77//; (APE XOME (iOI.D DlsTllICT 



19 



sflii.-?t and ]iinesU)ne. Toward tlie nu)untains tlie gravels are often 

 coarse, carrying boulders ot" consideral)le size, but along the beach 

 the)' have been largely reduced to fine gravel and sand Ity wave 

 action. It is in this i^Mluced material that tlie l)each gold occurs. 



■ The first discovery of gold in the Nome district was made in Sep- 

 tember, 1S98, when a ]>arty of Swedes found it on the creeks and in the 

 gulches ; but not until -luly, 189U, was the discovery of the beach gold 

 made. In the gulches along the edge of the mountains the diggings 



UK. M H, I 1 S Pll X, A V \> II 111.^ 



MpK I M I. \SI I ItoM 



are coarse goM, tlie hirgcst nuggets found bt'iiig al)out So-")l) each. 

 Here the gold occurs on tbi' '■ Ited rock'' under the creek gravels, 

 wbifh are six or eight I'ect in thickness. 



-Moiigtbe Ijcach the gold isfjuitf line, liaving Itccn reduced by wave 

 action ah)ng with the gravel and sand In ibe size of bird-shot, or even 

 liner. Its occurrence here is for tbe most part under two or tliree 

 feet of gravel and sand, on a bottom layer of clay or argillaceous saiul, 

 calle<l ■■ l)ed ntck " l»y tbe miners. Thin layers of ruby sand inlci- 

 stratilied ;ilon'j with tbe L'raxel. neni' tbe so-called •' beil rock," are also 



