Old Topo Markings

[easy goer]

Good evening,

Is anyone familiar with the meaning of the marks on this old topo map? Lots of handwritten marks and no legend.

Thanks,

Easygoer

Old Topo.png

[Joe S (AK)]

Rather than a Topo Map, it seems to be a geological (sub-surface rock type) chart which might (I can't actually see if contour / elevation lines are shown) be projected onto an actual, for real, Topo Map.

That's the best that I can make out - working at the ragged and faltering extent of my experience with this stuff.

I'll try to contact a "Geo Detective" named Dennis whom I know and see if we BOTH can learn a little more from this head scratcher.

Joe

PS: Text mssg. sent just now.

[chickenminer]

I agree with Joe. A section of a geological map.
Have you tried looking up geological maps of the Kougarok ? It might explain
the symbols on another map.

https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/768

[easy goer]

Top of Map.png

This is the top of the map where I found this online. USGS 69-236. It appears to be overlaid on a topo map. It makes some notes about mining activity and refers to a "discontinuous placer"

Thanks for the help

Easygoer

[chickenminer]

Here is a report from the Seward Penn. Go to the end of the report and it shows the meaning of the geological symbols used. It should help with your map.

https://dggs.alaska.gov/webpubs/usgs/of ... 2-0325.pdf

[Joe S (AK)]

Well, easy goer, I heard from my buddy - and now I have seen a WHOLE lot of geological "stuff" that he sent me. My brain is in overload - however .....

I suspect that what you have is a geological "map" overlaid on a USGS topo map with someone's observational (or research) notes penciled in. The actual geological codes (unless you are well versed in that sort of stuff) aren't all that important in the short view. What should be more important to you (I think) would be to try to locate the base topo map everything started with.

Starting with that actual, real, topo map you would be able to get started determining (AK Mapper comes to mind !!) if any of the ground there is open for claiming right now. If the entire area was claimed up in the past, and those claims are still active, then sure, the map is interesting but there seems to be no future in going any further.

If, on the other hand, the ground is open for exploration then it's time to start making plans for spring. An exploratory trip to the map area would allow you to verify the observations 'penciled in' as well as making sure the entire area hasn't already been mined out.

I suspect that the topo / geological map you have was an accurate and handy thing for someone to hand annotate personally observed or just suspected high concentration areas. Those hand made notes could also have been renderings of some long forgotten mining report that someone had carefully sketched out prior to starting an operation.

People get sick, go to war and die, loose their faculties, run out of money, go to prison or just give up on their dreams --- with all the well thought out plans for a solid mining operation sometimes just getting put in a drawer. It might just be that you opened that drawer.

Best of fortune!

Joe

[easy goer]

Ok I went and checked out the information provided, appreciate the help! New question and map? What are the little yellow dots on certain parts of the river on this map? Its an old map but I cant get it to square with any of the topo map symbols that I have found.

Thanks

Easygoer

[Joe S (AK)]

Wan'-a-guess from me?

Parallel solid blue lines .... possibly current, or at least current back then, streambed.

Dotted in gold color .... inside bends with possible / probable or confirmed placer Gold concentrations.

Blue dashes .... edges or probable limits of the placer concentrations.

Hope for you the mapmaker didn't clean them all out long ago.

Joe S

[chickenminer]

Ya, I'd say it represents gravel bars. Indicating possible alluvial gold deposits.

[David Brown]

May be useful.