Jack Wade Gold Co.
Less than two per cent of the world's mined gold is in nugget form. A one ounce nugget is more rare than a five caret diamond, and nugget gold is becoming even harder to find and mine today.
Our natural gold nuggets are very close to total purity, containing traces of silver, platinum or copper. Assay is generally between 20-22 karats, pure gold is 24 karats. Nuggets are significantly purer than the gold normally used in the very finest jewelry.
Because of their increasing scarcity, authentic gold nuggets will increase in value at a much more dramatic rate than other forms of gold. A genuine gold nugget has survived in it's unique primordial shape. A nugget's worth in gold weight is far exceeded by its value as a rare gemstone, one of nature's very limited editions. Gold has lustrous beauty, it's easily workable, it's very rare, and virtually indestructible. - four characteristics that no other precious metals possess.
Natural Alaskan gold nuggets mean even more to people who appreciate the logistics and problems encountered mining gold in the last frontier. The logistics and conditions with which the Alaskan miner must deal are very different than any place else in the world. Nuggets mined this far north are unique, mining in Alaska is only possible 90 - 100 days per year, under adverse conditions far from civilization, as we think of it. My husband and I have been residents of Alaska for 39 years, and mining in the Circle and 40-Mile mining district for 27 years. It is very hard work with long hours (during season it's 7 days a week, 14-16 hours a day), but we love it and that's what counts. If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask. And yes, these nuggets are just as they came out of the ground, no pounding, cutting or shaping, and they are the color you see them here when they are unearthed.
Brief History of the Jack Wade Creek Mine and the 40-Mile Mining District The 40-Mile Mining District is the second oldest district in Alaska.
Gold was first discovered in the district in 1886, 11 years before the Dawson discovery and 17 years before the Fairbanks discovery.
Because of questions as to whether claims were in Canada or Alaska, many miners filed claim locations in both Dawson City, Yukon territory and Eagle, Alaska.
Jade Wade Creek's first claims were located in 1892, and have been worked continuously ever since. The creek was named for Jack Anderson and Wade Nelson, the original locators.
In 1936, the bucket line dredge working at Franklin was bought, dismantled and hauled by horses over the ice to Jack Wade Creek by the Yukon Placer Mining Co., which owned the claims.
In 1938, Fred Whitehead had the contract to build the small airstrip at Jack Wade Creek, and the airstrip for Franklin, on the ridge between Franklin and Jack Wade.
George Robinson went to work for "the Company" on Jack Wade in 1932, went to war in 1941 and returned to the creek in 1949.
In 1951, George bought Jack Wade from the Company, mining on his own, until the early 1970's when his health forced him to slow down.
George died in 1989 at the age of 83. He lived in a log cabin built at the turn of the century and told stories of the old miners, good and bad season, of walking to Dawson for a few days of cards and girls, of the big nuggets; 25, 33, 56 & 70 ounces that the creek has given up. His lifestyle hadn't changed much since he first came to the creek 55 years ago.
In 1986, Bureau of Land Management told George his claims were no longer valid, and the Sierra Club has a court order closing down 85% of the mining in Alaska at the end of the 1987 season, which not only ended George's income, but put an end to his lifestyle that had not changed in over 100 years. This case was won, and George got his claims back. He was one of a vanishing breed.
Mining relics on display
