DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary J o

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director

Bulletin 664

THE NENANA GOAL FIELD 

ALASKA

BY

G. C. MARTIN

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

,. 1919

CONTENTS.

Page.

General features............................................................ 5

Geography.............:.............................................. 5

Climate and vegetation................................................. 5

Transportation......................................................... 6

% Geology............................................................... 6

Coal.................................................................. 7

f Occurrence and character........................................... 7

t Mining conditions.....................'............................ 10

Classification and status of land........................................ 10

Local features............................................................. 11

T. 9 S., R. 5 W....................................................... 11

T. nS.,K.5W...................................................... 13

T. 9 S., R. 6 W........................................................ 18

T. 10 S., R. 6 W...................................................... 21

T. 11 S., R. 6 W...................................................... 26

T. 12 S., R. 6 W...................................................... 37

T. 9 S., R. 7 W........................................................ 37

T. 10 S., R. 7 W...................................................... 38

T. 11 S, R. 7 W...................................................... 39

T. 12 S., R. 7 W............'.......................................... 46

Unsurveyed lands near main line of railroad............................. 48

Leasing blocks............................................................. 49

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page. 

PLATE I. Map of central Alaska, showing position of Nenana coal field........ 6

II. Map of Nenana coal field showing public-land and railroad surveys

and leasing blocks............................................ 6

III. Township plat and coal map, .T. 9 S., R. 5 W...................... 12

IV. Township plat and coal map, T. 11 S., R. 5 W..................... 14

V. Township plat and coal map, T. 9 S., R. 6 W...................... 18

VI. Township plat and coal map, T. 10 S., R. 6 W..................... 22

VII. Township plat and coal map, T. 11 S., R. 6 W..................... 26

VIII. Township plat and coal map, T. 12 S., R. 6 W..................... 36.

IX. Township plat and coal map, T. 9 S., R. 7 W...................... 36

X. Township plat and coal map, T. 10 S., R. 7 W .................... 38

XI. Township plat and coal map, T. 11 S., R. 7 W..................... 40

XII. Township plat and coal map, T. 12 S., R. 7 W...................."*.. '46

3

230923

THE NENANA'COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

By G. C. MARTIN.

GENERAL FEATURES.

GEOGRAPHY. \

The Nenana coal field lies in latitude 64° N., longitude 149° W., 

in the northern foothills of the Alaska Range, which form a belt about 

20 miles wide between the high mountains and the lowlands of the 

Tanana Valley. This foothill area is rugged and includes a series 

of nearly parallel ridges and intervening areas of less relief. Most of 

the coal areas are in lowland tracts that lie between the foothill ridges 

and are drained by eastward or westward flowing tributaries of the 

major streams, which head in the high mountains and flow northward 

across the foothill belt. (See,PI. I.)

Nenana River, the largest stream in the area, heads south of the 

Alaska Range and flows northward to join the Tanana at Nenana. 

Its valley, which affords a line of communication between the valley 

of the Tanana and the southern coast, is followed by the Government 

railroad now under construction. Among the larger tributaries of 

Nenana River from the east and west are Hoseanna (Lignite) Creek 

and Healy Creek, which drain two of the principal coal areas. The 

coal lands in the valley of Hoseanna Creek are of greatest present importance, as they have been wholly surveyed and are easily accessible 

to the main line of the railroad. By the present railroad route the 

mouth of Hoseanna Creek is about 364 miles from the coastal terminus 

at Seward and about 106 miles from the inland terminus at Fairbanks. 

' The coal lands of the Nenana coal field that have been offered for 

leasing are embraced in T. 11 S., Rs. 5, 6, and 7 W., and T. 12 S., R. 

7 W.. pf the Fairbanks meridian and are the most accessible and most 

immediately minable of the surveyed lands of the field, which include 

parts of T. 9 S., Rs. 5, 6, and 7 W.; T. 10 S., R. 6 W.; T. 11 SM 

Rs. 5, 6, and 7 W.; and T. 12 S., R. 7 W. (See PI. II.)

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION.

The climate of the Nenana coal field is in general that of the more 

mountainous part of the Yukon basin. The short, hot summers 

contrast strongly with the long, cold winters. The precipitation in 

the coal field is very light compared with that on the coast, but

5
6 NENAETA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

is probably considerably greater than that at Fairbanks. The summer rainfall consists largely of violent showers. The snowfall is light. 

The timber is chiefly spruce, birch, and poplar, which extend up to 

an altitude of about 2,500 feet. There are no dense forests or large 

areas of merchantable timber. Areas of timber suitable for use in 

mines must be carefully sought and guarded from fire, which has 

already done serious damage. The best growth of timber and of 

grass is on the gravels. The areas of coal-bearing rocks are poorly 

drained and support only moss, willows, and a very stunted and 

worthless growth, of black spruce.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal of the Nenana field can be brought to the present assured 

markets only over the Government raiboad, now under construction. The approved route of this raiboad passes through the western 

(unsurveyed) part of T. 12 S., R'. 7 W. From the mouth of Hoseanna 

Creek, in sec. 6 (unsuryeyed), a branch line can be built up the creek 

into the heart of the coal field. This branch will reach possible 

mining sites in blocks 2 and 3 within .2 miles of the junction. More 

favorable mining sites in blocks 7, 8, and 9 can be reached by a 

branch 6 miles long. A branch 12 miles long will reach as far east 

'as block 20. This 12-mile branch will not involve heavy construction or steep grades and will afford access to as many mines as 

need be opened for many years. A 6-mile branch that will afford 

access to blocks 1 to 9 is probably all that will be necessary in the 

near future.

The coal on the headwaters of Hoseanna Creek can be reached 

only by spurs having heavy grades and expensive construction.

The coal on the tributaries of Totatlanika Creek, in T. 9 S., Rs, 5, 

6, and 7 W.; T. 10 S., R. 6 W.; T. 11 S., R. 5 W.; and the north 

half of T. 11 S., R. 6 W., can be brought to the present markets only 

over a raiboad along Totatlanika Creek to Tanana River. The 

abundance of coal on Nenana River and its tributaries makes it 

certain that no raiboad will be built along Totatlanika Creek until 

it is needed for the shipment of other commodities than coal.

GEOLOGY.

The rocks of the Nenana coal field consist of the coal-bearing 

beds, metamorphic and igneous rocks beneath the coal-bearing beds> 

and gravel, sands, and silts above them.

The coal-bearing strata consist of slightly consolidated sands, 

clays, and gravels with numerous beds of lignite. These beds are of 

Tertiary age. Their thickness, as measured by the writer on Hoseanna Creek, is at least 1,200 feet. Their thickness on Healy Creek 

is stated by Prindle to be about 1,500 feet. The coal-bearing beds
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE I

MAP OF CENTRAL ALASKA

SHOWING POSITION OF NENANA COAL FIELD

3,000,000 

as so

250_____25 50 75 JOO Kilometers 

1918
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE II

_^W^£>J

MAP OF

PART OF NENANACOAL FIELD

ALASKA

SHOWING LEASING BLOCKS, GOVERNMENT

RESERVATIONS, PUBLIC-LAND SURVEYS, AND POSSIBLE

TRANSPORTATION LINES

Coal exposures

(raimberea. as in text)

Leasing block Government

Railroad (Located, line) Proposed railroad spur
COAL. 7

rest unconformably upon Paleozoic (?) schist and igneous rocks and 

are overlain unconformably by Quaternary gravels, 1,500 or 2,000 

feet thick.

The structure of the coal areas is fairly simple. The individual 

coal areas consist of shallow and gently warped basins in which the 

beds are at some places steeply folded or faulted against masses of 

crystalline rock that separate the basins. The bedded rocks and the 

known faults strike in general about east. The dips are in general 

not steeper than 10° or 15°, though there are local zones in which the 

dip is steeper as well as broad areas in which the rocks lie nearly 

flat. No intrusive rocks are known to cut the coal measures.

COAL.

OCCURRENCE AND CHARACTER.

The coal of the N.enana field occurs in many beds of different 

thickness, the thickest measuring perhaps 30 or 35 feet, which are 

distributed rather uniformly through the coal measures. At least 

twelve coal beds are of workable thickness, and six or more measure 

over 20 feet. No geographic or stratigraphic variation in the character of the coal was noted. The analyses given on pages 8-9 show 

that the coal is a lignite of good grade, of about the same quality 

as that of Cook Inlet.
Analyses of Nenana coals.

As received.

[Samples collected by U. S. Geological Survey; analyses by Bureau of M

Locality.

T. 9 S..R. 6 W., sec. 15, SW.JSW.J.. .................

T. 10 S., R. 6 W., sec. 27, SW. JNE. J... ..............

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 26, SE. J SE. J... ................

T. 11 S.,R. 6 W., sec. 26, NW.JSE.J... ...............

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 26, SW. J SW. J. .................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 27, SE. 4 NW. J. .................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W.. sec. 30, SE. I SW. J. .................

T. 11 S., R. 7 W., sec. 35, NW. J NW. J ................

T. 12 S., R. 7 W., sec. 5, NE. J NW. J ..................

Hoseanna Creek a ......................................

DO.............................................;...

Nenana River, west bank, 1£ miles below Hoseanna

Igloo Creek, tributary to Healy Creek, 6 miles from

Do.................................................

Exposure 

-No.

IS 

27 

27 

77 

78 

80 

89 

111 

161 

173

Thickness 

(feet).

10£ 

12 

65 

10+ 

16 

12 

25 

26 

32 

15

5 

12 

18

Laboratory 

No.

26359 

26361 

26360 

26365 

26363 

26364 

26366 

26362 

26369 

26367 

 26588 

26589

23042 

26368- 

17796

17794 

17795

Proximate.

Moisture.

38.22 

26.50 

25.66 

23.24 

28.71 

22.15 

24.32 

20.62 

23.83 

25.30 

32.51 

27.92

28.16 

21.50 

27.41

25.73 

28.52 

13.02

Volatile 

matter.

23.84 

25.12 

32.38 

37.59 

35.91 

35.39 

37.95 

38.80 

35.55 

36.08 

33.62 

35.82

34.52 

41.82 

34.67

36.39 

34.29 

48.81

Fixed 

carbon.

22.15 

16.40 

22.80 

34.93 

30.26 

29.68 

29.35 

30.02 

28.87 

32.64 

. 27. 17 

29.23

33.68 

30.77 

33.49

34.52 

33.59 

32.40

Ash.

15.79 

31.98 

19.26 

4.24 

5.12 

12.78 

8.38 

10.56 

11.75 

5.98 

6.70 

7.03

3.64 

5.91 

4.43

3.36 

3.60

5.77

a Collected by .G. W. Evans. 

6 Collected by Thomas Riggs, jr.

c Collected by Joseph A. Holmes. 

<J Collected by L. M. Prindle; analysi
Analyses of Nenana coals Continued.

Air dried.

Locality.

T. 9 S., R. 6 W.. sec. 15, SW. J SW. J ..........................

T. 10 S., R. 6 W., sec. 27, SW. J NE. i .........................

DO................;........................................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 26, SE . J SE . i ..........................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 26, NW. J SE. J .........................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 26, SW. 1 SW. \ .........................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 27, SE. 1 NW. J. . .......................

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., sec. 30, SE. I SW. J .........................

T. 11 S.,R. 7 W., sec. 35, NW.JNW.J. ..................:....

T. 12 S., R. 7 W., sec. 5, NE. J NW. }. .........................

Do.........................................................

Expo 

. sure 

No.

18 

27 

27 

77 

78 

80 

89 

111 

161 

173

Thickness 

(feet).

10i 

12 

6* 

10+ 

16 

12 

25 

26 

32 

15

5 

12

Laboratory 

No.

26359 

26361 

26360 

26365 

26363 

26364 

26366 

26362 

26369 

26367 

26588 

26589 

23042 

26368

Proximate.

Moisture.

9.05 

8.35 

9.28 

14.08 

11.13 

11.35 

10.35 

11.45 

10.83 

10.93 

11.83 

11.33 

11.04 

12.35

Volatile 

matter.

35.10 

31.32 

39.39 

42.07 

44.77 

40.30 

44.95 

43.28 

41.62 

43.02 

43.92 

44.07 

42.74 

46.70

Fixed 

carbon.

32.60 

20.45 

27.83 

39.10 

37.72 

33.80 

34.77 

33.49 

33.80 

38.92 

35.50 

35.95 

41.71 

34.35

A

23

39

23

4

6

14

9

1

13

7

8

8

4

6

a Collected by G. W. Evans. 6 Collected by T
10 NEFANA COAL FIJ5LD, ALASKA.

MINING' CONDITIONS.

The coal in the Nenana field will probably at first be mined by 

drifts or slopes run from outcrops of coal on the sides of the valleys 

or by stripping. The abundance of easily accessible coal and the 

moderate size of the prospective markets make it certain that deep 

mining will not be necessary for many years.

The most favorable site for stripping is on the 20-foot bed in block 

8, sec. 35, T. 11 S:, R. 7 W., about 5 miles above the mouth of Hoseanna 

Creek. A moderate amount of coal may perhaps be cheaply mined 

by stripping in blocks 2 and 3, sec. 5, T. 12 S., R. 7 W., a little over 

a mile above the mouth of Hoseanna Creek, and perhaps at other 

localities.

The coal beds have been extensively burned in many parts of the 

field, especially in T. 9 S., R. 6 W., where only about half a dozen 

unburned outcrops were observed. The burning began prior to the 

deposition of the thick Pleistocene gravels and still continues. The 

depth of the burning is not known, but as burned outcrops are more 

numerous in the less, dissected than in the deeply dissected areas the 

burning is probably surficial. The burning makes the value of large 

areas problematic and indicates the danger of fires in the mines.

Extensive slumping was noted on many hillsides. In some places 

acres of the surface beds have slid bodily for long distances. Most of 

the slides observed have been caused by the removal of moss by 

forest fires. This removal allows the ground to thaw and permits 

the surface waters to soften the clays that form a large part of the 

coal-bearing strata. Some slides have been caused by the burning of 

large coal beds that had supported the surface strata. The marked 

tendency to slump should be carefully considered not only in underground mining but in surface operations, such as the stripping of 

coal beds, grading, and the removal of forests and moss.

The coal will probably be used as locomotive fuel on the Government railroad, for generating power and for thawing at the mines 

in Tahana Valley, as domestic fuel in Tanana Valley, and as fuel on 

Tanana River boats and possibly on some of the Yukon steamers. 

Nenana coal, rather than the better and nearer Matanuska coal, 

should, if possible, be used on the greater part of the railroad, because 

the heavy freight traffic will be northbound, and the southbound 

empties will be available for hauling coal. The Nenana coal field is 

nearer the summit of the Alaska Range than any known coal field 

south of the divide.

CLASSIFICATION AND STATUS OF LAND.

So far as the available data will permit, the surveyed lands have 

been classified as "coal land" and "noncoal land." A 40-acre tract 

is classed as ' 'coal land" if it contains 20 acres or more of coal-bearing 

rocks, or if it contains 10 acres or more of known coal beds that are
T. 9 S., R. 5 W. 11

unburned at the outcrop and lie under cover, or if it contains some 

coal-bearing rocks that control access to other coal land, or if, being 

covered with gravel that may overlie coal, it lies in whole or in part 

within half a mile of exposed coal-bearing rocks.

It may not be desirable to class definitely as noncoal land all land 

that does not come within the above definition. The large gravel 

areas in T. 10 S., Rs. 6 and 7 W.; T, 11 S., Rs. 6 and 7 W.; and T. 12 S., 

R. 7 W., may possibly be coal land in fact, although they do not 

come within the definition.

The coal lands situated in the south half of T. 11 S., R. 6 W.; in 

T. 11 S., R. 7 W.; and in T. 12 S., R. 7 W., have been divided into 

leasing blocks as described in the following pages. , Blocks 2 and 3 

have been reserved for Government use; the others have been offered 

for leasing.

The coal lands situated in T. 9 S., Rs. 5, 6, and 7 W.; in T. 10 S., 

R. 6 W.; in T. 11 S., R. 5 W.; and in the north half .of T. 11 S., R. 6 W., 

will not be made accessible by the proposed railroad or its branches. 

These lands are not divided into leasing blocks or offered for leasing. 

They are, however, open to special applications for lease or for temporary mining permits.

Forty-acre tracts lying more than half a mile inside the boundaries 

of the gravel areas are reported as unclassified, and applications for 

them will be considered on their merits. It is believed that these 

lands probably do not contain workable coal.

LOCAL FEATURES.

T. 9S., R. 5W.

[See PI. III.]

CLASSIFICATION. 

Unsurveyed: Coal land:

Sees. 1 to 6, 9 to 16, 21 to 28, 33 to 36. 

Noncoal land: 

Sec. 7.

8, W. 4. 

8, W. 4 SE. f 

8, SW.'JNE. i 

17, E. 4. 

17, E. 4 NW. i.

17. NW. i NW. i.

18. N. 4 NE. i 

20, SE. J. 

20, E. 4 NE. i 

29, NW. i NE. i 

31, W. 4. 

31, SE. i 

31, S. 4 NE. J.

31. NW. J NE. J.

32. S. 4.

32, S. 4 NE. i.

32, SW. J NW. i.

Sec. 8, N. 4NE. i 

8, SE. i NE. i 

8, E. 4 SE. i. 

17, SW. f

17. SW. i NW.

18. S. 4- 

18, NW. J.

18. S. 4 NE. £.

19.

20. W. 4. 

20, W. 4 NE. i. 

 . 29, W. 4. 

29, SE. i. 

29, S. 4 NE. J.

29. NE. i NE.

30.

31. NE. i NE.

32. N. 4 NE. J. 

32, N. 4 NW. i 

32, SE. i NW.
12 FEN ANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

COAL.

Sec. 8. No well-defined coal outcrops were seen in sec. 8, but near the northeast 

corner of the SE. J there are obscure coal smuts and a burned bed that indicate the 

presence of coal beds.

Sec. 17. No coal beds were observed in sec. 17. The areas classified as coal land 

contain rocks similar to those of the coal-bearing formation. There is probably little 

if any workable coal in this section.

Sec. 18. No coal beds were observed in sec. 18. The areas classified as coal land 

contain rocks similar to those of the coal-bearing formation. There is probably little 

if any workable coal in this section.

