USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Project status is complete. Please check the CRMRSC project list for currently active projects.

Regional fluid flow and basin modeling in northern Alaska

Project Objectives

The goal of the project was to construct hydrologic/chemical models that allow us to compare and test conceptual models for ore fluid migration and petroleum generation. The results of this study aided in understanding the petroleum maturation and mineralization history of parts of the Brooks Range that are poorly characterized and understood. This is considered essential for mineral and energy resource assessments of northern Alaska. This project expanded the scope of the current NPRA (National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska) petroleum assessment and syngenetic massive sulfide projects, and utilized data collected during the Killik River and Howard Pass AMRAP studies in the 1980/1990's. However, it is essential that new observations and data be collected. This will necessarily involve helicopter-supported field work and airborne geophysical data collection in future years. Careful examination of existing data and collection of some key samples and analyses were the primary avenue for determining areas requiring more detailed investigation.

Mineral Resources Objectives: The configuration and extent of the basin(s) that host the zinc deposits and the hydrologic mechanisms causing hydrothermal fluid migration are still largely unknown. A better understanding of processes related to the evolution of the Carboniferous Kuna basin will greatly aid mineral resource assessment. For instance, black shale basins such as that hosting Red Dog are known worldwide in Precambrian and Phanerozoic strata yet only a few contain sedimentary exhalative (sedex)-type deposits, although reasons for this are obscure. Studies that delineate the
fundamental geologic events leading to Zn-Pb-Ag ore formation can be extrapolated to analogous shale basins elsewhere, thereby enhancing our ability to conduct an accurate global resource assessment for zinc, lead, and silver. We constructed hydrologic/chemical models that allow us to compare and test conceptual models for ore formation, and to predict sites of mineral deposition.

Energy Resources Objectives: Regional modeling of deformation, thermal evolution, and fluid flow, combined with comprehensive basin analysis, lead to an enhanced understanding of Otuk and Kuna petroleum systems in the western Brooks Range and foothills. These systems are the southern extension in the Brooks Range of the fertile Ellesmerian petroleum system of the North Slope, and as such may have contributed significant amounts of hydrocarbons to the petroleum resources of Northern Alaska. Structural restorations and modeling of the source rocks for these systems were required to make estimates of the fetch and volume of source rocks, burial and maturation history, migration pathways, and timing of hydrocarbon generation for the Brooks Range component of the Ellesmerian system. This information is essential for evaluating the contribution of the Otuk and Kuna systems to the hydrocarbon resources of northern Alaska and is a critical component for future resource assessments. Generation of hydrocarbons from rich Triassic and Jurassic source rocks may be linked to thrusting and probably began in the western Brooks Range before correlative source rocks reached thermal maturity farther north. In addition, there may be an important link between mineralization and hydrocarbon generation. The association of zinc and quartz with bitumen (interpreted to have been liquid hydrocarbon) at Red Dog would suggest a possible temporal overlap between fluid migration and hydrocarbon generation. The association of mobile hydrocarbon phases and major sulfide deposition has also recently been recognized at the large Century zinc deposit in northeastern Australia (probably the second largest zinc deposit in the world after Red Dog). Perhaps there is an unrecognized geologic explanation for this spatial/temporal association of hydrocarbons with world-class zinc deposits.

Relevance & Impact

The research improved our understanding of the evolution of sedimentary basins and fluid flow processes that control the accumulation of metals and energy-related commodities. The project included a comprehensive geological, geochemical, and geophysical database for one of the economically most important group of sedimentary basins in the world. Tracing the fluid history of the basin was necessary for successful application of large and restricted-scale flow models, for integrating the sedimentological, tectonic, and geochemical crustal evolution models, and for refining exploration and exploitation strategies for mineral and oil and gas deposits. The end result was the first quantitative geochemical and hydrologic models for fluid flow in a black shale basin, and the relationship of this fluid flow to the formation of major mineral and hydrocarbon resources. This provided a significant advance in our ability to assess the sedex potential of black shale basins elsewhere in the United States, and throughout the world.

