Talk:Aniak, Alaska

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How is it that Semen Lukin discovered Gold around Aniak in 1932 when it is also reported that a man of the same name operated a post called Lukin's Odinochka on the Kuskokwim river in 1839 (see http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=94) and traveled the Kukskokwim River with Laventiy Zagoskin in 1842 (see http://vilda.alaska.edu/site-templates/timeline.html)? His age would have been more then 100. --Feyer 15:37, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

I found the USGS data for this area at http://ardf.wr.usgs.gov/ardf_data/RussianMission.pdf and there is no mention of gold deposits near Aniak nor does it mention Semen Lukin making any discoveries. I will note this reference as unfounded. --Feyer 02:57, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

I may have found the problem, albeit in an obscure place. The Aniak Airport master plan includes a community history, and says Semen Lukin found gold in 1832, which would make more sense. The DCED history could have just had a typo in it, which then propagated over the Internet through being in this article. (Of course, the above link itself could be the mistake, too) —Zero Gravitas 03:12, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

That would also, if true, explain the lack of USGS info; they were in no position to know what was going on in Russian America in 1832. —Zero Gravitas 03:13, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Maybe - but, the USGS data is very comprehensive, and typically if someone is "credited" with discovery of gold in Alaska, it is the USGS who does the crediting.--Feyer 03:39, 22 June 2006 (UTC)