Antral Ascription Hoaie IHstrkl
The Nome Minins District, romprising 22.706
squaro miles of territory, occupies a large section ol
Northwestern Alaska known geographically as Seward
Peninsula; is bounded by the Arctic Ocean on the North
and Bering Sea on the West and possesses some 600 miles
of coast line. Nome, with a population varying from S50
in winter to 2,000 in summer, is the chief port and com
mercial center of the entire district, the regions farther
north and a vast section of the Northeast coast of Siberia.
Nome Is the mall distributing center for the entire district
and is also the judicial headquarters for the Second Al
aska Division. In practically all things the entire divi
sion is served from this port. The country generally is
of rolling character with wide valleys and numerous lakes
and streams. The lowlands merge into low rounded hills
fronting a single lofty range which crosses the heart of
the district. The mean summer temperature ranges be
tween 40 and 50 degrees; the mean annual temperature
between 25 and 40 degrees. Extremes of temperature re
corded at Nome are around 77 degrees in July to 30 de
grees minus in January. Annual precipitation is about
15 Inches.
The district is unquestionably one of the most
highly mineralized regions of the known earth. Gold
is the chief resource but numerous varieties of lesser
minerals are found over a large portion of the district
and petroleum is known to exist in the region of Point
Barrow, a short distance to the north of the peninsula.
Oil indications are also found within the district at sev
eral points. The only real tin mines in Alaska and the
largest known deposits of tin In America are located In
the Port Clarence section and coal beds of Important ex
tent exist in the Kugruk and Cape Lisburne regions near
the northern coast.
Since the discovery of gold 22 years ago. the
Nome District has produced more than $81,000,000 in
gold and silver, in addition to tin, tungsten, antimony and
other metals valued at several millions. Copper and
graphite are known to exist in exploitable quantities and
rich gold quartz In small bodies and low grade quartz
in large bodies has been found at numerous points.
Almost all the best known metals are found in exploita
ble quantities. The gold produced is almost entirely
from placers, quartz mining not having reached a state
of active development as yet. Dredging has become the
chief method of gold extraction .although numerous hy
draulic and "open cut" plants are operated. A very
large part of the known mineralized areas have been
hardly more than prospected, remoteness aad inadequate
transportation facilities having greatly hindered develop
ment in the past, and many now placers and other min- (
eral discoveries may be expected in the future when the
district is thoroughly exploited.
In addition to its great mineral resources, me
Nome District also contains tremendously important pos
sibilities In its thriving reindeer industry, which, altho
hardly more than started on a commercial scale, has al
ready yielded revenues approximating $3,460,000.
Pish of various species abound in the lakes,
streams and coastal waters and forrii the basis for a
great industry. Herring are particularly plentiful and
are pronounced by experts unexcelled by any herring :
known to the world’s markets. Salmon and other va-1
rietiea are also plentiful.
The district also produces a large variety of fur;
bearing animals which yield a large annual revenue, In ,
addition to game animals and wild fowl in large numbers.
Berries and wild flowers grow in abundance in the un
ending daylight of summer. Although the district as a
whole is devoid of timber larger than willows, plant life
exists in great profusion and the low hills and valleys are j
covered with a vast carpet of thick moss anil grasses. i
transportation Roads are the first essentials to j
the development of a new territory. As a result of an
extremely short sighted and illiberal policy on the part !
of the federal government, inadequate and costly trans
portation facilities have been the chief drawback to ex
tensive exploitation of the great mineral wealth known
to exist in the Nome District. Within the nearly 23,000
square miles of territory there are less than 250 miles of
permanent roads and more than 25 per cent of the total
mileage is found within 20 miles of Nome. Develop
ment cannot proceed save at a slow paqp under such con
ditions. During the past year or two the government
has inclined to more liberal spirit and prospects are now
bright for Important extensions of present highways
-which will prove of vast benefit. A projected govern
ment extension of the Nome-Kougarok railway through
the heart of the district to the Kugruk coal fields will not
only open a great area of mineral lands to exploitation
but will also enable the acquisition of cheap fuel, the ab
sence of which has been a powerful deterrent to mining
and industrial development in all lines. .
Sold Minina The Nome District has been the
source of nearly one fourth of the mineral wealth pro
duced in the Alaska territory during the past 20 years.
Yet withal it is the least developed portion of the country.
This is largely due to the fact that only the districts eas
iest of access have received .the attention of the miner
and prospector. There are still hundreds of square
miles of known mineral bearing territory^ untouched by
the hand of industry owing to the absence of roads and
resultant difficulties of transportation.
.The noted :oiogist, Dr. Alfred H. Brooks, of tin
United States Geo.ogtcal Survey Bureau, has estimatec
that there are over 210 square miles of placer gold de
posits within the confines of Seward Peninsula* In ad
ditlon there are numerous gold deposits in lode font
scattered throughout the district. Of these 210 squan
miles of placer gold areas scarcely more than fifty squan
miles have been touched by the miner, although theii
value has been known for years, while among the liter
ally hundreds of nirt* deposits presenting productive
possibilities there »s not one producing values. This re
markable condition Is due almost entirely to absence ol
highways during the greater part of the two decades ol
gold production.
