Central Creek Prospect, Goodpaster Mining District, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Central Creek Prospect	Prospect
Goodpaster Mining District	Mining District
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Location: Central Creek drains west into the Goodpaster River, approximately 55 miles east-northeast of Delta Junction. The creek is approximately 20 miles long and has numerous small tributaries. The Alaska Division of Mining Kardex file system reports placer mining in the headwaters of Central Creek. The approximate center of the mining activity is in NE1/4NW1/4 section 6, T. 7 S., R. 17 E., of the Fairbanks Meridian. There are references to additional placer mining along Central Creek, but it is unclear where. Winter trails from the Goodpaster and South Fork of the Goodpaster River provide access to the entire creek drainage. It is locality 9 of Menzie and Foster (1979), who summarized relevant references under the name 'Central Creek'.
Geology: The area is characterized by rounded hills and flat topped ridges (Thomas, 1970). According to Weber and others (1978), the area is composed of gneiss, quartzite, augen gneiss, and some amphibole schist. The headwaters of Central Creek are proximal to Tibbs Creek (BD040), which hosts numerous shear zones that are locally quartz veined and mineralized (Thomas, 1970). Glover (1950) reported a range in gold fineness of 827.1 to 838.9 for Central Creek. The Goodpaster region was first explored for placer gold in 1915. Thomas (1970) reports a stampede of prospectors to the Goodpaster area in 1915 that ended soon after due to low grade deposits. Smith (1930; B 810) reports some exploratory work on Central Creek in 1927. According to Joesting (1938), work utilizing a light drill and bulldozer on Central Creek found sufficient prospects to warrant hydraulic mining. Additional placer claims were filed in 1939 (Menzie and Foster, 1979). From 1974 to 1978, lode and placer claims were staked (Cobb and Eberlein, 1980). The Alaska Division of Mining Kardex file system records active claims on Central Creek as recent as 1984. Cobb (1973; B1374) reports insignificant placer gold production from the Goodpaster region. It is unclear how much, if any, gold was produced from Central Creek.
Workings: The Goodpaster region was first explored for placer gold in 1915. Thomas (1970) reports a stampede of prospectors to the Goodpaster area in 1915 that ended soon after due to low grade deposits. Smith (1930; B 810) reports some exploratory work on Central Creek in 1927. According to Joesting (1938), work utilizing a light drill and bulldozer on Central Creek found sufficient prospects to warrant hydraulic mining. Additional placer claims were filed in 1939 (Menzie and Foster, 1979). From 1974 to 1978, lode and placer claims were staked (Cobb and Eberlein, 1980). The Alaska Division of Mining Kardex file system records active claims on Central Creek as recent as 1984.
Age: Quaternary
Production: Cobb (1973; B 1374) reports insignificant placer gold production from the Goodpaster region. It is unclear how much, if any, gold was produced from Central Creek.

Commodities (Major) - Au
Development Status: Undetermined.
Deposit Model: Placer Au (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a)

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	BD011

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References