M.L., Biegel, J.N., Harvey, D.A., Ketcham, R.A., Muller, I.P., and Regan, S.P., 2023, Field station locations and magnetic susceptibility data for the Chena-Pogo and Mount Harper projects, Big Delta and Circle quadrangles, Alaska, collected June-September 2023: Raw Data File RDF 2023-27, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 3 p
    Gavel, M.M., Twelker, Evan, Wypych, Alicja, Naibert, T.J., Newberry, R.J., Szumigala, D.J., Wildland, A.D., Barrera, M.L., Blackwell, N.J., Fessenden, S.N., Harvey, D.A., and Muller, I.P., 2023, Field station locations and magnetic susceptibility data collected in 2022 for the Mount Harper project, Eagle, Big Delta, and Mount Hayes quadrangles, Alaska: Raw Data File RDF 2023-6, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 3 p
    Wypych, Alicja, Twelker, Evan, Naibert, T.J., Gavel, M.M., Newberry, R.J., Szumigala, D.J., Wildland, A.D., Barrera, M.L., Harvey, D.A., Muller, I.P., Fessenden, S.N., and Blackwell, N.J., 2023, Geochemical data from samples collected in 2022 for the Mount Harper geologic mapping project, Big Delta, Mount Hayes, and Eagle quadrangles, Alaska: Raw Data File RDF 2023-24, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 3 p

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The accompanying report and data tables provide a comprehensive discussion of processing methods, with errors reported in the tables where applicable. This data is being released as part of the DGGS RDF series, which includes content describing approved techniques and methods for the collection, storage, visualization, analysis, and interpretation of scientific data. While the information has been reviewed by several geologists familiar with the study area, the data and report have not undergone formal review for technical content or conformity to DGGS editorial standards. For inquiries regarding analytical values or procedures, the originating lab is the best point of contact.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Location data for field stations were collected using GPS-enabled tablets or smartphones running the Esri Field Maps app. Data were merged into an ArcGIS geodatabase. The devices have a reported error of 10-12 m. Latitude and longitude are reported in the WGS84 datum.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This data release is complete.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Not applicable

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints:
This report, map, and/or dataset is available directly from the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys (see contact information below).
Use_Constraints:
Any hard copies or published datasets utilizing these datasets shall clearly indicate their source. If the user has modified the data in any way, the user is obligated to describe the types of modifications the user has made. The user specifically agrees not to misrepresent these datasets, nor to imply that changes made by the user were approved by the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys. The State of Alaska makes no express or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
    Metadata Manager
    3354 College Road
    Fairbanks, AK
    USA

    (907)451-5020 (voice)
    (907)451-5050 (FAX)
    dggspubs@alaska.gov
    Hours_of_Service: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except State holidays
    Contact_Instructions:
    Please view our website (https://www.dggs.alaska.gov) for the latest information on available data. Please contact us using the e-mail address provided above when possible.
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? RDF 2025-11
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    The State of Alaska makes no expressed or implied warranties (including warranties for merchantability and fitness) with respect to the character, functions, or capabilities of the electronic data or products or their appropriateness for any user's purposes. In no event will the State of Alaska be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or other damages suffered by the user or any other person or entity whether from the use of the electronic services or products or any failure thereof or otherwise. In no event will the State of Alaska's liability to the Requestor or anyone else exceed the fee paid for the electronic service or product.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 01-Apr-2025
Metadata author:
Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Attn: Simone Montayne
Metadata Manager
3354 College Road
Fairbanks, AK
USA

(907)451-5020 (voice)
(907)451-5050 (FAX)
dggspubs@alaska.gov
Hours_of_Service: 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except State holidays
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Apr 01 19:05:05 2025