Evening star., 1898-03-05
MAP OF THE GOLD FIELDS
An Important Work Just Issued by the Geo
logical Survey.
Furnishes Much Information About
the Klondil<e That is of Value
to the Miners.

A map of Alaska, showing known gold
bearing rocks, with descriptive text, con-
tanning sketches of the geography, geology
and gold deposits and routes to the gold
fields. has just been issued by the United
States geological survey, in pursuance of d
recent joint resolution of Congress. These
Pamphlets are TO be had for the asking
There will be 10000 copies in all. Most of
them go to the congressional document
rooms, whence they will be distributed to
the public on orders Of senator's and repre-
sentativcs; the remainder issue from the
survey office.
The map. which is on scale of fifty
seven miles to the inch, is specially de-
signed for the use of the miners, prospec-
tors and travellers in Alaska. The region
represented extends from Boring Strait
eastward to the Rocky Mountains and Brit
ish Columbia, and from the 54th parallel
northward to the Arctic ocean, embracing
the drainage basin of the Yukon river from
its mouth to its most distant headwaters.
The principal topographic features, as pla-
teaus, mountain regions and valleys, are in
dicated by hachures. More Is known of the
valleys and regions bordering the naviga-
ble drafnageways than of other portions of
the country. Back from the rivers lie ex-
tensive rugged tracts still comparatively
uneXplored.
The lines of magnetic variation are laid
down. The Fort St. Michael military reser-
ter of this reservation is St Michael Is
land, and 1t includes the great delta of the
Yukon, the head Of Natom sound and Go
lofnin bay.
Very Coslnleae
The map includes two smaller, local,
larger scale maps, one of the Fortymile
and the Klondike goldzn}iiing regions. the
other of the mountainous area between the
coast and the interior above Lynn canal,
showing he pc q nd IL
ing from tide water to the headwaters Of
the Yukon. 1t is in part eolored showing
at glance by color and, by name where
gold and coal have been found, in both the
interior and the coastal regions, especially
the gold-bearing rock formations of the
Fortymiie apd Birch creek series. These
gold-bearing rocks are3 seen to trend from
the Klondike region for nearly COO miles
Eorthwestward, across the great elbow OF
the Yukon, toward the eosst2; r.r5ss - so
The descriptive text accompanying the
map, consisting Oh fbffy -fouri.p ges, conf
tairs useful information sfor the practical
prospeotor and miner. 1t gives a BRIEF
historical geographical and geological
sketch Of the country, describing it's rivers,
mountains. climate conditions, routes, trails
and passes, with valuable hints and direc-
tions to the traveller down the Yukon con-
corning the canyon and the dangerous
White Horse Rapids. Besides the rock
formations of the Fortymile and the Birch
creek series, the original deposits, or gold
rearing quartz veins, are broadly discussed
and the probable extent of the gold de-
rosits is indicated. Similar consideration
Is given to the detrital or gold-bearing
placer gravels and to the mode of concen-
tration of the coarse gold, it's nature, and
he manner of its extraction. Valuable
metals other than gold, as platinum and
copper. are also touched upon. The deposits
of coal and Ignite are mentioned somewhat
fully. They occur mostly in the coastal
regions and on the lower Yukon, though
good EOrtymiIe
district as on Coal creek Similar deposits
have also been reported on the headwaters
of the Stewart river, just above the Klon-
dixie.