Switch Creek Mine, Circle Mining District, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Switch Creek Mine	Mine
Circle Mining District	Mining District
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

See also Deadwood Creek, ARDF no. CI014.
Location: The location is the approximate center of mining on Switch Creek. The placered area extends about 3,500 ft up and down stream from the intersection of the coordinates. Switch Creek is a tributary of Deadwood Creek.
Geology: Headwaters of Switch Creek drain both Cretaceous biotite monzogranite and calcareous quartz-muscovite schist (Wiltse and others, 1995). Both flood-plain and bench gravels have been mined. A bench on the west side of the creek in the lower valley is 12 to 15 meters above the creek bed. Remnants of other benches upvalley are sites of former mining operations (Mertie, 1938). The gravel on the benches is composed of cobbles and a few boulders. Boulders are fairly common in the present valley (Yeend, 1991). Gold has been concentrated within the lower 1 meter above of bedrock. The largest nugget found was 4 ounces (Mertie, 1938). Weighted mean of eight assays showed fineness of 760 Au and 231 Ag (Mertie, 1938). Johnson (1910), reported arsenopyrite in quartz-feldspar veins, and concentrates containing gold, arsenopyrite, pyrite, galena, cassiterite, ilmenite, garnet, tourmaline, limonite, and quartz. Gold has been mined sporadically on Switch Creek since 1906. Initially, opencut and drifting were the only mining methods used. Once hydraulic mining was introduced in 1922, it was the predominant mining method used on the creeks through the 1930's (Mertie, 1938). Both surface and underground work took place. Drift mining occurred on benches while hydraulic mining was used on creek gravels (Menzie and others, 1983, p. 52).
Workings: Gold has been mined sporadically on Switch Creek since 1906. Initially, opencut and drifting were the only mining methods used. Once hydraulic mining was introduced in 1922, it was the predominant mining method used on the creeks through the 1930's (Mertie, 1938). Both surface and underground work took place. Drift mining occurred on benches while hydraulic mining was used on creek gravels (Menzie and others, 1983, p. 52).
Production: Mining has been reported (see workings/exploration), however, amount of production is unknown.

Commodities (Major) - Au; (Minor) - As, Pb, W
Development Status: Yes; small
Deposit Model: Placer gold deposit (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a)

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	CI056

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References