The physiographic history of Wheaton Creek was developed
in detail not only to explain the origin and occurrence of
placer-gold on Wheaton but in the hope that the outline might
be found useful in directing placer-prospecting on other creeks.
flthough no other creeks were visited, it is suggested that the
physiographic history of Wheaton Creek is similar to others,
as many tributaries enter the Turnagain valley over falls.

Several factors govern the occurrence of placer-gold on
Wheaton Creek. First, there must have been auriferous veins
in the drainage area of the creek. Secondly, all the early
placer concentrations were not dispersed during the Pleisto-
cené. “That the gold is found ina canyon below the Tertiary
valley-bottom largely explains why the placer was protected
from ice erosion. Though Wheaton Creek is roughly parallel
to the general movement of glacial ice, the absence of cirques

and of ice gathering grounds partly accounts for the small
amount of ice erosion.

A source of gold should always be considered before
prospecting the country for other placer creeks. The chances
are slight of finding placer-gold-on creeks whose drainage
areas are completely underlain by granitic rocks. Whereas
if many veins are known to outcrop in the drainage area and
particularly if any are known to be auriferous the chance of
finding placer is much greater. The drainage areas of many
known placer creeks are underlain by slate’ carrying oquartz
veins.

No creeks in northern British Columbia are entirely un-
glaciated, but search should be made for valleys where ice
erosion has not been excessive. Such valleys may run gener-
ally eastward or westward, transverse to the general direction
of ice movement, or may be ones with no cirques or high ice
gathering ground at their heads. Those valleys may still re-
tain their V-shaped profile rather than the trough-like form
of glaciated valleys.

On any particular creek, the initial prospecting of all
gravel exposures should be followed by an attempt to reach
bed-rock particularly if there is a place comparable to the
canyon-section of Wheaton Creek.

DESCRIPTION OF LEASES

On Wheaton (Boulder) Creek.

Johnson, Ryan and Elvira Leases. J. Wheaton of Tele-
graph Creek, B. C., owns the Johnson (No. 301), Ryan (No. 302)

aoe