McDonald Mine (Morton; Blue Bird; Blue Bird Fraction; Combination Mine), Fairbanks Mining District, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
McDonald Mine (Morton; Blue Bird; Blue Bird Fraction; Combination Mine)	Mine
Fairbanks Mining District	Mining District
Fairbanks North Star Borough	Borough
Alaska	State
USA	Country

A former Au occurrence/mine located in the SW¼NE¼ sec. 5, T1S, R2W, FM, on the ridge east of Eva Creek. The Blue Bird claim was located September 28, 1924, by John McDonald. The adjoining Blue Bird fraction was located on July 5, 1924, also by John McDonald. By 1931, there were several groups of workings on four claims. Mining was reported from this group of claims in 1931 and 1937.

Mineralization is a Au deposit (Deposit model Name: Schist-hosted gold-quartz vein) hosted in schist. In 1917, a few shallow pits exposed a quartz vein with arsenopyrite scattered through it and coatings of scorodite and cervantite. The vein was terminated by a fault on all three levels. The Blue Bird workings produced 240 tons of ore averaging $19 (period values) of Au per ton (0.92 ounce of gold per ton). The Combination shaft consisted of a 100-foot incline that followed a vein that was oriented N. 20 W., 45 E. The vein had an average width of 3 feet, and ore from it was rich in sulfides, averaging $25 to $40 (period values) of Au per ton (1.21 to 1.94 ounces of Au per ton). Large boulders of stibnite-arsenopyrite ore were found on the dump. On the McDonald claim, four, subparallel, nearly vertical veins strike N. 40 E; the ore consists of arsenopyrite and stibnite. The gold is 810 to 846 fine (Glover, 1950). Local rocks include quartzitic and pelitic schist of the Yukon-Tanana crystalline complex.

Workings include underground openings. A shaft was sunk that exposed visible gold in schist hosted by quartz veins by 1927. By 1927, a shaft was sunk that exposed visible gold in schist-hosted quartz veins. By 1931, there were several groups of workings on four claims. The Blue Bird incline was 80 feet deep with three levels of drifting on a vein that was oriented N35W, 65NE, and a 100 foot incline, and a 210 foot shaft.

Production information: Production Notes = Prior to 1931, the Blue Bird workings produced 240 tons of ore averaging $19 (period values) in Au per ton (0.92 ounce of Au per ton). The Combination shaft ore averaged $25 to $40 (period values) in Au per ton (1.21 to 1.94 ounces of Au per ton), but the amount produced was not reported. Mine production from 1932 to 1938 was 4,000 tons or ore that netted $80,000 (period values). No mill was erected on the property. The ore was hauled to the Mohawk mill. Total Au produced was estimated at 2,500 ounces.

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