Project Chief:

Products

• Kelley, K.D., ed., 2008, Regional fluid flow and basin modeling in northern Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1319, 45 p.
• A Special Issue Devoted to Barite and Zn-Pb-Ag Deposits in the Red Dog District, Western Brooks Range, Northern Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, no. 7. View Table of Contents
  
  • Ayuso, R.A., Kelley, K.D., Leach, D.L., and Slack, J.F., 2004, Origin of the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag deposits: Evidence from regional Pb and Sr isotope sources: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1533-1554.
  • DeVera, J., McClay, K., and King, A.R., Structure of the Red Dog District, western Brooks Range, Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1415-1434.
  • Dumoulin, J.A., Harris, A.G., Blome, C.D., and Young, L.E., 2004, Depositional Settings, Correlation, and Age of Carboniferous Rocks in the Western Brooks Range: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1355-1384.
  • Johnson, C.A., Kelley, K.D., and Leach, D.L., 2004, Sulfur and oxygen isotopes in barite deposits of the western Brooks Range, Alaska, and implications for the origin of the Red Dog massive sulfide deposits: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1435-1448.
  • Kellley, K.D., Dumoulin, J.A., and Jennings, S., 2004, The Anarraaq Zn-Pb-Ag and barite deposit, northern Alaska: Evidence for replacement of carbonate by barite and sulfides: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1577-1591.
  • Kelley, K.D., and Jennings, S., 2004, A special issue devoted to barite and Zn-Pb-Ag deposits in the Red Dog district, western Brooks Range, northern Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1267-1280.
  • Kelley, K.D., Leach, D.L., Johnson, C.A., Clark, J.R., Fayek, M., Slack, J.F., Anderson, V.M., Ayuso, R.A., and Ridley, W.I., 2004, Textural, compositional, and sulfur isotope variations of sulfide minerals in the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag deposits, Brooks Range, Alaska: Implications for ore formation: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1509-1532.
  • Leach, D.L., Marsh, E., Reynolds, J., Emsbo, P., Kelley, K.D., and Anthony, M., 2004, Nature of hydrothermal fluids at the shale-hosted Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag deposits, Brooks Range, Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1449-1480.
  • Lewchuk, M.T., Foucher, J., and Elmore, D., Paleomagnetism of the Mesozoic Asik Mountain mafic complex in northern Alaska: Implications for the tectonic history of the Arctic Composite Terrane: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1345-1354.
  • Lewchuk, M.T., Leach, D.L., Kelley, K.D., and Symons, D.T., 2004, Paleomagnetism of the Red Dog Zn-Pb massive sulfide deposit in northern Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1555-1567.
  • Morelli, R.M., Creaser, R.A., Selby, D., Kelley, K.D., Leach, D.L., and King, A.R., 2004, Re-Os sulfide geochronology of the Red Dog sediment-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, Brooks Range, Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1569-1576.
  • Rombach, C.S., and Layer, P.W., 2004, Geochronology of the western and central Brooks Range, Alaska: Implications for the geologoic evolution of the Anarraaq and Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag deposits: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1307-1322.
  • Schardt, C., Garven, G., Kelley, K.D., and Leach, D.L., 2008, Reactive flow models of the Anarraaq Zn-Pb-Ag deposit, Red Dog district, Alaska: Mineralium Deposita, v. 43, p. 735-758.
  • Slack, J.F., Dumoulin, J.A., Schmidt, J.M., and Young, L.E., 2004, Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag district and vicinity, western Brooks Range, Alaska: Provenance, deposition, and metallogenic significance: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1385-1414.
  • Slack, J.F., Kelley, K.D., Anderson, V.M., Clark, J.L., and Ayuso, R.A., 2004, Multistage hydrothermal silicification and Fe-Tl-As-Sb-Ge-REE Enrichment in the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag district, northern Alaska: Geochemistry, origin, and exploration applications: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1481-1508.
  • Werdon, M.B., Layer, P.W., and Newberry, R.J., 2004, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of Zn-Pb-Ag mineralization in the northern Brooks Range, Alaska: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1323-1344.
  • Young, L.E., 2004, A geologic framework for mineralization in the western Brooks Range: Economic Geology, v. 99, p. 1281-1306.