Sec. 19. No well-defined coal outcrops were seen in sec. 19, but there are coal smuts 

and burned beds on the banks of the creek in the NW. £ NW. \ and the NW. £ SW. £. 

The entire section is supposed to be coal land (coal-bearing formation), although the 

SE. J is mostly covered with gravels.

Sec. 20. No coal beds were observed in sec. 20. The areas classified as coal land 

contain rocks similar to those of the coal-bearing formation. There is probably little 

if any workable coal in this section.

Sec. 29. The part of sec. 29 classified as coal land is presumably all underlain by 

the coal-bearing formation, although large areas in the southeastern and northwestern 

parts are covered with gravel. No coal beds were seen in this section, but there are 

coal smuts and burned beds in the NE. £ and smuts in the N. $ SE. J.

Sec. 30. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 30. There is an obscure smut 

in the SW. £ SW. £. The larger part of the section is covered with gravel.

Sec. 81. Outcrops are poor in sec. 31, and no exposures of coal beds or coal smuts 

were seen.

Sec. 32. The supposed coal area in sec. 32 is partly covered with gravel. No exposures of coal beds and no coal smuts were seen in this section.

MINING CONDITIONS.

The coal-bearing 'rocks of this township are not well exposed, 

owing to concealment by gravels and to slumping of the soft clays 

of the coal measures, but seemingly occur for the most part as a 

nearly horizontal plate cut through to and below the base by Totatlanika Creek and the lower course of Iron Creek. It is possible that 

the coal measures are steeply upturned along the base of the mountains in sees. 31 and 32, but exposures are practically absent in this 

position. There is no evidence as to the number, thickness, and 

position of the coal beds. It is probable that mining operations, if 

conducted in this township, should be undertaken in small units 

with the openings situated on the outcrop in such .positions as to 

secure favorable drainage and haulage.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal of this township can be brought to the present markets 

only by a railroad, 30 miles or more in length, down.Totatlanika Creek 

to Tanana River. There is no present need for such a road. Future 

development of gold placers in this vicinity may create a small local 

coal market.

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The coal lands of this township have not been offered for lease, as 

there is no reason for opening coal mines in them at present, but are to 

be held in their existing status till there is a call for leases or for temporary mining permits.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE III

EXPLANATION

Sec 6 c. Sec. Sec. 3 Sec. 2 Sec.l

&'7/7

\ N.88°44' E. N.89°46'W.

ITUDE 64°05'C2" N. 

GITUDE 148°37'23" W.

Sao. 9 Sec.lO Sec.ll Sec.12

Sec. 16 Sec. 15 Sec.14 Sec. 13

Gooh 8c Mu 

-9 Mile Cabi

 phy's

See. 23 Sec. 24

Sec. 28 Sec. 27 Sec. 26 Sec. 25

Sec. 33 Sec. 34 Sec. 35 Sec. 36

(Partly underlain by coal)

Coal-bearing rocks

Non coal-bearing rocks 

(Igneous rocks and schists)

Coal bed

(Smut or position inferred)

Burned coal bed 

(Depth of burning not known)

75.54 EAST

Topography by John Gonin, General Land Office, Surveyed in 1915

Geology by G, C. Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R. M. Overbeck. Surveyed in 1916

Scale

2 "Miles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 9 S., R. 5 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA. 13

T. 11 S., B. 5 W.

[See PI. IV.)

CLASSIFICATION.

Unsurveyed :

Sees. 34 to 36. 

Noncoal land: 

Sec. 1.

2, N. *. 

2, SE. i.

2. N. J SW. £.

3. N. *. 

3, SW. i.

3. W. i SE. £.

4.

5.

6.

7. N. *.

7, N. i SW. *.

7. NW. J SE. i

8. N. } NE. i.

8. NW. i.

9. NE. i 

. 9, E. } SE. $. 

9, NW. i SE. i

9. N. i.NW. i

10. all except NE.

11. NE. i NE. i 

11, W. £ SW. i 

11, SE. f SW. 1.

11. SW. i NW. £. 

-12, N. } NE. i.

12. SE. i NE. i 

14, W. i NE. i.

14. NW. J.

15. NE. i NE. i. 

25, S. i NE. i. 

25, NW. i NE. i. 

25, S. i SE. i. 

25, SE. i SW. i. 

25, E. i NW. i. 

25, NW. J NW. i. 

31, SE. i NE. i. 

31, E. i SE. J. 

31, SW. i SE. J.

31. S. i SW. i.

32. E. i. 

32, SW. i.

32. S. i NW. J.

33. 

Coal land:

Sec. 2, S.iSW.J. 

3, E. J SE. i. 

7, NE. i SE. J.

NE. i.

Coal land Continued. 

Sec. 7, S. *SE.J.

7. S. J SW. f

8. S. f

8. S. i NE. i.

9. SW. i.

9, S. $ NW. |.

9. SW. i SE. f

10. NE. i NE. J.

11. -NW. i NE. i. 

11, S. i NE. f 

11, SE. i. 

11, NE. i SW. J. 

11, E. i NW. i

11. NW. f NW. i

12. W. i 

12, SE. i.

12. SE. t NE. J.

13.

14. S.*.'

14. E. ^ NE. i

15. S. i 

15, NW. }. 

15, S. i NE. i.

15. NW. i NE. I

16.

17.

18.

19. 

. 20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25. NE. -J NE. J. 

25, N. i SE. i. 

25, SW. i SW. i; 

25, N. i SW. i.

25. SW. i NW. f

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31. NW. J. 

31, N. ^ NE. i. 

31, SW. i NE. J. 

31, NW. i SE. i.

31. N. J SW. i.

32. N. i NW. i.
14 NEETANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

COAL.

Sec. %. Coal smut was seen along the creek in the SW. J SW.\ sec. 2.

$ec. 8. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 3. There is coal smut near 

the northwest corner of the NE. \ NE. \.

Sec. 7. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 7. There is a coal smut in 

theSW. iSE. i.

Sec. 8. Exposure No. I. 1 There are two prospect openings (now partly caved in) 

in the N. \ NE. \ SW. J sec. 8. One of these openings shows the coal bed to be 

probably 10 feet or more thick and to strike N. 70° E. and dip 34° S.

Sec. 9. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 9. There is a coal smut in the 

NE. i SW. i

Sec. 10. Exposure No. 2. Poorly exposed coal about 6 feet thick in the west bank 

of Davis Creek, in sec,. 10, strikes N. 80° W. and dips 38° N.

Sec. 11. Exposure No. 3. A 12-foot bed of coal that strikes N. 80° W. and dips 

27° S. is exposed in the SE. J NE. £ sec. 11. There are numerous coal smuts at other 

localities in the NE. £ and NW. \, and burned coal beds were seen in the NW. J NE. \ 

and the NE. \ SW. J. .

Sec. 12. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 12. There are several coal 

smuts in the E. £ SE. £ and a burned bed in the NE. J SW. £.

Sec. 13. Exposure No. 4. A coal bed at least 10 feet thick is exposed in the SE. J 

NE. £ sec. 13; two or three very small beds of dirty coal are exposed in the SW. J; 

and coal smut was seen at several localities in the NE. \, the SE. J, and the NW. \.

Sec. 14. No coal beds were seen in sec. 14, but there is a coal smut in the NE. J 

NE. -Jr.

Sec. 15. An obscure coal smut was seen in the NW. | SE. \ sec. 15. The only 

exposure of coal beds seen in this section is recorded below.

Exposure No. 5. Section of coal beds near the northeast corner of the SE. ±SW. J sec.

15, T. 11 S.,R.5 W. Feet.

Sand........................................................... 10

Coal........................................................... 2

Sand........................................................... 40

Coal............................................................. 4

'Sand........................................................... *5d

Coal........................................................... 19

Sand............................................................ 50

Conl........................................................... 21

Strike N. 88° W.; dip 40° S. .

Sec. 16. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 16, but there is burned clay 

in the SW. \ SE. \ and the SE. J SW. |. The clay at the former locality was probably 

derived from a large coal bed.

Sec. 17. Coal smut was seen in the creek in the NW. J NW. \ sec. 17.

Sec. 18. No coal outcrops or smuts were seen in sec. 18.

Sec. 19. Fairly continuous exposures of the coal-bearing rocks appear in the banks 

of Hoseanna Creek in its course across sec. 19. Measurements of these exposures have 

been recorded as follows:

Exposure No. 6. Section of cliff on west bank of Hoseanna Creek in the SW. J SE. $

sec. 19, T. 11 S., R.5 W. Feet

Concealed.................................................... 35±

Coal......................................................... 15±

Sand and clay............ ? .................................... 60±

Burned bed................................................... 10±

Sand ......................................... 1................. 75

Coal......................................................... 12$

Sand......................................................... 50

Coal. ........................................................ 16$

i Numbers correspond to those used on township plats.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE IV

S.89°59'W.

EXPLANATION

LATITUDE 63°54'38" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°37'23" W.

4 j 3 ' 2

39.85 I ,3953 ! 3939 ^Q.GT? 

1_'1X' 4-

;; f ^' f

' 4Q.33.J-40.33 '40.32J-11 40,® ^40.23"' 40. H, '40^1^ ' r '

40.07 ' 40,05 ! ,£0.03 4G..GS

-;. ;^q

40 :<' 80'I '."<-, SO,/®

(Partly underlain by coat)

S.89°5fW. ..-, i«p I ^ , ^> Coal-bearing rocks

Non coal-bearing rocks

(Igneous rocks and schists)

(Outcrop observed)

(Smut or position inferred)

(Depth of burning not known)

Coal exposures

(Measured coal sections,

numbered as in text)

{/ A/ S (//? VE 

Sec. 35

Topography by John Gonin, General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915 

Geology by G. C. Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R.M, Overbeck. 

Surveyed in 1916

Scale sissb

2 Mles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 11 S., R. 5 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 11 S., R. 5 W. 15

Exposure No. 7. Section in northeast bank of Hoseanna Creek near the northeast corner

.of the NE. i SW, i sec. 19, T. 11 S., R. 5 W.

Feet. 

Sands with two or more thin coal beds.......................... 60±

Coal......................................................... 6

Clay.......,.........................'........................ 20

Coal. ........................................................ 12

Concealed...................................................... 100

Coal (this is the 12 J-foot bed of the preceding section)............ . 11

Exposure No. 8. At the mouth of the large tributary entering Hoseanna Creek 

from the north, in the SW. J NW. J sec. 19, a coal bed 11 feet thick is exposed. Two 

other unmeasured beds are exposed above it and are believed to be the same as the 

12-foot and 11-foot beds of the preceding section.

Sec. 20. A large unmeasured coal bed is exposed in the W. JSW. Jsec. 20.

Sec. 21. The following beds were noted in sec. 21:

Exposure No. 9. Section on west bank of Thistle Creek near the northeast corner of the 

NE. 1 NW. 1 sec. 21, T. 11 S:, R. 5 W.

FeetCoal........................................................... 1J

Woody coal...................................................... 2

Coal........................................................... 2}

Dirty coal........................................................ 1£

Strike N. 52° E., dip 12° N. .

Exposure No. 10. A coal bed about 2 feet thick is exposed on the east bank of 

Thistle Creek in the SE. £ SW. i 

There is a large coal smut in the bank of the ditch in the NW. £ SW. J. Much burned 

clay and clinker covers the surface in the S. i NE. J, indicating that at least one and 

probably several large coal beds have been burned.

Sec. 22. Exposure No. 11. On the hillside in the NW. i NE. i sec. 22 is a coal 

bed 16 feet thick. There has been some burning at this locality. A burned bed 

(probably large) occurs in the SW. J SW. J. Coal smut was seen in the NE. £ SW. i 

and the SE. J NW. J.

Sec. 28. Coal smut was seen in the SW: £ NW. J sec. 23, on the bank of Davis 

Creek, and in the southern part of the SW. i SE. J.

Sec. 24- In sec. 24 the following beds were seen:

Exposure No. 12. Section in west bank of Shovel Creek, in the NE. %SW. J sec. 24,

T. 11 S., R. 5 W.

Coal...................................

Coal..............:....................

Dirty coal ............................

Ft. in. 

........................ 5 0

........................ 2

........................ 3 0

........................ 1 4

9 6 

Strike N. 40° E., dip 18° N.

Coal smuts were seen at the southwest corner of the NW. i, at the southeast corner 

of the SW. i, in the SW. i SE. \, and in the SW. £ NE. £.

Sec. 25. Exposure No. 13. On the east side of Shovel Creek, in the NW. J SW. t 

sec. 25, is a coal bed about 8 feet thick, that strikes N. 50° E. and dips 22° N. (?). 

A second bed below this, probably smaller, is poorly exposed. The beds seem to lie 

in a small syncline.

Sec. 26. Smut of a bed of unknown size was seen in the NW. J NE. J sec. 26, at 

an altitude of 3,450 or 3,500 feet, and in the NW. i NE. £ at an altitude of 3,850 feet.
16 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Burned clay and a little coal, probably derived from a large bed, were seen at an 

altitude of 3,950 feet in the NW. i SW. £ SW. i and on the stream in the NW. £ SW. £. 

The two last-mentioned localities are probably on the same bed.

Sec. 27. Smut was seen at an altitude of 3,825 feet in the SW. J SE. J sec. 27, on 

the stream at an altitude of 3,340 feet in the SW. J SW. J, on the hillside at an altitude 

of 3,400 feet in the NW. J SW. i, at an altitude of 3,350 feet in the NE. J NW. }, and 

at an altitude of 3,250 feet in the NW. J, near the line between sees. 22 and 27.

Sec. 28 Exposure No. 14. In the NW. J SW. i SW. £ sec. 28 is a coal bed 15 feet 

thick that strikes N. 85° E., and dips 30° N.

Coal smut was seen on the hillside in the SW. J NW. J.

Sec. 29. The coal beds recorded in the description of the exposure in sec. 30 are 

exposed in the SW. \ NW. i sec. 29. The 15-foot coal bed in sec. 28 extends into the 

SE. \ SE. J sec. 29, and coal smut was seen also in the SE. \ SW. \.

Sec. 30. The beds recorded below are exposed in sec. 30:

.Exposure No. 15. Section on east bank of Hoseanna Creek, in the SE. J NE. £ sec. SO,

T. 11 S., R.5 W.

Feet. 

Coal (same as 12$-foot bed of exposure No. 6; see p. 14).......... 7-f

Sand........'...................... /.......................... 50

Coal.................! ( 15

Carbonaceous shale.... >Same as 16^-foot bed of exposure No. 6.. .< 1$

Coal.................J t 2

Sand and clay................................................. 32

Coal..........................................'............... 6

Clay......................................................... 10

Coal.............................'............................ 18

Clay......................................................... 4

Sand..:...................................................... 17

Coal......................................................... 1J

Sand......................................................... 40

Coal......................................................... 1$

Clay................................................'......... 18

Sand. ......................................................... 20

Coal......................................................... 1

Clay......................................................... 4

Sand and gravel................................................ 35

Gravel....................................................... 1

Coal......................................................... 5

Carbonaceous shale............................................ 2

Sand and clay................................................. 14

Cross-bedded sand.............................................. 30

Gravel....................................................«... 4

Sand......................................................... 3

Coal......................................................... 3

Clay......................................................... 1

Coal......................................................... 5

Clay..:.............!........................................ 10

362

Some of the beds in exposure No. 15 and also the higher beds in exposure No. 6, 

in the SW. J SE. J sec. 19 (see p. 14), crop out in the cliffs on the southeast side of 

Hoseanna Creek, opposite those described above. Coal smut seen in the SE. J sec. 30 

indicates the presence of one or more large beds beneath those) in exposure No. 15.
T. 11 S., E. 5 W. 17

Exposure No. 16. A coal bed about 8 feet thick, exposed in a stream in the 

NW. i NW. J sec. 30, at an altitude of 2,650 feet, probably dips at a low angle to 

the east.

Exposure No. 17. A bluff on the north side of an unnamed stream shows the following section at an altitude of 2,550 feet (base of exposure):

Section in the SW. i NW. i NW. \ sec. 30, T. 11 S.,R.5 W. *' Feet.

Coal......................................................... 10(?)

Concealed and sands.......................................... 75

Coal......................................................... 20

Sec. 31. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 31, bufthere are coal smuts at 

several localities.

Sec. 33. Smut, probably from a small bed, was seen at an altitude of 3,300 feet on 

the hillside and in the stream bank in the NW. I NE. J sec. 33.

MINING CONDITIONS.

There is undoubtedly a large amount of coal in this township, much 

of which is above the general drainage level and can be mined without shafts from openings situated on the larger creeks.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal in sees. 18, 19, 30,'and 31 and in the western part of sees. 

20 and 29 is in the drainage basin of Hoseanna Creek and will find its 

natural outlet over a branch railroad extending up the creek fsom 

Nenana River. There is, however, so large a quantity of easily 

accessible coal in the lower part of the valley of Hoseanna Creek that 

probably no such branch will be. built into this township for many 

years.

The coal of the rest of the township is in the drainage basin of 

Totatlanika Creek, which is tributary to Tanana River, and will find 

'its natural outlet over an independent railroad up the Totatlanika. 

Such a railroad will not be built for a great many years, unless other 

industries than coal mining require it.

It is probable that the placer mines of Totatlanika Creek and its 

tributaries will require a small amount of coal, some of which may be 

obtained in this township. A little coal has already been mined for 

this purpose in sec. 8.

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The coal of this township is so remote from the present markets 

and from the proposed railroad that there will probably be no demand 

for leases, except possibly for a small mine, producing annually not 

more than several hundred tons, to supply the local placer miners.

The coal lands of the larger part of this township have therefore 

not been divided into leasing units but are to be held in their present 

status until there is a call for the granting of leases or of local mining 

permits.

-18 2
18 COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

The coal lands in the SW. \ sec. 19, in the W. £ sec. 30, and in sec. 

31 (except the N. £ NE. £) are included in leasing blocks 23, 24, and 

25. As the coal of these lands can be most economically mined in 

connection with the coal of T. 11 S., R. 6 W., these tracts are more 

fully discussed in the section on that township (pp. 26-37).

T. 9 S., R. 6 W.

[See PI. V.] 

CLASSIFICATION.

Unsurveyed :

Sees. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18.

