Little Boulder Creek Gold Mine

The Little Boulder Creek Gold Mine Site is located in the Hot Springs Mining District of the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of Alaska. It represents a historically significant area for placer gold mining with substantial untapped potential encompassing 46 claims and 1,840± claim acres, extending roughly five miles in an east-to-northeast direction.

The bedrock in the Little Boulder Creek area is primarily composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, which have been locally intruded and altered by the Cretaceous Roughtop Mountain pluton, ranging from monzodiorite to granite. Older Triassic and Permian layers of phyllitic argillite, sandstone, and shale are also present, pressing against the younger rocks along thrust faults. Steep, north-trending faults cut the entire area, and the creek itself flows over Quaternary alluvial deposits—typically 6 to 12 feet of silt interspersed with layers of slate fragments. Both historical and recent sampling have confirmed the presence of gold and scheelite in these deposits.

Placer mining at Little Boulder Creek dates back to 1917, with nearly continuous operations through the 1930s. Mining resumed intermittently from 1967 through the early 2000s, including overburden stripping, trenching, test hole digging, sluicing, and bulldozer-assisted sampling. Operators included Farrell & Higgins, J.L. Wood, Vern Petefish, and Windy Hill Mining. Notably, sluicing operations in the 1990s processed thousands of cubic yards, confirming the continued presence of gold and scheelite. Despite extensive historical activity, no comprehensive public records of production exist, highlighting the site’s potential for modern exploration.

Little Boulder Creek offers a rare opportunity to explore a historically productive placer system with demonstrable mineralization. Its favorable geology, historical workings, and proven recovery of gold and scheelite provide a strong foundation for renewed mining operations. The property is well-suited for contemporary placer mining techniques and presents a compelling investment prospect for those seeking both economic potential and the experience of mining in interior Alaska’s rugged, largely undeveloped wilderness.