Seward Peninsula, Alaska
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTI8 SMITH, DIRECTOB "WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 314 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASKA BY F. F. HENSHAW AND G. L. PARKER WITH A SKETCH OF THE GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY BY PHILIP S. SMITH AND A DESCRIPTION OF METHODS OF PLACER MINING BY ALFRED H. BROOKS WASHINGTON GOVEBNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1913 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction, by Alfred H. Brooks. ........................................ 9 Scope of work. ......................................................... 9 Acknowledgments. ..................................................... 12 Topography, by Philip S. Smith. ........................................... 13 Climate, by F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parker. .............................. 15 General features. ...................................................... 15 Temperature....................... .................................... 16 Precipitation. ........................................................ 19 Descriptive geology, by Philip S. Smith. ................................... 32 Sedimentary rocks. .................................................... 33 Igneous rocks. ........................................................ 35 Unconsolidated deposits. ............................................... 37 Gold placers, by Philip S. Smith................... ......................... 38 Nature and origin. ..................................................... 38 Residual placers. ...................................................... 39 Water-sorted placers. .................................................. 39 Stream placers. .................................................. 40 Beach placers. .................................................... 44 Distribution. ......................................................... 48 Developed placers. ................................................ 48 Prospective placers. ................................................ 49 Discharge of streams, by F. F. Henshaw and G. L. Parker. .................. 51 Terms used. ......................................................... 51 Data given. .......................................................... 53 Field methods of measuring stream flow. ................................ 54 Slope method. .................................................... 54 Weir method. .................................................... 54 Velocity method ................................................... 55 Office methods of computing and studying discharge and run-off. ......... 57 Accuracy and limitations of the data .............................. ^ ... 60 Drainage areas. ........................................................ 62 Detailed descriptions and measurements. ................................... 68 Fish River drainage basin. ............................................ 68 Description. ....................................................... 68 Pargon River drainage basin. ....................................... 69 Description. ................................................... 69 Pargon River and Pargon ditch at intake ....................... 70 Pargon ditch below McKelvie Creek. ........................... 71 Pargon ditch below Helen Creek. .............................. 73 Miscellaneous measurements. ................................... 76 Niukluk River drainage basin. ...................................... 76 Description .................................................... 76 American Creek. ............................................... 77 Miscellaneous measurements .................................... 78 3 4 CONTENTS. Detailed descriptions and measurements Continued. Fish River drainage basin Continued. Niukluk Biver drainage basin Continued. Page. Casadepaga River drainage basin............................... 78 Description................................................ 78 Casadepaga River below Moonlight Creek................... 79 Miscellaneous measurements................................ 80 Ophir Creek drainage basin................;................... 81 Description................................................ 81 Ophir Creek at Canyon ditch intake........................ 82 Canyon ditch near intake................................... 83 Canyon ditch above claim "No. 10 above ".................. 86 Miscellaneous measurements................................ 87 Solomon River drainage basin............................................ 87 Description........................................................ 87 Solomon River below Bast Fork.................................... 88 Miscellaneous measurements........................................ 90 Eldorado River drainage basin.......................................... 90 Flambeau River drainage basin...................................^ .... 91 Nome River drainage basin............................................. 91 Description........................................................ 91 Nome River above Miocene ditch intake............................. 92 Nome River below Miocene ditch intake............................. 95 Natural discharge of Nome River at Miocene ditch intake............. 96 Nome River below Pioneer ditch intake............................ 97 David Creek at Miocene ditch intake............................... 101 Hobson Creek at Miocene ditch intake.............................. 102 Hobson Creek below Manila Creek.................................. 104 Campion ditch at Black Point....................... i.............. 105 Miocene ditch system............................................. 107 Description.................................................... 107 Miocene ditch at Black Point................................... 108 Miocene ditch at Clara Creek................................... Ill Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek.............................. 113 Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek.............................. 115 Miocene ditch below the flume................................. 118 David Creek ditch opposite Black Point......................... 121 Jett Cieek ditch............................................... 123 * Grand Central ditch............................................ 125 Seward ditch system............................................... 126 Description.................................................... 126 Seward ditch at intake......................................... 126 Seward ditch below Hobson branch............................ 129 Seward ditch below Dexter Creek flume........................ 330 Seward ditch above Newton Gulch............................. 132 Hobson Branch of Seward ditch................................. 134 Pioneer ditch system.............................................. 135 Description.................................................... 135 Pioneer ditch at intake........................................ 135 Miscellaneous measurements........................................ 138 Snake River drainage basin............................................. 139 Description........................................................ 139 Snake River above Glacier Creek................................... 140 CONTENTS. 5 Detailed descriptions and measurements Continued. Page. Penny River drainage basin............................................. 141 Description........................................................ 141 Penny River and Button ditch at intake............................ 141 Cripple River drainage basin............................................ 143 Description........................................................ 143 Cedric ditch above penstock........................................ 143 Miscellaneous measurements........................................ 145 Sinuk River drainage basin............................................ 145 Description........................................................ 145 Upper Sinuk River at elevation 700 feet............................. 146 Windy Creek at elevation 650 feet................................... 147 North Star Creek at elevation 900 feet............................... 148 Miscellaneous measurements........................................ 149 Tributaries of Imuruk Basin........................................... 150 Fall, Pond, and Glacier creeks and Snow Gulch ...................... 150 Cobblestone River...................................................... 151 Grand Central River drainage basin..................................... 151 Description........................................................ 151 West Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake.................... 153 West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake.................... 155 West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks....................... 156 Grand Central River below the forks................................ 158 Grand Central River below Nugget Creek........................... 161 Crater Lake outlet................................................. 162 North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake.................... 165 North Fork of Grand Central River near ditch intake................. 166 North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks....................... 167 Gold Run near mouth of canyon..................................... 168 Thompson Creek near ditch intake................................. 170 Nugget, Jett, and Morning Call creeks.............................. 172 Miscellaneous measurements........................................ 173 Kruzgamepa River drainage basin...................................... 173 Description.......................................................