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Sam(s) Creek

Past Producer in Alaska, United States with commodity Gold
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Mineral occurrence model information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Links to other databases
  12. Bibliographic references
  13. General comments
  14. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10307409
Record type Site
Current site name Sam(s) Creek

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -142.87484, 65.31077 (WGS84)
Relative position Sam Creek is a northeast-flowing tributary of the Yukon River. The confluence is located in T. 6 N., R. 24 E., of the Fairbanks Meridian. Coordinates are for the cabin built near the mouth of Sam Creek (section 31, T. 6 N., R. 24 E., of the Fairbanks Meridian), although prospecting took place along the entire length of the creek. Most mining in this area was done on Ben Creek (CY003), which drains into Sam Creek about 7 miles from the mouth of Sam Creek. The location is accurate.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Yukon-Koyukuk(Census area)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Charley River B-4(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Charley River SW(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Charley River C(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve(National Preserve)

National Preserve NPS(Type of land area)

NPS(Federal land areas administered by NPS)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 119
USGS model code 39a
Deposit model name Placer Au-PGE
Mark3 model number 54

Nearby scientific data

(1) -142.87484, 65.31077
ListMap

Economic information

Comments on the geologic information

  • Geologic Description = Sam Creek crosses Cretaceous to Tertiary sedimentary rocks that are the probable source of gold for other placers in this area (Dover and Miyaoka, 1988; Mertie, 1942). Small placer deposits have been found on the tributaries of Sam Creek, but reports of mining activity along Sam Creek may refer to its tributaries Ben Creek (CY003) and Sawyer Creek (CY028). . Prospecting along Sam Creek began in 1888, and gold was also discovered on its tributary, Ben Creek (CY003). In 1910, there were 16 men working in the area around Sam Creek (Ellsworth and Parker, 1911). Sam Creek was also re-staked in 1938 (National Park Service, 1990).
  • Age = Quaternary

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Development status Past Producer

Comments on exploration

  • Status = Probably inactive

Mining district

District name Circle

Comments on the workings information

  • Workings / Exploration = Prospecting along Sam Creek began in 1888, and gold was also discovered on its tributary, Ben Creek (CY003). In 1910, there were 16 men working in the area around Sam Creek (Ellsworth and Parker, 1911). Sam Creek was also re-staked in 1938 (National Park Service, 1990).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Brooks, A.H., 1907, The Alaskan mining industry in 1906: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 314, p. 19-39.

  • Deposit

    Ellsworth, C.E., and Parker, G.L., 1911, Placer mining in the Yukon-Tanana region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 480, 325 p.

  • Deposit

    Ellsworth, C.E., and Davenport, R.W., 1913, Placer mining in the Yukon-Tanana region: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 542, 303 p.

  • Deposit

    Mertie, J.B., Jr., 1942, Tertiary deposits of the Eagle-Circle district, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 917-D, p. 213-264.

  • Deposit

    Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic mineral resources map of the Charley River quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-390, 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    Cobb, E.H., 1976, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Charley River and Coleen quadrangles, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 76-632, 45 p.

  • Deposit

    Dover, J.A., and Miyaoka, R.T., 1988, Reinterpreted geologic map and fossil data, Charley River quadrangle, east-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2004, 2 sheets, scale 1:250,000.

  • Deposit

    National Park Service, 1990, Final environmental impact statement, volume 1, Mining in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska: National Park Service, Anchorage, Alaska, p. 36-44.

Comments on the references

  • Primary Reference = Mertie, 1942

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Model Name = Placer Au (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a).
Deposit Other Comments = See also Ben Creek (CY003) and Sawyer Creek (CY028). This site is within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-APR-00 Cameron, C.E. Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Maps centered on this site

Authoritative Alaska resources

These are landing pages for further research — the state agencies don't currently expose per-mine deep links.