PROSPECTING
IN ALASKA IS
REVIEWED
ARTICLE III
(From '‘Prospecting in* Alaska,",
Published by the Territorial
Department of Mines)
(Kuskokwim River Region)
The climate of this region
ranges from a compiarativtely
mild one in the Kuskokwim Bay
district, near the mouth of the
river, to sub-arctic in the inter
ior, where there are long, cold
winters and short, but rather
warm summers. In the coastal
area, fog, mist and wind are dis
agreeably frequent. During the
summer months ocean-going
steamers reach Bethel on the
lower river, and transportation
by river steamer is available
to McGrath. River boats are
used on the larger tributaries.
Landing fields are located at
strategic points and the airplane
is a favored mode of travel.
There is no timber in the coast
al area, but proceeding inland,
alder, willow and oottonwood
are found. The upper river is
sparsely timbered with spruce
and in certain localities with
birch and tamarack.
Important to the lower river
area was the discovery in 1926
of high-grade platinum placer j
deposits near Goodnews Bay.
Production was begun by small
scale hand methods shortly
thereafter. In 1934 machinery
was installed and mining on a
large scale was started, which
has resulted in *the district be
coming the principal producer of
platinum metals in the United
States and its possessions Pla
cer gold has been mined in this
area for many years on a small
scale. Later development in the
Goodnews-Arolic section has
been directed toward large
scale methods with correspond
ingly increased production of
gold. Placer gold also occurs in
varying amounts in the gravels
of the upper Togiak, Kanektok
and Eek rivers. Some difficulty
has been experienced by pros
pectors in sinking shafts to bed
rock in this section due to the
thawed and wet nature of the
ground. The introduction of
pumps and drills has overcome
this handicap to some extent
during recent years of renewed
interest.
The Tuluksak-Aniak region for
several years has contributed
substantially to the gold output
of the Territory from large-scale
placer mining operations and re
cent developments indicate an
increase in production may be
expected from the lower Kusko
kwim. A large unmapped and
only superficially prospected
area extends from the Stony riv
er, southwestward in the general
direction of Goodnews Bay
across the Hoholitna, Holitna
and upper Aniak rivers. Reports
have been circulated from time
to time of placer gold prospects
being found in some of the
streams, but no productive min
ing has resulted. It is probable
that the area is worthy of a
great deal more prospecting than
has been done.
The placers in the vicinity of
Marshall were important con
tributors of gold some 25 years
ago The installation of mechan
ical equipment during the past
I I A GOOD SELECTION OF I
!
Springs and I
Mattresses I
AT SPECIAL PRICE! ■
I
I NORTHERN’ I
I COMMERCIAL I
I COMPANY I
I Alaska’s Pioneer Merchants I
I Store Hours, Winter Months: 9:00 till 6:00 I
"Lucky. Dog”
DETROIT, MICH. — Jack, the
richest dog in Detroit, is shown
above as he was petted by Herbert
J. Kelly. The dog was willed a for
tune by his owner Mrs. Margaret
Myers, which included $50,000, a
seven room residence, a house in
Florida and a car.
few years has again brought this
district into substantial produc
tion. Intensive prospecting might
reveal the presence of other
low-grade deposits that could be
worked at a profit by large
scale methods. So far as known
very little attention has been
given to a search for the lode
source of the placer gold. Coal1
seams exist at several localities
from which a small amount of
fuel has been mined from time
to time for local use.
The Kaiyuh Hills have not
been thoroughly prospected, but
some placer gold has been found
and a small amount mined. Sil
ver-lead lodes were discovered
within the area and some high
grade ore was shipped, but the
post of transportation evidently
prevented profitable operations.
Geological conditions are said to
indicate the possible presence
of mineral deposits other than
these heretofore discovered.
The Iditarod, Innoko and Ruby
Districts have been highly pro
ductive placer-gold districts for
more than 30 years. Small high
grade gold veins, with associated
antimony, copper, lead, zinc and
tungsten, occur in the Iditarod
district and some development
and mining has been done, but
the complex nature of the ore
and high mining costs have been
discouraging factors. Other
small veins containing gold, stib
nite and cinnabar occur in the
district. One of the cinnabar
lodes was developed and has
produced fine mercury Devel
opment work has been done on
silver-lead prospects in the Ruby
district and some of the placers
of the district contain apprecia
ble amounts of tin. The bedrock
source of the tin-bearing mater
ial has not been discovered. Lode
prospecting in the district is dif
ficult on account of heavy over
burden and lack of outcrops.
Small coal deposits occur in the
Iditarod area from which fuel
has been mined for local use. It
is likely that more intensive
prospecting for lodes will follow
the depletion of ithe valuable
placers in these well mineralized
districts.
RETURN TO NOME
FOR SUPPLIES
‘‘Big Mike’ Kazinguk and John
Norbert are back in town for
supplies. They have been hunt
ing fox and seal from their camp
at Sinrock. They report both seal
and fox are plentiful this year
and said they are returning
shortly for more hunting
WALSH BOYS
HAVE FURLOUGHS
Last week Pierce Walsh was
visiting hjs parents on a short
furlough and has now returned
to Ladd Field James Walsh is
expected in a few days from
Tyndalle Field, Florida, to spend
some time visiting his family
and friends in Nome.
COMES FROM INDIA
TO SEE DAUGHTER
Charles West, army transport
pilot, came all the way from In
dia to see his new daughter,
who was born last week in the
Maynard Columbus hospital. His
wife, Marguerite Lee West, and ,
his other daughter, who is in
Solomon with her grandmother,
are overjoyed that he will have
a three-month, furlough, and they
are looking forward to the op
portunity of getting him ac
quainted
- —
JEVENTS
.... There will be ■ dance Sat
urday evening from 9:00 oclock
until 1:00 o'clock, in the High
School Gym.
Athletic events are schedul
ed for Friday evening.
A^ A^A A^A A^A A^A A^A 4T4 A^A A^A 4T4 4T4 ^4
v ///
FOR I
VICTORY I I
& l
A proud and mighty
bird is he . . . the
American Eagle ...
from his vaulted *
flight he surveys
American's shores
and cities; indus
tries, the big and
little homes where
die people live who
are th s nation ...
The eagle watches
over us and is our
I symbol of the very
‘Spirit of determina
tion as we concen
trate all effort and
action toward the
fulfillment of that
final Victory toward which we have so steadily 1
.marched. i
The fulfillment of the high purpose of making all
nations free.
In our victory over the axis partner we may look |
with satisfaction and the realization that total victory
shall be ours.
1
PACIFIC AMERICAN
FISHERIES