178 ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES IN 1906. 
The bench deposits of the Kougarok appear to afford an attraction 
field for the gold miner. Their position makes them easy of accesi 
and no hydraulic lifts are required to dispose of the tailings. The 
benches can not be described in detail, because the facts are wantin 
Between Coarse Gold and Taylor creeks the benches are particular! 
well defined, and there are at least two distinct levels about 25 and 5 
feet above the water. So far as observed the gravels are from 8 
10 feet in depth and are usually covered with muck. No determin 
tions of values are known to the writer, but the fact that som 
gravels of the lower tier have been worked at a profit by crude i 
methods makes it seem probable that their gold content is no i 
inconsiderable. 
Bench gravels have been reported at various places above Tayloj I 
Creek, and some are known to be auriferous, but they have not been 
developed on a commercial scale. 
This rather fragmentary evidence points to a wide distribution 
of gold along the main Kougarok and to the presence of values all 
many place's in both the bench and the flood-plain gravels. From thdn 
existing knowledge it appears that this valley contains the largest t 
gold reserve of the district. 
WINDY CREEK. 
The developed placers on Windy Creek occur in a small tributary, 
from the south called Anderson Gulch, which is a minor depression 
in the valley wall. The gravels exposed in the cuts are 2 to 3 feet t 
thick. In addition to this 1J to 2 feet of bed rock is put through'i 
the sluice boxes. The bed rock is a silvery mica schist with much 
iron-stained quartz. These placers have been traced for 1,600 feet i 
along the slope of the valley of Windy Creek. The known area of 
workable deposits is not large, but as gold has been found in other 
parts of the basin other placers will probably be found. 
NORTH FORK. 
The basin of North Fork was the scene of the first gold discoveries 
in the Kougarok district, and some of the placers have yielded a 
considerable output of gold. A marked feature. of its topography 
are the benches, of which three different tiers are known. The bee 
rock of the basin includes both schists and limestones. 
Workable placers have been found on the main stream and on 
Harris Creek, and gold is reported from the gravels of P^ureka Creek 
and a number of other small tributaries. The evidence at hand 
indicates that this basin will become an important producer. 
