Esperanto Creek; Keating Gulch Mines, Innoko Mining District, Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, USAi

Regional Level Types
Esperanto Creek; Keating Gulch Mines	Group of Mines
Innoko Mining District	Mining District
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area	Census Area
Alaska	State
USA	Country

Location: Esperanto Creek is a northwest-flowing tributary to Madison Creek. Mining took place for nearly 2 miles along and near the head of Esperanto Creek. The head of Esperanto Creek is also called Keating Gulch. The coordinates are for the approximate midpoint of mining, in sec. 9, T. 24 S., R. 11 E., Kateel River Meridian. This point coincides with the location of the Esperanto placer mine, marked on the U.S. Geological Survey Ophir B-2 topographic map. The location is accurate within 500 feet. Esperanto Creek is location 5 of Cobb (1972 [MF 367]).
Geology: The rocks at the head of Esperanto Creek are Tertiary chert, argillite, and volcaniclastic rocks in thrust contact with Paleozoic carbonate rocks (Chapman and others, 1985). A Cretaceous or Tertiary monzonite pluton cuts this fault near the headwaters of Esperanto Creek. The monzonite is heavily weathered and contains large feldspar phenocrysts and quartz stockwork veins. Most of the mine tailings seem to be composed of quartz and feldspar from the weathered monzonite (Dashevsky, 2001). Placer gold on Esperanto Creek was found in gravels 1 foot thick (Mertie, 1936). The gold averages about 869 fine (Smith, 1941; Metz and Hawkins, 1981). The source of gold at Esperanto Creek may be the Cretaceous or Tertiary monzonite pluton at the head of the creek (Bundtzen and others, 1987). Gold mining along Esperanto Creek began in 1922 and continued intermittently until at least 1962 (Brooks and Capps, 1924; Bundtzen and others, 1987). Continuous, mechanized mining took place from 1935 to 1940 (Smith, 1937; Smith, 1938; Smith, 1939 [B 910-A]; Smith, 1939 [B 917-A]; Smith, 1941; Smith, 1942). Production from 1922 - 1962 was 4,429 ounces of gold and 699 ounces of silver (Bundtzen and others, 1987).
Workings: Gold mining along Esperanto Creek began in 1922 and continued intermittently until at least 1962 (Brooks and Capps, 1924; Bundtzen and others, 1987). Continuous, mechanized mining took place from 1935 to 1940 (Smith, 1937; Smith, 1938; Smith, 1939 [B 910-A]; Smith, 1939 [B 917-A]; Smith, 1941; Smith, 1942).
Age: Quaternary. The placer gold is probably derived from a Cretaceous or Tertiary monzonite pluton at the head of Esperanto Creek (Bundtzen and others, 1987).
Production: The production from 1922 to 1962 was 4,429 ounces of gold and 699 ounces of silver (Bundtzen and others, 1987).

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

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	OP008

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References