A number of creeks flowing off the western end of the San Juan Ridge host placer gold. These include, from east to west, Kuitsche Creek, Parkinson Creek, Payzant Creek and Yauh Creek, as well as others extending to San Juan Point.

The area is underlain by metamorphic rock (slaty schists) of the Jurassic to Cretaceous Leech River Complex. Basalts and basaltic pillow lavas of the Eocene Metchosin Volcanics are exposed to the south. The Leech River fault separates these and stretches from west of Victoria westward along the Leech River and Loss Creek valleys to the coast near Sombrio Point.

Placer gold occurs almost exclusively in the gravels of the streams that drain the area that is underlain by the slaty schists of the Jurassic to Cretaceous Leech River Complex (Formation). Fairly coarse gold may be found in the gravels of virtually all these streams. The gold in recent gravel deposits is likely derived from the numerous quartz veins that occur in the slaty schists. These veins are seldom more than small stringers and lenses a few centimetres wide and approximately 1 metre in length. The only metallic minerals in the veins are a little pyrite or chalcopyrite and free gold. The veins are generally too small and too barren to be profitably mined.

It appears that most of the gold was derived from bars or in crevices in the bedrock of the river bed, or from benches along the side of the creeks. Small clear pink to deep red garnets are also reported.

The placer deposits were discovered in the late 1800’s in association with placer gold exploration on the island following the discovery of the Leech River Placers (MINFILE 092B 078) in the 1860’s. Minor work by local prospectors has continued through to present. The lower sections of the creeks are located in Juan De Fuca Provincial Park.

In 1893, a gold nugget was reported to have been found in a small stream flowing into Providence Cove.

In 2005, Le Baron Prospecting reported producing “nice” gold and gemstones from Parkinson Creek. Small amounts of colour and one nice “picker” was also reported from Yahu and Payzant creeks (Assessment Report 28061). A small mining operation, consisting of mechanical stripping and centrifugal washing of tailings, is also reported in Parkinson Creek area.

In 2006 and 2007, a small program of suction dredging, sluicing and hand panning from Parkinson and Kuitsche creeks yielded 16 grams of fine gold and 10 “picker” pieces (Assessment Report 29217).

In 2007, hand panning on a small creek flowing north near San Juan Point yielded fine gold and one course flake (Assessment Report 29932).

During 2008 through 2010, prospecting on Kuitsche Creek yielded fine gold and small flakes (Assessment Report 30124). During 2011 through 2013, Le Baron continued sampling and minor suction dredge work on Kuitsche and Parkinson creeks.