was
abandoned subsequently, but reopened in 1854. The auriferous stratum
lies in the bed of the river, or close to it, and varies in width from
one hundred to three hundred feet, with a depth of from one to eight
feet. These placers now produce annually a large amount of gold.
In
the Yenashimo valley the alluvions vary from two hundred to fourteen
hundred feet in width, and do not exceed eight feet in depth. They were
discovered in 1851, and up to 1864 produced largely.
As
early as 1840 the attention of gold-hunters was attracted to the
alluvions along the Kalami, a tributary of the Yenashimo, and two years
later work was commenced in this valley. These placers were very
productive, although the auriferous material averages only from two
and a half to eight feet in thickness. The mines on the Savaglikon are
said to have produced from 1843 to 1864 $25,000,000.
In
the valley of the Chirimba several deposits have been washed, and from
the beds of the Aktolik a large amount of gold has been produced, the
gravel having a depth of from seven to ten feet and varying in breadth
from seven hundred to fourteen hundred feet. Mining operations in the
northern Yeniseisk begin in May and continue until about the first week
in September.
The Southern Yeniseisk.—In
the southern Yeniseisk gold-fields the rivers have heavy grades. In
many districts a scarcity of water prevails during the summer months.
Only three of the river basins are noted for their auriferous
alluvions, the others holding a secondary rank. The most important
valley is that of the Uderey, where extensive gold-placers have been
worked since 1845, but are now nearly exhausted. There are numerous
placers along the river Murojnaia and its tributaries which flow into
the southern Yeniseisk fields. The deposits have been worked since
1841.
The Great Pit River is the administrative boundary between the northern and southern systems. Its length is