Despite the deterring conditions under which ii
labors, the Nome District was the most prosperous of the
Alaska placer mining regions in 1920. It produced
gold valued at $1,317,819.00, compared to a combined
total of $1,668,076.00 from all other, placer districts.
Eighteen dredges, about seventy five open cut mines and
thirteen deep or underground placers were operated;
about 550 men being employed. Regarding the future
placer outlook, Dr. Alfred H. Brooks of the U. S. Geologi
cal Survey, says. “It was estimated some years ago (1908)
that the value of the gold reserves in the gravel plain,
ancient beach and high beach placers of Seward Penin
sula was about $215,000,000.00. Substracting the
amount of gold that has since been mined from these de
posits leaves the value of ♦he reserves $200,000,000.00.
Though the above estimates of the available placer re
serves may appear extravagant to some, a comparison
will be shown that they are moderate, t 1. With the
return of normal conditions, development has increased
steadily in recent months and several important small
strikes have been made as a result of renewed prospect
ing efforts.
Platinum valued at $34,087.00 was produced In Al
aska in 1920, a large portion being obtained in the Nome
District. The bulk of the Nome output was mined from
the Dime Creek placers, although recoveries of consid*
erable value were made on Bear and Sweepstake* Creeks,
and at Willow Creek. Until 1916 no effort was made to
recover this valuable metal, but each succeeding year wit
nesses an increased output as efforts at recovery are ex
tungsten bearing lodee were developed at Fair
i banks and Nome when the war needs led to abnormal do
i mand • • • • . Considerable Tungsten was shipped
from these properties between 1916 and 1918 and Schel
lite was recovered from concentrates of gold dredges at
Nome • • • • . In all about 87 tons of Alaska Schelllte
concentrates have been mined and marketed. t 1.
Silver bearing oi*es are found in many places in the
Nome District. The Omalik silver-lead mine on Fish
River has produced considerable ore in the past but sus
pended operations with the decline in silver some years
ago. Promising lodes are located at various other
points, notably on the Kugruk River, where extensive
development work has been done during the past two
years; although transportation difficulties have so far
prevented shipment of ore. t 2.
Jlntimony ore, in the form of stibnite, is one of the
most widely distributed minerals in Alaska • • • •. The
high price and ready market for antimony during the
war led to development of stibnite ores at several lo
calities in the Nome District • • • • . The facts In hand
indicate that there are large reserves of antimony ore in
this district. t 1.
Copper deposits have been found on Seward Penin
sula and some of these have been developed In a small
way. A few test shipments have been made *•••.’
Copper lodes have been located in several places in the
Nokatak-Kobuk region of Northern Alaska. Consider
able prospecting has been done on some of these deposits
near Shugnak, In the middle Kobuk valley • * • • .
Were those deposits not so isolated, they would undoubt
edly have been mined. t 3.
Citt Alaska has produced about 972 tons of metallic tin,
which has nearly all come from the placers of the York
District at the west end of Seward Peninsula. A num
ber of discoveries of lode tin have been made in the York
section. The only development has been at the1 Lost
River Mine. The best hope of the continuation of Al
aska tin mining is based on the lode tin in the York Dis
trict. The Lost River mine is the. only property suffi
ciently developed to justify the belief that ft will soon
BEACH MINING AT NOME
become a producer; yet there are other deposits in the
region which deserve further prospecting, t 3.
7f0lf A llttle work has been done on iron deposits on
Seward Peninsula located about twenty five miles north
west of Nome. An analysis of samples from one deposit
showed fifty four percent of iron, no titanium and 0.13
per ce t of P-2 0-5. The surface evidences indicate
that the mineralising agents have affected considerable
areas, t 3.
Graphite in considerable quantities has been found
in the Keewalik Mountains, 40 miles north of Nome, and
accessible to the tea from Imaruk Basin, which is con
nected by tidal estuary with Port Clarence. The grap
hite in this district occurs as lenses in quartz-biotite
schists, which are themselves graphitic. These deposits
are of sufficient size to JustMy the hope that they can be
profitably exploited. t 1.
Coat The largest areas of inaccessible coals are those
on the Arctic slope, where there are believed to be exten
sive fields. The coals are chiefly of low grade but in
clude some excellent bituminous coals, Most of these
coals are not now available, but some of thean near Cape
Lisburne can be de^loped for use at Nome and in other
parts of Seward Peninsula. (U. S. Geogolical Survey
Bulletin No. 174, P. 46.) Coal has been obtained for a
number of years from the Kugruk coal beds, having been
mined at Chicago Creek and on the Kugruk, between
Reindeer and Montana Creeks. This coal is used ex
tensively in Candle and Deering • * ♦ * . f 1, Coa
deposits located near the Kugruk River also supply th«
local needs of that section.
