Surficial geology of the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangles, Yukon Tanana Upland, Alaska

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Surficial geology of the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangles, Yukon Tanana Upland, Alaska
Abstract:
Surficial geology of the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangles, Yukon Tanana Upland, Alaska, Report of Investigation 84-6, presents the results of a 1982 geological mapping and geochemical sampling program conducted by the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys across approximately 1,000 square miles centered on Livengood, Alaska. The study aimed to clarify the source and distribution of gold mineralization within the Tolovana mining district by examining the region's surficial geology. The Livengood area features rolling uplands and broad valleys, with elevations reaching up to 2,580 feet, and is largely covered by boreal forest and muskeg, which obscure many geologic relationships. The geomorphology of the district reflects a complex history of erosional and depositional processes under varying climatic conditions. Active processes include periglacial mass wasting and fluvial activity, while upland areas are blanketed by loess from the Yukon and Tanana River valleys. Much of the region is mantled by thick accumulations of frozen colluvial, alluvial, and eolian sediments, particularly in valley bottoms where deposits may exceed 50 meters in thickness. Mapping focused on the distribution of these surficial deposits across the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangles. Radiocarbon dating of organic material from several sites revealed that auriferous gravel deposition ceased around 30,000 years ago, followed by a period of silt accumulation. In the Tolovana Valley, ice-wedge development occurred between 6,000 and 4,000 years ago, with valley-bottom muck accumulating at rates between 7 and 50 millimeters per year. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the region's geologic evolution and its implications for mineral exploration. The complete report, geodatabase, and ESRI fonts and style files are available from the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys website: http://doi.org/10.14509/2365.
Supplemental_Information:
This geodatabase is organized according to the AK GeMS mapping schema Hendricks, M.D., Macpherson, A.E., Athey, J.E., Wyatt, W.C., Montayne, Simone, Buchanan, Wes, Rivera, P.G., and Steinleitner, A.M., 2024, AK GeMS data dictionary: A description of the Alaska geologic mapping schema: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication 170 v. 2, 13 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/31172. The distribution package includes ESRI fonts and style files, along with usage instructions. Further documentation of the symbology is provided by Ekberg, P.G., Hendricks, M.D., and Athey, J.E., 2021, AK GeMS symbology: A description of the AK GeMS style file: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication 169, 7 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/30584
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Waythomas, C.F., TenBrink, N.W., and Ritter, D.F., 1984, Surficial geology of the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangles, Yukon Tanana Upland, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 84-6, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:63,360
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -149.038304
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -147.980891
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 65.759594
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 65.239943
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1982
    Ending_Date: 2025
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: geodatabase
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a vector data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 6
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -147
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0
      False_Easting: 500000.000000
      False_Northing: 0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest .00000001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest .00000001
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is NAD27.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.9786982.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    livengood_b3_b4_c3_c4_quads_surficial_ak_gems_db_pkg
    Geodatabase, layer files, style files, and fonts (Source: DGGS and USGS)
    livengood_b3_b4_c3_c4_quads_surficial_gems_db_pkg
    Geodatabase, layer files, style files, and fonts (Source: DGGS and USGS)
    livengood_b3_b4_c3_c4_quads_surficial_gems_geopackage
    SQLite Database file (Source: DGGS and USGS)
    livengood_b3_b4_c3_c4_quads_surficial_gems_shapefile_pkg
    Shapefiles and open data files (Source: DGGS and USGS)

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?
    Kinney Engineering, LLC staff used scanned and georeferenced paper maps to digitize geologic features into an AK GeMS database. Chris Wyatt conducted quality control of this digitizing work and completed the creation of the AK GeMS database. Ally M. Steinleitner implemented final database quality control and packaging. This geologic map (or report or conversion or product, etc.) was funded by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program under STATEMAP award number G23AC00584, 2023, and the State of Alaska General Fund. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.
  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?

