The Casadepaga River is a gold mine located in Alaska.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Satelite View
MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.
Casadepaga River MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Casadepaga River
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Location
State: Alaska
District: Council
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant:
Physiography
Not available
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Placer Au-PGE
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Magnetite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): Model Name = Placer Au-PGE (Cox and Singer, 1986; model 39a).
Comment (Geology): Age = Quaternary; the numerous incised terraces along the Casadepaga River indicate that more than one cycle of erosion and deposition has developed placer deposits in the area. The low elevations between 170 and 270 feet along the first 11 miles of the river, suggest that Quaternary sea level fluctuations could have influenced placer development.
Comment (Exploration): Status = Inactive
Comment (Workings): Workings / Exploration = This particular locality appears to be an area of prospecting, including at least one 30-foot-deep shaft, rather than mining.
Comment (Geology): Geologic Description = The Casadepaga River is a major west tributary to the Niukluk River. The first 11 miles upstream from the mouth varies from 170 to 270 feet in elevation. The next 8 to 9 miles upstream gains another 150 feet of elevation. The lower 11 miles of the river has a pronouced floodplain over most of its length but in general this river is incised into benches and terraces that have surfaces 30 to 150 feet higher than the present drainage. Gold colors are commonly present in the bench gravels and mining has commonly taken place where tributaries cross the benches and rework these gravels (Collier and others, 1908). Heavy mineral concentrates from various parts of the drainage commonly contain garnet and magnetite. In general, bedrock was not exposed by early mining operations along the lower part of this river. As noted by Smith (1910), the depth to bedrock is known to vary from as much as 57 feet at the mouth of Penelope Creek (SO079) to 17 feet a half mile above the mouth of Big Four Creek (SO066). Smith (1910) reports that bench gravels, in places 30 feet above the active channel of the Casadepaga River, have been prospected at this location. An exploration shaft sunk in 1908 encountered 25 feet of frozen gravel and sand over 5 feet of 'quick sand', a blueish muck with fine sand apparently similar to material found on Banner Creek (SO094).
Comment (Reference): Primary Reference = Smith, 1910
References
Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1972, Metallic resources map of the Solomon quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-445, scale 1:250,000.
Reference (Deposit): Collier, A. J., Hess, F.L., Smith, P.S., and Brooks, A.H., 1908, The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, including the Nome, Council, Kougarok, Port Clarence, and Goodhope precincts: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 328, 343 p.
Reference (Deposit): Cobb, E.H., 1978, Summary of references to mineral occurrences (other than mineral fuels and construction materials) in the Solomon quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-181, 185 p.
Reference (Deposit): Smith, P.S., 1910, Geology and mineral resources of the Solomon and Casadepaga quadrangles, Seward Peninsula, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 433, 234 p.
The Top Ten Gold Producing States
These ten states contributed the most to the gold production that built the West from 1848 through the 1930s. The Top Ten Gold Producing States.
