The Butte inter mountain., 1903-12-22
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUR
VEY MEN HAVE ABOUT EX-
HAUSTED RESEARCH.
SOON TO SUBMIT REPORTS
Deposits OF Minerals, ETC., to Be Told
of-Thoroueh Exploration Of
the Territory.

ing its varied mineral resources. The plans
carried out during the last season are
part Of a general scheme for systematic
investigation Of Alaskas mineral wealth.
So rapid is its development OF the treasure
land. however, that it is impossible for the
Alaska division Of the survey, owing to
its limited appropriation, to keep pace with
the latest discoveries and enterprises.
Seven Parties Out
Seven survey parties spent the summer
OF 1908 in the Alaskan field. There they
carried on work Of diversified character,
varying from has,y reconnaissance in the
tundra belt OF the Arctic slope Of the
Seward peninsula to a close and detailed
examination of the geology and ore bodies
in the denscly forested region OF South
eastern Alaska
Two OF the parties we're engaged in
topographic work, five in geologic. What
ever may be the character Of these inycs-
LEGATIONS each carries with it its own
peculiar interests, as well as its special
drawbacks and tests of endurance. All
require men who are willing to dispense
with creature comforts and to accep, with
forti,ude hardshps that are little realized
by those who read the official reports OF
the expeditions.
On Seward Peninsula.
Two of the parties in the field during
the las, summer were At work i'll Seward
peninsula. mainly in the Nome district,
one was i'll Southeastern Alaska. in the
vicinity Of Juneau, two in Central Alska,
between the Tanana and Yukon rivers, one
along the banks of the Yukon, and one on
the coast Of Controller bay.
one OF the parties in the Seward pc
min ula was headed by Arthur !. Collier,
who had the assistance Of Mr.. Frank l..
Hess Nome was reached on June 10 and
work was carried on in that vicinity until
September 80. when the party sailed for
Seattle. Within the last two years. cx-
tensNe developments have been made in
the placer mines Of Nome and the djacent
districts. These include new discoveries
OF gold-bcarng gravels, improvements in
old mining methods. and adaptations OF
tried processes 10 the peculiar conditions
Of an Arctic climate.
The special purpose Of Mr.. Golfers
party was to study these developments and
to make such geological observations as
will supplement the work that was done
in this region in 1000 and 1901. Nearly
all the important mining camps OF Seward
peninsula were examined during the sum
mer.
Among these were those Of Anvil. Dcx-
ter and Glacier creeks and Of the tundras
near Nome; those Of Basin and Dorothy
creeks. abou, the head of Nome river;
and those OF Gold Run and Alder creeks
in the Blucstone region. The tin deposits
Of Lost river. Buck creek and Cape noun
tain in the Yukon region were studied.
The gold placers about the head Of the
kugruk river and Harris creek. in the
kugruk region, were examined, as well
as those along Ophir, Gold Bottom and
Mystery creeks and the Niukluk river. in
the Council region, those near Big Hurrah
and Shovel creeks and Solomon river, in
the Solomon river region. and finally those
| along Nenetia creek. a tributary of Edo
| RADIO river. In the course OF the work
| geologic observations were made that will
| throw added light on the complicated
structure OF the region.
Mineral Deposits.
The investigations in Southeastern
Alaska were in charge OF Arthur c.
Spencer, srologst, who vas assisted by
Charles ". Wright. The season was de-
voted to detailed study Of the geological
features OF district near Juneau and an
investigation Of the mineral deposits OF
rhat vicinity. Data were obtained for a
geological map which will show the dis
tribution OF the various formations and
their relations to veins and ore deposits
Careful study was also made OF the active
mincs in the district.
Among them was the noted Alaska
Trcadwell group, on Douglas island, which
lies within the area Of the geological map
With the exception Of those in the Sitka
region, all OF the better known mining
camps OF Southeastern Alaska lying north
OF the town of Wrangell were visited
The results OF this reconnaissance will be
published in the form of a short descrip
ton accompanying general geologic MAJ
Of the mainland strip that lies between
salt water and the international boundary
geographic Reconnaissance.
The two parties in Central Alaska GOV
cred the same geographical territory. Tn
topographic party under the leadership O
7. 6. Gerdine, with the X. b. Oliver as as
sistant, made a topographic reconnais
sance from the Fortymie region ives,
ward to the Tanana river, to survey tn
placer gold fields of the district, includin
the newly discovered Fairbanks digging.
From these they worked their way north
ward to the Yukon river, Circle City be
ing their objective point
The geologic party in this region wa
under the leadership of Mr.. l.. NJ Prindle
The purpose of its work was to get a
idea Of the present condition and futur
possibilities of the country from an ece
nomic viewpoint, and at the same time t
learn as much as possible of the geolog
of the bold-bearing formations. With th
object in view all the active mining camI
were visited, and many Localities were c,
amined where prospecting is in progres
Fossils Of the Yukon.
, As it was found advisable to ascertai
more exactly by paleobotanical and p;
genealogical evidence the age of II
strata exposed along the Yukon river, fro
the international boundary to the delt
Dr. G.. Arthur Holick, assistant geologs
, and Mr.. Sidney Paige, field assistan
5 were detailed to investigate this sectio
They left Seattle OH June I, reached Dav