Other products are listed according to task:

Task 1 - Lithofacies and thermal parameters of the Kuna and Otuk Basins

Posters:

• Dumoulin, J.A., Burruss, R.C., Lillis, P.G., and Parris, T.M., 2005, New field and geochemical evidence on the nature and extent of the Lisburne Petroleum System (Northern Alaska): Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program, v. 37, no. 4, p. 93. View Dumoulin 2005 GSA abstract.
• Dumoulin, J.A., and Harris, A.G., 2006, Paleogeographic affinities of Carboniferous and older strata in northern Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no. 5, p. 13. View Dumoulin 2006 GSA abstract 1.
• Dumoulin, J.A., Harris, A.G., Young, L.E., and Blome, C.D., 2001, Sedimentologic and paleontologic constraints on the setting and age of the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulfide deposit, western Brooks Range, Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 33, p. A-272. View Dumoulin 2001 GSA abstract.
• Dumoulin, J.A., Whalen, M.T., Harris, A.G., and Slack, J.F., 2006, Paleogeographic and metallogenic implications of phosphatic rocks in the Lisburne Group (Permian-Carboniferous), northern Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no. 5, p. 85. View Dumoulin 2006 GSA abstract 2.
• Whalen, M.T., Kelly, L.N., Erik, H., Burruss, R.C., and Dumoulin, J., 2006, Sequence stratigraphy and geochemistry of the marine (late Early to Late) Triassic of arctic Alaska; Implications for Mesozoic paleogeography and paleoceanography: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no. 5, p. 86. View Whalen 2006 GSA abstract.

Presentations

• Whalen, M.T., Dumoulin, J.A., Lukasik, J.J., McGee, M.M., White, J.G., and Toendel, T.D., 2005, Carboniferous phosphorite deposition and carbonate platform drowning, Lisburne Group, central Brooks Range, Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, no. 4, p. 93. View Whalen 2005 GSA abstract.

Reports

• Dumoulin, J.A., Harris, A.G., Blome, C.D., and Young, L.E, 2003, Conodont and radiolarian data from the De Long Mountains quadrangle and adjacent areas: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1068, 170 p.
• Dumoulin, J.A., and Bird, K.J., 2002, Lithofacies and stratigraphy of the Lisburne and Etivluk groups in the Lisburne 1 well and adjacent outcrops, central Brooks Range, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, vol. 86, no. 6, p.1142.
• Dumoulin, J.A., and White T., 2005, Micromorphological evidence for paleosol development in the Endicott Group, Siksikpuk Formation, Kingak(?) Shale, and Ipewik Formation, western Brooks Range, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1709-E, 10 p.
• Slack, J.F., Kelley, K.D., and Clark, J.L., 2004, Whole rock geochemical data for Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of the western Brooks Range, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1371.
• Slack, J.F., Kelley K.D., and Clark, J.L., 2004, Whole rock geochemical data for altered and mineralized rocks, Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag District, western Brooks Range, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1372.

Return to top of this page

Task 2 - Regional kinematic analysis and reconstruction of NW Brooks Range thrust faulting

Posters

• Potter, C.J., Moore, T.E., O'Sullivan, P.B., and Miller, J.J., 2002, Regional structural framework and petroleum assessment of the Brooks Range foothills and southern coastal plain, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Pacific section, p. 98.

