The times., 1899-02-08
THE YUKON REGIONS
NEW PRECIOUS METAL
Despised Black Sand Proves to
Carry Platinum.
Town Sites That Threaten TO Eclipse
Dawson City.
KIondike Citizens Meet To Rinse
Funds TO Aid the Sick and
Distressed Miners.

McCook writes from Dawson CITY, ana
tells of another valuable discovery IN the
Klondike region. The black sand which is
taken in great quantities from most of the
creeks OF the Yukon district has been
found 10 contain platinum. Consul McCook
says that if the result is as good as re-
product OF value. A local newspaper says
concerning the Platinum discovery:
The following account of the analysis of
common looking and supposedly worthless
black sand will prove of grea; interest 10
all who have the future of this country at
heart. Black sand is found in almost every
stream in the Yukon territory, and, while
considered q good indication of gold in
more or less quantity, is always nuis-
ance TO washers. On account OF its great
specific gravity, it remains in the uice
boxes with the gold, and even hand pam
ming will not always separate it from the
precious metal ii accompanies.
During the cleanup many tons of this
sand are thrown out. yet the analysis Of
twelve pounds OF il taken from near the
mouth of the Hootalinqua would tend to
show a distinct value for this supposedly
by-product. The dredging company OF
head has obtained considerable over n
hundred miles of rivers for gold dredging,
part OF which is a long stretch of the Hoo
talinqua near its mouth. In a test last
summer fine gold was siuiced in laying
quantities; but it is not of that gold we
wish 10 speak. In washing a cubic yard
and a half of gravel, the short sIuices
boxes became badly congested with black
sand. The sand and gold dust We're taken
UP and the gold carefully removed. / he
sand was not thrown away, as is usual, but
brought 10 Dawson. DR.. Willis L. Ever
cite, a metallurgist OF national reputation
and a member of the bar of the Supreme
Court of the United States, is official as
sayeT of Captain Jacks company, and has
a most complete and expensive assay office
on Second Avenue. The sand was given
him for examination, and the most su. pris-
ing results were obtained.
The Test of Metals.
ITO commence at the beginning, it was
readily found that % per cent of the black
sand was not magnetic iron oxide. With
magnets the two were easily separated,
and between the two sands there was lit
tie difference except that the non-mag-
netic sand appeared of slightly finer grain
than the magnetic. 4 furnace test of the
with the proper fluXes and introduced into
the furnace. At the proper heat all but
the metals wanted were volatilized or ran
into Stag leaving buttons OF platinum and
gold. careful weighing upon scales
which weigh TO the one forty-eight thou
sandth part of a grain sh.wed most sur
prisiBg result, a result which is bound 10
revolutionize sluicing methods as practiced
today in river dredging. In one ton OF
the Don-metallic black sand there is S1O2
in gold and ninety-six ounces of platinum,
some iridium, and trace of tin. The
platinum at IS per ounce would amount
in value to S76S. making the total value
OF a ton OF the sand SS1e.
In some localities the sand is most
plentiful. In this case there were twelve
pounds OF black sand from a cubic yard
and a half of bar gravel. In twelve
pounds OF black sand there were three
pounds OF non-metallic sand. To obtain
ton OF this gold and platinum bearing
sand would, by the above figures, require
The sluicing of J00 yards OF gravel, which
gives the value in platinum and gold of
81 cents per yard This is entirely out
side of any placer gold caught in the
sluices or upon the amagam. With
dredgers, on d modern plan, ii costs but
a few cents TO handle each yard OF creek
bed gravel. so that if there was not an
ounce of free gold in the country it would
still be profitable TO dredge for black
sand.
DIR. Eyerettc's Analysis.
Or Everette's own words are: Forty
cubic feet of gravel in place gave twelve
pounds of black sand by the usual lixivia-
tion process. This black sand assayed
and snalyzed gave high value in gold
and platinum, with traces of silver, copper,
tin. and iridium. The sample, when an
alyzed for platinum. gave the enormous
amount of ninety-siX ounces 10 the ton,
the platinum being in the shape of finely
divided minute grains of metal combined
with similar sized grains of excessively
fine gold 10 the value of SlO2 to the ton
AT the same operation with the above,
DIR. Everette assayed some of the Hoota-
Iinqua gold and found ii to run rife
over 81 per ounce.
New Discoveries of Gold.
Consul McCook's letter continues:
1T is as yet too early TO get any idea
OF what the output Of gold from the diff
ferent creeks viii amount TO. There are
great many more men at work this sea-
son than last, and ii is supposed more
gold will be taken out. On some creeks
which were considered good there will
be disappointment; while others. called
wild cat. and where little or nothing was
expected, are being prospected with good
results. Quite a stampede has taken place
within the past few weeks from here to
the Stewart River district. Several new
creeks have been discovered in that To-
cality where good prospects have been
found. They are called Thistle Scrog-
gle, Kirkman. Tulare. and Ballart Creeks.
all tributaries of the Yukon River. 4
Town site is already located at the mouth
Of Thistle Creek. and also one at the
mouth of Stewart River both OF which
promise TO rival Dawson. For anyone not
having claims, this is the most promising
section now. The mining districts in and
around Dawson are entirely oyerdone On
the Alaska side, Forty-Mile Post. Eagle
City Star City. and that vicinity, II l.
confidently expected that this winter will
bring forth good results
We had one week of severe weather in
November. the thermometer ranging from
40 10 80 degrees below zero from the sth
TO the 18th Since that time the weather
has been quite moderate. thermometer
ranging from 10 10 20 degrees below zero,
which is considered fine weather here.
sickness and Distress.
Several meetings have been held at this
Office. called by citizens. TO devise some
means for raising funds TO aid the sick
and distressed in and about Dawson CITY.
The hospitals have closed their doors 10
any unable TO pay the fee OF s. per day
formerly Sl0), medical attendance extra
The local government authorities have ex-
hausted all funds at their disposal The
revenue from miners licenses $50 eachl
and recording fee tsl5). recording sale or
transfer (S2), customs duties and the 10
per cent royalty on the gross output of
gold, amounting in all 10 some s., SOC, 600