The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-09
ALASKAN GOLD FIELDS.
Discussed Scientifically From a Gov
eminent Standpoint.

Washington, March 1.-TWO papers
containing important contributions to
the gold bearing regions of Alaska, pa
pers the publication of which have been
awaited with great interest for nearly
a year have just issued from the gov
eminent printing office. They are both
advance chapters from the part Sd of
the eighteenth annual report of the di-
rector of the United States geological
survey not yet issued. The papers give
the results of reconnaissance eXamina-
lions by survey experts, made respec-
lively in the summers of 1895 and 1896,
or shortly before the outbreak of the
Klondike gold excitement The paper
entitled Reconnaissance of the gold
fields of southern Alaska a pamphlet
of Sc pages of text and a number of
maps and other illustrations records the
result of observations by Mr.. George f.
Becker in 1895. it's publication having
been delayed until this time mainly by
reason of Mr.. Becker's absence during
part of 1886, making study of the gold
deposits of the Transvaal.
The principal developments of the
coast region of Alaska have been made
among the islands of the Alexander
archipelago and on the adjoining shore
of the pan handle strip of southeast
ern Alaska. In this region are the IA
nous Alaska-TreadWell and the Alas
ka-Mexican mines, on Douglass island,
and a series of important deposits on
the main land opposite and not far
from Juneau and the Hunters Bay
mines on Admiralty island; to the
northwest are the B6Tn6T S Bay mines,
on the eastern shore of Lynn Canal and
to the southwest the Sumdun mines on
Sumdun bay, all of which are in the
same general belt of metamOrphOsed
states and intrusive rocks that resemble
in q general way the rocks of the moth
er lode in California and are supposed to
be of the same general formation.
A second more westerly belt is shown
in the mines near Sitka, on Baranof is
land which presents similar geological
features. Prospecting in this region is
rendered most difficult by the dense
covering of fallen timber and moss,
which everywhere covers the rock sur
face. The placers and beach sands of
Cooks Inlet and the mines of Kadiak
island are also described and appear to
occur in similar rocks to those of the
Alexander archipelago. On Unga- is
land is the Apollo mine, the largest in
the territory next to the TreadWeIl,
which is eruptive rock.
The report of Mr.. J. E. Spur 1892 pa
ges of text with maps and other illus
tratiOns) which treats mainly of the
valley of the Yukon is of more inmedi-
ate interest at the present time, since
although the KlOndike region did not
come within the limits of his official
work, he recognized the probable i'm.
portance of that region as a result OF
his studies of the districts of Forty
mile and Arctic City, within American
boundaries. The report is entitled
Geology of the Yukon gold district of
Alaska by J. Edward Spur, with an in
troductory chapter on the history and
condition of the district to 1897 by Har-
old b. Goodrich
In spite of the difficulties of travel
and short season of work, Mr.. Spur |
was enabled to get a birds-eye view of |
the broad general features Of geological |
structure of this immense interior and |
to determine the position and charac-
teristic features of the gOld-bearing |
rock formations from the wearing down |
of which the unusually rich placer depos- |
it's not only of the already discovered |
districts in American territory but also |
of those which since have created a |
great deal of excitement within Cana |
dian borders These rock formation, |
which he designateS as the Birch creek, |
Forty Mile and Rampant series are of |
immense thickness and very old dating /
back beyond the paleOzoIc era and rest
ing on fundamental granite or gneiss. |
The richer placerS are all found among
the smaller gulches heading in hills
formed of these rocks, which are very
full of gOld-bearing quartz veins.
There are also gold-bearing cOnglomer-
ates, formed in a former geologic peri
cd by the wearing down of thin rocks
along an ancient beach since cOnSOlldat-
ed into hard rock, lifted up and folded,
where abrasion has furnished gold to
some of the placers, and which may
prove themselves to be sources of |
wealth in the future
Mr. Spurs report is accompanied by
geological maps of the mining districts
visited and contains a full discussion
of the manner in which placer deposits
are formed. He effectually dispOses Of
the statement nlaue ny lI1e ldlE u1IeClOI
of the coast survey, Gen. Dumeld, that
the placers are of glacial origin by
showing that the region where they are
found in great richness, was never COW
cred by the continental ice sheet. The
paper will undoubtedly prove of great
value in affording to those who may
visit in the future more correct under
standing of the geological conditions
prevailing in the region and will be in
great demand.
: Of each of these papers the geological
survey has about ], 200 copies for gener-
al distribution.
~ -. r,;,.41,7o