Geological Map of the Lena Gold Fields
This map from 1901 depicts a gold mining area in eastern Siberia covering 12 versts (circa 11 kilometers) from north to south and 6 versts (circa 6.5 kilometers) from east to west. The area is located between the Lena and Vitim rivers in the Patom Highland, northwest of Lake Baikal. The map, which is in Russian and French, shows rivers, numerous gold mines, mountains, and highlands. The Vitim River, a large tributary of the Lena, one of the major rivers of Russia, is shown at the bottom of the map. Two other rivers, the Bodaibo and Bodaibokan, come down from the north and join with each other before flowing into the Vitim. At their confluence is the town of Bodaibo, marked on the map as Bodaibo Residence, a center of local gold mining. The legend on the left side of the map displays symbols for mineral deposits found in the area, including alluvium, sandstone containing pyrite, shale and phyllite, quartz veins, biotite granite, and other gold-bearing minerals. Gold first was discovered in the Lena River area in 1843. The gold mining industry developed rapidly in the late 19th century, so that by 1908 some 30,000 workers were employed in the Lena River gold fields.
Title in Original Language
Geologicheskaia Karta Lenskogo Zolotonosnogo Raiona
Type of Item
1 map, 56 x 36 centimeters, on sheet 84 x 62 centimeters
- Scale 1:42,000
Last updated: May 28, 2015