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

Description

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.

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