DGGS staff conducted the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangle mapping prodect to investigate the surficial geology of the Livengood area in central Alaska and to clarify the origin and distribution of gold mineralization within the Tolovana mining district.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Ekberg, P.G. and others, 2021 (source 1 of 3)
    Ekberg, P.G., Hendricks, M.D., and Athey, J.E., 2021, AK GeMS symbology: A description of the AK GeMS style file: Miscellaneous Publication MP 169, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 7 p
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: GIS analysis and digital cartography
    Hendricks, M.D. and others, 2021 (source 2 of 3)
    Hendricks, M.D., Ekberg, P.G., Athey, J.E., Wyatt, W.C., Willingham, A.L., and Naibert, T.J., 2021, AK GeMS data dictionary: A description of the Alaska geologic mapping schema: Miscellaneous Publication MP 170, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 10 p
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: GIS analysis and digital cartography
    U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, 2020 (source 3 of 3)
    U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, 2020, GeMS (Geologic Map Schema) - A standard format for the digital publication of geologic maps: Techniques and Methods TM 11-B10, U.S. Geological Survey, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 p
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: GIS analysis and digital cartography
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 1982 (process 1 of 2)
    Geologic mapping - DGGS staff mapped surficial deposits and collected geochemical samples across approximately 1,000 square miles around Livengood, Alaska, during the 1982 field season. Their investigation focused on understanding gold mineralization in the Tolovana mining district. They documented terrain features, sediment types, and active geomorphic processes, and applied radiocarbon dating to determine the timing of auriferous gravel deposition, ice-wedge development, and muck accumulation rates.
    Date: 2025 (process 2 of 2)
    GIS analysis and digital cartography - This data distribution package's geologic and geographic features were organized and attributed according to the AK GeMS geologic mapping schema. The legacy data were programmatically transformed to provide download options in three formats: (1) an AK GeMS data package that includes the complete AK GeMS database and associated files, (2) a GeMS data package that is a conversion of the AK GeMS database into the base GeMS standard published by the USGS, and (3) a shapefile data package that includes two simple shapefile representations of the data. Data sources used in this process:
    • Ekberg, P.G. and others, 2021
    • Hendricks, M.D. and others, 2021
    • U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, 2020
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Albanese, M.D., 1983, Geochemical reconnaissance of the Livengood B-3, B-4, C-3, and C-4 quadrangles, Alaska: summary of data on stream-sediment, pan concentrate, and rock samples: Report of Investigation RI 83-1, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 55 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:63,360
    Albanese, M.D., 1983, Bedrock geologic map of the Livengood B-4 Quadrangle, east-central Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 83-3, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:40,000
    Albanese, M.D., Smith, T.E., Robinson, M.S., and Bundtzen, T.K., 1985, Livengood studies resumes: a summary of recent mineral resource investigations by the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys: Public Data File PDF 85-55, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 9 p
    Allegro, G.L., 1984, Geology of the Old Smoky prospect, Livengood C-4 Quadrangle, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 84-1, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 10 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:120
    Bundtzen, T.K., 1983, Bedrock geologic outcrop map of the Livengood B-3 Quadrangle, Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 83-6, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:40,000
    Robinson, M.S., 1983, Bedrock geologic map of the Livengood C-4 Quadrangle, east-central Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 83-4, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:40,000
    Smith, T.E., 1983, Bedrock geologic map of the Livengood C-3 Quadrangle, east-central Alaska: Report of Investigation RI 83-5, Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 sheet, scale 1:40,000

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Attribute fields within each feature class are populated using the map symbology and corresponding applicable values from the GeMS and AK GeMS specifications. When known, certainty in attribute interpretation is indicated in the relevant fields. Attribute accuracy varies throughout the map and is scale-dependent.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Certainty in feature boundaries or location varies throughout the map. Data fields within each feature class and the accompanying orientation and location confidence lookup tables record the authors' degree of confidence in the location of applicable features.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This publication is part of a DGGS Report of Investigations (RI). An RI is the completed product of original research and analysis, and RIs use professional cartography and undergo rigorous peer review, editing, and revision.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    All polygon features were topologically validated according to the AK GeMS geologic mapping schema specifications.

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? RI 84-6
  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: 02-Oct-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 Thu Oct 02 11:49:10 2025