126 ALASKAN MINERAL RESOURCES IN 1904. [bull. 2M 
PLACER-TIN DEPOSITS. 
GENERAL CHARACTERS OF ALASKAN STREAM TIN. 
Tin ore in the form of pebbles disseminated through the alluvium is 
more easily detected and more easily mined than the same ore con-' 
lined in the bed rock, and in a region overrun by prospectors search- 
ing for placer gold, as is Seward Peninsula, the distribution of the 
stream tin will be determined long before its sources in the bed rock 
have been found. Small specimens of stream tin have been found 
in the northern part of Seward Peninsula, from Cape Prince of Wales 
to the south shore of Kotzebue Sound, and in the southern part of the 
peninsula the ore has been found in several streams of the Nome dis- 
trict. The tin-bearing gravels are shallow and of low grade, and in a 
region of high wages and short working seasons, only the most 
promising deposits of this kind can possibly be worked at a profit. 
YORK REGION. 
During the past season placer mining for tin was in progress in the 
York region on Buck Creek, and good prospects are reported to have' 
been found on York River. Specimens of tin ore were discovered in 
the gravels of one of the streams of the Fairbanks district in thei 
interior of Alaska, None of these localities have been visited by thei 
writer during the past season. 
Buck Creek tin placers. — Buck Creek, which is situated about 20 1 
miles north of York, has been the center for placer-tin mining opera-; 
tions since 1901. During the season of 1904 these operations were« 
resumed on a somewhat larger scale and the ground was handled with 
horses and scrapers. Iron riffles of the Hungarian type were used in 
the sluice boxes and about 25 ounces of gold were separated by pan- 
ning the concentrate from the first three or four bars. An unsuccess- 
ful attempt was made to haul tin ore from Buck Creek to York with su 
traction engine. This machine moved itself several miles up the 
Anikovik River, on the road from York to Buck Creek, but was| 
unable to cross the tundra. It is reported that about 60 tons of 40 to] 
50 per cent ore were obtained on Buck Creek and hauled with horsed 
to York. In the latter part of August there was a pile of about 21:! 
tons of tin ore at York awaiting shipment. 
York River. — Considerable prospecting was done early in the season! 
on York River, a western branch of the Pinguk, which flows northwarc 
from Brooks Mountain. Stream tin is reported to have been found iml 
the gravels for more than 10 miles along this river. In the samplei jj 
seen by the writer the cassiterite is in fine grains associated with smal 
amounts of magnetite, garnet, tourmaline, and quartz. The strean 
is said to be as promising as Buck Creek, but it is somewhat mor< 
difficult of access from the coast. 
