DCHP-3

above discovery

DCHP-3.1 (Jul 2026)

Spelling variants:
"above discovery", above Discovery, Above Discovery

1adv. — Mining, Law, especially Yukon, historical

of a mining claim, located a certain distance above or upstream from the original discovery claim on a creek.

Type: 4. Culturally Significant — The term has cultural significance in the development of Canadian industry in many parts of the country. It may also be considered a Type 5-Frequency Canadianism by virtue of its higher frequency in Canada (see Chart 1), especially in Yukon (see Chart 2).

The term is not listed in OED-3.
The term is mostly historical and now largely limited to legal documentation (e.g. see 2003 quotation).

Quotations

1897
They went up to 49 and 50 miles above Discovery, and also staked two claims on the right fork.
1904
The town stands on what was originally claimed No. 6, above Discovery, on Bonanza Creek.
1926
There was "No. 1 above discovery," or the land immediately adjoining the claim upon which the gold was first found up the creek ....
1972
He turned back the calendar 66 years. [...] "It was 14 Above Discovery — that means the claim was located 14 claims up the creek from where the original strike was made. His name was Edgar Milligan."
2003
(d) claims 1 and 2 above Discovery No. 38721 and No. 38722.
2025
A few months after the discovery claims were staked on Bonanza Creek, Patsy obtained a fraction claim when it was discovered that Number 1 Above Discovery on Bonanza Creek had been overstaked by 61 feet.

References

  • OED-3

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 20 July 2026

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 20 July 2026

Chart 2: Regional Internet Domain Search, 18 September 2026

Chart 2: Regional Internet Domain Search, 18 September 2026