3

Hanson, George (1924): Prince Rupert to Burns Lake; Geol. Sury., Canada, Sum.
Rept. 1924, pt. A, pp. 38-43.
——(1925): Reconnaissance in Zymoetz River Area; Geol. Surv., Canada, Sum. Rept.
1925, pt. A, pp. 100-119.
Marshall, J, R. (1926): Lakelse Lake Map-area; Geol. Surv., Canada, Sum, Rept.
1926, pt. A, pp. 35-44.
Kerr, F. A. (1936): Mineral Resources along the Canadian National Railway Between
Prince Rupert and Prince George; Geol. Surv., Canada, Preliminary
: Report, 1936, paper 36-20.
Kindle, E, Dees): Mineral Resources of Terrace Area; Geol. Surv., Canada, Mem.
5

Ann, Repts., Minister of Mines, B.C., 1898-1936,
Map 2098: Zymoetz River area; issued by Geol. Surv., Canada, 1926,
Map 278A: Prince Rupert sheet; issued by Geol. Surv., Canada, 1933.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

The area lies along the eastern border of the Coast Range mountains
and is characterized by high mountain peaks and deeply incised valleys.
At Usk, Kitsalas mountain rises abruptly on the west side of Skeena river
to an elevation of about 5,000 feet, and on the east side of the river Bornite
mountain rises to about 5,500 feet. The relief is marked, as the town of
Usk is only 300 feet above sea-level. North from Usk as far as Dorreen
a continuous succession of unnamed mountains rise on either side of the
Skeena to comparable heights. East of Cedarvale the Seven Sisters range
towers to elevations exceeding 9,000 feet. As a rule the mountain slopes
are steep below 4,000 feet elevation, as a result of glacial erosion and the
rapid erosion by youthful streams. Between 4,000 and 5,000 feet the
mountains are smooth and rounded, and gently sloping, and apparently
represent a Tertiary erosion surface that has been modified by continental
glaciation. Above 5,000 feet the slopes are steep, as a consequence of late
alpine glaciation. Glaciers still persist on the north sides of most of the
mountain peaks above 5,000 feet.

Skeena river flows in a general southerly direction for 26 miles between
Cedarvale and Usk. Two miles south of Usk on passing through Kitsalas
canyon it swings southwest towards Terrace. The river is swift and ranges
between 300 and 1,000 feet in width along its course from Cedarvale to
Usk, but at Kitsalas canyon it is confined to a deep, narrow, rock-walled
channel about 100 feet wide. Zymoetz river, the largest tributary stream in
the area, flows westerly to join the Skeena 7 miles southwest of Usk.
Kleanza, Chimdemash, St. Croix, and Legate creeks are smaller streams
which also flow west into the Skeena. Phillips, Lowrie, Nicholson, Hard-
scrabble, and Sand creeks flow east to Skeena river, in the same neighbour-
hood. Farther north, Fiddler, Lorne, and Porcupine creeks are other east-
flowing tributaries of the Skeena. Whiskey, Coyote, Flint, and Big Oliver
creeks are westward-flowing streams whose headwaters are on Seven Sisters
mountain.

The tributary streams are fed throughout the year by melting snow
and ice from the tops of the mountains. During periods of heavy rainfall
they swell to many times their normal size. During the period of prolonged
and heavy rainfall (9-2 inches in 96 hours) that commenced on October 21,
1935, it is stated that the Skeena rose 25 feet in 24 hours as a result of the
tremendous volume of water that poured in from the tributary streams.