Big Four Creek Mine, Council Mining District, Nome Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Big Four Creek Mine	Mine
Council Mining District	Mining District
Nome Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Location: Big Four Creek is a major south tributary to the Casadepaga River. The mouth of Big Four Creek is at an elevation of 190 feet, 5 miles upstream of the confluence of the Casadepaga and Niukluk Rivers. Mining took place 0.5 mile upstream of the mouth of Big Four Creek. This is locality 68 of Cobb (1972, MF 445; 1978, OF 78-181).
Geology: Mining on Big Four Creek took place 0.5 mile upstream of the creek's mouth where it crosses a terrace of the Casadepaga River. Bedrock was not encountered during mining and the gold was on the surface and on clay layers in fine creek gravels. Gold values were apparently better near the surface than at depth on clay layers (Smith, 1910).
Workings: Small-scale surface placer mining by one person in 1907 (Smith, 1910).
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 to 270 feet along the first 11 miles of the river, suggest that Quaternary sea level fluctuations could have influenced placer development.

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

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	SO066

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References