Mineral resources of the Kantishna region

The region discussed in this report lies on the north side of the Alaska Range and includes portions of the basins of Nenana and Kantishna rivers.(See PI.XV.)It includes the southern portion of the Tanana loAvlands and some of the outlying mountain ridges, though nowhere reaching the crest of the range, and lies between meridians 149° and 151° 10' west longitude, and parallels 63° 25' and 64° 15' north latitude.Figure 7 shows the relation of this area to surrounding portions of Alaska.The discovery of gold in the Canadian Klondike and the consequent influx of prospectors and miners resulted in the beginning of systematic exploration in this region.The first accurate surveys in this vicinity were made in 1898, when two United States Geological Survey parties reached the Alaska Range.One of these parties, conducted by George H. Eldridge and Robert Muldrow, ascended Susitna River and crossed the divide to the head of Nenana River.The other party, in charge of J. E. Spurr and W. S. Post, ascended to the head of Skwentna River, crossed the Alaska Range, and descended the Kuskokwim.Thus some of the major features of the range were outlined, although neither of these parties reached the region here discussed.The first survey to be extended to the Kantishna region was made in 1902, when a Geological Survey expedition under the leadership of A. H. Brooks and D. L. Reaburn proceeded from Cook Inlet to the head of the Skwentna, crossed the Alaska Range, and traversed the northwest flank of the range as far eastward as Nenana River, thus crossing the region from west to east.In 1903 and 1904 the great gold rush to the Fairbanks district took place and prospecting was stimulated throughout the Tanana Valley.In 1905 gold placer gravels were discovered in the Kantishna Hills, north of Mount McKinley, and several thousand gold seekers came to the scene-of the new diggings.Most of these were disappointed, but a few located paying ground, and the district has been producing since that time.Furthermore, within the last few years a number of promising gold lodes have been found in the 279