Hyder weekly herald., 1931-09-02

alliferous mines of the Portland Canal district have proved to the world their wealth and possibilities. During the ten years of active production, the great Premier has alone produced over $39,000,000 and has paid divi- dends in excess of $15,600,OO0.
 While the Premier has been the main contributor to the districts mineral output. lesser properties have shown highly important results dur. ing the shorter period of their pro- ductive existence. The Prosperity mine, in the Canadian section of the district, developed into prolific producer during the past year under the management of the Premier Gold Mining Company and was the third largest producer of silver in British Columbia with an output of 1,4OO.OO0 ounces of silver. The Porter-ldaho property adjoining the Prosperity and also under the control of the Premier company. has also been a material factor in the districts output, altho not so extensively exploited as the Prosperity.
 In the Alaska section of the district, the Riverside Mine was for several years substantial producer unth falling metal prices combined with in adequate milling facilities forced sus pension.
 The B. c. Silver property in the upper Salmon River section of Brit ish Columbia and adjoining the Pre- mier mine, also demonstrated product i've capacities by substantial ship ments of raw ores extracted during development work in earlier years and is now proven mine, with ore resources estimated at more than $6,- 000,000 in sight.
 Chased in local mining opinion as the second property to the Premier in productive possibilities. is the noted Big Missouri property in the same area. Development activities conducted by the Buena Vista Min ing Company. Ltd, during the past three years have resulted in the open ing of several gold bearing ore zones of large extent and commercial value. Although not in commercial product ion, the results obtained have war. ranted the construction of 100-ton test mill on the property, with a view to obtaining a definite aver age of the ores.
 The Sebakwe Mines property in the same area, although never pro ductive has been proved to contain large ore bodies of commercial value under normal market conditions.
 Results obtained on these and var ious other properties leave no doubt that the Portland Canal district is mining area with virtually unlimited mineral production possibilities.
 The Portland Canal Mining district including both the Alaskan and Can adian areas embraces both sides ol the Portland Canal from a short dist ance above its mouth, the drainage areas of the Salmon, Bear and Marmot Rivers. Texas Creek, and portion O. the northerly drainage areas of the Naas, Chickamin and Leduc Rivers The area embraced is approximately 7,500 square miles in extent and, with the exception of the Unuk River sec ton, is accessible from both HydGl and Stewart by means of automobile roads, pack and foot trails.
 The general geological character Of the proven mineral areas of both the Alaskan and British Columbian sec tionS are similar and include both sedimentary and volcanic formations The beds are assigned geologically to the Hazelton group because of theh lithclogical similarity to the forma- tions of that group to the southeast and north in British Columbia. The Hazelton group has been described by Hanson as consisting of lower formation comprising volcanic turf, breccia, and flows of green or gray to purplish andesitic rock and an up per formation comprising argellite QuartZite, and tuffaceous sandstone. A tuffaceous graywacke formation ap- pears to overle the greensboro on the American side, where the granites of the Coast Range are also prom inent feature of the formation.
 Prospecting on the rivers and creeks that flow into the Portland Canal began in 1898. The development ot the districts mineral properties has been slow owing to the discoveries being made by prospectors who had not the capital necessary for develop ment. The district has two important advantages from the development standpoint; the mountains are very steep, permitting easy access to the lower extensions of ore deposits by drift tunnels. and majority of the mines are within a short distance of tde-water.
 When it is remembered that virtual ly no real development occurred until the discovery of the Premier mine 6 dozen years ago and that real worh with adequate means has been il progress elsewhere in the district fol a much shorter time, the extent o achievements so far resulting is as wonderful as the remarkable char acter of the ore bodies-which art admittedly more diversified than il any other known mineral area of tn, continent
 This diversity of ore, with val