Exploring Alaska’s Bonnifield region reveals how geology and mining mingle in a remote frontier landscape.
This report presents a focused, survey‑level view of the area between the Tanana River and the Alaska Range, detailing rock formations, fossil remains, and the vast lignitic coal resources that drive its mineral story. It also traces the young Nenana gravels and the evidence for past glaciation, helping readers understand the land’s deep time and resource potential.
The book outlines how geologists subdivide the region’s metamorphic rocks into two formations, describes the coal-bearing Tertiary sequence, and explains how surface gravels blanket the coal beds. It discusses the relationship between coal deposits, gold placers, and surrounding bedrock, and it weighs the age and origin of major features like the Nenana gravel and glacial deposits. Throughout, the text ties field observations to broader questions about Alaska’s mineral resources and landscape evolution.
- Two main metamorphic formations are identified and related to regional geology.
- Details on the coal-bearing Tertiary beds and their extent across several basins.
- Discussion of the Nenana gravels and past glaciation, with age relationships to other deposits.
- Estimates of coal tonnage and notes on potential mining implications for the Yukon–Tanana region.
Ideal for readers interested in Alaska geology, mining history, and natural resource exploration.