Wilson Creek Mine, Council Mining District, Nome Census Area, Alaska, USAi

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

Location: Wilson Creek is a north tributary to Lower Willow Creek (SO091). Lower Willow Creek is a west tributary to the Casadepaga River and the mouth of Wilson Creek is about 4.2 miles upstream from the confluence of these streams. The location of mining along Wilson Creek is not certain; it is probably located within 0.5 mile of the coordinates. This is locality 74 of Cobb (1972, MF 445; 1978, OF 78-181).
Geology: Wilson Creek crosses benches of Lower Willow Creek. Some small-scale mining is reported for this creek early in the history of the area (Brooks and others, 1901) but by 1908, mining activities apparently ceased (Smith, 1909). Wilson Creek flows close to the regional contact between lower Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks (including marble) to the west and pelitic schist of possible Cambrian or Precambrian age to the east (Till and others, 1986).
Workings: Small-scale surface mining occurred here prior to 1908.
Age: Quaternary; the numerous incised terraces along the Casadepaga River and its major tributaries (including Lower Willow Creek) 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.

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

Other Databases

Link to USGS - Alaska:	SO089

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References