Noncoal land:

Sec. 10, W. 4.

10, SE. i

10, N. 4 NE. -J.

11, W. 4.

11, NE. i

11, N.iSE.J.

12.

13, N. 4 NE. i.

16, NW. i NE. J.

16, NW. i NW. i

17, W. 4.

17, N. 4 NE. £.

1 19.

20, NW. i.

20, W. 4,SW. i

25, S. 4 SW. J.

26, SE. i SE. J.

30, W. 4 SW. i.

31, W. 4.

31, SE. i.

32, SW. ^

32, SW. i SE. i.

33, S. 4.

33, S. 4 NE. J.

34, S. 4.

34, S. 4NW. ^

34, S. 4 NE. J.

35.

36.

Coal land :

Sec. 10, S. 4 NE. J.

11, S. 4 SE. J.

13, W.4.

13, SE. J.

13. S. 4 NE. J.

Coal land Continued.

Sec. 14.

15.

16, 8.4.

16, S. 4 NE. i

16, NE. J NE. i.

16, S. 4 NW. i

16, NE. i NW. i

17, SE. J.

17, S. 4 NE. i.

20, E. 4.

20, E. 4 SW. i

21.

22.

23.

24.

25,'N. 4.

25, SE. i.

25, N. 4 SW. J.

26, N. 4.

26, SW. \.

26, W. 4 SE. i.

26, NE. i-SE. i.

27.

28.

29.

30, E. 4.

30, NW. i.

30, E. 4 SW. i

31, NE. i. -

32, N. 4.

 32, N.4SE. i

32, SE. i SE. i

33, NW. i.

33, N. 4 NE. i.

34, N. 4 NW. i.

34, N. 4 NE. i.

COAL.

/Sec. j?0. No exposures of coal beds and no coal smuts were seen in sec. 10. A little 

burned clay was found at several localities, It is doubtful whether this section 

contains any workable cpaj.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE V

LATITUDE 64°05'02" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°49'09" W

 s.8a°5o w..

i;-s.as 55 w. 

c a L\J ^^ -j *jf"C' * - j '

: »Viid£-Ll-kfi9*-S5'

. I N.89°54E.

EXPLANATION

(Partly underlain by coal)

Coal-bearing rocks

Non coal-bearing rocks 

(Igneous rocks and schists)

(Smut or position inferred)

(Depth of burning not known)

Coal exposures

Z (Measured coal sections, 

numbered as in text)

Topography by John Gonin, General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915 

Geology by G. C. Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R. M. Overbeck. 

Surveyed in 1916

EAST

Scale 3V3J3O

2 Miles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum -mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 9 S., R. 6 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T 9 S., R. 6 W. 19

Sec. 11. No coal beds, coal smut, or burned clay were seen in sec. 11. This section possibly contains no coal.

Sec. 18. No coal beds and no smut that seemed to be in place were seen in sec 13.

Sec. 14. No coal beds were seen in sec. 14, but there is a little smut in the NW \.

Sec. 15. Exposure No. 18. In a bluff on fche east bank of California Creek the 

following beds are exposed:

Section near southeast comer of the SW. \ SW. \ sec. 15, T. 9 S., R. 6 W.

Concealed. Ft. in. . Coal (included in sample 26359; see pp. 8, 9)..................... 6 6

Coal............................................................ 4+

Concealed.

Much baked clay, probably from burning of large beds, was seen at an altitude of 

about 1,650 feet in the NE. J NW. t, at an altitude of 1,400 feet near the center of 

the NE. £ at 1,575 feet, on both side's of the stream that enters California Creek from 

the southeast in the SE. J, and at 1,900 feet near the northwest corner of the section.

Sec. 16. Burned clay was seen in the soil at an altitude of 1,850 feet in the SW. J 

NW. i NW. J sec. 16.

Sec. 17. The stream in the SE. J SE. J sec. 17 shows coal float at an altitude of 

about 1,900 feet, but no beds are exposed. Burned clay from an unknown coal 

bed was seen in a small stream in the NE. £ SE. J NE. J.

Sec. W. Several coal beds, none of them over 2 feet thick, are exposed in the 

stream near the northeast corner of sec. 20. One of these beds strikes N. 50° E., 

and dips 25° S.

Sec. 21. Several coal beds, none of them more than 2 feet thick, are exposed on the 

stream that enters Rex Creek in the NW. \ sec. 21. Another small bed is exposed 

in the west bank of Rex Creek just below this tributary. Another bed, possibly 3 

feet or more thick, is exposed on the west bank of California Creek in the NE. \ NW. \. 

It is possible that two or more beds may be present at this locality, or there may 

be only one bed repeated by slumping.

Sec. 22. No coal outcrops or smuts were seen in sec. 22. Exposures are not good 

in this section.

Sec. 23. No outcrops of coal beds were seen in sec. 23, but smut and burned beds 

were noted as follows: In the SE. £ SW. \ SW. i, at an altitude of 1,660 feet, smut 

was seen, probably representing a small bed. At the southeast corner of the SW. J, 

at an altitude of 1,800 feet, there is smut and burned clay, probably representing a 

fairly large bed. In the SE. J NE. J NE. \, on the hillside at an altitude of 1,900 

feet, is burned clay, probably representing a fairly large bed. In the northern part 

of the NW. £ NW. J, at an altitude of 1,600 feet, coal smut was seen in a slide.

-Sec. 24- Exposure No. 19. In the NE. J NE. £ NE. \ sec. 24, at an altitude of 

1,600 feet, is a coal bed 12 feet thick, which strikes N. 70° E. and dips 30° S. On 

the hillside just above is a probably large burned bed that seems to have slumped.

In the eastern part of the NE. \ SE. \ is the smut of a small bed. There is much 

burned material along the hillside, probably from the burning of a large bed.

In the SW. £ NW. £ NW. £, at an elevation of 1,890 feet, is much burned clay.

Sec. 25. No coal exposures were seen in sec. 25, but there is coal smut in the SE. \ 

SE. i and the NW. \ SW. J, and burned beds in the N. £ SW. \ and the NW. £ SE. \.

Sec. 26. No coal exposures were seen in sec. 26, but there are extensive outcrops 

of burned beds that indicate a large area of former coal outcrops and possibly a large 

amount of unburned coal below the surface. Coal smut was seen only in the NE. \ 

SE. f

Sec. 27. The extensive burned outcrops noted in sec. 26 extend throughout the 

S. i sec. 27 and indicate that many thick coal beds formerly cropped out in this area
20 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA. *-

V

 **

and possibly still underlie it. Coal smuts were seen in the NW,. \ SE. £ and the NW. 

i SW. i- sec. 27.

Sec. 28. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 28. There are burned beds in ; 

theNE. JSE. \, the S. i SE. }, and the SW. i SW. \. 

Sec. 29. No exposures of coal beds were seen in sec. 29. There are extensive ; 

burned beds in the SE. J, in the southern part of the NE. i, and in the SE. \ SW. \. 

A. well-defined coal smut occurs beneath the burned beds in the S. $ NE. i and the NW. iSE. i. :'

Sec. 30. No exposures of coal beds and no smuts were seen in sec. 30. A well- / 

defined burned bed (or zone of burned beds) was seen in the W. $ SE. i and the E. \ 

SW. i. Burned beds were seen also in the SE. 1 SE. i and the SE. i NW. J.

Sec. 31. No exposures of coal beds and no coal smuts were seen in sec. 31. In the 

NE. £ there are extensive burned beds which extend slightly into the E. | NW. \.

Sec. 32. No exposures of coal beds and no coal smuts were seen in sec. 32. Burned 

beds occur abundantly throughout the N. % and in the SE. J.

Sec. 83. No exposures of coal beds or smuts were seen in sec. 33. There is a burned * 

bed in the W. £ NW. £. ;

'Sec. 34- No exposures of coal beds or smuts were seen in sec. 34. A burned bed 

crops out along the crest of the ridge in the N. \ NW. i, and there is a small area of 

burned clay in the SE.iSE.i-.

Sec. 35. A small area of burned clay caps a hilltop in the SW. \ SW. £ sec. 35.

MINING CONDITIONS. t

This township formerly contained a large amount of coal, but the 

beds have been extensively burned, at least at the surface, and burn- / 

ing is still in progress at several localities. The amount of coal now C 

remaining can not be determined without underground exploration. 

Unburned coal exposures were seen only in sees. 15, 21, and 24, and 

only a few coal smuts were seen. The larger part of the coal is below 

drainage level, where it probably is unburned, but where it can be 

mined only by shafts or slopes.

TRANSPORTATION. 1

'i

The coal of this township can find an outlet to market only over a 

railroad down Totatlanika Creek to Tanana River. Such a railroad 

would be more than 30 miles long, and the cost of construction 

through the lower Totatlanika Canyon would probably be very \ 

heavy. It is doubtful whether such a road will ever be built unless 

valuable mineral resources other than coal are discovered in this 

district. 

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The lack of a local market or of transportation makes it certain 

that there will be no immediate need for leases in this township. 

The coal lands of the township have therefore not been divided into 

leasing units but will be held in their present status until there is a ; 

call for»le&ses or for local mining permits,
NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA. 21

T. 10 S., R. 6 W.

[See PI. VI.]

CLASSIFICATION.

Unclassified land :

Sec. 17, S. i.

17, S. i NE. i

17, S. £ NW. i.

18, S. }.

18, S. $ NE. i.

19.

20.

21, SW. i.

21, W. 4 NW. J.

28, NW. i NW. J.

29, N. J NE. i.

29, SW. £ NE. J.

29, N. $ SW. i

29, SW. i SW. J.

29, NW. £.

30.

31, W. i.

31, W. i NE. J.

31, NW. i SE. i.

Noncoal land:

Sec. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

. 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13, N. 4.

13, N. i SE. i

14, N. J NE. i.

14, NW. i

15, N. 4.

15, N. i SW. i.

16, N. i. 

17, N. 4 NE- i 

17, N. i NW. i. 

18, N. 4 NE. i.

18, NW. i.

23, N. i SE. i.

23, NE. i SW. i.

24, NW. i SW. i.

25, S. 4 NE. i

25, SE. i.

25, S. 4 SW. i.

25, NE. i SW. i.

25, SE. i NW. J.

Noncoal land Continued.

Sec. 35, NE. i NE. J.

35, SE. i SE. i.

36, N. i.

36, SW. i

36, S. i SE. i.

36, NE. i SE. J.

Coal land:

Sec. 13, S. i SE. J.

13, SW. i.

14, S. i.

.14, S. i NE. i.

15, SE. i

15, S. i SW. i.

16, S. i

21, E. i.

21, E. i NW. J.

22.

23, N. J.

23, S. i 8E. i.

23, S. i SW. i.

23, NW. i SW. i.

24, N. 4.

24, SE. i.

24, S. 4 SW. J.

24, NE. i SW. i.

25, N. fNE. i.

25, N. I NW. i.

25, SW. i NW. 1.

25, NW. i SW. i.

26.

27.

28, E. i. ., -

28, SW. i.

28, S. i NW. i.

28, NE. i NW. J.

29, SE. i.

29, SE. i NE. i

. 29, SE. i SW. i.

31, E. 4 NE. i 

31, E. 4 SE. i. 

31, SW. i SE. i.

o^. 39

33.

34.

35, W. J.

35, S. 4 NE. i.

35, NW. i NE. i.

35, N. 4 SE. i.

35, SW. i SE. i.

36, NW. i SE. i.
22 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

COAL.

Sec. 2. There is a small area of burned clay capping the hilltop in the NW. \ 

NW. i sec. 2.

Sec. 3. A small area of burned clay caps the hilltop in the NE. £ NE. i sec. 3. 

The coal is probably all burned.

Sec. 13. Smut was seen in the SE. J SE. \ sec. 13.

Sec. 14. Smut was seen in the SE. \ SW. \ sec. 14.

Sec. 16. A large amount of smut, probably derived from several large beds, was 

seen in the N. $ SE. i sec. 16.

Sec. #2. Exposure No. 20. On the east bank of California Creek, in the SE. { NE. | 

sec. 22, is a coal bed more than 10 feet thick.

Exposure No. 21. On the hillside east of California Creek at an altitude of 2,100 

feet, in the northern part of the SE. £ SE. £ sec. 22, a coal bed 1 foot or more in 

thickness strikes N. 25° E. and dips 45° N.

Coal smut was seen in the SE. J SW. £.

Sec. 23. Exposure No. 22. On the east bank of the creek in the SE. \ NE. i sec. 23, 

at an altitude of 2,060 feet, is a coal bed more than 12 feet thick.

Exposure No. 23. On the south bank of McAdams Creek, in the SW. £ NW. i sec..

23. a coal bed 5| feet thick strikes N. 27° E. and dips 25° N.

Burned clay, probably representing large coal beds, was seen in the NW. £ NE. J 

and the SE. i NW. J. Smut was seen in the NW. i NE. i, the SE. i SE. i, and the 

NW. i SW. \.

Sec. 24. Exposure No. 24. On the south bank of the creek in the SE. \ SW. i 

sec. 24, at an altitude of 2,080 feet, is a coal bed over 6 feet thick, which strikes N. 60° 

E. and dips 15° S.

Exposure No. 25. On the south bank of McAdams Creek, in the SW. i SW. £ sec.

24. coal 5 to 10 feet thick is exposed.

A coal bed, probably thin, crops out in the south bank of the creek in the NW. J 

SE. }. Smut was. seen in the SW. £ NE. i, the NE. i SE. i, the SW. i SE. i, the 

NW. i SE. i, and the SW. £ SW. £. Burned clay, probably representing large beds, 

was seen in the NE. i SE. i, the NE. i SW. i, and the SE..J NW. J.

Sec. 25. A small coal bed is exposed in the NW. J SW. £ sec. 25, and coal smut 

was seen in the NW. i NE. £, the NW. \ NW. i the SW. i NW. i, and the NW. i 

SW. i.

Sec. 26. Exposure No.26. In a gulch in. the NE. i NE. i sec. 26 occurs a poor 

exposure of a coal bed 10J feet thick, apparently striking N. 80° E. and dipping 28° S.

A coal smut was seen on the south bank of Bonanza Creek in the SE. £ SW. |, and 

burned clay was noted on the hillside in the NW. J SE. £.

Sec. 27. The following beds were noted in sec. 27:

Exposure No. 27. Section, in cliff on east side of California Creek in the SW. J NE. ±

sec. 27, T. 10 S.,R.6 W.

Ft. in.

Concealed ........................^ .......................... 38

Coal..........................................'............... 1

Sand......................................................... 30

Clay. ........................................................ 3

Sand......................................................... 5

Gravel............................................i.......... 30

Coal.......................................................... 2 6

Clay......................................................... 2

Clayey coal.................................................... 2 6

Sand......................................................... 26 '

} Gravel....................................................... 24
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE VI

EAST

EXPLANATION

Burned coal bed 

(Depth of burning not known)

44 36

45

V,, i i i ^ . ... . , .,

'-31.16 '' '40.OO /, 40.0O.- i 40.0O W 40.01 j 40.02 | 40.,0'4 1^.05

'

| 40.,04 1^.05^ .40.0540.02'. 40.OO;;p9(87 fa

.

\o : 605.68 : 640.12

(Partly underlain by coal)

£W_j_\___jJf^'-T-frTBS-SS'W.____ ^

2,....;-.^...-.i.__--'7^?^an 14-. ~ xi ... ~ ...

(Igneous rocks and schists')

.__ . .6-607. .

60780

" «

(Smut or position inferred)

ism /o/n *- ^o. .oii-®, /> 0.'* a « ° > 

a?\°:^^M^^ ^v

§^1%K\^

>" rf-' s a tfv?'X:JiA»i* y 3 of 12

Coal exposures

(Af«aswrerf coaZ sections,

numbered as in text)

N.89°52'W. 11 11 '11 111 r"

Topography by John Gonin, General Land Office. Surveyed in I9I5 37 39 

Geology by G, C. Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R.M. Overbeck. 

Surveyed in I9I6

LATITUDE 63°59'50.385" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°37'23.272" W.

22 2S

Scale 3ij68o

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 10 S., R. 6 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 10 S., B. 6 W. 23

Ft. in. 

Sand......................................................... 5

Coal............................I............................ 9

Carbon clay................................................... 6

Sand......................................................... 42

Gravel....................................................... 17

Coal (includedin sample 26361)................................. 12

Clay stringer............... v................................... 8

Coal (includedin sample 26360)................................. 6 6

Dark carbon clay.:............................................ 1 6

Clay. ......................................................... 33

Sand and gravel.............................................. 54

. Strike N. 60°-70° E., dip 10°-15° SE.

Exposure No. 28. In a gulch in the NE. £ NE. J sec. 27, at an altitude of 2,045 

feet, is a coal bed 6 feet thick, with a variable clay stringer. This bed strikes N. 65° 

E. and dips 45° S.

Exposure No. 29. In the same gulch at an altitude of 2,020feet a coal bed 8 feet thick 

strikes N. 85° W. and dips 40° S. (?).

Exposure No. 30. In the same gulch at ah altitude of 1,985 feet is a coal bed 17 feet 

thick, which strikes N. 60° E. and dips 15° S.

Exposure No. 31. In a side gulch from the south in the NE. \ NE. J at an altitude 

of 1,980 feet, a coal bed 7 feet thick strikes N. 77° E. and dips 28° S. '

Exposure No. 32. In the main gulch in the NE. £ NE. £, at an altitude of 1,960 feet, 

there is a coal bed 8 feet thick that strikes N. 71° E. and dips 57° S. This coal is probably faulted along the stream.

Exposure No. 33. In the south bank of Bonanza Creek in the S. $ SE. J SE. J at 

least 8 feet of coal (base concealed) underlies cross-bedded sands.

Exposure'No. 34. Section in south bank of Bonanza Creek in the SE. \ SW. f SE. J

sec. 27, T. 10 S., R' 6 W.

 Feet. 

Clean, solid lignite............................................... 5-6

Clay............................................................. 10

Sandy clay.

Strike about N. 45° W., dip 8° to 10° N. 

Sec. 28. In sec. 28 the following beds are exposed for 150 feet along the stream:

Exposure No. 35. Section on north side of Emma Creek in the S. \ SW. J SE. J sec. 28, 

T. 10 S., R. 6 W., at an altitude of about 1,975 feet.

' Cross-bedded sands. Ft. in. 

