Vern Brickley

Estelle Collection

Unknown

This westerly summer view shows most of the lower buildings and development associated with the Independence Gold Mine on the valley floor with rugged mountains in near background. Various milling facilities and tailing deposits are apparent on the slope above the collection of administrative buildings and bunkhouses. A building is visible perched on the mountainside at left center at the mouth of an "adit", or horizontal tunnel to extract the gold ore. Access to the site was by tram not apparent in the photo. Waste rock from the mining is visible as a cone-shaped pile dumped at the base of the mountain. A similar operation is apparent on the mountain at right center with a larger extent of waste rock below the adit. This site was accessed by means of stairs and enclosed walkways visible leading up to a white building near the adit. Snow is gone from the valley but lingers at the higher elevations just above the mine workings. Low alpine vegetation is apparent on the valley floor in foreground but no trees exist as the whole scene is above timberline.

Talkeetna Mountains north of Palmer, Alaska

Black & White Paper Print, 3-1/2" x 5"

Mine#4x-Est