Vault Creek Placer

The Vault Creek Placer 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.

Site Name

Primary: Vault Creek Placer

Commodity

Primary: Gold

Location

State: Alaska
District: Fairbanks

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
Year First Production: 1906
Year Last Production: 1940
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

Not available

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold

Comments

Comment (Location): USGS MF-413, LOC. 79, 80. BENCH PROSPECTS MARKED ALONG EAST SIDE OF VAULT CREEK. COORDINATES GIVEN FOR CENTER OF UPPER PROSPECT GROUP MARKED ON LIVENGOOD (A-2) ABOUT ONE MILE NNW OF ABANDONED TOWN OF VAULT. LAND STATUS VALUE CALCULATED 6-94 USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS WITH BLM 1:2,500,000 SCALE OWNERSHIP STATUS MAP (1991).

Comment (Development): MINING FROM 1906 TO AS RECENTLY AS 1940. MOST OF MINING BEFORE WWII WAS DRIFT MINING.

Comment (Deposit): PLACER GOLD FOR 6 MILES ABOVE MOUTH. PLACERS UP TO ABOUT 200 FT. DEEP. NEAR MOUTH IN CHATANIKA FLATS ALLUVIUM IS 319 FT. THICK; GOLD ON FALSE BEDROCK AT 160 FT. UPSTREAM DEPTH TO BEDROCK VERY VARIABLE; 50 TO AS MUCH AS 200 FT. PAY STREAK IS 100 OR MORE FT. WIDE AND 3-6 FT. THICK.

Comment (Geology): THE EAST WALL OF THE VALLEY RISES BY A GENTLE SLOPE; THE WEST WALL IS MORE ABRUPT. ON CREEK BED ALLUVIUM SAID TO BE NOT MORE THAN 50 FT. DEEP; ALLUVIUM UP TO 200 FT. THICK ON TALUS SLOPE. ; MAJOR.UNITS: BEDROCK PROBABLY ALL SCHIST.

Comment (Deposit): STREAM GRADIENT ABOUT 50 FT. PER MILE. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Workings): SEVERAL SHAFTS SUNK TO BEDROCK FOR DRIFT MINING. ALLUVIUM FROZEN.

Comment (Deposit): THIS SITE NAME WAS CREATED BY THE REPORTER OR OTHER USGS EMPLOYEE BASED ON PROXIMITY TO SOME MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE.

References

Reference (Deposit): USGS MF-413 (A-2), LOC. 79, 80

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 337, P. 42-43

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL. 525, P. 101, 108, 112-113

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