Lignite....................................................... 1 8

Clay parting...........,...:.................................. 3-4

Lignite........................................... ............ 2 6

Clay parting.................................................. 8-10

Lignite....................................................... 1 4

Clay. 

6 5 

Strike N. 45° E., dip 9° W.

The coal bed of exposure No. 35 is also poorly exposed on the south side of Emma 

Creek in the SE.'-J- SE. \ SW. \ sec. 28.

Sec. 32. Exposure No. 36. On the north bank of the south fork of Emma Creek in 

the N. J NE. J SE. \ sec. 32 is a coal bed that averages 5 feet in thickness, but the base
24 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

is partly covered by gravel talus. Clay was seen underlying the bed in places. 

Imperfect exposures occur on the opposite (east) side of the creek.

Exposure No. 37. On the bank of the north fork of Emma Creek in the NW. J SE. $ 

NE. \ sec. 32, coal 3 feet thick overlies cross-bedded sand and gravels. Imperfect exposures of this bed continue downstream to and beyond the line between sees. 32 and 

33.

Coal is poorly exposed also at several localities in the banks of the south fork of 

Emma Creek in the NE. \ SE. \, the SW. \ SE.-i, and the SE. \ SW. i and at one 

locality on the north fork of Emma Creek in the SE. \ SE. \ NW. \.

Sec. 33. The following exposures were noted in sec. 33:

Exposure No. 38. Section on north bank of Emma Creek in the SW. ^ NE. J NW. J and 

the NE. iSW.$ NW. J sec. 33, T. 10 S., R. 6 W.

Sand and gravel. 

.Coal....................................

Clay..................................

Coal....................................

Clay.

Ft. in. 

...................... 5

...................... 6-8

............. i...... '.. 1 6

This bed is exposed on the north side of the creek about 40 feet above the creek level. 

The average thickness of the bed is 7 feet. 

Exposure No. 39. On Emma Creek in the SW. i SW. i NW. i sec. 33 is a bed of 

lignite 5 to 6 feet thick with a clay parting near the base, probably the same bed as at 

exposure No. 38. '.

Exposure No. 40. A coal bed having a thickness of possibly 3 feet is partly exposed 

on the north fork of Emma Creek in the W. \ NW. \ NW. £ sec. 33.

Exposure No. 41. On the east bank of Marguerite Creek in the NE. \ NE. \ NE. \ 

sec. 33 cross-bedded sands and gravel overlie a coal bed of which 8 feet is exposed. 

This bed strikes N. 45° E. and dips 9° N.

Exposure No. 43. On the west bank of Marguerite Creek near the center of the NE. J 

NE. £ sec. 33 18 feet of coal free from partings is overlain by sands and gravels and 

underlain by clay (?). This is probably the same bed as that at exposure No. 41.

Exposure No. 43. Section on northwest side of Marguerite Creek in the NW. £ SE. £ 

NE. \ sec. 33, T. 10 S., R. 6 W.

Coarse gravel and cobbles. Feet. 

Coal........................................................... 1HGray sands..................................................... 40

Coal (exposed)................................................ 8

Exposure No. 44. On the east bank of Marguerite Creek in the NW. £ NW. i SE. \ 

sec. 33 12 feet of coal is exposed.

Exposure No. 45. On the east bank of Marguerite'Creek in the W. J NW. £ SE. J 

sec. 33 8 to 12 feet of coal is exposed, but the base of the bed is concealed.

Exposure No. 46. On Marguerite Creek in the SW. £ NW. I SE. \ sec. 33 is a 5-foot 

bed of coal, probably a continuation of the bed at exposure No. 45.

Exposure No. 47. Section on Marguerite Creek in the SE. £ SE. i SW. i sec. 33, T.

10 S., E. 6 W.

Feet.

Coal............................................................. 12

Coal (possibly slide from above)................................... 15

Sec. 34. Exposure No. 48. On the west bank of the stream in the NE. J NW. \ 

NE. \ sec. 34 from 6 to 7 feet of coal (base concealed) underlies sands and sandy clay. 

Coal smut and burned clay were seen in the SW. £ SE. J.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE VII

S8OO

EXPLANATION

N.89° 52'W

(Partly underlain by coal)

Coal-bearing rocks

Non coal-bearing rocks

(Igneous rocks and schists)

(Outcrop observed)

(Smut or position inferred)

(Depth of burning not known)

Coal exposures 

R (Measured coal sections, 

numbered as in text)

C" f 67 68 ,'T _; ,

: -. i,,. i"*.w^t />/-*' - L _ ^r^_ be 

625

36.40 I < ' *- 

I -' ? 80

" '. : f--'T ;," \?

L _-_!- 80

11 1 11111111 111 1 1 11 1 5 54S4 88 S9 9 ,5/1 5S 87 81 81 1 i.e 58 SO

56

LATITUDE 63°54'38" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°37'23" W.

1111 1111111 111

6-159 70606869 7374 

67 61 63

Topography by E. C, Guerin, General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915 

Geology by G. C. Martin, A. G.lVladdren, and R.M. Overbeck. 

Surveyed in 1916

Scale 3i)38o

Miles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 11 S., R. 6 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 10 &, R. 6 W. , 25

Sec. 35. Exposure No. 49. On the west bank of Winter Creek in the NE. | NW. \ 

sec. 35, underlying sandy clay, is a bed of coal at least 10 feet thick, the base not 

being exposed.

Coal smut was seen'at several localities in the NW. £, the NE. J, and the SE. £, and 

burned clay in the NW. \ SW. J.

Sec. 36. There are burned beds of unknown extent in the NE. J SW. i and the 

NW. J SE. i sec. 36. Some coal smut was seen in the SE. i NE. J. It is doubtful 

if this section contains any workable coal.

MINING CONDITIONS.

This township contains a moderately large amount of coal that is 

above general drainage level and so situated as to be easily mined, 

and a larger amount that will be available by shafts. The most 

accessible coal beds are those which crop out in the hill east of California Creek in the E. £ sec. 27 and on Marguerite and Emma creeks 

in sees. 32 and 33. The coal beds that yield the smuts in the SE. | 

sec. 16 are probably thick and accessible and may yield a fairly large 

tonnage. Small mines could also be opened easily on the outcrops 

along McAdams and Bonanza creeks. The best sites for deep mining 

can be determined only by special investigations, probably supplemented by drilling. Present information suggests that one of the 

most favorable sites for deep mining may be near the junction of 

Bonanza and California creeks.

In the southwestern part of the township (sees. 16 to 21 and 28 to 

32) the coal-bearing and non coal-bearing rocks pass unconformably 

under a thick gravel cover, beneath which coal may be present but at 

undetermined localities and depths. . This gravel-covered area was 

not assumed, for purposes of classification, to be coal land, except for 

those 40-acre tracts that lie wholly or partly within half a mile of the 

outcrop of the coal-bearing formation.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal of this township can find an outlet to the existing markets 

only over a railroad down California and Totatlanika creeks to Tanana 

River. Such a railroad will be at least 40 miles long, part of which 

(through the Totatlanika and California Creek canyons) will be expensive to construct and will probably not be built until it is required for 

some industry other than coal mining.

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

As there is no present or assured local market or transportation 

for the coal of this township, the coal lands of the township have not 

been divided into leasing units, but are to be held in their present 

status till there is a call for leases or for local mining permits.
26 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

T. 11 S., B. 6 W. 

[See PI. VII.]

CLASSIFICATION.

Unsurveyed:

Sees. 1 to 5, 8 to 17. 

Unclassified land:

Sec. 6, W. i

7, NW. £ NW. i

18. SW. i SW. i

19. W. £ NW. i. 

Noncoal land:

Sec. 31, W. \ SW. I 

31, SE. i SW. i.

31. SE. i

32. SW. i SW. f 

36, S. £ SW. i 

36, S. £ SE. i 

Coal land:

Sec. 6, E. $. 

7, E. i 

7, SW. i 

7, S. ^ NW. i. 

7, NE. i NW. i 

18, N. i 

18, SE. i. 

18, N. £ SW. i

18. SE. i SW. J.

19. E. i 

19, SW. i

Coal land Continued. 

Sec. 19, E. $ NW. £.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31. N. *.

31. NE. i SW. i

32. N. i

32, SE. i

32, E. £ SW. i

32. NW. £ SW. J.

33.

34.

35.

36. N. i

36, N. $ SW. i.

36, N. £ SE. i

COAL.

Sec. 7. Exposure No. 50. On a tributary of Marguerite Creek in the S. $ SW. £ 

SE. \ sec. 7 is a coal bed 3 feet thick.

An unmeasured coal bed is exposed also in the NW. £ SW. \ SE . \ sec. 7.

Sec. 18. Exposure No. 51. On a tributary of Marguerite Creek in the NW. J NW. J 

NE. i sec. 18 a coal bed 12 feet thick strikes N. 75° W. and dips 25° S.

Exposure No. 52. On a tributary of Marguerite Creek on the north line of the NW. i 

NW. i NE. i sec. 18 a 6-foot bed of coal is exposed.

Sec. 20. The following exposures were noted in sec. 20:

Exposure No. 53. Section on tributary of Hoseanna Creek in the E. J NE. J sec. 20, 

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., at an altitude of 2,080 feet.

Ft. in.

Coal........................................................ 4

Sand and gravel.............................................. 50

Coal................./...................................... 4

Clay........'................................................ 6

Coal........................................................ 20 6

Strike N. 70° W., dip 45° S.

Smut, probably from the 4-foot bed of the above section, was seen at the stream 

junction at an altitude of 2,040 feet in the NE. £ SE. J NE. J sec. 20. A poorly exposed coal smut was seen also in the SE. % SE. £ SE. £.

Sec. 22. Several exposures were observed in sec. 22, as indicated below.
T. 11 S./R. 6 W. 27

Exposure No. 64. Section on headwater forks of gulch tributary to Hoseanna Creek in 

the W. \ SW. i sec. 22, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., at ah altitude of 2,390 feet.

Feet. 

Cross-bedded sands and gravels................................... 50

Coal........................................................... 1

Clays.......................................................... 2i

Coal........................................................... 1

Sands and gravels... 1........................................... 40

Coal........................................................... 3$

Sands and gravels............................................... 80

Coal......................................:.................... 5

Strike N. 78° W., dip 5° N.

A small bed of coal probably lies in the gulch in the SW. \ SE. £, at an altitude of 

2,180 feet.

Exposure No. 55. In a gulch tributary to Hoseanna Creek in the SW. J SE. }, at an 

altitude of 2,280 feet, about 5 feet of coal crops out and is overlain by a 1-foot bed of 

poor coal.

Exposure No. 56. On Marguerite Creek in the NE. £ NE. J, at an altitude of 2,520 

feet, is a bed of coal about 6 feet thick, which strikes N. 60° E. and dips 30° S. Smut 

is present about 200 feet downstream from this exposure.

Smut, probably from a fairly large bed (6 feet?), occurs on Marguerite Creek in the 

NE. i NW. i, at an altitude of 1,900 feet. Smut was seen in the NE. } NE. J NW. \ 

and smut and burned clay in the NW. i NE. i NW. \.

Exposure No. 57. At the bend of Marguerite Creek just east of the northwest corner 

of the NE. £ coal 3 feet thick crops out.

Sec. 23. Exposure No. 58. A 4-foot bed of coal occurs on Marguerite Creek in the 

SW. 1 NW. i NW. i sec. 23.

Smut that is probably from a small bed is found on Marguerite Creek in the NE. \ 

NW. \, and burned clay, apparently from a rather large bed occurs near the center of 

the NW. i

Sec. 24- Exposure No. 59. In the eastern part of the SE. J NW. \ sec. 24 is a 4-foot 

bed of coal dipping 5°-8° S., overlain and underlain by sands. 

. Three lignite beds, 3 to 6 inches thick, are exposed in the SW. \ SW. \ NE. \ sec. 24.

Exposure No. 60. In a gulch in the S. \ SW. \ NE. \ sec. 24 occurs 16 feet of coal, 

with a low dip underlying sands and gravels and overlying sands.

Exposure No. 61. Section in gulch in the NE. J NW. I SE. \ sec. 24, T. 11 S., R. 6 W.

Sands. Ft. in. 

Coal......................................................... 2

Clay, pasty.................................................. 5

Coal......................................................... 3 7

Exposure No. 62. Section in gulch in the NE. £ NW. \ SE. i sec. 24, T. 11 S., K. 6 W.

Coal.........................

Clay. ........................

Coal.........................

Clay. ........................

Coal (bony). ..................

Coal. ;.......................

Sand.

Ft.

..................:............. i

................................ i

................................ 12

in. 

q

6

10

9,

6
28 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Exposure No. 63. In a gulch in the NW. £ NE. i SE. i sec. 24 3 feet of coal (base 

concealed) is overlain by sand.

Combined section of exposures Nos. 59 to 63.

Ft. in.

Tough clay with three thin lignite beds....................... 20

Cross-bedded sands and gravel................................ 150

Coal......................................................... 16

Sand and gravel............................................. 40

Coal......................................................... 2

Clay......................................................... 5

Coal......................................................... 3 6

Clay......................................................... 1 6

Sand and gravel............................................. 35

Coal.....................................................:... 3

Clay......................................................... 1 6

Coal..:...................................................... 10

Clay......................................................... 2

Bony coal................................................... 1 6

Coal............................................:............ 12

Sand....................................................... 30

Coal, partly concealed......................................... 3

Exposure No. 64. In a gulch in the NE. i SE. i SW. £ sec. 24, at an altitude of 2,520 

feet, is 20 feet of coal, which strikes about east and dips north at a low angle.

Exposure No. 65. Section in gulch in the SE. i SE. J SW. I sec. 24, T. 11 S., R. 6 W.,

at an altitude of 2,440 feet.

Ft. in.

Coal......................................................... 10

Clay......................................................... 6

Coal.............................................:........... 14 6

Exposure No. 66. In a gulch in the southeast corner of the SW. \ sec. 24, at an 

altitude of 2,370 feet, is a 15-foot coal bed that strikes N. 25° E. and dips 5° N.

Exposure No. 67. Section at point of'hill in the SW.^SE.^ sec. 24, T.11S.,R.6W.

Feet. 

Coal............................................................. 20

Sands, etc....................................................... 50

Coal..............................................:.............. 35 \

Sands, etc....................................................... 60

Coal (may extend a short distance into sec. 25).................... 15

Exposure No. 68. Section in Hoseanna Creek in the SE. \ SW. J SE. £ sec. 24, T. 11 S.,

R. 6 W.

^ Feet.

Coal (same bed as exposure No. 59)............................... 16

Sandy gravel and clay........................................... 50

Coal............................................................. 15

Exposure No. 69. On Hoseanna Creek near the center of the SE. \ sec. 24, is a 

16-foot coal bed.

A little smut occurs near the head of the gulch in the NW. J SE.J NW. J.

Sec. 25. The lowest (15-foot) bed at exposure No. 67 (see above) may cut over the 

line into the NW. £ NE. i sec. 25.

Exposure No. 70. Near the mouth of the gulch in the NW. f NE. J sec. 25, at an 

altitude of 2,250 feet, is a 4-foot bed of coal.
T. 11 S., R. 6 W. 29

Exposure No. 71. Section on Hoseanna Creek 500 feet below mouth of gukh containing 

exposure No. 70, in the NW. ± NE. i sec. 25, T. 11 S.,R.6 W.

Feet. 

Coal............................................................. 5

Clay............................................................. 8

Coal............................................................. 15

Strike N. 40° E., dip 20° N.

>

Exposure No. 72. Section at mouth of gulch entering Eoseanna Creek from the east in

the NE. £ SW. i NE. \ sec. 25, at an altitude of 2,280 feet.

Feet.

Coal............................................................. 10

Sand, etc........................................................ 30

Coal.............................................................. 20

Sands.......................................................... 40

Coal............................................................. 4

Clay............................................................. 6

Coal............................................................. 20

Clay.

The lowest bed of this exposure crosses the stream at an altitude of 2,340 feet.

Exposure No. 73. A 5-foot bed of coal appears on a creek tributary to Hoseanna 

Creek from the east in the N. $ SE. £ NE. \ sec 25, at an altitude of 2,400 feet.

Exposure No. 74. On a creek tributary to Hoseanna Creek from the east in the 

NE. i SE. J NE. i sec. 25, at an altitude of 2,430 feet, is 18 feet of coal, partly burned.

Exposure No. 75. At the head of the gulch in the NE. i NE. i SE. i sec. 25, at an 

altitude of 2,580 feet, a 5-foot bed of coaUs exposed.

Exposure No. 76. Section on north bank of Hoseanna Creek one-fourth mile south of the

northwest corner of the NE. J sec. 25, T. 11 S.,R.6W.

Feet. 

Coal............................................................. 17(?)

Sand........................................................... 60

Coal............................................................. 4

Clay................................................'............. $

Coal............................................................. 5

Clay.............................................................. 10

Coal............................................................. 28

Clay............................................................. 8

Sand........................................................... 20

A large amount of burned clay was seen on the side of a gulch in the SW. J SE. \ 

NE. i sec. 25.

Exposure No. 77. On the south bank of Hoseanna Creek near the forks, 800 feet 

north of the southeast corner of sec. 26, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., is at least 10 feet of coal 

(top and bottom concealed), striking N. 60° W. and dipping 30° SW. This bed was 

included in sample 26365 (pp. 8, 9).

On a stream entering Hoseanna Creek from the south in the SW. J SW. J sec. 25 is 

some coal which may be the bed in exposure No. 77. It has a dip of 15° W.

On the south side of Hoseanna Creek in the NW. \ SW. \ SW. \ sec. 25 is a coal bed 

which strikes N. 75° E. and dips 17° W.

Smut was seen near the center of the NE. J SE. \, in the SE. \ SW. \ NE. £, in the 

E. i NE. i SE, i, and in the NE, 4 SE. \ NW. \.
30 NEFAETA COAL .FIELD, ALASKA.

Sec. 26. The beds noted below were seen in sec. 26:

Exposure No. 78. Section on west side of fault gulch in the NW. £ SE. $ sec. 26, T. 11 S. y

R.6W. -

	Ft. in. 

