To utilize the processing of high-grade gold ore as the center piece, "the hook" if you will, for a tourist-orientated retail facility. The scope of which would be limited only by a mix of imagination and market studies results. For instance: The 53 miles from Anchorage to the Portage Glacier is probably the most traveled road in Alaska. Yet, between downtown Anchorage and Portage there is not one highway-facing hotel or motel of any consequence. The prevailing belief that all visitors desiring the "Alaska Experience" are bent on staying in downtown accommodations defies logic
In 1967 two, forty acre, claims were staked (filed on) at Bird Point by the current President of A.E.I.. The mineral of interest is gold with minor amounts of silver and other elements. The Alaska Statehood Act provided for state selection of federal lands. The claims were located on federal land previously selected and therefore fell under Alaska mining laws. After the claims were located, the state was granted patent to the area and Chugach State Park was created. These claims are grandfathered into the park. Mining claims on State of Alaska lands cannot be patented. What is being offered are the exclusive rights to the valuable minerals located within claim boundaries. Alaska mining statutes provide for limited surface rights. Other needs/requests are considered by the state on a case by case basis.
Samples, from various locations, have returned assays ranging from nil (zero) gold to those in excess of 15 ounces per ton. In spite of those extremely high assays, the property may or may not be viable solely as a mining venture. Additional investigative work needs to be done prior to that conclusion. The greater value of these two claims is more that the gold is present in this particular spot. Minuets from Alaska's largest city, the claims are extremely assessable with both power and water available within claim boundaries. In 1967 tourism was in its infancy but even then it was obvious that this exceptional and unique location was a natural for a tourist-orientated venture. A decision by an Alaska Attorneys General determined that the surface area could be used for mining purposes only. A rendering that answered a more or less moot question because non-mining activities would be better located on the private ground available a short distance in either direction.
There is sufficient gold bearing quartz at Bird Point to operate a small demonstration mill for decades. Three or four tons processed daily during business hours would probably suffice. Actually, the less the better to preserve the available reserves. Alaska and gold are synonymous but nowhere in Alaska, other than in an industrial setting, does the visitor have an opportunity to see how gold is separated from the host rock. Most of us are captured by mechanical demonstrations, so surely one with the added allure of gold would be a double attraction. It's fortunate the nature of the ore is quartz containing visible free-milling gold. Conditions that insure an environmentally friendly recovery process.
Tourist opportunities do not disappear with the end of the summer season. The State Division of Tourism and the Municipality of Anchorage are actively promoting Alaska as a winter destination. Interest in the Alyeska Ski Resort increases yearly as does attendance at the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous held each February. Anchorage has 258,000 residents representing 42 percent of the state's population. With the addition of city employees, along with the civilian and military personnel associated with two nearby bases, it's clear that Anchorage enjoys, proportionally, a high number of workers with stable employment. Any enterprise close to Anchorage is well supported by its residents. A family drive offers two choices, north towards Palmer or the more popular option, south (across the claims) to Girdwood (Alyeska) and\or the Portage Glacier area. The communities of Whittier, Hope, Seward, Soldatna, Kenia and Homer all rely on the Seward Highway to access Anchorage.
In the late 1990's the state rebuilt the Seward Highway from a point just west of Bird Point to Girdwood. This resulted in a near continuous exposure of bedrock across claim ADL 59481. In the fall of 1998 we commissioned Mr. Donald Stevens, an Anchorage based geologist, to conduct a sampling program of this rock exposure. A condensed version of his conclusions are included on the "Abstract" page. As previously stated, the claims are grandfathered into Chugach State Park. Chugach Park officials have always been very cooperative and would welcome any development enhancing and supporting improvements recently made at Bird Point. In the year 2000, the Division of Parks completed the Bird Point Trailhead facility just east of claim ADL 59481. In addition, at a cost of 1.7 million dollars, the abandoned Bird Point to Girdwood Flats portion of the highway was converted to a trail. To the west, other segments of the trail will be joined making it continuous from downtown Anchorage to Girdwood. The Trailhead facility includes living quarters for a caretaker. There are provisions in state regulations for approval of caretaker accommodations on mining claims providing there are significant improvements and/or items of equipment to protect. Such living quarters would have to be of a portable nature, such as an RV or a movable building.
A Reminder: This offer is not meant to imply the transfer of title to any land. What's offered are the valuable minerals under approximately 80 acres of state land and the exclusive right to extract those minerals. (Refer to the "Abstract" page for information on potential gold reserves.) The state requires that a mining permit be applied for and issued before mining proceeds. Exploratory work, not requiring heavy equipment, does not require a permit. There are no taxes. The state requires annual assessment work, with the value of at least $100, be performed before the 1st of September. In lieu of actual labor, a payment of $100 to the state before the 1st of September satisfies the assessment requirement. The amount is per claim per year. On contiguous claims, all assessment work can be performed on one claim. The state also has a graduated annual lease fee. These claims are at the current maximum of $130 per claim. So the annual cash amount to satisfy the state is $460. Assessment work for the year 2007 has been satisfied and the annual lease fees have been paid and are current.