TlirS Since 1867, Alaska has produced furs to the
value of about $90,500,000, of which about $53,000,00(
represent the value of the fur seal skins. The raisinf
of foxes and other fur bearing animals is on the increase
and promises to become a most important industry. The
evidence in hand indicates that this section of Alasks
will continue to yield a valuable annual fur product, t 4
Nome is the distributing point for trade witl
those engaged in the fur business in Northwest Alaskz
and Siberia, and many thousands of dollars worth of fui
pelts are handled annually at this Port.
Reindeer Between 1892 and 1902, the Governmen
imported 1,280 reindeer into Alaska for the use of th<
Alaska natives. The natural Increase from the origins
stocV has resulted in a herd, numbering nearly 200,000
besides which about 100.000 have been killed for food
and a kins • • • •. Shipment* of reindeer meat are lim
ited to the cold storage capacity of steamer* running to
Nome, and were 89,000 pounds In 1918, 37,000 pound* in
1919, and 297,544 in 1920. There are extensive rein
deer pastures In the Interior of Alaska and on the shores i
of Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It is estimated
that these pastures should support a total of Ten Million
animals, t 4.
REINDEER HERD GRAZ1NU
Tisbtrits Salmon Ashing in the Nome District over
shadow* the rest of the Ashing Industry. Csnner
ies located at the month of the Yukon River operate each !
year and yield a large return annually. The yearly run j
of herring at Golovin Bay, offers an opportunity for large j
investment. Beluga—white whale—frequent the Aats
of the Yukon River but as yet, no effort has been made
to catch and market this valuable sea mammal, de
spite large commercial possibilities. Walrus and hair
seal are numerous, and present strong possibilities as
leather resources, as well as unique game for the sports
man and hunter.
NOME AND NORTHWESTERN ALASKA WILL
PRODUCE MILLIONS IN OIL
Growing out of the fact that use of oil for power
and locomotion has created a vast and unprecedented de
mand for that product during the past year, the Standard
Oil Company and also a group of Western investors sent
Into the Point Barrow region of Northwestern Alaska a
number of representatives and several well known geolo
gists to investigate the oil seepages found in that section.
A number of these investigators went to the district dur
ing the winter by dog team and were followed by the geol_
ogical experts in gas boats during the past summer. These
survey parties made extensive examinations and also loca
tions during the summer and Aled for prospecting permits
at the United States Land Office at Nome. Active oper
ations are scheduled to commence next spring upon open
ing of navigation.
The Point Barrow oil region lies in latitude some
what farther north than the Fort Norman oil Aelds, com
prises thousands of square miles of territory, and will in
all probability become the greatest oil producing area on
the continent as development proceeds. The district is
much larger than the combined areas of Texas, Oklahoma,
Wyoming. Montana, Arkansas and Louisiana, and con:
tains thousands of acres of undeveloped oil lands. With
the exception of less than twenty locations, all of this
great oil bearing area is still open to entry.
The existence of these vast oil deposits in the Bar
! row region has been known for years, but only during the
I past winter and summer has there been any effort on the
part of either individuals or corporations to investigate
the Aeld. Last summer's investigations were of such
' promising character that Nome is now preparing for an
j oil stampede that will equal the great gold rush of 1900.
i when 50,000 people came to this section of Alaska in
I search of the yellow metal. This time the rush will be
i for "Liquid Millions”! It must be said, however, that
those who anticipate coming to this district to locate
| should be prepared with sufficient capital to carry on, as
! prospecting for oil requires time and money The gov
ernment has adopted a very liberal poligy with respect to
I oil locations, the regulations providing that citir
corporations may locate Ave claims of 2560 acres each.
Providing oil is discovered, the prospector can lease one
quarter of the area covered by his permit, with first pre
ference on the remainder. Royalty on production is as
low as five per cent.
Nowhere is there a greater opportunity for oil
land investment and practically ail of this vast oil terri
tory with its semi-proven acreage is awaiting the coming
| of capital for development. Prospecting and development
j may be confidently expected to reveal an oil area that will
HYDRAULIC MINING SCENE
surprise the world and make Alaska known as one of the
greatest oil sections of th6 globe.
Drilling for oil is also in progress adjacent to
Nome at present and reports given out by officials of the
company disclose that favorable oil indications have been
encountered. _Back of Nome in the interior of Seward
Peninsula other oil indications have been recently found.
A few locations covering acreage in this section have al
ready been fildd. The districts last referred to are ad
jacent to water and rail transpotation. Drilling is ex
pected to commence next June. Several locations have
also been made in the Port Clarence section and permits
applied for. All the oil sections indicated may be reach
ed by steamers or gas boats.
t 1 U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin No. 714.
t 2 U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin No. 714 A.
t 3 U. S. Geological-Survey Bulletin No. 714 F.
t 4 Report of Governor of Alaska, 1920.
For Further Information Write The Secretary
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, OF NOME
Photos by Lomen Bros, Nome, '
Thlr Pssre Contributed by The Nome Nugget.