NORTH-WESTERN DISTRICT (No. 1). i

Canada Airways is preparing to establish bases at central points during the coming season.
This means of rapid and efficient transportation is especially adapted to the rugged country of
the North-western District. Its definite and permanent introduction will greatly facilitate and
hasten mining development.

In areas accessible only by river the district has been fortunately supplied with good service.
Deserving of special mention in this respect is the efficient and courteous transportation service
rendered by the Barrington Transportation Company on the Stikine river from Wrangell to
Telegraph Creek. This river can be travelled with comfort and promptitude and the Barrington
transportation system is a vital factor in the development of the Stikine and Liard areas.

An improved transportation system on the Taku river is in course of preparation for the
1930 season. The Taku River Transportation Company, operated during the 1929 season by
William Strong, has been taken over by interests associated with the Alaska Juneau Gold
Mining Company and the United Eastern Mining Company. A new tunnel river-boat 64 feet long
is under construction and will be ready to operate in the spring of 1930. Good accommodation
with meals will be available on this boat. Very reasonable passenger and freight rates from
Juneau to Tulsequah will be charged.

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Commendable work by the Geological Survey of Canada, that will be of great assistance to
operators and prospectors, has been continued during the 1929 season. After a succession of
seasons spent in the Stikine River section the mapping of this area by F. A. Kerr has been
completed. Towards the end of the season a brief reconnaissance of the Taku River area was
made by Dr. Kerr. George Hanson has also completed the mapping of the Alice Arm section.
The early publication of the preliminary geological reports on these areas has been very useful.
The final detailed reports are being awaited with interest. During the summer season V. L.
Eurdley-Wilmot, of the Dominion Mines Branch, studied ore occurrences in the Portland Canal
and Alice Arm sections, with especial attention to the silver contents of the ores. Results of
this investigation will be of assistance not only to exploration, but especially to milling practice.

It is hoped that the Geological Survey of Canada will undertake the mapping of the eastern
contact margins of the Taku, Whiting, and Unuk River troughs. With this work in hand,
complete correlation of the economic geological features of the eastern contact margin of the
Coast Range batholith from the Nass river to the Taku river will become available to the
prospector and operator. This will embrace a stretch 250 miles in length of potential mineral
area equally as promising as any on the American continent and largely untouched as yet by the
prospector’s pick.

NON-METALLICS,

With the exception of some sand and gravel excavated for road-construction, the district has
as yet shown no non-metallic production. This is perhaps due to the fact that interest in metal-
mining has obscured any latent possibilities that may exist for non-metallics. There is also the
factor that the marketing of non-metallic products is somewhat obscure and in the nature of
a specialty. Markets for these products have to be worked up and established.

Prospecting and investigation for the establishment of non-metallic industries should,
however, not be overlooked in the district. The coastal area, with its accessibility and other
facilities, offers an ideal area for such investigation. In this area the chief handicap of a profit-
able non-metallic industry is removed at the outset by the availability of immediate seaboard
transportation to markets. The energetic and organized establishment of these markets is,
however, of prime importance for the success of a non-metallic industry.

In the category of non-metallics it would seem that District No. 1 possesses possibilities for
clay products, limestone, phosphate rock, building-stone, and mineral-spring industries. Several
varieties of marine residual clays occur in many localities along the indented shore-line of the
coast. Cursory examination of these show in some instances a remarkable fineness and plasticity
that indicates a possible content of appreciable kaolinite. In the Kumealon Inlet area the
occurrence of emery, and possibly of refractories, is indicated.

Limestone occurrences are widespread, particularly in intercalated beds in the Prince Rupert
and Bella Bella formations. The possibility for the occurrence of phosphate rock in or near
fossiliferous beds of the Tertiary and Cretaceous sedimentaries of Graham island, in the Queen
Charlotte group, should not be overlooked. Residual phosphates resulting from the leaching of