Sweepstakes Creek Placer

The Sweepstakes 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

Name: Sweepstakes Creek Placer  

State:  Alaska

County:  na

Elevation:

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 65.34444, -161.30000

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Sweepstakes Creek Placer

Sweepstakes Creek Placer MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Sweepstakes Creek Placer


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Platinum
Tertiary: Thorium
Tertiary: Uranium


Location

State: Alaska
District: Koyuk


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: 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
Ore: Platinum
Gangue: Ilmenite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Zircon
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Pyrite


Comments

Comment (Development): STAKED IN 1909. MINED BY OPEN-CUT METHODS. MINING IN MOST YEARS FROM 1910 TO 1965.

Comment (Location): USGS MF-389, LOCS. 39-41. TWO PLACER MINES MARKED ALONG SWEEPSTAKES CR. ON CANDLE (B-5). COORDINATES GIVEN FOR LOWER MINE AT CONFLUENCE OF BEAR GULCH (UNNAMED ON CANDLE (B-5)), A EASTWARD FLOWING TRIBUTARY OF SWEEPSTAKES CR. DRAINING BEAR MTN. LAND STATUS VALUE CALCULATED 6-94 USING GIS OVERLAY ANALYSIS WITH BLM 1:2,500,000 SCALE OWNERSHIP STATUS MAP (1991).

Comment (Production): A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS OF GOLD PRODUCED BETWEEN 1910 AND 1965. AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION BETWEEN 1910-17 WAS BETWEEN 190 AND 240 OUNCES ($4,000 TO $5,000 OUNCES). GOLD WORTH $10,00 (483) MINED, 1917. ALSO ABOUT AN OUNCE OF PLATINUM.

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

Comment (Geology): CREEK DRAINS SOUTHWESTERN PART OF GRANITE MOUNTAIN PLUTON. ; MAJOR.UNITS: BEDROCK IS (JURASSIC(?) - CRETACEOUS)) ANDESITE AND OLDER (PALEOZOIC) METAMORPHOSED ROCKS. BEDROCK SOMEWHAT DECOMPOSED. BEDROCK SYENITIC AT UPPER CLAIMS; REST MAINLY METAMORPHOSED ANDESITES AND, IN A FEW PLACES, OLDER METAMORPHIC ROCKS.

Comment (Deposit): STREAM GRADIENT APPROXIMATELY 100-150 FEET PER MILE. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 2 UNPUB REPT

Comment (Deposit): PLACER MINING MAINLY IN LOW BENCH DEPOSITS ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE CREEK. DEPTH TO BEDROCK INCREASES FROM 6 FEET AT UPPER CLAIMS TO 15 FEET ON LOWER CLAIMS. GRAVELS IN CREEK BED 6-14 FEET DEEP. ON BENCHES 2-12 FEET OF MUCK OVERLIES 2-8 FEET OF GRAVEL. SOMEWHAT DECOMPOSED BEDROCK EXCAVATED TO A DEPTH OF A FEW INCHES. MINING WAS MAINLY FOR GOLD, BUT A LITLE PLATINUM WAS RECOVERED NEAR THE MOUTH OF BEAR GULCH; NO PLATINUM FURTHER UPSTREAM.


References

Reference (Deposit): USGS MF-389 (B-5), LOCS. 39-41.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULLETIN 692, P. 380, 395.

Reference (Deposit): USGS CIRCULAR 250, P. 1, 3-9.

Reference (Deposit): USGS OF 76-866, P. 57-58.


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The Top Ten Gold Producing States

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