The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-03-02
COPPER MINING
IN ALASKA
IN DISTRICT
RESTRICTED ALMOST WHOLLY
TO SEARCH FOR COpPER-DE-
NELOPMENT WORK AND RAIL
ROAD BUILDING.

ROAD BUILDING.
Investigations were made i'm the
upper Copper River region. Alaska,
in 1908 by a United States geologi-
cal survey party. in charge of F. III.
Moffit. with whom were associated
Adolph knopf and S. r. Clapps. The
area visited lies on the northeast
side of the Wrangell Mountains and
extends from the head of Copper
River southwark across the head of
Nabesna and Chisana tShushana)
rivers to the head of White River.
forming region of exceedingly
rugged topography
Geologic mapping and examination
of mining properties was begun ON
Nabesna River and was carried south
eastward beyond the area of previous
surveys. except the reconnaissance of
A. II. Brooks in 1899. Topographic
mapping was carried from Chisana
lSnushana) River 10 White River,
the principal area surveyed being the
White River Valley from Skolai
glacier eastward TO the international
boundry line.
Active prospecting in the region
investigated was carried on in 1908
on the head of Nabesna River. on
Cross Creek Tor Copper Greek. as it
is ealled.) and on White River The
White River propects are situated in
two areas-one at the head of the
river. in the vicinity OF Skolai glacier;
the other near the international
boundary line. partly. il is supposed.
in Yukon territory.
Prospecting In the region north
east of the Wrangel Mountains is
restricted almost wholly TO the search
for copper. although gold has been
found at a number of places. The
best known copper prospects on
Nabesna River are near the foot of
Nabesna glacier. in the vicinity of
Orange Hill. but development work
is not yet sufficiently advanced to
give an idea of their extent.
SMALL STAMP MILL BUILT.
At gold deposit on Jackina Greek
small stamp mill was erected in
1906 and about so tons of surface ore
I were crushed. During 1908 the mill
was not in operation, but a new tun-
mel was being driven.
The copper minerals ON Copper
Greek are found in layas and con-
sists chiefly of sulphide chalcopy-
rite and chalcocite. but include also
euprite and native copper. The cop
per deposits of White River consist of
copper sulphides and native copper
in lava flows. Native copper is found
in greatest amount near the bound
airy line, This region gives some
promise TO the prospector for gold
lode deposits and development work
on vein of argentiferous galena as
soeiated with sphalerite has been be-
gun.
Prospecting in Chitina Valley was
discouraged during 1908 by the low
price of copper and the consequent
difficulty of obtaining financial back
ing. but some effective development
work was done. At the Bonanza mine
the season was spent in erecting a
sawmill ore bunkers, buildings for
various purposes. and an aerial tram
from the mine to the camp.
Development work was done on the
extension of the Bonanza in the up
per part of Mccarthy Creek Valley
by the owners of the Mother Lode
claim and by the Houghton Alaska
Exploration company The largest
operations in the remainder of the
field were those of the Alaska Con-
solidated Copper company on Nugget
Creek, the Hubbard Elliott Copper
Mines development company. on
Elliott Greek. and the Great North
ern Development company on Kot-
sian River.