Brownish sand......................................... 5

Lignite with drab shale................................. 2 6

Brownish sand......................................... 10

Drab shale.............................................. 2

Cross-bedded sands and gravel........................... 100

Lignite (included in sample 26363, pp. 8, 9)............. 16

Clay.................................................... 3

.Cross-bedded sands and gravel........................... 22

Gravel.................................................. 2-4

Lignite.................................................. 2

Clay.................................................... 10

Cross-bedded sands and gravel........................... 78

Coal.................................................... 2 6

Clay........................!........................... 3

Coal with bone in places........................... r ..... 9

Clay and bone......................................... 10

Coal(solid)............................................. 10

Clay.................................................... 3

Cross-bedded sand and grits (estimated).................. 240

Burned coal bed (estimated)............................ 15

Clay.................................................... 10-12

Cross-bedded sands and grits........ 0 ................... 50±

Lignite (base concealed)'................................. 16-18

.Strike N. 80° W., dip 26° N.

Exposure No. 79. Section on east side of fault gulch on the north side of Hoseanna Creek, 

in the NW. i SE. £ sec. 26, T. 11 S., R. 6 W.

Coal (six thin beds).

Sands. ' Feet.

Coal............................................................ 4- 5

Sandy clay........:........................................... (?)

Coal............................................................ 9-10

Concealed.....................................................(?)

Coal............................................................ 5

, Coal....................................r............ .......... 1

Coal............................................................ 2

Strike N. 85° E., dip 26° N.

Exposures of burned clay occur on the south side of^Hoseanna Creek in the E. $ 

SE. £ SW. \ sec. 26 and along the north side of the creek in the N. § SW. \ and the

NW. i SW. i SE. i.
T. 11 S., R. 6 W. 31

 Exposure No. 80. Section in gulch entering Eqseanna Creek from the north one-fourth 

mile northeast of the southwest corner of sec. 26, T. 11 S., R. 6 W.

Coal (burned). Feet.

Clay.............................................................. 50

Coal(part burned)................................................ 10±

Clay.............................................................. 25

Gray pebbly sand................................................ 35

Coal (included in sample 26364, pp. 8, 9)........................... 12

Clay.............................................................. 25

Sand and gravel, iron stained at base............................... 45

Coal...................'........................................... 7

Clay.............................................................. 2

Coal.................................................. ........... 15

Clay.............................................................. $

Coal......'...........................................:............ 7

Concealed (probably carbonaceous shale)............................ 5

Shaly coal....................................................... 3

Sand and gravel with lignite sticks.................................. 30

, Brown sandy clay................................................. 18

Coal.............................................................. 11|

Clay.............................................................. }

Coal.............................................................. 10

Clay.............................................................. i

Clay (?)......................................................... 18

Coal.............................................................. 13

Clay............................................................... 75+

Sec. 27. In sec. 27 the following outcrops were seen:

Exposure No. 81. Section in cliffs on north fork of Hoseanna Creek in the NE. \ sec. 27,

 ' T. 11 S., R. 6 W.

Feet.

Coarse gravel (Quaternary)......................................... 20

Unconformity (?).

Sand and gravel................................................... 60

Coal.............................................................. 1

Clay.............................................................. 1

Coal.............................................................. 2

Clay.............................................................. 3

Coal.............................................................. 3

Clay with carbonaceous streaks. .................................... 20

Clay.............................................................. 15

Gray sand and gravel............................................. 40

Coal.............................................................. 4

Clay.............................................................. 20

Brown sand and gravel........................................... 70

Fault (probably cuts out 110 feet of strata). 

Coal.............................................................. 23

White pebbly sand................................................ 60

Coal.............................................................. 11

Shale............................................................ 2

Coal.....................-.....,, ,,,,.,,,...,,.,,,,............. 4+
32 NEWANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Exposure No. 82. Section on stream just north of center of sec. 27, at an altitude of

1,910 feet.

Feet.

Coal............................................................. 10

Clay.

Concealed....................................................... 14

Coal.............................................................. 25

Strike N. 38° E., dip 15° N.

Exposure No. 83. On a stream about 300 feet due south of the center of sec. 27 about 

20 feet of coal is exposed.

Exposure No. 84. On a stream about 500 feet due south of the center of sec. 27 

occurs a bed of coal about 6 feet thick.

Exposure No. 85. Section near southwest corner of sec. 27, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., on stream

just east of section corner, at an altitude of about 1,825 feet.

Feet.

Coal.............................................................. 8

Parting. 

Coal.................................................................. 30

Strike N. 30° E., dip 20° N.

Exposure No. 86. In the western part of the SW. J.NW. £ sec. 27, in a stream at 

an altitude of 2,150 feet, is exposed a coal bed 15 feet thick.

Burned material and smut from what seems to be a large bed occurs in the northern 

part of the NW. J SW. £, in the stream at an altitude of 1,950 feet.

Exposure No. 87. In a cliff near the hilltop in the NW. £ SE. | is 18 feet of coal.

Exposure No. 88. In the west gulch in the NE. J NW. £ sec. 27, at an altitude of 

2,060 feet, occurs 9 feet of coal striking N. 60° E., and dipping 13° N.

Exposure No. 89. Section on forks of stream in the NE. % NW. | sec- 27, T. 11 S., R.6

W., at an altitude of 2,000 feet.

Ft. in.

Cross-bedded sand and gravel................................... 15

Coal........................................................... 1 3

Sands and gravels............................................. 29

Coal............................................................. 4 6

Sandy clay. ...............................-....... 24

Cross-bedded^sand ............................................ 80

Coal........................................................... 2

Clay........................................................... 5

Strike N. 70° E., dip 15° N. (?).

Exposure No. 90. A stream in the NW. £ SE. \ NW. £ sec. 27, at an altitude of 1,960 

feet, shows 25 feet of faulted coal that strikes N. 78° E. and dips 20° N. This bed 

was included in sample 26366 (pp. 8, 9)."

Exposure No. 91. A stream in the E. $ SE. \ NW. £ sec. 27, at an altitude of 1,945 

feet exposes 9 feet of coal.

Exposure No. 92. Section on forks of north branch of Hoseanna Creek in the W. $ SW. J 

NE. \ sec. 27, at an altitude of 1,950 feet.

[Thickness estimated.] Feet. 

Coal.............................................................. 6

Sands........................................................... 30

Burned bed ......,.,,,.,. ...,, ,,, ,.,,,. ......., ., ,.... 30 (?)

Sands. ;......,.,..,, ,,,.,. ,,.,,..,.,...,,,....,,,,.......,. 30

Coal,,.. .....I,.,...,,....,.,........,,,..............,,.......... 9(?)

Two beds, apparently those of the upper part of exposure No. 92, crop gut in the

Ml PJJ fee e## §ide Pj fee $&& jn &9 N. w, f ,NW, * NJ, \ m> 27,"" *
T. 11 S., B. 6 W. 33

Sec. 28. The beds noted below occur in sec. 28.

Exposure No. 93. Section on tributary ofHoseanna Creek in the northern part of the SE. J

NW. i sec. 28, T. 11 S., R. 6 W.

Ft. in.

Coal........................................................ 1 9

Clay........................................................ 1 8

Coal........................................................ 2 6

Clay........................................................ 8

Coal........................................................ 2 10

Clay........................................................ 5

Carbonaceous clay............................................ 8

Sand and gravel.............................................. 40

Coarse gravel................................................ 2

Carbonaceous clay............................................ 1 6

Coal........................................................ 5 9

Strike N. 80° E., dip 15° N.

Exposure No. 94. Near the mouth of the stream in the SE. J SW. \ SE. \ sec. 28, 

on the west line of the section, at an altitude of 1,785 feet, is a coal bed more than 

9 feet thick.

Exposure No. 95. On a creek in the NW. i SW. £ sec. 28 is a bed of coal of which 9 

feet is exposed, and the bed may be thicker. It strikes N. 30° E. and dips 8° N.

Exposure No. 96. On a creek near the northwest corner of the NW. \ SW. \ sec. 28, 

at an altitude of 1,755 feet, about 20 feet of coal is exposed.

Exposure No. .97. On the shoulder of the hill at the stream forks near the center 

of the SW. £ NW. \ sec. 28, at an altitude of 1,860 feet, is a bed of coal 2 feet 6 inches 

thick.

Exposure No. 98. On the east branch of the stream just above the fork in the eastern 

part of the SW. J NW. \ sec. 28, at an altitude of 1,785 feet, is 1 foot 7 inches of coal 

striking N. 58°-60° E. and dipping 7° N.

Coal smut was seen on Hoseanna Creek in the SW. f SW. \ SE. £ and the SW. £ SE. £ 

SW. i

Burned clay, apparently from a rather large bed, was found in much of the SE. £ 

SE. i, in the northern part of the SW. J SE. \, in the S.} SE. J SW. i, and in the NW. i 

SW. 1 SW. i

Coal smut from what seemed to be a large bed was found in the southeast corner of 

the SE. \, and smut from what seemed to be a small bed in the stream at an altitude 

of 1,850 feet in the NW. i SW. \.

Sec. 29. Exposure No. 99. A coal bed 18 feet thick is exposed on the north bank 

of Hoseanna Creek in the southern part of the SE. i SE. J sec.- 29.

Exposure No. 100. On a hillside in the eastern part of the SE. \ SW. £ sec. 29, at an 

altitude of 1,780 feet, is 6 feet of coal (bed C l).

Exposure No. 101. A stream in the northeast corner of the SW. £ SW. J sec. 29, at 

an altitude of 1,750 feet, shows 6 feet of coal (bed C 1 ).

Exposure No. 102. Section on creek in the southwest corner of the NE. \ SVI£. J sec. 29,

at an altitude of 1.765 feet.

Ft. in. 

Coal(bed E »)................................................ 20 0

Parting....................................................... 4

Coal. ......................................................... 1 6

Clay.

1 Letters indicate probable correlations with the coal beds of exposure No. 122, described on p. 40. 

69860° 18 3
34 NEETANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Exposure No. 103. On a creek in the northern part of the NE. £ SW. £ sec. 29, at 

an altitude of 1,825 feet, is a bed of coal 2 feet 6 inches thick.

Burned clay, the result of the burning of a large bed, occurs in the SE. J SE. £, in the 

NE. i SE. i SW. i, the SE. i NE. J SW. i, the southeast corner of the NW. i SW. J, and 

the northern part of the SW. \ SW. £. Smut, probably from a small bed or beds, was 

seen on the stream in the NW. i NW. J NE. i and the NW. i SE. i SW. £.

Exposure No. 104. A creek near the center of the SE. £ NW. £ shows about 15 feet 

 of coal.

Exposure No. 105. Section on hillside on creek in the NE. J SE. $ NW. $ sec. 29, T. 11S.,

R. 6 W., at an altitude of'1,960 feet.

Feet.

Coal(bed K)...................................................... 3

Clay.'............................................................ 2

Impure coal (bed J)............................................... 1

Exposure No. 106. A creek in the southeast corner of the NE. £ NW. J sec. 29, at 

an altitude of 1,950 feet, exposes 4 feet of coal (bed L).

Exposure No. 107. On the north bank of Hoseanna Creek in the SW. J SW. £ sec. 

29 is a bed of coal (bed B) 18 feet thick.

Sec. SO. Exposure No. 108. A tributary of Hoseanna Creek in the SE. J NE. £ 

SE. £ sec. 30, at an altitude of 1,735 feet, shows a coal bed 20 feet thick.

Exposure No. 109. A tributary of Hoseanna Creek in the SE. i NW £ SE. \ sec. 30, 

at an altitude of 1,785 feet, also exposes a 20-foot coal bed.

Exposure No. 110. A coal bed about 18 feet' thick is exposed on a tributary of 

Hoseanna Creek in the NE. \ NW. J SE. \ sec. 30, at an altitude of 1,880 feet.

Exposure No. 111. Section on north bank of Hoseanna Creek in the SE. $ SE. ^ SW. ^

sec. 30 (bedS), at an altitude of 1,650 feet.

Ft. in.

Coal (included in sample 26362, pp. 8, 9)....................... 7

Clay......................................................... 6

Coal (included in sample 26362, pp. 8, 9)........................ 12

Clay......................................................... 1

Coal (included in sample 26362, pp. 8, 9)....................... 7

Exposure No. 112. Section of bluff on north side of Hoseanna Creek in the SE. % SW. \

SW. i sec. 30, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., at an altitude of 1,650 feet.

Feet. 

Concealed...................................................... 50

Coal (bed E).................................................... 20

Sand........................................................... 15

Coal(bed D)................................................... 7

Sand and concealed.............................................. 100

Coal (bed B) at stream level.

Burned clay, apparently from the burning of a large coal bed, was seen in the SW. J 

NE. i SE. i, the NW. £ SW. i SE. i, the SW. i SE. i SW. i, and the SE. i SW. i SW. £. 

Smut, probably from a large bed, occurs in the SW. i NE. £ SE. i, in the SE. i SE. J. 

NE. i, at an altitude of 1,810 feet; in the SW. i SE. i SE. i and in "the SE. i SW. J SE.i 

Other smut was seen in the W. $ SE. i SW. i and the E. $ SW. i SW. £.

Sec. «W. The outcrop noted below occurs in sec. 31.

Exposure No. 113. Section in gulch on south side of Hoseanna Creek in the NE. J SW. \

<j NE. i sec. 81, T. 11 S.,R.6 W.

Feet. 

Clay.......................................................... 60

Coal .........................'.............................I... 2

Gray clay...................................................... 2-3

Coal...........0............................................... 4-5

Sands, etc.
T. 11 S., B. 6 W. 35

Sec. 38. Much smut occurs along the stream in the SW. J NW. \ and NW. \ SW. J 

sec. 31, also on the hill in the S. ^ SE. £. Burned beds were seen in the NE. I SE. \ 

SE. i, the SE. i NE. i SE. i,'the NW. J SW. J NE. ±, and the SW. { NE. i SW. £.

£ec. 54. Exposure No. 114. On the south side of Sanderson Creek near the mouth, 

in the northern part of the SW. £ NE. J sec. 34, was seen more than 4 feet of coal, striking east and dipping 25°-30° N. 

Exposure No. 115. On the north side of Sanderson Creek near the mouth, in the 

SE. i NW. J NE. i sec. 34, is' another bed of coal more than 4 feet thick. This bed 

seems to be about 50 feet above the bed of exposure No. 114.

Exposure No. 116. On the north bank of Sanderson Creek in the SE. £ NE. i NE. £ 

is a bed of coal 12 feet thick.

Coal smut is widely distributed in sec. 34. The smut in the northwest corner of 

the NW. J is probably from a large bed. Burned coal beds and burned clay occur 

at many localties. The burned clay in the SE. £ NE. ± SE. £ is from a partly burned 

coal bed probably 20 feet thick.

Sec. 35. Exposure No. 117. On Sanderson Creek in the^NW. £ SW. £ NW. } a coal 

bed 15 feet thick crops out.

Exposure No. 118. On Sanderson Creek in the NW. $ SW. i NE. i is about 15 feet 

of coal striking N. 70° W. and dipping 22° N.

Exposure No. 119. On Sanderson Creek in the SE. $ SW. £ NE. £ burned shale 

overlies a bed of coal more than 20 feet thick.

Exposure No. 120. On Sanderson Creek in the NE. £ NW. £ SE. £ is an exposure 

showing about 20 feet of coal striking N. 55° W. and dipping 12° N.

Exposure No. 121. On Sanderson Creek in the NE. J SE. i is over 8 feet of coal, 

which strikes N. 75° W. and dips 17° N. This may be the 20-foot bed of exposure 

No. 120.

Burned beds occur near the center of the NE. i SE. i and on the west line of the 

NW. i SW. i. Coal smut was seen in the SW. i NW. J.

Sec. 36. Burned beds were seen in the SE. i NE. i, the NW. } NE. -J, and the 

S. i SE. i sec. 36.

MINING CONDITIONS.

In the south half of this township the.coal is well exposed in the 

deep valleys of Hoseanna Creek and its tributaries, which have cut 

almost to the base of the nearly horizontal coal-bearing rocks. 

Consequently the coal of the south -half of the township may be 

mined from hillside drifts. The mining units should be laid out 

with reference to the topography, each interstream area constituting 

a natural mining unit. The mine openings should be so situated 

as to secure natural drainage and down-grade haulage of the loaded 

mine cars.

The north half of the township, which is drained by Marguerite 

Creek, is not deeply dissected, and the amount of coal above drainage level in this half is small., For extensive mining in this part of 

the township shafts will probably be necessary.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal of the south half of the township will find its outlet over 

a branch railroad extending up Hoseanna Creek from Nenana River. 

The western edge of the township is about 6 miles from Nenana 

River and a railroad can be built up Hoseanna Creek without serious 

difficulty.
36 NE5T ANA'COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

The coal of the north half of the township can find a feasible outlet 

to the present or prospective markets only over a railroad down 

Marguerite, California, and Totatlanika creeks to Tanana Kiver. 

There is no prospective need for such a road.

\ STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The coal of the north half of the township is so inaccessible that 

there will probably be no possibility of mining it for a long time. 

These lands have consequently not been subdivided into leasing 

blocks but will be held in their present status till there is a call for 

leases or for temporary mining permits.

The coal lands of the south half of the township have been subdivided into 16 leasing units (Nos. 10 to 25, inclusive), as indicated 

on the accompanying map and as described below.

No. 10. Sec. 19, except W. 1 NW. £. 

Sec. 30.

Area, 1,177.55 acres. 

No. 11. Sec. 31, N. f

Sec. 31, NE. i SW. f

Sec. 36, T. 11 S., R. 7 W., SE. J NE. i

Area, 393.33 acres. 

No. 12. Sec. 20. 

 Sec. 29.

Area, 1,280 acres. 

No. 13. Sec. 32, except SW. i SW. J.

Area, 600 acres. 

No. 14. Sec. 21. 

Sec. 28.

Area, 1,280 acres. 

No. 15. Sec. 33, except E. i NE. J.

Area, 560 acres. 

No. 16. Sec. 22.'

Sec. 27, except SE. i and SE. i SW. £.

Area, 1,080 acres.

No. 17. Sec. 27, SE. i and SE. i SW. J. 

Sec. 33, E. i NE. J. 

