The Nome daily nugget., 1911-04-28

and more recognized by the public each year. and the desire for information on this subject is shown by the atten- tion given it by the papers and maga- zines. The following sketch of the Valdez creek district is condensed from a report now being prepared by Fred II. Moffit, of the United States Geolo- gical Survey, which will be ready for distribution about June 1.
 There has been a great increase in interest in the gold resources of the Copper and Susitna river basins and the adpacent coast region during the vicinity of Valdez, Seward, and the head of Cook inlet gave their time to search for lode deposits, but in the in- terior only placer gold received much attention. These interior placer dis tricts include the Nizina river, Slate creek, Valdez creek and Yentna river districts The Valdez creek district has attracted attention recently on account of the discovery of gold bearing gravels that promise an extension of the known gold producing area.
 Location Of Valdez Creek.
 Valdez creek is one of the upper tributaries of Susitna river, which flows into Cook inlet It is about II miles long and lies in the mountains hanking the flask range. flowing into the Susitna from the east. Its broad valley is foored with gravels that are largely the product of glaciaton. All it's larg- est tributaries rise in the mountains south of Valdez creek. They include Timberline creek, White creek and Roosevelt creek. Rusty creek and Lucky crek are tributaries of White and Roosevelt creeks, respectively.
 Production of the Creek and Its Trbu-
 taries.
 The total gold production of the Valdez creek district up to 1910, is approximately s26O.OOO. The most pro ductivc part of Valdez creek proper k in the lower or miles of it's course and includes about one mile of the stream. In addition to the pIacers of ' miles from the main Valdez creek camp, produces gold and, as has been intimated, prospecting on Rusty creek during a nupmber of years has given good grounds for believing that that stream also will become gold pro ducing stream. During 1910 most of the mining on Valdez creek was contin- ed to four creek claims and to the Tammany bench claim Mining began here in 1903 and at present the richest parts of the creek claims. so far as they are known. are nearly worked out. The Tammany bench claim, however, which is the richest property yet dis covered in the region. continues to yield as it has in the past. and there is no reason to suspect that it will not do so for some time to come.
 This part of Valdez creek flows in a
 
 the overlying gravel deposits. The canyon has it's greatest depth. 170 feet, in the vicinity of the so-caIed Mona han tunnel. which is the adt to the Tammany bench. just mentioned.
 Character of the Gravel and Gold.
 The creek claims on Valdez creek that have received most attention are those known as discovery claim and Nos. below, 2 below. 2 above. and 3 above. No. above includes a deep canyon. too narrow to permit mining The richest of the productive claims were discovery claim. No. 1 below. and the lower half of No. ? above There is little variation in the character of the creek gravel. It ranges from 3 to 8 feet in thickness and consists of slate. schist and granite, together with small proportion of light colored DOT phyritic intrusives and dark basaltic and tuffaceous material. An important characteristic of the gravel deposits is the great proportion of large granite powders. Such powders are difficult to handle in the cuts and add much to the cost of mining. The gold of Valdez creek differs considerably in appear ance. Part of 1t is flat and smooth, but another part is rough and little worn. Much ruby sand" and a little 'black sand" is associated with it.
 5eneh Deposits.
 The gold producing gravels of the Tammany bench fill an old canyon formed long before the present canyon of Valdez creek was cut. This canyon intersects the present canyon at an angle of about 45 degres. Its bottom is 60 feet above the level of the creek. so that the Monahan tunnel is at that