95 



situated on the right limit of the Yukon at 

 the confluence of Klondike river, and is 334 

 miles (534 km.) from Whitehorse measured 

 along the waggon road or 460 miles (736 km.) 

 by river. 



KLONDIKE GOLD FIELDS.* 

 General Description. 



Klondike gold fields are situated in Yukon Territory, 

 on the east side of Yukon river, at the confluence of the 

 Klondike, and at about 64 north latitude. The district 

 comprises approximately 800 sq. miles (2,000 sq. km.) and 

 is bounded in a general way by Yukon river on the west, 

 by Klondike river on the north, by Flat creek, a tributary 

 of the Klondike, and Dominion creek, a tributary of Indian 

 river, on the east , and by Indian river on the south. 



Topographically, the area included within the Klon- 

 dike gold fields, is a typical example of a thoroughly dissect- 

 ed upland, and is situated well within the Yukon Plateau 

 physiographic province. Klondike district is underlain 

 by a complex of rock formations ranging in age through the 

 greater part of the geological scale, and presenting extreme 

 variety in structure and composition. The rocks consist 

 dominantly, however, of various schistose members that 

 have generally been considered to be of lower Paleozoic age, 

 but may be Pre-Cambrian. These have been repeatedly 

 pierced by igneous intrusives at widely separated periods. 

 The older rocks are in places underlain by Tertiary sed- 

 iments and superficial accumulations. 



Economically the district is mainly of importance on 

 account of the rich and extensive deposits of gold-bearing 

 gravels which it contains. Placer gold was first found in 

 the Klondike in 1894, an d since 1896 this district has been 

 one of the greatest and most widely known placer gold 

 camps in the world. At present the bulk of the placer 

 properties are worked by companies who have spent 

 millions of dollars in equipment and installation, and are 

 obtaining the gold mainly by dredging and hydraulicking. 

 In a few places, however, individual miners still work their 



The general description here given of the Klondike Gold Fields, is to a consider- 

 able extent summarized from Mr. McConnell's reports on the district, (si. 58,) The 

 parts, however, dealing with the recent developments, methods of working, equipment, 

 installations, etc., are the result of personal investigations by the writer. 