Sec. 34, NW. i and NW. J NE. £.

Area, 480 acres. 

No. 18. Sec. 34, S. \ and S. } NE. \.

Area, 400 acres. 

No. 19. Sec. 23.

Sec. 26, N. i NW. J.

Area, 720 acres. 

No. 20. Sec. 26, except N. \ NW. J.

Area, 560 acres. 

No. 21. Sec. 34, NE. J NE. \. 

Sec. 35.

Area, 680 acres.

No. 22. Sec. 24, W. £, W. } NE. J, and W. \ SE. J. 

Sec. 25, NW. J and NW. i SW. J. 

Area, 680 acres.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE VIII

O

Sec- ft

See. 7

Sec.J.8

Sec. 19

Sec. 3O

Sec. 31

LATITUDE 63°54'38" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°37'23" W.

EXPLANATION

Sec,. 8

Sec.. 2O

Sec. 29

Sec. 32

60.0-3 73.86

Sec. 9 Sec.. 10

Sec.J6 Sec.lB

U N S U R V E Y E D

Sec. 21 Sec. 22

Sec, 28 Sec. 27

Sec. 33 Seo.34-

Topography by General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915

Geology by G. C. Martin, A, G. Maddren, and R, M. Overbeck. Surveyed in 1916

Scale 334380

7S.84

Sec.ll

Seo.,14-

S&c. 23

Sec. 26

Sec. 35

2 'Miles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

73.96

Sec.12

Sec. 13

Sec. 2

Sec. 25

Sec. 36

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 12 S., R. 6 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA

_J

(Partly underlain by coal)

(Igneous rocks and schists)

Coal bed 

(Smut or position inferred)
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE IX

Sec- 6 Sec,. 5 Sec. 4 Sec. 3 See,. 2 Sec.l

Sec. 7 Sec. 8 Sec.lO Sec.ll Sec.22

Sec.18 S&C.J7

UN SURVEYED

Sec.L6 . S&cJS

Easb

6'ec.74 Sec. 13

Rex Dome "39.89

N.89°54'W. 1

SecJ9 Sec. 2O Sec. 22 Sec. 22

Sec.

EXPLANATION

oWo'Vo' 

oo ^ oo oo

Gravels 

(Partly underlain by coal)

Coal-bearing rocks

:._...__..__j

Non coal-bearing rocks

(Igneous rocks and'schists)

Coal bed 

(Smut or position inferred)

x x x x

Burned coal bed 

(Depth of burning not known)

Sec 31

LATITUDE 64°05'02" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°49'09" W.

Topography by John Gonin, General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915

geology by Q. C, Martin, A. G, Maddren, and R. M. Overbeck. Surveyed in 1916

Scale

i 2 Miles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 9 S., R. 7 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 9 S., a. 7 W. 37

No. 23. Sec. 24, E. } SE. *. 

Sec. 25, N. 4 NE. i 

Sec. 19, T. 11 S., R. 5 W., SW. J. 

Sec. 30, T. 11 S., R. 5 W., N. } NW! J. 

' Area, 388.32 acres.

No. 24. Sec. 25, S. * NE. J, SE. J, E. £ SW. i, and SW. i SW. i 

Sec. 30, T. 11 S., R. 5 W., SW. J and S. } NW. J.

Area, 589.08 acres. 

No. 25. Sec. 36, N. i, N. } SE. i, and N. £ SW. i

Sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 5 W., NW. i, N. \ SW. }, NW. i SE. *, and SW. 

Area, 790.05 acres.

T. 12 S., R. 6 W.

(See PI. VIII.]

NE.

Unsurveyed:

Sees. 5 to 36. 

Noncoal land:

Sec. 1. 

2.

CLASSIFICATION.

Noncoal land Continued. 

Sec. 3. 

4.

Coal land: 

None. 

COAL.

Non-coal-bearing rocks (schists) occupy all of sec. 1 and all except small areas in 

the extreme northern parts of sees. 2, 3, and 4, where the basal margin of the coal 

formation is present. No outcrops of coal beds Were seen in the surveyed portion of 

this township. Coal smut was seen in the N. \ NE. J sec. 3.

T. 9 S., R. 7 W.

[See PI. IX.] 

. CLASSIFICATION.

Noncoal land Continued. 

Sec. 26, NW. \ SE. \. 

27.

34.

35.

36. 

Coal land:

Sec. 25, N. \.

25. NW. i SW. i

26. SE. JNE. i. 

26, NE. J SE. i

Unsurveyed:

Sees. 1 to 23, 28 to 33. 

Noncoal land: 

Sec. 24.

25, SE. i

25, E. \ SW. i

25. SW. i SW. J.

26. W. $. 

26, N. \ NE. i 

26, SW. i NE. \. 

26, S. J SE. 1.

COAL.

/Sec. 24. A narrow strip along the southern margin of sec. 24 is mapped as coalbearing formation, and the burned clay in the NE. £ NE. J sec. 25 extends over into 

the southern part of the SE. £ SE. f sec. 24. No coal was seen in sec. 24, and any. 

that may exist there is believed to be so small in quantity and under so thin a cover 

that the entire section should be classified as noncoal land.

Sec. 25. The remains (burned clay) of a burned coal bed were seen near the northwest corner of the NE. | NE. £ sec. 25. This seems to represent a fairly large bed 

near the Base of the coal measures. Coal smut was seen along the creek flowing 

southeastward through the NE. \ and also on the creek flowing eastward through the 

SW. J NW. £, but these coal beds are Hot exposed. Indications of a burned bed 

were seen in the NE. J NW. J NW. J.

Sec. 26. Smut and coal float Were seen, on creeks in the southern parts of the NE. J 

NE. i and the SE. \ NE. £ sec. 26, but no exposures of coal were seen. Only the 

basal part of the coal measures is present in this section, and it is very doubtful whether 

the section contains any workable coal.
38 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

MINING CONDITIONS.

The coal-bearing rocks of this township occur in a thin plate on the 

north slope of the valley of Rex Creek. As ho actual outcrops of coal 

beds were seen here, it is impossible to estimate the amount of coal. 

Probably, however, only a few beds are present, and these lie near the 

surface. This coal can best be mined in small, simple operations.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal of this township can be brought to the present markets 

only by a railroad along Rex, California, and Totatlanika creeks. 

Such a railroad would be at least 35 miles long (to Tanana River) 

and will probably not be constructed in the near future.

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The coal lands of this township have not been offered for lease 

but will be held in their present status till there is a demand for 

leasing or for temporary mining permits.

T. 10 S., R. 7 W.

(See PI. X.] 

CLASSIFICATION.

Unclassified land: Noncoal land^ Continued.

Sec. 19, SW. i

19, S. \ NW. i. 

24, E. i NE. \. 

24, SW. i NE. i. 

24, SE. \.

24. SE. \ SW. \.

25.

26. S. \.

26, S. £ NE. J,

26. S. \ NW. \.

27. SE. i NE. i. 

27, SE. i.

27. S. \ SW. \.

28. S. \ SE. \.

28. S. \ SW. \.

29. SE. i SE. \. 

29, W. i SE. i. 

29, SW. i.

29. S. | NW. J.

30. SE. i NE. i. 

30, W. i NE. i. 

30, SE. i.

30. W. i .

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

Noncoal land: 

Sec. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Sec. 7.

NW.

9.

10.

11.

12.'

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19. E.

19. N.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24. NW. i NE. J. 

24, NE. i SW. i. 

24, W. } SW. i. 

24, NW. f 

26, N. J NE. J.

26. N. 4 NW. i.

27. NE. i NE. J. 

27, W. } NE. i. 

27, N. 4 SW. i.

27. NW. i.

28. N. i.

28, N. 4 SE. i.

28. N. J SW. f.

29. NE. i.

29, NE. J SE. J.

29. N. } NW. i.

30. NE. t NW. i.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE X

EASTEXPLANATION

1° O °° O °° 

1,0 O 0 V 0 o 

00 ° 00 00

Gravels

Non coal-bearing rocks 

(Igneous rocks and schists)

253G

' 753 ' 77.05 * 

Topography by E. C, Guerin, General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915

Geoiogy by G. C, Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R. M. Overbeck. Surveyed in 1916

WEST 2SV3

LATITUDE 63°59'50" N. 

LONGITUDE 148°49'09" W. 

aeoo

Scale

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 10 S., E. 7 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 11 S., E. 7 W. 39

The surface rocks of T. 10 S., R. 7 W., are schists, igneous rocks, and gravels. It is 

believed that the schists and igneous rocks underlie the gravels throughout the township. The only indication of coal in this township' is in lots 2, 3, and 4, sec. 6, where 

small fragments of coal were seen near the base of the gravel. These may have been 

derived from reworked coal in the gravel, or possibly from a thin layer of the coal 

measures. In neither case is there reason to assume that the township contains any

workable coal.

T. 11 S., B. 7 W.

[See PI. XL] . x 

CLASSIFICATION.

Unclassified 

Sec. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12. 

12, 

12,

12.

13. 

13, 

13,

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22. 

22, 

22,

22.

23.

24. 

24,

27.

28.

28.

29. 

29, 

29, 

29,

land.

W. 4.

N. 4 NE. J.

SW. i NE. i.

NW. i SE. J.

W. 4.

W. 4 NE. J.

W. I SE. J.

SE. i SE. \.

N. 4.

N. 4 SE. i.

N. 4 SW. J.

SW. i SW. J.

N. 4.

N. 4.

N. 4 SW. J.

NW. i NW. J.

N. 4 NE. \.

NW. i.

N. 4.

SW. \.

N. 4 SE. J.

SW. i SE. \.

Unclassified land Continued. 

Sec. 30, NE. \.

30, NE. i NW. \. 

Noncoal land :

Sec. 35, S. J SE. J. 

35, S. \ SW. J.

35. NE. \ SW. J.

36. S. f 

36, S. 4 NW. i. 

36, SW. i NE. J. 

Coal land:

Sec. 12, SE. i NE. J. 

12, E. \ SE. i. .

12. SW. J SE. i.

13. E. 4 NE. 1. 

13, NE. \ SE. i. 

22, S. 4 SE. }.

22. SE.

23. S. 4-

24. SE.

24. S.

25.

26.

27. E. \.

27, SW. i.

27, S. 4 NW. J.

27. NE. i NW. J.

28. S. 4.

28. S. 4 NE. J.

29. SE. i SE. J.

30. S. J.

30, S. 4 NW. i.

30. NW. i NW. J.

31.

32.

33. .

34.

35. N. \.

35, N. 4 SE. i.

35. NW. t SW. J.

36. N. 4 NW. J. 

36, N. 4 NE. i. 

36, SE. i NE. i.

SW. J.

SW.

COAL.

5ec. 25. The coal-bearing rocks crop out throughout the southern part of sec. 25 

but pass beneath the gravels that cover the northern part of the section. The following table probably records the complete sequence of all the coal beds that crop 

out in this section.
40 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Exposure No. 122. Section in gulch heading in the SE. £ SW. i sec. 25, T. 11 S., R.7W. 1

Top of hill. Ft. in. 

Sands.........:..............................:............... 60

Impure coal and clay (bed 0).................................. 2

Sands........................................................ 23

Coarse gravel over coal.

Coal(bed N).................................................. 2 6

Clay. ................A.................................. 9 6

M).

6

Coil..../..... 

Impure coal... 

Sands (clay at top).....

Coal..........\,, . TN

r , {(bed L) Impure coal...J x '

Cross-bedded sands and gravels................................ 62

Coal (bed K).................................................. 2

Clay......................................................... 6

Coal (bed J)....................... ............................ 1

Sands........................................................ 43

Coal (bed I)................................................. 1±

Concealed, mostly sand, with possibly two small coal beds........117

Concealed, coal slump (bed H)................................ 10?

Sand and gravel, clay.......................................... 55

Coal (bed G)................................................. 7 3

Clay......................................................... 10

Sand......................................................... 55

Coal (bed F).................................................. 28 6

Sand......................................................... 57

Coal (bed E).................................................. 22 .

Clay......................................................... 4

Sands and gravels............................................. 12

Coal..........] [36

Shaley coal., [(bed D)......................................... | 1 4

Coal.........J [ 2 6

Clay......................................................... 5

Sands........................................................ 16

Clay and carbonaceous matter................................... 4

Clay...............'.......................................... 1 6

Sands with some gravel........................................ 15

Coal..] [ 2 6 

Clay..[(bed C) ...............................................| 6

Coal.J v 13

15

Sands _.____.__.___..

Brown sand, locally in( 

Coal..................]

Clay..................

Clay..................

Coal..................

Concealed, part coal. . 

Sands and gravel

[(bed B).. ..............................

35 

1 

6 6 

6 

10 

2 

4 

10 

L10

1 The lower part (beds B to F, inclusive) is exposed in sec. 36.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE XI

WE.ST 3t03

EXPLANATION

(Partly underlain by coal)

(Igneous rocks and schists)

Coal bed 

(Outcrop observed)

(Smut or position inferred)

(Depth of burning not known)

Coal exposures

(Measured coal sections,

numbered as in text)

27 131 143

26 142 149 1S3

22 137 148

25 136 152

47

24 135 146 151

34 145

23 150

33 141 159 162

61 IS5 168

LATITUDE 63°54'38" N.

y ^PNGITUDE 148°49'09" w.

Topography by E, C. Guerin, General Land Office. Surveyed in I9I5 

Geology by G..C. Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R, M. Overbeck. 

Surveyed in I9I6

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower low water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 11 S,, R. 1 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AM) MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 11 8., R. 1 W. 41

Exposures Nos. 123 to 130, listed below, were seen on Popovitch Creek, the large 

creek in the eastern part of sec. 25. The letters "C" to "K" indicate probable 

correlations of the coal beds with those recorded in the section at exposure No. 122.

Exposure No. 123. Popovitch Creek, SW. 1 SE. {, altitude 1,670 feet. Coal (bed. 

C?)about 4 feet thick; strike east, dip 14° N.

Exposure No. 124. Popovitch Creek, SW. 1 SE. i, altitude 1,680 feet. Coal (bed 

D?) more than 5 feet thick.

Exposure No. 125. Popovitch Creek, SW. i SE. £, altitude 1,705 feet. Thick coal , 

bed, not measured (bed E).

Exposure No. 126. Popovitch Creek, SE. | SE. J, altitude 1,710 feet. Thick coal 

bed, not measured (bed F).

Exposure No. 127. Popovitch Creek, NE. J SE. J, altitude 1,720 feet. Coal (bed 

G) more than 8 feet thick.

Exposure No. 128. Popovitch Creek, NE. £ SE. i, altitude 1,755 feet. Woody coal 

(bed I) 1 foot 6 inches thick; strike N. 60° E., dip 10° N.

Exposure No. 129. Section on Popovitch Creek in the NE. i SE. J sec. 25, T. 11 S., 

JR. 7 W., at an altitude of 1,775 feet.

Ft. in. 

Coal (bed K).................................................... 2

Clay............................................./............ 4

Coal (bed J)..................-.................................. 1 6

Exposure No. 130. Popovitch Creek, SE. J NE. i, altitude 1,800 feet. Coal (bed L) 

more than 3 feet thick.

Exposure No. 131. Large creek in the NW. J SW. J, altitude, 1,800 feet. Coal 

(small bed, I?) not measured.

Exposure No. 132. Large creek in the NW. \ SW. \, altitude 1,805 feet. Coal 

(small beds, J and K?) not measured.

Sec. 26. The coal beds of sec. 26 are the western continuation of those exposed in 

sec. 25, but the lowest beds exposed in sec. 25 do not reach the surface in sec. 26.

Exposure No. 133. Creek in the E. $ SE. J SE. £, altitude 1,660 feet. Coal (bed C, 

or D) about 6 feet thick.

Exposure No. 134. Creek in the E. \ SE. \ SE. J, altitude 1,675 feet. Coal (bed 

E?), large bed; not measured.

Exposure No. 135. Creek in E. $ SE. i SE. £, altitude 1,705 feet. Coal (bed 

F?), large bed; not measured.

Exposure No. 136. Creek in E. J SE. £ SE. \, altitude 1,720 feet. Coal (bed G) 

more than 6 feet thick.

Exposure No. 137. Creek in the E. } SE. i SE. i altitude 1,745 feet. Coal (bed 

H?) more than 18 feet thick; strike N. 65° E., dip 40° (?) N.

Exposure No. 138. Creek in the E. $ NE. i SE. i, altitude 1,850 feet. Coal (bed L?) 

more than 4 feet thick.

Exposure No. 139. Creek in the E. } NE. J SE. J, altitude 1,870 feet. Coal (beds 

M and N) 6 feet thick.

Exposure No. 140. Creek in the E. i NE. J SE. J, altitude 1,890 feet. Coal (bed 0) 

over 2 feet thick.

Exposure No. 141. Creek in the W. \ SE. \ SE. i, altitude 1,720 feet. Coal more 

than 6 feet thick.

Exposure No. 142. Creek in the W. \ SE. i SE. £, altitude 1,820 feet. Coal more 

than 5 feet thick.

Exposure No. 143. Creek in the W. } NE. J SE. J, altitude 1,920 feet. Coal (bed 

L?) more than 4 feet thick.

Exposure No. 144. Creek in the W. } NE. \ SE. \, altitude 1,960 feet. Coal (beds 

M and N), not measured.
42 FEN ANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Exposure No. 145. Creek in the SE. J SW. J, altitude 1,775 feet. Coal 15 feet thick; 

strike N. 80° E., dip 10° N.

Exposure No. 146. Creek in the SE. 1, SW. £, altitude 1,800 feet. Coal, possibly 

elide, over 6 feet thick.

Exposure No. 147. Creek in the SE. \ SW. J, altitude 1,805 feet. Coal 20 feet thick.

Exposure No. 148. Creek in the SE. i SW. J, altitude 1,870 feet. Coal over 18 

inches thick.

Exposure No. 149. Creek in the SE. J SW. £, altitude 1,885 feet. Coal 6 feet thick; 

strike N. 70° E., dip 15° N.

Sec. 27. The larger part of sec. 27 is gravel covered, and the only known coal 

exposures, which are in the SE. J SE. £, seem to represent beds well up in the coal 

measures. It is possible that the entire section in underlain by coal.

