Michigan Creek Mine, Goodpaster Mining District, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Michigan Creek Mine	Mine
Goodpaster Mining District	Mining District
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Location: Michigan Creek drains into the South Fork of the Goodpaster River, approximately 32 miles north-northeast of Big Delta. The creek is approximately 8 miles long and has several small tributaries. The Alaska Division of Mining Kardex file system reports placer mining on Michigan Creek, but it is unclear where mining activity took place. The approximate midpoint of the creek is in SW1/4NW1/4 section 4, T. 9 S., R. 16 E., of the Fairbanks Meridian. A winter trail from the South Fork of the Goodpaster River provides access to the Creek. It is locality 18 of Cobb and Eberlein (1980), who summarized relevant references under the name 'Michigan Creek'.
Geology: The area is characterized by rounded hills and flat-topped ridges (Thomas, 1970). According to Weber and others (1978) the bedrock in the area is composed of gneiss, quartzite, augen gneiss, and some amphibole schist. The gravels on Michigan Creek are 12 to 25 feet thick and contain coarse gold (Brooks, 1916). Eberlein and others (1977) reported that a 1/2 ounce nugget was found on Michigan Creek. Stream-sediment and rock-chip samples collected from unknown locations in the creek drainage contain up to 10 ppb Au (North Star Exploration Inc., unpublished data, 1998). The first discovery of placer gold in the Goodpaster region was on Michigan Creek in 1915 (Thomas, 1970). However, deposits were low grade, and mining activities soon ended. Before World War I, reports of placer mining deposits in the region were vague (Cobb, 1973; B 1374). Therefore, it is unclear where mining activities on Michigan Creek took place. Cobb (1973; B 1374) reports insignificant placer gold production from the Goodpaster region. It is unclear how much gold was produced from Michigan Creek.
Workings: The first discovery of placer gold in the Goodpaster region was on Michigan Creek in 1915 (Thomas, 1970). However, deposits were low grade, and mining activities soon ended. Before World War I, reports from placer mining deposits in the region were vague (Cobb, 1973; B 1374). Therefore, it is unclear where mining activities on Michigan Creek took place.
Age: Quaternary
Production: Cobb (1973; B 1374) reports insignificant placer gold production from the Goodpaster region. It is unclear how much gold was produced from Michigan Creek.

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

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	BD024

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References