Presentations

• Moore, T.E., Fuis, G.S., Potter, C.J., and O'Sullivan, P.B., 2006, Reinterpretation of the TACT seismic profile and the crustal architecture of the Brooks Range: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no. 5, p. 24. View Moore 2006 GSA abstract.
• Moore, T.E., Potter, C.J., and O'Sullivan, P.B., 2004, The Brooks Range Alaska: the consequence of four distinct tectonic events: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 5, p. 270. View Moore 2004 GSA abstract.
• O'Sullivan, P.B., Moore, T.E., Wallace, W.K., and Potter, C.J., 2006, Timing of Brooks Range and north slope uplift and denudation: A summary of the fission track results: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no. 5, p. 24. View O'Sullivan GSA abstract.
• Potter, C.J., and Moore, T.E., 2004, The Brooks Range and the Canadian Rockies- a structural comparison: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 5, p. 209. View Potter GSA abstract.
• Potter, C.J., and Moore, T.E., 2005, Detachment folding at the Brookian deformation front, North Slope of Alaska, USA: International Conference on Fault Related Folding in Beijing and western China.
• Saltus, R., Hudson, T.L., Phillips, J.D., Kulander, C.S., and Dumoulin, J.A., 2002, Basement geology of the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA), northern Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Pacific Section meeting, Anchorage, p. 100.

Reports

• Moore, T.E., and Potter, C.J., 2003, Structural Plays in Ellesmerian sequence and correlative strata of the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-253, 58 p.
• Moore, T.E., Potter, C.J., and O'Sullivan, P.B., 2002, Structural architecture of the central Brooks Range foothills, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 86, p. 1153.
• Moore, T.E., Potter, C.J., O'Sullivan, P.B., Shelton. K.L., and Underwood, M.B., 2004, Two stages of deformation and fluid migration in the central Brooks Range fold-and-thrust belt, northern Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Series 1, pp. 157-186.
• Potter, C.J., and Moore, T.E., 2003, Brookian structural plays in the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-266, 49 p.
• Potter, C.J., Grow, J.A., Perry, W.J. Jr., Moore, T.E., O'Sullivan, P.B., Phillips, J.D., and Saltus, R.W., 2004, Tertiary thrust systems and fluid flow beneath the Beaufort coastal plain (1002 area), Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, U.S.A.: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir, Deformation, Fluid Flow and Reservoir Appraisal in Foreland Fold and Thrust Belts, pp. 187-214.
• Potter, C.J., Moore, T.E., O'Sullivan, P.B., Miller, J.J., 2002, Regional structural framework and petroleum assessment of the Brooks Range foothills and southern coastal plain, National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 86, p. 1157.
• Saltus, R.W., Potter, C.J., and Phillips, J.D., 2006, Crustal insights from gravity and aeromagnetic analysis: Central North Slope, Alaska: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 90 (10), pp. 1495-1517.

Return to top of this page

Task 3 - Ore deposit modelling

Presentations

• Graham, G.E., Kelley, K.D., Slack, J.F., and Koenig, A., 2005, Thallium: A pathfinder element for shale-hosted sedex Zn-Pb-Ag deposits, Brooks Range, Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, no. 7, p. 452. View Graham GSA abstract.
• Kelley, K.D., Johnson, C.A., and Leach, D.L., 2004, Controls on the formation of supergiant shale-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulfide deposits in the Red Dog district, Brooks Range, Alaska: electronic version posted on-line on July 20, 2004, Abs. Vol., pt. 1, 143-10.
• Kelley, K.D., Leach, D.L., Dumoulin, J.A., Slack, J.F., and Ayuso, R.A., 2003, Recent USGS investigations in the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag district, northwestern Alaska: Implications for deposit genesis and mineral exploration: Alaska Miners Association Abstracts with Programs, November, 2002.
• Kelley, K.D., Leach, D.L., Johnson, C.A., Slack, J.F., Dumoulin, J.A., and King, A.R., 2003, The giant Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulfide deposits, northwestern Alaska, USA: Basin setting and conditions of ore formation, in Eliopoulos, D.G., Kelley, K.D., and others, eds., Mineral exploration and sustainable development: Proceedings of the Seventh Biennial Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits meeting, Athens, Greece, p. 689-692.
• Kelley, K.D., Leach, D.L., Slack, J.F., Anderson, V.M., Clark, J.L., Ayuso, R.A., and Ridley, W.I., 2001, Evolution of trace element compositions in sphalerite and pyrite through time in the Zn-Pb-Ag shale-hosted Red Dog deposits, western Brooks Range, Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 33, p. A-272. View Kelley 2001GSA abstract.
• Kelley, K.D., Young, L.E., Goodfellow, W.D., Dumoulin, J.A., and Johnson, C.A., 2006, Paleozoic shale-hosted base metal deposits of the northern Cordillera with emphasis on Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no. 5, p. 69. View Kelley 2006GSA abstract.
• Slack, J.F., Kelley, K.D., Anderson, V.M., Clark, J.L., and Ayuso, R.A., 2001, Geochemistry of silicified rocks in the Red Dog Zn-Pb-Ag district, western Brooks Range, Alaska: Evidence for multistage diagenetic and hydrothermal fluid flow and fluid-rock reactions: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 33, p. A-272. View Slack GSA abstract.