Exposure No. 150. Creek in the SE. £ SE. i, altitude 1,910 feet. Coal 6 feet thick; 

strike N. 85° E., dip 15° N. '

Exposure No. 151. Creek in the SE. J SE. £, altitude 1,940 feet. Coal more than 

18 feet thick.

Exposure No. 153. Hillside by creek in the SE. i SE. J, altitude 1,980 feet. Coal 

(probably same bed as No. 153) 2 feet thick; strike east, dip 20° N.

Exposure No. 153. Creek in the SE. i SE. i, altitude 2,000 feet. Coal 2 feet thick.

Coal float Was seen in the creek in the SE. J, at an altitude of about 2,050 feet.

Sec. 28. Sec. 28 is wholly covered with gravel, except 'probably a small area of 

coal measures in the SE. \ SE.J . No coal beds were seen, and it may be that any 

coal that the section contains is at a considerable depth.

Sec. SO. Sec. 30 is covered with gravel, except probably a small area of coal measures in the southern part of the SW. J. The depth to the coal and even the presence 

of coal in this section are uncertain, but coal beds are exposed in the bank of Nenana 

River, on the unsurveyed land West of sec. 30, that should pass under this section 

unless they are cut oxit by the unconformity at the base of the gravels.

Sec. 31. No coal beds are known to crop out in sec. 31, but there are coal beds 

exposed both south and west of this section that should pass beneath it unless they 

are cut out by the unconformity at the base of the gravels.

Sec. 32. The larger part of sec. 32 is covered with gravels, and no coal outcrops 

are known. Some of the coal beds exposed in sec. 33 of this township and in sec. 5, 

T. 12 S., R. 7 W., should underlie part of sec. 32 unless they are cut out by the unconformity at the base of the gravels.

Sec. S3. The exposures noted below were recorded in sec. 33.

Exposure No. 154. Section in cliff on west side of stream in the W. % SW. J sec. 83, T. 11 S.,

R. 7 W.

Feet.

Sands and gravels............................................. 50±

Coal...................................................'........' 3

Sands and gravels............................................. 40

Coal........................................................... 3

Sands, gravels, and concealed.................................. 30

Coal ( a few inches).

 Sands.......................................................... 25

Coal........................................................... 3

Clay........................................................... 6

Coal........................................................... 3

Sands, clays, concealed........................................ 100±

The beds recorded above are nearly horizontal but seem to dip slightly to the south. 

Exposure No. 155. On the creek in the SE. i NW. J, at an altitude of 1,920 feet, 

is a coal bed about 3 feet thick.
T. 11 S., R. 1 W. 43

Exposure No. 156. A creek in the SE. J SE. £, at an altitude of 1,575 feet, exposes 

a coal bed about 6 feet thick that seems to be horizontal.

Coal smut, apparently derived from a small bed, was seen at an altitude of 1,750 

feet in the bank of the creek in the NW. £ SW. £.

Sec. 34. The southern part of the S. § SE. £ and the southern part of the SE. £ 

SW. £ sec. 34 have a surface of schist and are consequently barren of coal. The coalbearing rocks overlie the schist and form the surface of the rest of the section, except 

in several areas of gravel that may be assumed to be underlain by the coal measures. 

The exposures in the coal measures are not good, and coal beds have been seen only 

at the localities described below. >

Exposure No. 157. Creek in NE. £, altitude 1,760 feet. Coal about 15 feet thick.

Exposure No. 158. Creek in the NE. £, altitude 1,845 feet. Coal about 25 feet 

thick.

Exposure No. 159. Creek in the NE. J, altitude 1,875 feet. This exposure consists 

of a few feet of coal overlain by much burned material. It apparently represents a 

large bed.

Exposure No. 160. Bluff on west side of creek in the NE. £, altitude, 1,800 feet. 

This exposure consists, of a burned bed about 30 feet thick, probably the same bed 

as No. 159.

There is also a burned bed near the base of the coal measures on the hill in the 

S. £SE. i

Sec. 35. The following outcrops were seen in sec. 35.

Exposure No. 161. Section of bluff on north side of creek in the NW. % NW. % sec. 85, T.

11 S., R. 7 W.

	Ft. in. 

Coal....................................................... 25

Sands, etc................................................. 35

Coal............................,.....,.................'... 6

Sand..................................................... 55

Coal (included in sample 26369, pp. 8,9)..........!........ 12

Clay...................................................... 6

Coal (included in sample 26369, pp. 8,9)................... 5

Clay...................................................... 6

Coal (included in sample 26369, pp. 8,9)................... 15

Sand..................................................... 50

Coal........................................................ 8

Sands, etc................................................. 30

Coal(impure)............................................. 2

Sand and clay............................................. 10

Coal(impure)............................................. 2

Exposure No. 162. Creek in the NE. £ NW. £, altitude 1,720 feet. Coal 20 feet 

thick; strike east, dip 23° N.

Exposure No. 163. Section of bluff on north side of Eoseanna Creek near center of the

NE. i sec. 84, T. 11 S., R. 7 W.

Feet. 

Coal........................................................... 6±

Sand and gravel............................................... 50±

Coal(bed B).................................................. 30 ±

Exposure No. 164. Small creek in the NW. £ NE. \. Coal (bed B?), not measured. 

Exposure No. 165. Creek in the NE. J NE. £. Coal (bed B?), not measured.
44

Exposure No. 166. North bank of Hoseanna Creek in the SE. J NE. |. Coal (bed 

A?), 20 feet thick. This is believed to be the lowest coal bed of this district. It 

is probably 100 feet or more below bed B of exposure No. 122.

Exposure No. 167. North bank of Hoseanna Creek in the SW. \ NE. \. Coal 

(bed A?), about 20 feet thick.

There is an outlier of coal-bearing rocks south of Hoseanna Creek in the S. $ sec. 

35 that consists chiefly of burned clay and clinker, probably derived from the burning of bed A and possibly of bed B. There is probably little if any unburned coal 

in this area.

Sec. 36. Sec. 36 contains the beds noted below.

Exposure No. 168. Creek in the NW. i NW. £. Coal (bed B?), large bed, not 

measured.

The lower part of exposure No. 122 (see p. 40) as recorded below is exposed in sec. 36.

Section of bluff on north bank of Hoseanna Creek in the N. % NW. J sec. 36, T. 11 S.,

R. 7 W.

Ft. in.

Coal(bed F).............................................. 28 6

Sand...................................................... 57

Coal(bed E)............................................... 22

Clay...................................................... 4

Sands and gravels.......................................... 12

Coal...... 3 6

Shaly coal (bed D) ..................................... 1 4

Coal...... v ' 26

Clay...... 5

Sands..................................................... 16

Clay and carbon matter.................................... 4

Clay................ ... ........,...'..................... 1 6

Sands, with some gravel..................................... 15

Coal } [26 Clay l(bedC)..............................................j 6

Coal J L 3

Clay...................................................... 15

Sands..................................................... 35

Brown sand-(locally indurated)............................. 1

Coal................' . 66

Clay................ 6

Impure coal......... 10 ° Clay................ '(bed B)..............................< g

) Coal................ 4

Concealed (part coal) . 10 

Sands and gravel........................................... 110

Altitude, 1,580 feet; stream level.

MINING CONDITIONS.

The exposed coal of T. 11 S., R. 7 W., is restricted to the southern 

quarter of the township, where it crops out in a belt situated on the 

north side of Hoseanna Creek and lying between the schists south 

of and in the creek valley and the gravels in the high hills north of 

the creek. The coal-bearing rocks unconformably overlie the schists 

and unconformably underlie the gravels. They strike about east 

and dip in general about 15° N.
T. 11 S., E. 7 W. 45

There is no available evidence concerning the distance to which 

the coal extends beneath the gravels, except that on the northern 

margin of this gravel area, in T. 10 S., R. 7 W., the schists and not 

the coal-bearing rocks emerge from beneath the gravels.

Neither is there any evidence concerning the depth to the coal 

in those areas where it may be present under the gravels. The 

northward dip of 'l5° if continuedNWould carry the coal down at a 

rate of about 1,400 feet to the mile beneath the gravels, which are at 

least 2,000 feet thick. The amount of dip may increase or may 

diminish beneath the gravels, and the direction of the dip may hold 

northward or may be reversed. On the eastern edge of the gravel 

area in T. 11 S., R. 6 W.; and T. 10 S.; R. 6 W. ; reversals of dip and 

other structural irregularities were observed.

It is consequently unsafe to assume that the area of minable coal 

includes anything more than the area of actual coal outcrops, with 

a narrow additional zone along the southern margin of the gravels. 

For purposes of land classification it was assumed that only those 

gravel-covered areas lying within half a mile of outcrops of coalbearing rocks are probable coal land. Cautious investors may well 

regard even this assumption as underconservative.

The coal beds are well exposed in the deep gulches of most of the 

creeks flowing southward into Hoseanna Creek. The most favorable 

sites for immediate mining are localities where the larger coal beds 

cross these creeks, and the natural mining units are the interstream 

areas. '

A large amount of coal can be won by drift mining from openings 

on the northern tributaries of Hoseanna.Creek. It is likely that a 

considerable amount of coal, possibly a large proportion of that for 

which there will be a demand in the immediate future, can be mined 

by stripping. A favorable site for stripping is on the 20-foot bed (A) 

in the north bank of Hoseanna Creek in the S. £ NE. % and the N. £ 

SE. £ sec. 35. The thickness of the coal, its position on the edge of 

the creek, and the comparatively large area with thin overburden 

are the favorable features for open mining at this locality.

TRANSPORTATION.

All the known coal in T. 11 S., R. 7 W., is on Hoseanna Creek or 

its tributaries, and will be easily accessible from a branch railroad 

extending up the creek. The part of this proposed branch within 

this township will all be within 6 miles of the main railroad line on 

Nenana River.

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The coal lands of the north half of T. 11 S., R. 7 W., in the gravelcovered area in sees. 12 and 13, are not definitely known to contain 

workable coal and are so situated as to be practically inaccessible
46 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

by any proposed means of transportation. They have consequently 

not been subdivided into leasing units or offered for lease but will 

be held in their present status.

The coal lands of the south half of T. 11 S., R. 7 W., are the most 

accessible of the surveyed coal lands of the Nenana field. They 

have been subdivided into seven leasing units (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 

and 9), as indicated on the accompanying map, and as described 

below.

No. 1. Sec. 30, except NE. J and NE. J NW. i «,

Sec. 31.

Unsurveyed lot described as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of sec. 30, 

T. 11 S., R. 7 W., thence due west to the right of way of the main Kne of the Government railroad, thence south along said right of way to the west line (extended) 

of sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 7 W., thence north along the west line of sees. 31 and 30, T. 11 

S., R. 7 W., to the place of beginning.

Area, 1,664.16 acres. 

No. 2. Sec. 29, SE. I SE. \. 

Sec. 32. 

Sec. 5, T. 12 S., R. 7 W., N. J NE. | and N. J NW. i

Area, 840 acres.

No. 4. Sec. 28, S. } and S. } NE. J. 

Sec. 33. 

Sec. 4, T. 12 S., R. 7 W., N. J NW. J.

Area, 1,120 acres.

No. 5. Sec. 22, S. \ SE. \ and SE. J SW. £. 

Sec. 27, except NW. \ NW. J. 

Sec. 34.

Area, 1,360 acres. 

No. 7. Sec. 23, S. \. 

Sec. 26. 

Sec. 35, N. } NE. J, NW. 1, and NW. \ SW. £.

Area, 1,240 acres. 

No. 8. Sec. 25, S. \ NE. i and N. \ SE. \.

Area, 160 acres.

No. 9. Sec. 24,-SE. J and S. \ SW. \. 

Sec. 25.

Sec. 36, N. \ NE. \ and N. } NW. f 

Area, 1,040 acres.

T. 12 S., R. 7 W.

[See PI. XII.] 

CLASSIFICATION.

Unsurveyed lands:

Sees. 6 to 9, 13 to 36. 

Unclassified land:

Sees. 10 and 11 (part coal land according to rule; fault introduces uncertainty).

12. 

Noncoal land:

Sec. 1.

2, N. f 

2, SE. \.

Noncoal land Continued. 

Sec. 2, N. } SW. J. 

2, SE. i SW. i

3, NE. \. 

3, N. \ SE.

Coal land:

Sec. 2, SW. 1 SW. J. 

3, S.

3. W.

4.

5.
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 664 PLATE XII

174 173 172 171 17O

IJUDE 63°54'38" N, 

ITUDE 148°49'09" W.

EXPLANATION

. 83' 5Q W.

(Partly underlain by coal)

Coal-bearing rocks

Non coal-bearing rocks

(Igneous rocks and schists)

(Outcrop observed)

(Smut or position inferred)

Burned coal bed

(Depth of burning not known)

Sec.19

Sec.30

Sec. 2O

Sec.. 29

U N $ U Ft V E Y E D

Seo. 21 Sec. 22 Sec. 23 Sec.

Sec. 28 Sec. 27 Sec. 26 Sec. 25 

Coal exposures

(Measured coal sections,

numbered as in text)

Sec. 31 Sec. 32 Sec. 33 Sec. Sec. 3 5 Sec. 36

Topography by General Land Office. Surveyed in 1915 

Geology by G. C, Martin, A. G. Maddren, and R. M. Overbeck. 

Surveyed in 1916

Scale

2 Miles

Contour interval 50 feet

Datum mean lower law water in Knik Arm

Elevations from levels on preliminary line of railroad by Alaskan Engineering Commission 

extended by vertical-angle control

________ ___1

TOWNSHIP PLAT AND COAL MAP OF T. 12 S., R. 7 W., FAIRBANKS BASE AND MERIDIAN

NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA
T. 12 S., R. 7 W. 47

COAL.

Sec. 2. No outcrops of coal beds were seen in sec. 2, but there are burned beds 

in the SE. J SW. i

£ec. 5. Exposure No. 169. South bank of Hoseanna Creek at mouth of tributary 

in the NW. £ NE. £ sec. 3. Coal (poorly exposed) about 5 feet thick.

Coal smut was seen in the SE. $ SE. i and at several localities in the NW. £.

Sec. 4- Coal smut, probably derived from a fairly large bed, was seen at the base 

of the hill on the south side of Hoseanna Creek in the SW. £ NW. £ sec. 4. Smut was 

seen also at two localities in the NE. £ SW. £.

Sec. 5. The following exposures were recorded in sec. 5:

Exposure No. 170. South bank of Hoseanna Creek in the SE. £ NE. £. Coal 

more than 6 feet thick; strike N. 35° W., dip 10° S.

Exposure No.. 171. South bank of Hoseanna Creek in the NW. J NE. \. Coal 

(large bed), not measured.

Exposure No. 172. South bank of Hoseanna Creek near west line of NW. £ NE. J. 

Coal .15 feet thick.

Exposure No. 173. Section on north bank of Hoseanna Creek about 1 mile above the

mouth, in the NE. J NW. i sec. 5, T. 12 S., R. 7 W.

Feet.

Coal.............................................................. 8± v

Coal (included in sample 26367, pp! 8, 9)......................... 7

Strike N. 105° E., dip 12° S.

Exposure No. 174. South bank of Hoseanna Creek in the NE. £ NW. £, about 600 

feet downstream from No. 173 and an undetermined distance stratigraphically above 

it. Coal about 10 feet thick.

Exposure No. 175. North bank of Hoseanna Creek near west line of the SW. J NW. £, 

coal 3 feet thick.

MINING CONDITIONS.

Coal is exposed along the lower course of Hoseanna Creek in beds 

that dip gently southward. These beds should be minable from 

openings situated on the creek. The amount of minable coal south 

of the creek is problematic, for the beds dip southward and within a 

short distance pass beneath gravels. A fault that extends westward . 

near the southern line of sees. 1, 2, and 3 may cut out the coal in 

portions of sees. 4 and 5. The extensive slumping on the hillsides in 

sees. 3 and 4 makes it difficult to determine the attitude of the coalbearing rocks.

TRANSPORTATION.

The coal of T. 12 S., R. 7 W., is comparatively easy of access. The 

mam line of the Government railroad will extend, according to present surveys, along the west bank of Nenana River in sec. 6. The 

coal beds exposed on Hoseanna Creek in, the NW. | sec. 5 are within 

a mile of the surveyed line of the main railroad and are directly on 

the line of the proposed Hoseanna Creek branch.

STATUS OF COAL LAND.

The coal lands of T. 12 S., R. 7 W., have been divided into four 

leasing units (Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 6), as indicated on the accompanying 

map and as described on pages 50, 51, Two of these (Nos. 3 and 6) lie
48 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

wholly within this township and are described below. Nos. 2 and 4 

lie chiefly in T. 11 S., R. 7 W.

No. 3. Sec. 4, S. £ NW. £ and SW. i

Sec. 5, S. J, S. } NE. i, and S. } NW. J.

Area, 720 acres. 

No. 6. Sec. 2, SW. J SW. J.

Sec. 3, S. i SE. i and W. J. 

Sec. 4, E. $. 

Area, 760 acres.

TJNSURVEYED LANDS NEAR MAIN LINE OF RAILROAD.

Coal occurs in the unsurveyed lands along Nenana River on the main line of the 

railroad.

On the north bank of Hoseanna Creek a little less than half a mile above its mouth 

are two coal beds each about 3 feet thick. The eastern (lower) of these beds is near the 

west line of sec. 5, T. 12 S., R. 7 W., and is described above (exposure No. 175). The 

western (upper) bed (exposure No. 176) is in the unsurveyed lands that should be 

sec. 6, T. 12 S., R. 7 W.

On the east bank of Nenana River about a quarter of a mile below Hoseanna Creek 

the following exposure was seen in a bluff cut on the side of a gravel-covered bench 

30 feet above the river.

Exposure No. 177. Section on east bank of Nenana River one-fourth mile below Hoseanna

Creek.

Feet. 

Gravel (horizontal)................................................ 10

Sand and gravel.................................................. 2

Coal............................................................. 2$

Carbonaceous shale................................................ 1

Strike N. 30° E., dip 10° NW.

