Smith River alunogen occurrence, Smith River, Alaska Highway, Liard Mining Division, British Columbia, Canadai

Regional Level Types
Smith River alunogen occurrence	Occurrence
Smith River	- not defined -
Alaska Highway	- not defined -
Liard Mining Division	Division
British Columbia	Province
Canada	Country

Giles Peatfield comments:
There is very little information in the literature regarding this occurrence. Williams (1944) wrote that, near the bridge where the Alaska (a.k.a. Alcan) Highway crossed Smith River, “Black to rusty shale outcrops [sic - crops out] east of Smith River in a road cut . . . .” He mapped these shales as part of a thick section of Devonian and Mississippian “Black argillaceous limestones, dark shales and sandstones.” Sabina (1973) commented that the mineral occurrence of interest is exposed “. . . along the side of a ridge on the southeast side of the bridge over Smith River.” She listed a number of observed minerals, as detailed below.
Giles Peatfield Comments on the Minerals Reported:
See note above for the location. During her collecting trip on the Alaska Highway, Sabina (1973) visited the outcrop described by Williams (1944), and collected a small suite of minerals. She acknowledged the assistance of colleagues (Messrs. G. J. Pringle and M. Bonardi) in the laboratory of the Geological Survey of Canada for identification of minerals collected on her trip. Specific descriptions of the minerals collected at Smith River are as follows:
Alunogen: This is the mineral of principal interest at this site. Sabina described it as “. . . waxy white botryoidal aggregates . . . .” This occurrence was reported by Traill (1983), and in the “Catalogue of mineral species occurring in Canada (2022) Revision 13, updated 2022 11 01, by László Horváth, [quoting Traill (1983)].”
Calcite: Described as “. . . a greyish white powder.”
Gypsum: Described as “. . . colourless to white flat microscopic crystals and as silky white flakes . . . .”
Jarosite: Sabina wrote that “Secondary minerals have formed along the black shale exposure giving it a rusty appearance. The dull, rust-coloured to yellow coating is jarosite.” She did not provide a more specific identification for the mineral.

References