Salt Chuck copper-palladium mine, Prince of Wales Island, southeastern Alaska

The Salt Chuck copper-palladium mine is on a salt-water lagoon at the head of Kasaan Bay, Prince of Wales Island, southeastern Alaska, about 43 miles by water northwest Of Ketchikan (see fig. 1). The lagoon, known as the Salt Chuck, opens into Kasaan Bay through a very narrow channel and can be entered by small boats and barges from an hour or so before until an hour or so after high tide. Steamers can operate to within about 5 miles of the entrance to the Salt Chuck. The lagoon is deep enough in some places for smell boats to remain in it at low tide.