Bear Creek

Past Producer in Alaska, United States with commodities Gold, PGE, Silver, Thorium, Tin
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10232780
MRDS ID A001352
MAS/MILS ID 0020380002
Record type Site
Current site name Bear Creek
Alternate or previous names Hogatza River Dredge, Dry Creek, Clear Creek, Aloha Creek, Ida Creek Gulch, Hog River, U.S.S.R.&M., United States Smelting, Refining,, And Mining Corporation, Fairbanks Exploration Co., U.V. Industries, Hogatza River Trib.

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Claim
Geographic coordinates: -155.70611, 66.18874 (WGS84)
Elevation 152
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Yukon-Koyukuk(Census area)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Hughes A-6(quadrangle 1:63,360 scale)

Hughes S(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Hughes(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Alaska(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State
United States Alaska

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Kateel River 009 N 015 E 08 SWSESE Alaska

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
PGE Critical Tertiary
Silver Primary
Thorium Tertiary
Tin Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Electrum Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Claim (1) -155.70611, 66.18874

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 7M
    Length 4600M
    Width 50M
    Area 1056HA
    Depth to top 3.5M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 PLACER
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1056
    Date of Last Modification 830321

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Placer
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1922
Mining method Dredging
Year of first production 1922
Milling method Gravity

Mining district

District name Hughes District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category BLM Administrative Area

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Alaska Gold Co.
    ID 5000326
    Interest 100
    Home office Alaska
    Year 1986

Comments on the ownership information

  • OWNER-OPERATOR ADDRESS: ALASKA GOLD COMPANY P.O. BOX 1170 FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99707 TELE: (907) 456-4061

Production statistics

  • Year 1957
    Description 541 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 16826.98g
  • Year 1957
    Description 519,941 Yards Processed. 9526 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 296291.76g
  • Year 1958
    Description 446 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 13872.15g
  • Year 1958
    Description 541,717 Yards Processed. 8671 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 269698.28g
  • Year 1959
    Description 784 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 24385.12g
  • Year 1959
    Description 622,315 Yards Processed. 15676 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 487578.16g
  • Year 1960
    Description 271 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 8429.04g
  • Year 1960
    Description 463,624 Yards Processed. 3696 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 114958.46g
  • Year 1961
    Description 503 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 15645.05g
  • Year 1961
    Description 637,400 Yards Processed. 9789 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 304471.97g
  • Year 1962
    Description 753 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 23420.92g
  • Year 1962
    Description 671,867 Yards Processed. 13829 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 430130.03g
  • Year 1963
    Description 948 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 29486.09g
  • Year 1963
    Description 359,630 Yards Processed. 17474 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 543502.22g
  • Year 1964
    Description 981 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 30512.51g
  • Year 1964
    Description 503,395 Yards Processed. 18269 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 568229.49g
  • Year 1965
    Description 988 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 30730.23g
  • Year 1965
    Description 597,027 Yards Processed. 19183 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 596658.07g
  • Year 1966
    Description 431 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 13405.6g
  • Year 1966
    Description 599,714 Yards Processed. 8204 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 255172.95g
  • Year 1967
    Description 345 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 10730.7g
  • Year 1967
    Description 598,675 Yards Processed 6305 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 196107.44g
  • Year 1968
    Description 484 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 15054.08g
  • Year 1968
    Description 670,066 Yards Processed. 9407 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 292590.44g
  • Year 1969
    Description 602 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 18724.29g
  • Year 1969
    Description 603,796 Yards Processed. 11464 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 356570.3g
  • Year 1970
    Description 709,196 Yards Processed 28634 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 890617.07g
  • Year 1970
    Description 1493 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 46437.49g
  • Year 1971
    Description 335 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 10419.66g
  • Year 1971
    Description 740,448 Yards Processed 6507 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 202390.35g
  • Year 1972
    Description 211 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 6562.83g
  • Year 1972
    Description 558,335 Yards Processed 4088 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 127151.03g
  • Year 1973
    Description 197 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 6127.38g
  • Year 1973
    Description 648,725 Yards Processed 4018 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 124973.78g
  • Year 1974
    Description 250 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 7775.87g
  • Year 1974
    Description 656,453 Yards Processed 5447 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 169420.66g
  • Year 1975
    Description 166 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 5163.17g
  • Year 1975
    Description 674,532 Yards Processed 3360 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 104507.69g
  • Year 1981
    Description 105 Troy Ounces Silver
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 3265.86g
  • Year 1981
    Description 361,900 Yards Processed 2184 Troy Ounces Gold
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 67930g

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 0
    Demonstrated 2974000mt ore
    Total resources 2974000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.181 g/mt Gold Major 0

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • RECOMMENDED EVALUATION BY AFOC MEMO 6/18/82. NOT INCLUDED IN FINAL AVAILABILITY CURVE FOR 1984 STUDY. WILL NOT BE ANALYZED FOR THE 1992 AU AVAILABILITY STUDY.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method DREDGING
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 1056HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 2
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method DREDGING
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Percentage 100
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Capacity 2294
    Capacity Units CU-M ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 3.92
    Units of Production $/CU-M ORE
    Operating Days per Year 180
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1983

Reference information

Bibliographic references

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit USGS CRIB M045382 M.S. 2106 PAT. # 1120533 ISSUED JAN 23,1946-357.82 ACRES. M.S. 2107 PAT. #1120534 ISSUED JAN 23,1946-75.86 ACRES. M.S. 2108 PAT. #1120097 ISSUED SEP 13,1945-282.39 ACRES. M.S. 2109 PAT. #1120341 ISSUED DEC 14,1945--98.52 ACRES. M.S. 2146 PAT. #1119168 ISSUED NOV 9,1944--97.65 ACRES M.S. 2147 PAT. #1120600 ISSUED JAN 29,1946-607.09 ACRES M.S. 2148 PAT. #1125443 ISSUED MAY 13,1949-549.84 ACRES.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 13-JUN-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 10/12/2012
MSHA mine ID5000326
Mine name (MSHA)The Slim Chance
Current operatorDitman Placer Gold Inc
Current controller (parent)Robert I Ditman
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

Authoritative Alaska resources

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