Two higher coal beds are exposed in the river bank farther downstream. Exposure 

No. 178 is 500 feet below No. 177 and shows a coal bed 2 feet thick. Exposure No. 179 

is 800 feet below No. 177 and shows a coal bed 5 feet thick. The three coal beds last 

described are all situated in the Unsurveyed lands that should be sec. 6, T. 12 S., 

R. 7 W.

Exposure No. 180 is on the east bank of Nenana River about 2 or 2£ miles below 

Hoseanna Creek, in a bluff about 300 feet high, containing eight or more coal beds. 

The three lowest beds were measured and found to be 4£, 15, and 10 feet thick. The 

rocks of this exposure form an anticline having northward dips of 10° to 20° on the north 

flank and southward dips of 30° to 65° on the south flank. These steep dips continue 

only a few hundred feet, beyond which the beds become nearly horizontal. This 

exposure is situated on unsurveyed lands that should be sec. 25, T. 11 S., R. 8 W.

One of the beds of the,above-described exposure Was observed at water level on the 

west bank of Nenana River. (See description of exposure No. 185.)

The amount of accessible coal West of Nenana River is problematic. The known 

exposures are all in the river bank on 'the edge of a gravel-covered terrace. The higher 

lands that lie farther back from the river have not been examined closely but seem to 

be largely covered with gravels.

The exposed coal beds seen on the west side of Nenana River are described in detail 

below.

Exposure No. 181. North end of bluff on west bank of Nenana River opposite mouth 

of Healy Creek. Coal 2 feet 6 inches thick; strike N. 87° E., dip 48° N. This exposure continues southward into cliffs about 80 feet high, which are inaccessible from the 

west bank of the river. These cliffs as viewed from Healy Creek in 1916 contained
LEASING BLOCKS. 49

"eight to ten coal beds, all dipping -about 45° N. Several of these beds are of fair size, 

some of them possibly being 10 feet or more thick, but nothing is known as to what 

partings and impurities they may contain. The top of the cliff is formed of gravels 

that lie horizontally upon the coal beds and extend back into flat terraces beneath 

which the coal-bearing rocks are concealed. There is probably little if any minable 

coal above river level at this locality.

Exposure No. 182. West bank of Nenana River at rapids 1J miles below Hoseanna 

Creek. Coal more than 4 feet thick; strike N. 85° E., dip 70° S. This coal bed crosses 

the river in a reef that causes the rapids, in which the river makes an abrupt drop of 

several feet. The abruptness of this fall indicates that the coal bed may be considerably thicker than the part actually exposed. The coal bed passes under a gravel 

terrace about 8 feet high.

Exposure No. 183. West bank of Nenana River about If miles below Hoseanna Creek. 

Clean, blocky lignite over 6 feet thick; strike N. 75° W., dip 8° N. The base of this, 

exposure is at water level. The top is cut off by the gravels that form a bench 12 or 15 

feet high. It is possibly the same bed as that at exposure No. 184.

Exposure No. 184. West bank of Nenana River at rapids about 2 miles below Hoseanna Creek. Coal more than 5 feet thick; strike N. 2° W., dip 18° W. The base of 

this exposure is at water level. The coal ia overlain and beveled by gravels that form 

a bench about 15 feet high. . ,

Exposure No. 185. West bank of Nenana River 2£ miles below Hoseanna Creek, 

Coal over 3 feet thick; strike N. 60° W., dip 25° SW. This exposure is at the edge 

of the water at the base of a 9-foot gravel bank. It is believed to represent part of 

a coal bed which, as exposed on the opposite bank of the river, is 10 or 15 feet thick.

Exposure No. 186. Head of little lake about 2£ miles northwest of mouth of Hoseanna 

Creek, about 120 feet east of station R17486; Hayden's line. Coal over 3 feet thick; 

strike N. 68° E., dip 20° NW. This coal bed is partly exposed, both roof and floor 

being concealed, near the base of a gravel bench. About 8 feet of bench gravel overlies the coal. This bench is about 200 feet wide and is succeeded by a higher bench, 

about 30 feet high, in the face of which no exposures except gravel were noted.

LEASING BLOCKS.

The leasing blocks described below lie in the valley of Hoseanna 

Creek. The coal exposures referred to are described above by townships and sections. The numbers of the exposures correspond with 

those on the map.

Areas of leasing blocks in the Nenana coalfield.

Acres. 

Block 1......:......... .about 1, 944.00

2...................... 840.00

3....................... 720.00

4...................... 1,120.00

5...................... 1,360.00

6...................... 760.00

7.......:.............. 1,240.00

8...................... 160.00

9....................... 1,040.00

10...................... 1,177.55

11...................... 393.33

12...................... 1,280.00

13...................... 600.00

69860° 18 4

	Acres.

Block 14...................... 1, 280.00

15...................... 560.00

16...................... 1,080.00

17........................ 480.00

18...................... 400.00

19...................... 720.00

20...................... 560.00

21.........:............ 680.00

22...................... 680.00

23...................... 388.32

24...................... 589.08

25...................... 790.05
50 FENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Blocks 2 and 3, containing 840 and 720 acres, respectively, have 

been reserved for Government use.

Block 1 contains sec. 30 (except the NE. £ and the NE. \ NW. £) 

and sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 7 W. (area, 1,054.16 acres), and also an 

unsurveyed lot described as follows: Beginning at the northwest 

corner of sec. 30, T. 11 S., R. 7 W., thence due west to the right 

of way of the main line of the Government railroad, thence southward along said right of way to the west line (extended) of sec. 31, 

T. 11 S., R. 7 W., thence north along the west line of sees. 31 and 30, 

T. 11 S., R. 7 W., to the place of beginning, containing 890 acres, 

more or less. The total area of block 1 is thus about 1,944 acres. 

This block is mostly covered with gravel, and the only coal beds 

seen in it were at exposure No. 180, on the bank of Neriana River, 

on the unsurveyed land west of sec. 30. The quantity, the depth, 

and even the presence of coal in part of this block may be somewhat 

uncertain, but it is believed that the coal beds shown in exposure 

No. 180 pass under the block unless they are cut out by the unconformity at the base of the gravels.

Block 2 contains the SE. i SE. £ sec. 29 and all of sec. 32, T. 11 S., 

R. 7 W. and the N. £ NE. i and N. | NW. '£ seo. 5, T. 12 S., R. 7 W. 

The total area is 840 acres. Exposures Nos. 171, 172, 173, and 

174 are in this block, and sample 26367 was obtained here. The exposed coal beds of this block are minable from openings on Hoseanna 

Creek. There may be other coal beds minable from openings on the 

hillsides or from shafts. Possibly some of the coal near Hoseanna 

Creek can be mined by stripping. This block has been reserved for 

Government use.

Block 3 contains the SW. i and S. £ NW. \ sec. 4 and the S. £, 

S. \ NE. 1, and S. \ NW. \ sec. 5, T. 12 S., R. 7 W. The total area is 

720 acres. Exposures Nos. 170 and 175 are in this block. The coal 

beds exposed on Hoseanna Creek dip gently southward and should 

be minable in slopes from openings situated near the creek. The 

amount of minable coal south of the creek is problematic, as the beds 

dip southward and within a short distance pass beneath gravels. A 

fault that extends west near the south line of sees, 1, 2, and 3, T. 12 

S., R. 7 W., may cut out the coal in portions of this block. There is 

possibly some coal in this block that can be mined by stripping. 

This block has been reserved for Government use.

Block 4 contains the S. \ and S. \ NE. \ sec. 28 and all of sec. 33, 

T. 11 S., R. 7 W., and the N. \ NW. \ sec. 4, T. 12 S., R. 7 W. The 

total area is 1,120 acres. Exposures Nos; 154, 155, and 156 are in 

this block. The small coal beds that are known to crop out in this 

block may be mined from hillside openings in the valley of the small 

creek in the W. \ sec. 33. It is probable that the block contains 

larger beds that can be reached by a shaft on Hoseanna .Creek.
LEASING BLOCKS. 51

Block 5 contains the S. £ SE. i and SE. i SW. i sec. 22, aU of sec. 27, 

except the NW. i NW. i, and aU of sec. 34, T. 11 S., R. 7 W. The 

total area is 1,360 acres. Exposures Nos. 150, 151, 152, 153, 157, 

158, and 159 are in this block. The coal beds exposed in this block 

dip about 10° or 15° N. and are minable in drifts or slopes from openings on the tributary of Hoseanna Creek that flows through the 

eastern part of the block. A special mine spur must be built up this 

creek in order to reach the mine sites.

Block 6 contains the SW. i SW. | sec. 2, the S. i SE. £ and W. $ 

sec. 3, and the E. £ sec. 4, T. 12 S., R. 7 W. The total area is 760 

acres. No coal exposures were seen in this block. Smut was seen 

at several localities, and a coal bed (exposure No. 169) was seen 

just Qutside the block, in the NW. | NE. | sec. 3. The extensive 

slumping on the hillsides in sees. 3 and 4 makes it difficult to determine the position and attitude of the coal beds.

Block 7 contains the S. £ sec. 23, all of sec. 26, and the N. £ NE. £ 

NW. i, and NW. i SW. i sec. 35, T. 11 S., R. 7 W. The total area 

is 1,240 acres. Exposures Nos. 133 to 149 and 161 to 165, inclusive, 

are in this block, and sample 26369 was obtained here. The coal 

beds exposed in this block are minable in drifts or slopes from openings on the small creeks in sees. 26 and 35. These beds have an 

average dip of 10° or 15° N. Mine spurs, half a mile to 1 mile long, 

must be built up these tributaries to reach the mine sites.

Block 8 contains the S. J NE. \ and N. i SE. £ sec. 35, T. 11 S., 

R. 7 Wv and has an area of 150 acres. Exposures Nos. 166 and 167 

are in this block. Both these exposures are on a 20-foot bed that is 

believed to be the lowest coal bed of this district. This bed crops 

out on the north bank of Hoseanna Creek and lies nearly flat. It 

. has a comparatively thin overburden and is believed to contain 

several hundred thousand tons of coal that can be mined by stripping.

Block 9 contains the SE. £ and S. £ SW. J sec. 24, all of sec. 25, 

and the N. £ NE. i and N. 4 NW. \ sec. 36, T. 11 S., R. 7 W. The 

total area is 1,040 acres. Exposures Nos. 122 to 132, inclusive, and 

168 are in this block. The coal beds exposed in this block dip northward at angles that probably average between 10° and 15°. They 

are minable in drifts or slopes from openings on the tributaries of 

Hoseanna Creek. Short spurs must be extended up these creeks 

to reach the mine sites.

Block 10 contains all of sec. 19 except the W. £ NW. £ and all of 

sec. 30, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., and has an area of 1,177.55 acres. Exposures Nos. 108 to 112, inclusive, are in this block, and sample 26362 

was obtained here. The coal beds exposed in this block are minable 

in drifts or slopes from openings on the north bank of Hoseanna 

Creek or on the two small tributaries in the E. £ sec. 30.

Block 11 contains the N. £ and NE. \ SW. \ sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 6 

W., and the SE. \ NE. \ sec. 36, T. 11 S., R. 7 W., and has an area
52 NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

of 393.33 acres. Exposure No. 113 is in this block. One or more 

of the thick coal beds (beds A, B?, and C?) in the lower part of 

the coal measures crop out in this block. The coal beds dip north at 

approximately the general slope of the south side of the valley of 

Hoseanna Creek. The block probably contains areas of coal that 

can be mined by stripping, but in attempting to do this care must be 

taken not to remove the present support of the surface or there will 

be dangerous slides on the dip slopes that form the valley wall. If 

the coal is taken out from above, this danger can probably be obviated. Extensive sliding. has already occurred on the dip slopes, 

and for this reason the coal beds were not mapped and measured.

Block 12 contains all of sees. 20 and 29, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., and 

has an area of 1,280 acres. Exposures Nos. 53 and 99 to 107, inclusive, are in this block. The coal-bearing rocks of this block lie 

in a gently folded syncline in which the lower coal beds reach the 

surface in the northern part of sec. ,20 and the southern part of sec. 

29. The coal beds exposed in sec. 29 can be mined in drifts or slopes 

from openings on the north bank of Hoseanna Creek and on its 

tributaries. The lower coals of sec. 20 and part of the coal of sec. 

30 could probably be mined from a shaft on the creek in the NE. £ 

sec. 30.

Block 13 contains all (except the SE. \ SE. i) of sec. 32, T. 11 S., 

R. 6 W., and has an area of 600 acres. No exposures were measured 

in this block, sliding on the dip slopes having so disturbed the outcrops that measurements would not be reliable. Several of the 

thick coal beds in the lower part of the coal measures are known to 

cover considerable areas in this block. These beds may be minable 

in drifts or by stripping, but in working by either method the danger 

of extensive slides on the dip slopes must be carefully considered.

Block 14 contains all of sees. 21 and 28, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., and has 

an area of 1,280 acres. Exposures Nos. 93 to 98, inclusive, are in 

this block. The recorded dips in sec. 28 are 7°-15° N. In sec. 21 

no exposures or dips were recorded, but the beds should dip south 

in the northern part of block 12. The coal beds should be minable 

in drifts or slopes from openings on Hoseanna Creek and on the 

tributary in the western part of the block. The deeper coals should 

be mined from a shaft on the axis of the syncline near the northwest corner of sec. 28 or, preferably, from the same shaft as the 

deeper coals in block 12.

Block 15 contains all (except the E. $ NE. |) of sec. 33, T. iVS., 

R. 6 W., and has ah area of 560 acres. No exposures were measured 

in this block, but many coal smuts and burned outcrops were noted. 

The coal beds dip north at approximately the general slope of the 

valley wall and may be minable in drifts from openings on Hoseanna 

Creek or its tributaries. There may be some small areas that can
LEASING BLOCKS. 53

be stripped. In using any method of mining the danger of causing 

extensive slides on the dip slopes must be carefully considered.

Block 16 contains all of sec. 22 and all (except the SE. J and SE. J 

SW. 1) of sec. 27, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., and has an area of 1,080 acres. 

Exposures Nos. 54 to 57, 81 to 86, and 88 to 92, inclusive, are in this 

block, and sample 26366 was obtained here. The coal be,ds that 

crop out in the S. $ sec. 22 and in sec. 27 dip 5°-20° N. and are minable in drifts and slopes from openings on the tributary of Hoseanna 

Creek. A mine spur 1£ miles long will be required to reach these 

mine sites from the proposed railroad on Hoseanna Creek. The 

coal beds that crop out on Marguerite Creek, in the northern part 

of sec. 22, dip about 30° S. It is probable that the coal in the northern part of the block can be reached through the workings in the 

southern part,

Block 17 contains the SE. J and SE. J SW. J sec. 27, the E. J NE. J 

sec. 33, and the NW. J and NW. J NE. J sec. 34, T. 11 S., R. 6 W. 

The total area is 480 acres. Exposures Nos. 87 and 115 are in this 

block. The coal beds of this block can probably be mined in drifts 

from hillside openings on Hoseanna Creek and on the tributary 

draining sec! 27.

Block 18 contains the S. \ NE. J and S. J sec. 34, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., 

and has an area of 400 acres. Exposure No. 114 is in this block. 

The coal beds of this block dip north and can be in part mined from 

hillside drifts. The lower coal can best be reached by a shaft on 

Hoseanna Creek.

Block 19 contains all of sec. 23 and the N. } NW. J sec. 26, T. 11 

S., R. 6 W., and has an area of 720 acres. Exposure No. 58 is in 

this block. Most of the coal beds shown in exposure No. 81, block 

16, crop out in the southwestern part of block 19. The coal of this 

block can probably be most easily mined from openings on the creek 

in the NE. J sec. 27, in block 16.

Block 20 contains all (except the N. } NW. J) of sec. 26, T. 11 S., 

R. 6 W., and has an area of 560 acres. Exposures Nos. 78, 79, and 

80 are in this block, and samples 26363 and 26364 were obtained 

here. The coal beds exposed in this block dip about 26° N. They 

are minable in slopes from hillside openings on the north side of 

Hoseanna Creek.

Block 21 contains the NE. J NE. f sec. 34, and all of sec. 35, T. 11 

S., R. 6 W., and has an area of 680 acres. Exposures Nos. 116 to 

121, inclusive, are in this block. These coal becls dip north at observed 

angles of 12° to 22°. They are minable in drifts and slopes from 

openings on Sanderson Creek. The lower coal beds are below the 

surface on Sanderson Creek and must be reached by a shaft, which 

should preferably be situated on Hoseanna Creek in block 17 or 20.
54 ' NENANA COAL FIELD, ALASKA.

Block 22 contains the W. .£, W. £ NE. J, and W. £ SE. i sec. 24, 

and the NW. J and NW. | SW. J sec. 25, T. 11 S., R. 6 W. The 

total area is 680 acres. Exposures Nos. 59 to 69, inclusive, and 76 

are in this block. These coal beds lie nearly flat, the observed dips 

ranging from 5° N. to 5° S. They can be mined from drift openings 

on the bank of Hoseanna Creek and on the hillsides above.

Block 23 contains the E. i SE. J sec. 24, and the N. } NE. J sec. 25, 

T. 11 S., R. 6 W., and the SW. J sec: 19, and the N. } NW. i sec. 30, 

T. 11 S., R. 5 W. The total area is 388.32 acres. Exposures Nos. 

7, 16, 17, 63, 69, 70, 71, and'76 are in this block. These coal beds 

are nearly horizontal and may be mined from hillside openings in the 

banks ,of Hoseanna Creek. . Block 24 contains the S. i NE. J, SE. J, E. £ SW. J, and SW. J 

SW. i sec. 25, T. 11 S., R. 6 W., and the S. J NW. i and SW. J sec. 30, 

T. 11 S., R. 5 W. The total area is 589.08 acres. Exposures Nos. 

72, 73, 74, 75, and 77 are in this block, and sample 26365 was obtained here. The coal beds that crop out in this block can be mined 

in drifts and slopes from hillside openings.

Block 25 contains the N. i, N. J SE. J, and N. } SW. J sec. 36, T. 

11 S., R. 6 W., and the NW. J, N. } SW. J, NW. i SE. j, and SW. J. 

NE. | sec. 31, T. 11 S., R. 5 W. Its area is 790,05 acres. No coal 

exposures were recorded in this block, outcrops being poor. The 

coal beds that doubtless crop out in this block probably dip north 

and should be minable from openings on the creek in the N. $ sec. 36 

or through workings in block 24.

o