Reports

• Leach, D., Bradley, D., Gardoll, S., Huston, D. and Marsh, E., 2005, The distribution of SEDEX Pb-Zn deposits through Earth history: Extended abstract, Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits 2005 Biennial Meeting, Beijing, China August 2005.
• Leach, D.L., Sangster, D.F., Kelley, K.D., Large. R.R., Garven, G., Allen, C.R., Gutzmer, J., and Walters, S., 2005, Sediment-hosted Pb-Zn Deposits: A global perspective: Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, pp. 561-608

Return to top of this page

Task 4 - Basin evolution, fluid flow and geochemical modeling

Presentations

• Garven, G., Dumoulin, J.A., Bradley, D.A., Young, L.E., Kelley, K.D., and Leach, D.L., 2002, Coupled Heat and Fluid Flow Modeling of the World's Largest Zinc Ore Deposit at Red Dog, Alaska: Implications for Structurally-Focused, Free Convection in Ancient Submarine Sedimentary Basins: American Geophysical Union meeting, San Francisco, CA, December, 2002
• Garven, G., Dumoulin, J.A., Kelley, K.D., Potter, C.J., and Leach, D.L., 2004, Reactive transport models for ore genesis in the Red Dog district, Kuna Basin, Alaska: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 5, p. 200. View Garven GSA abstract.
• Garven, G., Raffensperger, J.P., Dumoulin, J.A., Bradley, D.A., Young, L.E., Kelley, K.D., and Leach, D.L., 2003, Coupled Heat and Fluid Flow Modeling of the Carboniferous Kuna Basin, Alaska: Implications for the Genesis of the Red Dog Pb-Zn-Ag-Ba Ore District: Geofluids IV Abstracts with Programs, Holland, May, 2003.

Reports

• Garven, G., Raffensperger, J.P., Dumoulin, J.A., Bradley, D.A., Young, L.E., Kelley, K.D., and Leach,
  D.L., 2003, Coupled heat and fluid flow modeling of the Carboniferous Kuna Basin, Alaska: Implications for the genesis of
  the Red Dog Pb-Zn-Ag-Ba ore district: Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 78-79, pp. 215-219.

Return to top of this page

Task 5 - Organic geochemistry: source rocks, migration pathways, and ore deposits

Presentations

• Johnson, C.A., and Emsbo, P., 2005, Possible impact of hydrothermal brine discharge events on sulfur isotopes in marine basins and the global oceans: Earth Systems Processes 2, August 8-11, 2005, Calgary, Alberta. View 2005 Johnson abstract.
• Johnson, C.A., and Emsbo, P., 2004, Sulfur- and oxygen isotopes of barite deposits in sedimentary basins: Implications for barite genesis, massive sulfide genesis, and sulfur redox reactions: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 5, p. 200. View 2004 Johnson GSA abstract.
• Johnson, C.A., Kelley, K.D., and Leach, D., 2003, Stable isotopic evidence that barite deposits in the western Brooks Range, Alaska, mark the sites of Mississippian methane seeps: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 35, no. 6, p. 381. View Johnson 2003 GSA abstract.
• Leventhal, J.S., Johnson, C.A., and Kelley, K.D., 2002, Isotopic and geochemical constraints for witherite (BaCO3) from the sediment-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulfide deposits, Red Dog District, Alaska: Geological Society of America 2002 Annual Meeting. View Leventhal GSA abstract.

Return to top of this page