WASHINGTON GEOLOGY Washington Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Earth Resources Vol. 21, No. 1, March 1993 The Cannon mine surface plant at the edge of the city of Wenatchee. Ore is hoisted to the surface from the shaft (center of photo) and is processed in the mill (lower right). The mine has been the largest gold producer in Washington for the past few years, as well as one of the largest underground gold mines in the United States. Production decreased in 1992 due to dwindling ore reserves. If no new reserves are identified, the mine is expected to close in about 2 years. In This Issue: Proposed seismic zone changes in western Washington, p. 2; Washington's mineral industry-1992, p. 3; Coal activity in Washington-1992, p. 31; Strong motion system installed in Natural Resources Building, p. 32; Addendum to oil and gas exploration activity in Washington, 1991 and 1992, p. 33; Fossil mayflies from Republic, Washington, p. 35; National Natural Landmarks Program in the Pacific Northwest region, p. 38; Tacoma Smelter stack demolished, p. 41. Proposed Seismic Zone WASHINGTON Changes in Western Washington by Timothy J. Walsh GEOLOGY In December 1991, Washington's Seismic Safety Advisory Committee presented its report on earthquake prepared­ Washington Geolo11Y (ISSN 1058-2134) Is published four times a year ness to the legislature. Although the bill to implement its by the Washington DE,partment of Natural Resources, Division of Geology recommendations died in the senate, some recommenda­ and Earth Resources. This publication Is free upon request. The Division also publishes bulletins, Information circulars, reports of Investigations, tions can be implemented with existing authority. (See re­ geologic maps, and o,pen-flle reports. A list of these publications will be lated story, p. 32.) One of these is the recommendation to sent upon request. expand the boundaries of seismic zone 3 in the Uniform Building Code (UBC) to include all of western Washington DEPARTMENT Jennifer M. Belcher (Fig. 1). This was prompted by a growing body of evidence OF Commissioner of Pub/le Lands that western Washington and Oregon and northwestern­ NATURAL Kaleen Cottingham most California are subject to large subduction zone earth­ RESOURCES Supervisor quakes that have not occurred in the region for about 300 years. (See, for instance, Atwater and Yamaguchi, 1991; DIVISION OF Raymond Lasmanis Clarke and Carver, 1992.) There is also increasing evidence GEOLOGY State Geologist of a greater risk of shallow crustal earthquakes than is AND EARTH J . Eric Schuster commonly reflected in risk assessments for the area. (See, RESOURCES Assistant State Geologist for instance, Yelin and Patton, 1991; Bucknam and others, 1992.) Geologists Matthew J . Brunengo Stephen P. Palmer At present, the Puget Sound region is in zone 3 of the (Olympia) Joe D. Dragovich Patrick T. Pringle UBC and the rest of western Washington is in zone 28. Wendy J . Gerstel Weldon W. Rau, Venice L. Goetz volunteer Continued on p. 40. William S. Lingley, Jr. Katherine M. Reed Robert L. (Josh) Logan Henry W. Schasse David K. Norman Timothy J . Walsh (Spokane) Robert E. Derkey Charles W. Gulick (Regional) Garth Anderson (Northwest) John E. Powell (Southeast) Stephanie 2. Waggoner (Central & Southwest) Senior Librarian Connie J . Manson Librarian I Rebecca Christie Research Technician Rex J . Hapala Editor Katherine M. Reed Cartographers Nancy A. Eberle Carl F. T. Harris Keith G. Ikerd Washington Editorial Assistant/Designer Jaretta M. (Jari) Roloff Oregon Administrative As,slstant Barbara A. Preston Word Processing Specialist J . Renee Christensen Clerical Staff Joan Castaneda Naomi (Nonie) Hall Shelley Reisher Regulatory Programs Assistant Mary Ann Shawver 28 Main Office Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources 3 P.O. Box 47007 Olympia, WA 98504-7007 Phone: 206/902-1450; Fax: 206/902-1785 (See map on inside back cover for office location.) Field Office Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources Spokane County Agricultural Center N ??? H;,v;m;, Spokane, WA 99202-4776 I ) California 3 Nevada Phone: 509/533-2484; Fax: 509/533-2087 \ Figure 1. Proposed expansion of Uniform Building Code Publications available from the Olympia address only. seismic zone 3 to include all of western Washington and Printed on recycled paper. western Oregon. The area between the crossed-out boundaries could be upgraded from zone 28 to zone 3. Washington Geofogy, vol. 21, no. 1 2 Washington's Mineral Industry-1992 by Robert E. Derkey, Charles W. Gulick, and William S. Lingley, Jr. INTRODUCTION 800 The value and amount of gold, silver, zinc, and lead produc­ Au tion decreased in 1992 relative to 1991. The decrease in • Ag II] gold and silver production (Fig . 