Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-06-04
ALASKA MINERAL
REPORT OF UNUSUAL VALUE HAS
BEEN ISSUED.
Gold, Coal, Copper and Other Min
eral Deposits of the Mount
WrangeI, ChestOchena and Ma
Z'na KcgiORs--Map of Copper
River Valley.

Washington, June IA report Of
unusual value has been published by
the geological survey on the gold, cop
pert, coal and other mineral deposits
OF the Mount Wransel district in Alas
ka, including desert ption of the Ches-
tcoheLa and NaZina regions. "A map
has also been published OH the Copper
river valley and tn" contiguous region.
Extensive observations were made last
season by Walter q. MeAdenhall and
Frank &. Sclrader, OF the survey, and
a special effort has been made to rem
der this report of particular value to
the mining prospsctor.
The paper opens with brief intro
duction in which the history of the
now we'll known Wrangel copper dis
trict is traced from the time of the
stampede of 1898 to the present. The
discussion of the mineral resources is
then taken up, and the copper, gold,
coal and other minerals that are known
to exist or to have been reported from
time 20 time are treated in turn. The
information presented is the latest OBJ
taionable, having been collected III
great part in the course of geologic in
vestigatlons made during the last sea-
son.
The copper deposits occur in two
somewhat widely separated fields, ly-
ing along the southern and northern
slopes respectively of the Mount Wran-
gel group OF mountains, lofty volcan-
ic chain which DIVORCES from the st.
Elias chain near the Alaska Canadian
boundary and extends $50 miles west
ward, ending abruptly in the Copper
river valley. The best known copper
field lies within the southern area, and
il generally spoken of as the Chitna
copper belt. The geologic history of
this belt is briefly reviewed with spe-
cial reference to the processes that
have affected the greenstones and lime
stones within which the copper depos-
its are found. After this review the
various properties are discussed in de-
tail, rome of those that are best known
being the Elliott creek group, the Be-
nanza claim, just east of kennicott
glacier, and the Nicholai properties, in
the Nazina country. The last named
region has recently attracted widespread
attention on account of the operations
u.s. DNb. D1.,.. l., =
clnding some English capitalists.
A review is given of the district north
Of the Wrangel mountains. This dis
trict is similar in some respects to the
area. and the prospects that have been
found within it are described in detail
in the SURVEYS report. These pros
poets lay within the drainage basin of
tire Nabesena, Chisana and White riv.
ers, and consist OF sulphide deposits
and native copper, the latter usually
appearing in placer deposits. In con-
nection with the description of the va
rious properties, information is given
as to the rontes to be followed in reach
ing the regions under discussion, and as
to the best method OF Transporting food
supplies and outfit.
In correction with the gold deposits,
the report describes the low grade min
eralized zones within the regions ada
cent to the Nabesna. Chisana and
White rivers and the Mentasta noun.
tains, and also discusses in some detail
the well known Chestochena gold field,
the principal placer region of Southern
Alaska. Such information as is avail
able as also been collected concerning
the new Nazina gold field, which was
the object of stampede of considerable
proportions last year, and whittier
several large outfits and many men
have gone this year. ,
The occurrences of silver, platinum.
tin. mercury, osmiridium and iron, !
which have from time to time been
reported in different parts of the dis |
trict considered in this report, are dis !
cussed, and the proba of their
existence and of their commercial val !
ne are dealt with. The report closes |
with a description of a number of coal !
deposits of varying commercial value,
found at widely scattered points within
the field.
The paper is illustrated by twelve
reproductions of photographs, which !
show mining camps, placer claims and |
copper properties, and by several maps. |
including a map of the Copper river !