192 ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES IN 1906. 
necessary here to repeat the descriptions. A few notes on develop- 
ment will, however, be appended. Harrison Creek w 11 be described; 
in more detail, as it has been developed since Prindle's studies were 
made. 
NOTES ON DEVELOPMENT. 
BIRCH CREEK. 
The bars along Birch Creek have been found to be auriferous an( 
were, in fact, the scene of the first discoveries of gold in the district. 
During low water some gold has been taken out of these bars with the 
aid of rockers. The wide extent of these deposits, their probably 
unfrozen condition, and the absence of bowlders have attracted tfl 
attention of those seeking dredging ground. It should be noted, how-f 
ever, in considering this form of deposit that the richness of the bars 
is not a criterion of the gold contents of the deeper alluvium. In the 
river burs the gold is in a concentrated form, and the balance of thej* 
alluvium may be almost barren. As there has been no excavation to 
bed rock in these large streams nothing is known of the depth of the|( 
alluvium or the values in it. Extensive prospecting with chu 
drills should precede the installation of dredges. 
DEAD WOOD CREEK. 
One hundred and six 500-foot claims have been staked on Dead 
wood Creek and more or less work has deen done on 67 of these. Gol 
has been found in commercial quantities from a point about a mile* 
above the mouth throughout the length of the creek, a distance op 
nearly ( .) miles. One considerable tributary, Switch Creek, has also- 
yielded values. Nearly all the mining on Dead wood Creek has bee: 
carried on by small operators and by simple methods. Many a pros 
pectorwho has been on the creek since its discovery has never attempted 
to gain more than a living wage from his holdings, and the creek ca 
be called a stronghold of conservatism. 
In the lower mile of its course the Deadwood Creek valley broade 
out and gradually merges with that of Crooked Creek, and here the^ 
values are more disseminated than they are above and, therefore, are< 
not susceptible to profitable exploitation by the crude hand methods. 
This part of the field is worthy of careful examination by those looking 
for dredging ground. Though it may be unsafe to predict the prob- 
able conditions to be encountered, yet the following suggestions cam 
be* made. It is very likely that the bed rock is slabby quartzite schist 
or soft mica schist, with possibly some granite. Probably the values 
are considerably disseminated, and it is not to be expected that the- 
gold will be coarse. The alluvium will probably be found to be made 
up chiefly of well-rounded gravels, and it is, therefore, quite possible 
3" 
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