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Petroleum possibilities of Yukon-Koyukuk Province, Alaska: region 1

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Abstract

The Yukon-Koyukuk province covers 100,000 sq mi (259,000 sq km) along the west coast of Alaska, extending from the Brooks Range to the Yukon delta, but excluding the Seward Peninsula. It is essentially a vast tract of Cretaceous rocks locally veneered by Quaternary alluviated beds and volcanic rocks. The Cretaceous section contains a large volume of volcanic rocks, and most of the sedimentary sequence consists of first- and second-cycle volcanic debris. Above basal andesitic rocks is a 10,000-ft (3,048 m) section of graywacke and mudstone of Albian age, overlain by 10,000 ft or more of shallow-marine and nonmarine paralic sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and coal--dated as late Early and early Late Cretaceous. This part of the stratigraphic section may contain hydrocarbons but severe structural complications limit the possibilities to two belts, one in the north along the Kobuk River and the other a narrow northeast-southwest band extending 300 mi (483 km) from the Koyukuk Flats to the Yukon-Kuskokwim lowland.

Suggested Citation

Patton, W.W., 1971, Petroleum possibilities of Yukon-Koyukuk Province, Alaska: region 1, chap. of Future petroleum provinces of the United States--their geology and potential (AAPG Memoir 15), v. 1, p. 100-104.

Study Area

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Petroleum possibilities of Yukon-Koyukuk Province, Alaska: region 1
Series number 15
Volume 1
Year Published 1971
Language English
Publisher AAPG
Publisher location Tulsa, OK
Contributing office(s) Energy Resources Program
Description 5 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype Organization Series
Larger Work Title Future petroleum provinces of the United States--their geology and potential (AAPG Memoir 15)
First page 100
Last page 104
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Yukon-koyukuk Province
Additional publication details