1) was a result of mine <D "'0 600 C: closures due to depressed metal prices (Van Stone mine), ::, transition to increased production tonnage and decreased 0 0 ore grade (Republic Unit), and reduced production due to 400 'O"' dwindling ore reserves (Cannon mine). The three major C: <'II precious metal mining operations, the Cannon mine, the "'::, 0 .c Republic Unit, and the Kettle River Project, produced a total I- 200 of nearly 283,000 ounces of gold and more than 580,000 ounces of silver in 1992. Exploration activities for metallic mineral deposits in 0 Washington continued at a conservative pace in 1992. 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 There were few new property acquisitions. The majority of Year activity centered on continued exploration efforts on exist­ Figure 1. Gold (Au) and silver (Ag) production in Wash­ ing properties. Most of the exploration activity was in the ington, 1986 through 1992. northeastern and north-central parts of the state. The sand, gravel, and quarried rock industries, which produce construction aggregates, fill, pitrun, riprap, and lays (resurfacing), and by private construction projects from larger rock products, are a key component of Washington's the Boeing Company and others. Gravel sales in eastern economy. Rock products provide the basis for infrastructure Washington increased slightly during 1992. These market construction and maintenance, including low-cost housing, patterns resulted in aggressive competition during the first highways, and public works. half of 1992, and prices for round-rock aggregate fell by Per capita demand, based on 1991 data, show that about 5 percent in some areas. Washingtonians use about 16 tons or 12 cubic yards of Construction aggregates and fill are the most valuable construction aggregates, fill, pitrun, and larger rock prod­ mineral commodity in Washington. Department of Natural ucts annually (Lingley and Manson, 1992). Most aggregate Resources production estimates together with U.S. Bureau was consumed for general construction: homes, owner­ of Mines data (Table 1 and Fig . 2) indicate that the cumula­ occupied buildings, schools, and offices. An average home tive value (total retail receipts) for all rock products in requires approximately 50 cubic yards of concrete and a Washington was probably greater than $200 million. large building requires about 5,000 cubic yards. These are Figure 2 and Table 1 summarize the consumption of used for footings, stem walls, walls, support, and access. rock products in Washington during 1992. The Department Though production and some prices declined, 1992 was of Natural Resources data presented on Figure 2 are based generally a good year for the sand, gravel, and quarried rock on a survey of about 23 percent of all mine operations in industries in Washington. Estimated statewide production Washington (Lingley and Manson, 1992) and on interviews was about 5 percent less than in 1991, the best year on with several large aggregate producers. The U.S. Bureau of record for round-rock aggregate sales. Ready-mix concrete Mines estimates for sand and gravel (round-rock aggregate) sales in the Seattle area failed to reach those of the banner production given on Figure 2 do not include production years of the 1980s. However, this decline was offset by from some small mines and should be regarded as conserva­ unanticipated increases in new home construction else­ tive. Nevertheless, Bureau of Mines data are collected con­ where in the Puget lowland, by several large highway over- sistently and are useful for comparing annual production from year to year. The value of other industrial minerals produced in Wash­ Table 1. Preliminary Department of Natural Resources ington during 1992 increased 6 percent over the 1991 estimates for 1992 construction aggregates, stone, and value according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. pit run production, based on data from Lingley and Man­ Bureau of Mines (USBM). This was primarily a result of an son (1992) together with interviews of major producers. increase in the production of portland cement when Ash Coverage indicates the percentage of producers respond­ Grove Cement Co. , Western Region, opened its new Seat­ ing to a Department survey tle plant in May. Industrial minerals comprised 61 percent Estimated state­ of the total estimated value of $478.3 million for all nonfuel Commodity wide production Coverage mineral production in Washington (R . J. Minarik, USBM, written commun., 1993). The USBM estimates of value of Sand and gravel (including fill) -55,000,000 tons 24% mineral production showed increases for all their industrial Crushed rock and stone -15,000,000 tons 22% minerals categories except construction sand and gravel, Total -70,000,000 tons 23% lime, and gemstones. 3 Washington Geology, vol. 21 , no. 1 Employment in the nonfuel mineral in­ 80 ~-------------------------r-4.00 dustries increased in 1991 (the latest year -;;;- for which figures are available) relative to C 1990. A monthly average of 2,813 people B 0 -;;;- were employed iin 1991 compared to ..c u, 60 3.00 ~ 2,628 in 1990. These statistics reflect the 0 0 ~ average annual employment in Standard u, C Industrial Classification (SIC) code 10 .Q (metal mining) and SIC code 14 (non­ Q) .s Q.