Gold and platinum placer occurrences found in the Finlay, Parsnip and Peace rivers have been worked since the first discovery by Bill Cust in 1861. The placers generally occur in the top 1.5 to 3 metres of reworked glacial gravels deposited as bars and benches along streams and rivers. Normally worked by hand, these placer operation had limited success. The gold is fine and flat and while platinum is common with high values reported locally, it was considered unimportant in most of these placers.

Philip Creek, a tributary of the Nation River, flows north through the Manson Upland, meandering to its Nation River confluence approximately 35 kilometres southwest of the town of Mackenzie. Most of the placers along Philip Creek were worked in the very early 1900's. Wheel Creek, a tributary 15 kilometres up stream from the mouth of Philip Creek, has a water wheel and other structures, comprising the most advanced workings of this area. Accurate production figures are not available.

Values in iridium were also derived from assays.