Marine Placer Development and Opportunities in Alaska

Abstract

Marine Placer Development and Opportunities in Alaska J.C. Barker; J.C. Barker U.S. Bureau of Mines Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar M.S. Robinson; M.S. Robinson Alaska Div. of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar T.K. Bundtzen T.K. Bundtzen Alaska Div. of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, May 1989. Paper Number: OTC-6105-MS https://doi.org/10.4043/6105-MS Published: May 01 1989 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Barker, J.C., Robinson, M.S., and T.K. Bundtzen. "Marine Placer Development and Opportunities in Alaska." Paper presented at the Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, May 1989. doi: https://doi.org/10.4043/6105-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsOffshore Technology ConferenceOTC Offshore Technology Conference Search Advanced Search ABSTRACTAlaska, with about 74% of the U.S. continental shelf, is largely unexplored for placers in its vast shallow marine waters. Nevertheless there are numerous occurrences of marine minerals including gold, platinum, and cassiterite. Offshore dredging has recently begun in the Nome area. State and Federal agencies are preparing additional acreage for leasing.INTRODUCTIONAlaska, with 47,300 miles or 54 pct of the U.S. coastline and about 74 pct of the continental shelf, is a vast, largely unexplored frontier for shallow water marine placers. Despite the general lack of mapping and only sporadic past prospecting, many prospects are known and a major mining operation for gold has recently begun offshore of Nome. Due largely to the demonstrated success of the Nome operation, the U.S. Minerals Management Service is preparing to conduct a lease sale of additional acreage further offshore from Nome and future sales are being considered elsewhere by both the federal and state leasing agencies.From a global prospective, as onshore deposits are depleted or mining is restricted by other competing land uses, the industry may have to turn to the world's oceans as a source of mineral supplies. Over the last decade the first indications of such a transition have occurred. It is now well known that a number of strategically important minerals are found in the oceans and exploration continues. Deep water manganese nodules, for instance, are an important resource, however, most of the world's nodule deposits occur where neither the U.S. nor any other nation, has jurisdiction. The world community has yet to agree on the "International Law of the Sea" treaty which will be essential before any government can ensure developers the necessary protection of the enormous 1nvestment 1n a deep water mining operation.Closer to shore marine mineral exploration in the U.S. was given a boost in 1983, when President Reagen created the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). By this single proclamation the surface area under U.S. jurisdiction was nearly doubled, thus enabling offshore mineral development to take place under the protection of U.S. law. Within the EEZ are major deposits of both shallow water deposits of the continental shelf, and deep ocean minerals such as the "black smokers" sulfide deposits of the Gorda Ridge off the coast of Oregon. At depths of two to three miles, however, the technology to economically mine the deep water deposits is still a long way. off. Only the shallow water phosphorites and unconsolidated placers of the shelf can be considered viable resources at this time, and for this reason much of the mineral wealth of the United States EEZ can be expected to be found on the expansive continental shelf off Alaska. Keywords: upstream oil & gas, metals & mining, deposit, beach, alaska, gravel, ilmenite, operation, geol, mineral Subjects: Reservoir Characterization This content is only available via PDF. 1989. Offshore Technology Conference You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.