10 TIN DEPOSITS OF THE YORK REGION, ALASKA. [no.229.J 
in fio-. 1. On the north the slopes toward the Arctic Ocean are more 
gentle, and the coast is characterized by barrier beaches that cut off 
broad lagoons from the open sea. Such a one is Lopp Lagoon, a large 
body of water that is unfortunately too shallow for any but light-draft 
boats. The large bay known as Port Clarence, 20 miles southeast of 
York, is the only good harbor in the region. 
The York Mountains occupy the southeastern part of the triangle 
and culminate in Brooks Mountain, 2,900 feet in altitude, the highest 
point in this part of the peninsula. These mountains have rugged 
crest lines, their continuity being broken by several broad streams and 
river valleys, but when seen from a distance their summits have an 
even sky line from 2,000 to 2,900 feet above the sea. To the north 
and west of this mountain group stretches the so-called York Plateau, 
a comparatively smooth upland surface 200 to 600 feet above sea level 
that comprises the greater part of the region under discussion. The 
smaller streams crossing this plateau flow in sharply cut V-shaped 
canyons, while the larger streams occupy comparatively broad valleys 
containing large accumulations of gravel. On the south the plateau 
presents an escarpment to Bering Sea, but on the north it slopes 
gently downward to a coastal plain dotted with lakes, through which 
the rivers and streams meander to the Arctic Ocean. 
The drainage of the region runs either northward or southward, but 
the watershed lies much nearer Bering Sea than the Arctic Ocean. 
History of recent exploration and development. — The chief settle- 
ment of the region is York, a collection of cabins and tents on the open 
coast of Bering Sea at the mouth of Anikovik River, about 10 miles 
east of Cape Prince of Wales and 5 miles west of Cape York. 
Previous to the discovery of gold at Cape Nome very little was known 
regarding the York region. A mission had been established for a 
number of years at Cape Prince of Wales, where one of the Govern- 
ment reindeer herds was maintained. After the first rush to Nome 
prospectors rapidly extended their search to all parts of the peninsula, 
and as early as the fall of 1899 some placer gold had been found in the 
Anikovik River Basin. a 
In 1900, A. H. Brooks, of the United States Geological Survey, dur- 
ing his investigation of the southern part of the Seward Peninsula, 
spent several days in the York region and brought from the placers of 
Anikovik River and Buhner Creek, one of its tributaries, some con- 
centrates, which proved to contain stream tin. 6 
In July, 1901, the writer spent a number of days in the York district, 
aSchrader, F. C, and Brooks, A. H., Preliminary report on Cape Nome gold region, Alaska: Special 
report on Alaska, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1900, pp. 25-26. 
*> Brooks, A. H., An occurrence of stream tin in the York region, Alaska: Mineral Resources U. S. 
for 1900. U. S. Geol. Survey, 1901, pp. 267-271. A new occurrence of cassiterite in Alaska: Science, 
new ser., vol. 13, No. 328, 1901, p. 593. A reconnaissance of the Cape Nome and adjacent gold fields of 
Seward Peninsula, Alaska, in 1900; special report on Alaska, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1901, pp. 132-139. 
