The Nome nugget., 1925-01-31

hundreds of miles of known minsral bearing tsrri- tory untouched by the hand of industry owing to tie absence of roads anu resultant dinculties of transportation.
 The noted geolosst. Dr. Alfrel H. Brooks. of the United States Geological Survey Bureau. has e. timated that there are over 210 square miles of placer gold deposits within the confines of Seward Peninsula. In addition there are numerous gold deposits in lode scattered throughout the dis trct. Of these 21o square miles of placer gold scarcely more than 50 square miles have been touched by the miner. although their value has been known for years while among the literally hundreds of quartz deposits presenting productive possibilities there Is not producing values. This remarkable condition is due almost entirely to absence of highways during the greater part of the two decades of gold production.
 Gold mining at Nome Is at present carried on greatly by the of dredges. The principal com panies interested here the Hammon consoli- dated Gold Fields and the Alaska Mines Corpora tion. The former concern Is at present operating three mammoth electric Tuba dredges the tun- dra the town and enjoying very favorable returns The power for these dredges is generated the companys modern electric plant in the city. The latter company is operating large dredge powered by Deisel engines at this time and are planning extending their activities and adding electrical equipment with their new improvements These two companies have gained control of a con- siderable amount of the tundra area extending from the beach to the hills and making rapid strides toward working it to the limit with many years of work in sight Cold water thawng is used cessfuly and greatly aids in the functions of the dredges.
 Despite the deterring conditions under which it labors the Nome District was the most prosperous of the Alaska placer mining regions in 1920 It produced gold values at s1.s17.s1s.oo compared to combined total of s1.sss.o7s.oo from all other placer districts Eighteen dredges. about seventy five open mines and thirteen deep under ground pacers operated: about $50 being employed. Regarding the future placer outlook Dr. Alfred H. Brooks of the U s. Geological Sur vey. says: Ut was estimated some years ago I90S) that the value of the gold in the gravel plain. ancient beach and high beach pacers of Seward Peninsula about $215 0O000 Subtracting the of gold that has since been mined from these deposits leaves the value of the reserves s20O. 1000 ,000.0O. Though the above inmates of the available placer reserves may appear extravagant to some. comparison will be shown that they moderate With the return of nor mai conditions. development has increased steadily in recent months and several important small strikes have been made a result of renewed pros- pecting efforts
 Platinum
 Platinum valued at $34.0s7.00 was produced in Alaska in 1920. large portion being obtained in the Nome District. The bulk of the Nome output mined from the Dime Creek pacers although recoveries of considerable value made Bear and Sweepstakes Creeks and at Willow Greek. Until 1916 no effort made to recover this valu- able metal. but each succeeding year witnesses an increased output efforts recovery extended.