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WASHINGTON GEOLOGIC NEWSLETTER Volume 18 Number 1 March 1990 Washington State Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources Portland cement plant in Metaline Falls purchased by Lafarge Corp. in 1989, showing aerial tram that transports limestone from the quarry. IN THIS ISSUE Washington's Mineral Industry in 1989 ... ........... 3 Last Year's Coal Activity in Washington............. 24 Coastal Vertical Land Movement....................... 26 WASHINGTON Washington State Mineral GEOLOGIC Data Files, Division of Geology NEWSLETTER and Earth Resources By Raymond Lasmanis The Washington Geologic Newsletter Is published quarterly by the Division of Geology and Earth Resources, Department of Natural Re­ The key to the development of a successful min­ sources. The newsletter ls free upon request. The Division also publishes eral exploration program is the availability of back­ bulletins, Information circulars, reports of Investigations, geologic maps, ground information. Concepts evolve into a firm and open-file reports. A list of these publications will be sent upon request. proposal for management's consideration through a process of data synthesis. In that regard, the Division's files are invaluable to the explorationist. DEPARTMENT Brian J. Boyle To date, however, the value of this resource has not OF Commissioner of Public Lands been fully utilized by geologists served by the Divi­ NATURAL Art Stearns sion. It may be that the obscure citation (Reference RESOURCES Supervisor #158) in our out-of-print Bulletin 37, "Inventory of Washington Minerals; Part II, Metallic Minerals" has DMSIONOF Raymond Lasmanis discouraged use of the data files. Reference 158 GEOLOGY AND State Geologist reads "Washington Division of Mines and Geology EARTH RESOURCES J . Eric Schuster unpublished data". Assistant State Geologist The following paragraphs describe the various data sets, their size, general content, and location. It is hoped that knowledge of these data bases will Geologists Matthew J. Brunengo William M. Phillips lead to further use of the information. (Olympia) Robert E. Derkey Patrick T. Pringle Michael A. Korosec Weldon W. Rau Mining/prospect property files: William S. Lingley, Jr. Katherine M. Reed This is the core of the collection. It contains Robert L. (Josh) Logan Henry W. Schasse information about the state's metallic and industrial Stephen P. Palmer Timothy J . Walsh mineral properties dating back to the 1920s. Lo­ (Spokane) Nancy L. Joseph Keith L. Stoffel cated in the Division's file room, there are eleven file Stephanie 2. Waggoner drawers containing information about 996 individual properties. These are arranged alphabetically, from Librarian Connie J. Manson the A and C claim in Stevens County to Zinc Creek Library Technician Gwen F. Crain in Skamania County. The quality of the data is var­ Research Technician Arnold Bowman ied, from detailed geological/exploration reports to newspaper clippings and correspondence. These Editor Katherine M. Reed files were assembled to support the information in Cartographers Nancy A. Eberle Carl F.T. Harris Bulletin 37. A card file system (17 drawers) arranged Keith G. Ikerd by property name as well as commodity was a key to the files until Bulletin 37 was published in 1956. Editorial Assistant Jack Sareault Administrative Assistant Susan P. Davis Mineral commodity files: Clerical Staff Naomi Hall Mary Ann Sha\Wer These files, also located in the file room, consist J. Renee Snider mostly of information on industrial minerals. They (Continued on page 23) Regulatory Clerical Staff Barbara A. Preston MAIUNG ADDRESSES DNISION LOCATION (OLYMPIA) Main Office Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources MaU Stop PY-12 Olympia, WA 98504 Phone: (206) 459-6372 FAX: (206) 459-6380 Field Office Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources 3rd Ave . S.E. Lacey Spokane County A!Jricultural Center MAIN OFFICE City Hall N. 222 Havana ::Geology and Earth Resources: Spokane, WA 99202 Sound / \ 4224·6th Ave. S .E. Center D\ Rowesix, Building One Phone: (509) 456-3255 Saint Martin's Mall ...,.-,.-=. s'"='.e.=··=···=···=···=···=··=· ··=···=···=t­ ) f--.,• College Alberlsons woodtand NOTE: Publications available from Olympia address only. Square CITY OF LACEY Washington Geologic Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 1 2 Washington's Mineral Industry in 1989 By Nancy L. Joseph INfRODUCTION production declined because of decreased gold out­ put and lower precious metals prices during most of The mineral industry in Washington is strong and 1989. Sand and gravel production, which accounts growing. In 1989 four metal mines were in opera­ for nearly a quarter of the value of Washington's tion, and three new precious metal mines were in minerals, increased nearly 10 percent. Portland ce­ development or in the permitting stage. Twenty ment production decreased 21 percent relative to companies mined and produced industrial minerals, 1988, according to the U.S. Bureau of Mines; both which include limestone, dolomite, silica, olivine, production and value have decreased nearly 50 per­ clay, and diatomite (Table 1). Two companies pro­ cent since 1987. While a slow, steady decline in duced portland cement, and seven plants produced prices for portland cement is a national trend, the lime, calcium chloride, precipitated calcium carbon­ large decline in production in Washington is in part ate, or ground limestone. the result of the cessation of production at the Co­ The value of magnesium metal production by lumbia Northwest Cement Corp. plant in Bellingham Northwest Alloys, Inc. accounts for more than a in mid-1987. quarter of the total value of the state's mineral in­ Total revenue from prospecting, mining, and dustry, followed by sand and gravel, precious metals, quarrying on State lands was $687,080 for the fiscal and portland cement production, respectively (Fig. year ending June 30, 1989. Increased payments re­ 1). The value of nonfuel mineral production in Wash­ lated to sand and gravel quarrying resulted in a 44 ington in 1989 was $451 million, according to the percent increase in revenues to the state compared U.S. Bureau of Mines. This represents an increase to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1988. of less than one percent over the $448 million for 1988. Calculations based on statistics for the first 6 months of 1989 supplied by the Washington . State Production of magnesium metal continued at full Department of Employment Security indicate that capacity. The preliminary value of precious metals mining, mining services, and quarrying employed a projected estimate of more than 2,300 workers with an average annual payroll of more than $72 million. These figures do not account for those employed in the production of magnesium metal, portland ce­ ment, or other processors of calcium carbonate products, which together employ more than 650 ad­ ditional workers. The amount paid workers in metal Magnesium metal mining and mining services amounts to nearly half 20% (from dolomite) the total annual payroll; 37 percent of mine and 28% mining-related workers are employed in metal min­ ing. Information in this report is summarized from Other voluntary replies to a questionnaire sent by the Divi­ industrial sion of Geology and Earth Resources to companies minerals and individuals active in mineral exploration and de­ velopment in the state, as well as from published 20% information. The questionnaire is of limited scope Sand and gravel and, therefore, details of the activities on individual properties are not always available. Not all question­ 25% naires were returned, and some of the information requested, particularly regarding expenditures and production, is deemed confidential by many of those questioned and is not reported. Therefore, while this summary is a reliable indication of the mineral acti~­ ity in Washington, it is incomplete and general m nature. Figure 1. Industrial minerals, including the value added to dolomite by the production of magnesium metal, The locations of properties mentioned in this arti­ and sand and gravel account for more than cle are shown in Figures 2a and 2b, which cover west­ three-fourths of the value of production of the mineral ern and eastern Washington respectively. industry in Washington. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Division of Geology and Earth Resources, and published reports. (Text continued on page 12) 3 Washington Geologic Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 1 0114 IT 079 080 83 N H fi?. , C l AM 084 E F RS N 440 045 GR Y MA OR +113 LEW IS COWLITZ 82 K A wf'JA N I A Figure 2a. Location of selected mines and prospects (metallic and industrial minerals) in western Washington. Location numbers are keyed to Table ll. Washington Geologic Newsle.tter, Vol. 18, No. 1 4 067 0 KANO Gt!:, N FERRY PEND 65 I 07~ 107. OREILLE: I 560 062 STE ~~NS 106 •93 i 061 I 06.8 730) ! ! ~; 4, •,; ·~ 'I i.,,., ·~· 'I i l I •as : LINCOLN SPOKANE 86+ GRANT 480 ADAMS WHITMAN KITTITAS YAKIMA ASOTIN BENTON ~--· -·1--·-~·-··--~--·--.. -· ________ ,. -- r------------ KLICKITAT ;~~ EXPLANATION -~' Prospect In Development Producing 0 • Metallic minerals <> • Industrial minerals Figure 2b. Location of selected mines and prospects (metallic and industrial minerals) in eastern Washington. Location numbers are keyed to Table 1. 5 Washington Geologic Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 1 Table 1. Mineral exploration and development in Washington in 1989. Locations given where available. See Flgures 2a and 2b for property locations Loe. County Owner/operator Property Location Commodity Remarks no. Chelan Althouse Wenatchee Au.Ag Property leased to Placers.Inc. Heights Asamera Minerals 2 Chelan Asamera Minerals Wenatchee sec. 35, Au.Ag Diamond (U.S.) Inc.- Heights- T22N, R20E; drilling, Exploration/ Stemilt sec. 2, geophysical Breakwater T21N, R20E exploration Resources Ltd. 3 Chelan Asamera Minerals Cannon mine sec. 16, Au.Ag Mining; surface (U.S.) Inc./ T22N, R20E and underground Breakwater exploration Resources Ltd. 4 Chelan Asamera Minerals sec. 34, Au.Ag Exploration Inc. T24N, R19E 5 Chelan Montana de Oro, Blewett secs. 1-3, Au Trenching Inc.

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