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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Gold was reportedly first discovered by W.G. Jack at a creek called "Galina" by the natives in the area. His party named the creek "Swollen Creek" after the healthy mosquito population that lived in the area that had given them numerous bites that became swollen.<ref name=dessauer>{{cite report |title=An Historical Resource Study of the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska-1997 |last1=Dessauer |first1=Peter |last2=Harvey |first2=David |publisher=US Bureau of Land Management |date=March 1980 |url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00000042/00001/thumbs}}</ref>{{rp|18}}<ref name=balen>{{cite report |title=Executive Summary of the Bureau of Mines Investigations in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska |last1=Balen |first1=Michael |publisher=US Bureau of Mines |url=https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/24854 |access-date=13 December 2024 |date=1991}}</ref>{{rp|6}} However, they were forced to abandon the area due to low provisions and looming winter.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|18}} Gold placers were rediscovered on |
Gold was reportedly first discovered by W.G. Jack at a creek called "Galina" by the natives in the area. His party named the creek "Swollen Creek" after the healthy mosquito population that lived in the area that had given them numerous bites that became swollen.<ref name=dessauer>{{cite report |title=An Historical Resource Study of the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska-1997 |last1=Dessauer |first1=Peter |last2=Harvey |first2=David |publisher=US Bureau of Land Management |date=March 1980 |url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00000042/00001/thumbs}}</ref>{{rp|18}}<ref name=balen>{{cite report |title=Executive Summary of the Bureau of Mines Investigations in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska |last1=Balen |first1=Michael |publisher=US Bureau of Mines |url=https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/24854 |access-date=13 December 2024 |date=1991}}</ref>{{rp|6}} However, they were forced to abandon the area due to low provisions and looming winter.<ref name=dessauer/>{{rp|18}} Gold placers were rediscovered on August 15, 1903 by Peter Monahan's party, and it was renamed to Valdez Creek, in honor of ].<ref name=balen/>{{rp|6}} Mining was restricted at the time to two localities on the stream—Lucky Gulch and the vicinity of Discovery claim at the mouth of Willow Creek. A hydraulic plant was installed on Valdez Creek below Willow Creek in 1908 with about 120 men engaged in mining on Valdez Creek during that summer.<ref name=Brooks1909/> | ||
| In 1992, the main mine operated by Cambior Alaska Inc. was the largest placer mine in North America.<ref name=epa>{{cite report |title=Site Visit Report: Valdez Creek Mine |url=https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/web/pdf/placer3.pdf |publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency |date=1992 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp|1-2}} By 1995, it was closed.<ref name=mil>{{cite report |title=Alaska's Mineral Industry 1996 |last1= SwainBank |first1=R.C. |last2=Bundtzen |first2=T.K. |last3=Clough |first3=A.H. |last4=Henning |first4=M.W. |publisher=Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys |date=1996 |edition=51 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp|17}} | In 1992, the main mine operated by Cambior Alaska Inc. was the largest placer mine in North America.<ref name=epa>{{cite report |title=Site Visit Report: Valdez Creek Mine |url=https://archive.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/web/pdf/placer3.pdf |publisher=US Environmental Protection Agency |date=1992 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp|1-2}} By 1995, it was closed.<ref name=mil>{{cite report |title=Alaska's Mineral Industry 1996 |last1= SwainBank |first1=R.C. |last2=Bundtzen |first2=T.K. |last3=Clough |first3=A.H. |last4=Henning |first4=M.W. |publisher=Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys |date=1996 |edition=51 |access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>{{rp|17}} | ||
Revision as of 04:55, 14 December 2024
River in Alaska, United States| Valdez Creek | |
|---|---|
  Location of the mouth of the Valdez Creek in Alaska | |
| Native name | C'ilaan Na' (Tanaina) |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| District | Matanuska-Susitna Borough |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Grogg Lake |
| • location | Clearwater Mountains, Hayes Range |
| • coordinates | 63°13′00″N 147°5′16″W / 63.21667°N 147.08778°W / 63.21667; -147.08778 |
| Mouth | Susitna River |
| • coordinates | 63°9′38″N 147°29′57″W / 63.16056°N 147.49917°W / 63.16056; -147.49917 |
| • elevation | 2,467 ft (752 m) |
| Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
Valdez Creek (Dena'ina: C'ilaan Na') is a small headwater tributary of the Susitna River in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is also home to several gold mines, one of which was the largest placer gold mine in North America and has seen mining activity since the late 1890s.
Geography
The stream rises in the foothills of the Alaska Range and flows in a general southwesterly direction for about 15 miles (24 km). It is approximately 160 miles (260 km) north-northwest of Valdez, or 120 miles (190 km) directly south of Fairbanks. Valdez Creek has cut its present channel through deep gravels and has intrenched itself in the underlying schist bed rock.
History
Gold was reportedly first discovered by W.G. Jack at a creek called "Galina" by the natives in the area. His party named the creek "Swollen Creek" after the healthy mosquito population that lived in the area that had given them numerous bites that became swollen. However, they were forced to abandon the area due to low provisions and looming winter. Gold placers were rediscovered on August 15, 1903 by Peter Monahan's party, and it was renamed to Valdez Creek, in honor of Valdez. Mining was restricted at the time to two localities on the stream—Lucky Gulch and the vicinity of Discovery claim at the mouth of Willow Creek. A hydraulic plant was installed on Valdez Creek below Willow Creek in 1908 with about 120 men engaged in mining on Valdez Creek during that summer.
In 1992, the main mine operated by Cambior Alaska Inc. was the largest placer mine in North America. By 1995, it was closed.
See also
References
- ^ "Valdez Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. March 31, 1981. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- Tuck, Ralph (1938). The Valdez Creek Mining District Alaska, in 1938 (PDF) (Report). United States Department of the Interior. p. 111. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Brooks, Alfred Hulse (1909). Mineral Resources of Alaska: Report on Progress of Investigations in 1908 (Public domain ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 157–.
- ^ Dessauer, Peter; Harvey, David (March 1980). An Historical Resource Study of the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska-1997 (Report). US Bureau of Land Management.
- ^ Balen, Michael (1991). Executive Summary of the Bureau of Mines Investigations in the Valdez Creek Mining District, Alaska (Report). US Bureau of Mines. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- Site Visit Report: Valdez Creek Mine (PDF) (Report). US Environmental Protection Agency. 1992. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- SwainBank, R.C.; Bundtzen, T.K.; Clough, A.H.; Henning, M.W. (1996). Alaska's Mineral Industry 1996 (Report) (51 ed.). Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.
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63°09′38″N 147°29′57″W / 63.1606°N 147.4992°W / 63.1606; -147.4992
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