Alaska-Gastineau Mine
Encyclopedia
The Alaska-Gastineau Mine (alternate: Perseverance Mine) was a gold mine in Perseverance, about 4 miles east of Juneau, Alaska
, USA. It was briefly the largest gold mine in the world. The mine was operated by the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
.
. The mine had a 2 miles shaft running through Mount Roberts that reached the Perseverance Mine near Gold Creek. It adjoined the Alaska-Juneau Mine. The mine's low-grade ore is situated on a mountain above the Gastineau Channel
. Its ore body covered approximately 2000 acres (809.4 ha), more than 2 miles in length, with 20 miles of tunnels and crosscuts. According to Jackling, the block of ore had at least 100,000,000 tons above sea level. The property consisted of a group of claims whose lode system covered 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). It was operated on a 6,000-ton daily capacity.
. Bartlett L. Thane
was the manager. Becoming unprofitable, it was shut down in 1921.
was handled more economically than in any other Northwest mine.
Juneau, Alaska
The City and Borough of Juneau is a unified municipality located on the Gastineau Channel in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has been the capital of Alaska since 1906, when the government of the then-District of Alaska was moved from Sitka as dictated by the U.S. Congress in 1900...
, USA. It was briefly the largest gold mine in the world. The mine was operated by the Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
Alaska-Gastineau Mining Company
The Alaska-Gastineau Mining Co. had its offices in 25 Broad St., New York City, New York, USA. It was the operating company for the Alaska Gold Mines Co. in Alaska, USA. It worked the Alaska-Gastineau Mine/Perseverance Mine in the Silver Bow Basin, approximately from Juneau and processed its ore...
.
Geography
The Alaska-Gastineau Mine was located within the Silver Bow Basin. Its concentrating plant was situated near ThaneThane, Alaska
Thane is a neighborhood in the City and Borough of Juneau in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located along Gastineau Channel, it begins one mile south of downtown Juneau and consists of approximately two dozen homes spread over five miles...
. The mine had a 2 miles shaft running through Mount Roberts that reached the Perseverance Mine near Gold Creek. It adjoined the Alaska-Juneau Mine. The mine's low-grade ore is situated on a mountain above the Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel
Gastineau Channel is a channel between the mainland of the U.S. state of Alaska and Douglas Island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeastern Alaska. It separates Juneau on the mainland side from Douglas , on Douglas Island. The first European to sight the channel was Joseph Whidbey early in...
. Its ore body covered approximately 2000 acres (809.4 ha), more than 2 miles in length, with 20 miles of tunnels and crosscuts. According to Jackling, the block of ore had at least 100,000,000 tons above sea level. The property consisted of a group of claims whose lode system covered 11000 feet (3,352.8 m). It was operated on a 6,000-ton daily capacity.
History
The mine's large scale development began in 1912. In 1913, while it was under construction, Emile Gastonguay was hired as the mine's chief electrician by managing director, Daniel C. JacklingDaniel C. Jackling
-Career:Daniel Jackling was educated in mining and metallurgy disciplines at the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri, now known as Missouri University of Science and Technology. In 1898, Jackling and Robert C. Gemmell made a detailed examination of the Bingham Canyon copper property. They...
. Bartlett L. Thane
Bartlett L. Thane
Bartlett Lee "Bart" Thane was an American mining engineer who pioneered hydroelectric power in Juneau, Alaska. The world's first thin arch dam, Salmon Creek Dam, was constructed by Thane.-Early years:...
was the manager. Becoming unprofitable, it was shut down in 1921.
Features
For a period of time preceding World War I, the Alaska-Gastineau Mine was the largest gold mine in the world. Its mills were said to be the largest and most modern gold-crushing plant in the world. For its time, the oreOre
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
was handled more economically than in any other Northwest mine.