Dominion Creek and its tributaries (Sulphur and Gold Run creeks) are one of the largest placer gold producing areas in North America. Dominion Creek is the largest tributary of the Indian River, and forms the southeastern boundary of the Klondike placer district. Near the junction with Jensen Creek, Dominion Creek turns sharply to the south, continuing to its confluence with Gold Run and Sulphur creeks. It becomes the Indian River below that point.
The placer gravel on Dominion Creek is divided into: (1) Pliocene White Channel gravel, (2) Pleistocene terraces, (3) early Pleistocene incised valley gravel (Ross gravel), (4) Pleistocene Dominion Creek gravel, and (5) creek and gulch deposits.
Ross gravel is volumetrically the most significant source for placer deposits on Dominion Creek. Locally, it has been called “White Channel gravel” due to its bleached appearance and similarity to Pliocene White Channel gravel on Bonanza and Hunker creeks. However, stratigraphic work indicates that Ross gravel is significantly younger than “White Channel gravel” as it is known north of King Solomon Dome. On Dominion Creek, Ross Gravel is incised up to 40 metres into the White Channel Terrace. Ross gravel is named after the Ross Mining camp where it is well exposed and mined on Dominion Creek. The majority of gold produced on Dominion, Gold Run and Sulphur creeks in the last century has been from Ross gravel.
Gold fineness values on Dominion Creek show considerable similarity on each of Sulphur (750-830), Gold Run (790-850) and main Dominion creeks (800-900), and generally increase down-valley. Gold morphology suggests that flat, well rounded gold nuggets, like those recovered on Dominion and Sulphur creeks, were transported 10-15 kilometres, indicating a major source in the area of King Solomon Dome. A high fineness lode source is well known on King Solomon Dome.
Dominion Creek and its tributaries (principally Sulphur and Gold Run creeks) reported production of roughly 450,000 ounces of raw gold between 1978 and 1997. This value represents a small fraction of the creek’s total production since discovery in 1896, which is likely close to 3 million ounces.