7i 



WHITEHORSE COPPER BELT.* 



General Description. 



The Whitehorse copper belt is situated in the southern 

 part of Yukon Territory, about 45 miles (72 km.) north 

 of the British Columbia boundary, and extends along the 

 western side of the valley of Lewes river — the principal 

 feeder of the Yukon — for a distance of about 12 miles 

 (19-2 km.) Most of the important mining properties 

 are situated at distances of from 4 to 7 miles (6-4 to 11 -2 

 km.) from the present terminus of the White Pass and 

 Yukon railway at Whitehorse. 



The oldest rocks known in the district are limestones 

 referred to the Carboniferous. These have been exten- 

 sively invaded by Mesozoic andesites and also by plutonic 

 rocks ranging in composition from typical hornblende 

 granites to gabbros. The youngest consolidated rocks 

 in the district are basalts of Tertiary age. All are overlain 

 by Pleistocene and Recent deposits. The ore-deposits 

 are of contact-metamorphic origin and occur dominantly 

 in the limestones near their contact with the granitic 

 rocks; they are also developed in places in the granitic 

 intrusives. 



Particular Description. 



Topographically, the main feature of the district, is 

 the great valley of Lewes river. Opposite Whitehorse the 

 valley has a width from base to base of the enclosing hills, 

 of fully 4 miles (6-4 km.) It is bordered on the east by 

 Canyon mountain, a long symmetrical limestone ridge 

 rising to a height of 2,500 feet (760 m.) above the valley 

 bottom, and 4,730 feet (1,438 m.) above the sea. The 

 western boundary is more broken, and consists, from 

 south to north, of Golden Horn, a prominent peak 5,400 

 feet (1,542 m.) in height; a wide irregular ridge culminating 

 in Mount Mclntyre, 5,200 feet (1,581 m.) ; and Mount 

 Haeckel, 5,318 feet (1,617 m.) in height. These elevations 

 are separated by wide drift-filled depressions, extending 

 across the range. 



*The descriptions here given of the Whitehorse Copper belt are mainly summarized 

 from Mr. McConnell's report on the district [59], supplemented by recent observations 

 by the writer. 



