The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-06-10
SNAKE RIVER PLACERS.
Geological Survey Expert Reports on
Result of Investigations.

The existence of gold in the gravels
forming the terraces along Snake river
and its tributary streams has long been
known. As early as 1862 attempts were
made by various prOspectors TO ex-
tract the shining coiors or gold flakes
from the coarse gravels and fine sands
along the streams some of the earliest
workings above Grand canyon of the
Snake being in Jackson hole, north of
eros Ne1tre river. In recent years con-
siderable prospecting has been done along
Snake and Fall rivers, but very little real
development work has been carried on.
Claims have been located and staked out.
but only enough work has been done TO
hold them.
In the summer of 1906 a geological sur
vey party engaged primarily in a study
of the various coal and oil beds Of Uinta
county, Wyo., gave incidental attention to
the occurrence of gold along the Snake
subject has been prepared by Mr.. Alfred
r. Shutz. with whom was associated in
the field Messrs. f. Z. Smith, B. A. liver
son. and II. S. Schleuter.
The Investigations of Mr.. Schultz and
his party were confined to that part of
Snake valley lying in central Uinta cOun-
ty. Except for a narrow strip along the
eastern margin, the entire area is a sue
eession of rugged gOrgeS and canyons
whose walls are in many places nearly
perpendicular. Elevations range from
800 along the Snake to u, 500 feet on the
crests of the Salt river and Wyoming
the area in a direction east of north and
west of south. On the northeast are the
eros Ventre mountains, extending east
southeast and west-northwest, and con-
nected with the Wyoming range by the
Hoback range.
The placers along the Snake comprise
both stream and bench deposits. None
of the stream placer deposits within the
area are at present worked, and in only
two localities are the bench placers sys-
tematical1y mined. The metal in all these
placers show locally great variations in
the character and occurrence of pay
streaks.
The map presented by Mr. Schultz in
connection with his report shows the dis
trlbutlOn OF the placer workings along the
Snake between the Davis diggings in Uin-
Ia county, Wyo., and Miner, Idaho, and
the paper discusses briefly the Idaho
holdings, particularly those near the gov
eminent dam at Minidoka. This dam has
raised the water over an adjacent high
contains some of the best values in fine
gold along the river. Already a company
has been organized for the purpose of
taking advantage of the favorable sit
cation enterprises.
Samples of Snake river concentrates
were examined by the United States geo
logical survey at Portland, Ore. in con-
Cection with the experiments on the
heavy placer concentrates of the Pacific
slope. to determine their value in other
metals and minerals besides gold, and
nearly all Welded from a trace to an ap-
probable amount of platinum. Two or
three enterprises now on foot along the
Snake will test the practicability of saw
ing possible by-products of the placer
graVelS in addition to their gold contents.
and the result will be watched with
much interest; for if in any way platinum
can be made an important factor of the
output, with any margin of profit, the
country al large will be benefited since
there are billions of cubic yards of these
lOw-grade gold and platinum bearing
gravels along the banks of the Snake.
Mr., Schultz's report, which appears in
the surveys Contributions to Economic
Geology, 1906" contains large amount
of valuable information. Persons inter
ested should apply to the director of the
United States Geological Survey at Wash
ingtOn, for a copy of Bulletin No. SO,
which will be sent free of charge,