Seward daily gateway., 1932-08-26
COLD P0TENT|AL|T|Es ] 0F ALASKA ANALYzED BY
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

T1cN ore at Nuka Day, III WHICH Val
 ues as high as $5O,OOO per ton have
 been made, have developed consid-
 erable interest in the gold possibili-
 ties of the Territory. Studies ot
 various districts by the Geological Survey are now being scanned crit ically, it was announced at the De- partment of the Interior.
 Whether the estimates of the probable values are or are not cor rect, at least the discovery of new gold deposits confirms the predic- tions of the Geological Survey from a series of studies it has conducted on the mineral potentialities of AL aska, it was explained. The follow ing additional information was sup piled the Department:
 Gold has been the most valuable metal produced in Alaska during the past 30 years. It is estimated that the value of gold production has amounted to $398,659 while the next most valuable metal has been copper, which has amounted to $213 ,964,000. Silver production has totaled $11, ,994, ,OOO and coal $7,940.- 900.
 AS reported recently by the Geo. logical Survey, gold production last year led all other mineral and met al production and exceeded by $1,- 100000 the production in 193O. The value of gold produced in 1881 was $9,5O7OOO.
 Greater interest has been cen tered on the discovery of new gold deposits in Alaska since the Geolog- lcal Survey published reports on It's studies of minerals in various areas. In 1881 Congress voted S25O,cOO to continue mineral studies In Alaska, and from the investiga- tlons under this appropriation va rious studies have been issued from time to time.
 Of this amount $6O,O0O was allo- cated to Willow Creek, Fairbanks, Copper Mountain, Girdwood, Kan tlshna, and Moose Pass. total of S24,OOO was allocated to the West Fork of Chulitna, Valdez Creek, Talkeetna Mountains and Yentna districts.
 From a preliminary report on lode mining activities in the Alaska Railway Belt, it was asserted that in the Fairbanks area, Ryan lode can be mined at profit. It is esti- mated that here over 100000 tons of ore are deposited, carrying be- tween $4 and $5 per ton in gold.
 The Fairbanks district offers great possibilities of having large amounts of gold yet uncovered. The Eva Creek reserves hold ap- proximately 50,0OO tons of ore car rylng $20 per ton. The prospects here are bright.
 Veins varying from a few inches to three feet in width and extend in 100 feet in length lay in the Val deg creek district with values in gold $8O per ton and upward. There are several gold bearing lodes near placer workings which have been superficially prospected.
 One of the veins is as much as 1000 feet long and several feet wide. This does not appear to be of high average grade. However, all of the veins appear to have pos abilities for future development. An improvement in transportation facilities might aid in their devel- opment extensively.
 There is reason to hope that small pockets of gold ore, with tellurides, may exist in the Valdez district. Systematic search might result in finding such pockets which would give rich returns without the use of much equipment.
 Studies in the Girdwood and Moose Pass districts give promise. of rich ore not yet extracted. The Fairbanks district produced nearly $8O, 100000 from placer deposits between 1904 and 193O It is esti- mated that dredges or other me- chanical devices working the same streams, and others that could not be worked by hand methods, may produce an even greater amount in %ho ,,ovk 0E ~,~o~s > t ..