Show MINERAL RESOURCES alaska possesses pos esses the greatest potential supply of natural wealth still remaining in in an u undeveloped condition among the possessions of the united states its mines its timber and other resources are the reserves from which this country must draw in connection with the continued development of its industries although alaska since 1880 has furnished the united states with approximately five hundred million dollars worth of mineral products the mineral resources of alaska are stil relatively untouched this is even true of gold gold has been the great lure of alaska and gold production still ranks first in alanskas mineral output since 1880 alaska has produced gold valued at and while the richest placer mine deposits have been exhausted the possibilities of further gold in alaska are almost limitless in place of the placer mine of the prospector there is now coming the large development in the way of dredging and hydraulic or lode operations and it is reliably estimated in abed that the lower grades of gold ore in alaska will furnish much greater quantities of gold than the deposits which have already been worked out gold production will therefore continue to rank as the mining industry of greatest importance second in its importance as a mineral industry industry Y in alaska is the production of copper during the last forty years alaska has produced out of a total mineral production of approximately five hundred million As a matter of fact only one great copper deposit in alaska has been extensively developed this development the mine is one of the four largest copper prodoc ing ng deposits in the world the other equally important coper deposits which are known and which have been surveyed in alaska will not be developed until additional transportation facilities have been provided and these copper reserves will furnish one of the mos most t important assets of the united states during the coming years in addition to gold and copper production alaska has rich mineral ini deposits of silver lead tin antimony alafi platinum chronic chrome and many other auxiliary metals in fact alaska is a great store house of mineral wealth and its development will take place with the adoption of bf a policy of constructive organization development and in alaska on the part of the united states government |