_•t 1 ,
WASHINGTON GEOLOGIC NEWSLETTER
APRIL 1980
VOLUME 8 - NUMBER 2
Mount St. Helens-site of recent volcanic activity in the southern Cascades of Washington, see page 18 for details (Photo by U.S. Forest Service). BERT L. COLE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS
RALPH A. BESWICK, Supervisor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
VAUGHN E. LIVINGSTON, JR., Stote Geologist DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES
Midnite mine- Washington' s oldest producing uranium mine. LOCATION MAP' DIVISION OF GEOLOGY ANO EARTH RESOURCES DEPT SOCIAL ANO HEALTH SERVICES i ~I:~ lf\l ~ ~ ~ GEOLOGY ANO EARTH ~ ~ 1tJ ~ RESOURCES mTLeffoc1111 TACOMA S~TTLE- STATE CAPITOL EXIT DEPT HIGHWAYS CITY CENTER FREEWAY «< EXIT PORT LA~= STATE CAPITOL EXIT ~
Moiling address: Deportment of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources Olympia, WA 98504 (206 ) 753-6183
Division Manager
Vaughn E. (Ted) Livingston, Jr.
Assistant Division Managers
Donald M. Ford and J . tric Schuster
Geologists
Bonnie Bunning Carl R. McFar land Will iam Phillips Keith Stoffel Charles W. Walker Allen J. Fiksdal Glennda B. Mclucas Weldon W. Rau Gerald W. Thor sen Timothy J. Walsh Mike Korosec Wayne S. Moen James G. Rigby Ellis R . Vonheeder
Librarian Secretaries Laboratory Cartographers Publications
Connie Manson Pamela Whitlock Arnold Bowman Keit h Ikerd Laura Bray Anne Marie Bammert Mark Macleod Wan da Walker Gina Tomasino Janet Miller
The Washington Geologic Newsletter, a quarterly report of geologic articles, is published by the Division of Geology and Earth Resources, Department of Natural Resources. The newsletter is free upon request. The division also publishes bulletins, Information circulars, and geologic maps. A list of these pubI ications will be sent upon request. URANIUM IN WASHINGTONlf
Introduction
Nuclear power growth establishes the will be developed at both properties; however, basic demand for uranium in the United States. it is doubtful that production from new re Forecasts indicate that by 1985 around 16 per serves will exceed past production. The pro cent of the nation's energy will come from duction of uranium from areas outside the nuclear power plants. To assure an adequate Spokane Indian Reservation depends to a domestic supply after 1983, all known uranium large part on an increase in the price of uran deposits in the United States will have to be ium oxide. However, the combined known explored and developed, The free world's reserves of several past producers appear to uranium resources of about 1. 5 million tons of be sufficient for only 2 or 3 years of mining.
U 30 8 in conventional deposits are less than Thus, if Washington is to maintain its uranium half the minimum projected requirements to production beyond the next 15 years, addi the year 2000, tional deposits will have to be discovered and The largest known reserves of uranium developed. in Washington are on the Spokane Indian Res ervation. Deposits held by Western Nuclear, Washington Uranium Deposits Inc. are reported to contain 14.2 million pounds of uranium oxide, and reserves at Until 1954, despite persistent search, Dawn Mining Co. 's Midnite mine probably ex no uranium occurrences of significance had ceed 2 million pounds. Uranium ore is also been found in Washington. In the summer of present in the Mount Spokane area of Spokane 1954, uranium minerals were discovered by County, as well as in t he Lost Creek area of the LeBret brothers on the Spokane Indian Pend Oreille County; however, the total re Reservation in Stevens County. The discovery serves for these areas are probably less than was made while prospecting for tungsten at 100,000 pounds. Uranium reserves at the night, with an ultraviolet lamp. This find Midnite mine appear to be sufficient for at became the Midnite mine (fig. 1, no. 1) and least 3 years of continuous operation; the touched off a uranium boom in the state. reserves at Western Nuclear's Sherwood prop Shortly thereafter uranium was discovered on erty are sufficient for at least 15 years of the Dahl farm on the west slope of Mount production. Undoubtedly, additional reserves Spokane (no. 2), some 40 miles east of the
1/ Condensed from Energy ReBourceB of Washington, Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Information Circular 50, p. 83- 87; and Uraniwn in WaBhington State: Proven deposits and exploration targets, by P. Clinton Milne : In The Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, April 1979. r SltVtNS - ~ OKANOGAN FERiY ~·3 ;-t'lftllf I \ ,- ,-' ,! ~/ L. , 12 ' .s • I ' I e6 ' I : ' 13e'1 t 7~ a. '-, ' \ ' I ' 1,4 ', I f • • ' 1 I / '•9 1.5 ", ,....-, t ' \.!I I ' ,-, ,-,r- \ I / .l ' t I ,. \ I ( r - { \__ ; ;OUGlAS . .-..J_ .... " ': ~, • 2 CLA.llAM I J., , .,_..,. -\ r--sv 1 I - - - - JfffEUON ' - - 16. ,,./ } : ... _., I\ \--'1..,,...... J (- 1 I r t ) t I \ t; I t t ,,-·\_ ,' ,.,..., : I 10• / r / I [ I 1 21 ' -, ' ,- --~ I • '.._ ',C.!!~AN '--, / GlANT I : - -.. \ '- - _1 f I LIMCOlN I s,o"A.NE , , '- ~------r-'------1 , ... _.,-_ ) -: I ADAMS WHITMAN P!EICf ' - [_ J 1 t, ' -, -, r I \ : t,, ,' ', \ : I --- : ,_ : , __ __ _ \ ' ; PAClflc·-,--.,_ __T):!~S_!ON \ \ .22 '. t ,---- r ~ :_ ---.>.- .. - - ,---.l\ --,,_ KlTT ITAS II I ,-/ l ) -YAKIMA \ ,,-,,,----,i,viii,.,---, ,---, I I ,. - - I I ,' ' : I I ', ,_,,,.·/..---7 ", 1 "" 1 1 ,---'------L!.WIS \ t 1, __Gdf1£l0 \ 1 r 1"'--1"1,t : COW\ITZ .,.-SKAMANIA!- : \ I ~ .r,J'--~ -~"4 ... : : I I I / l colUMIIA\.., l ~ I : I I,, ,/ ·;_ I 1 I I I -.! -, I I1 1 , 1 I \ : I - ; ,-,--JII :------KLICKITAT------,I I/ WA~~lLA : I1 l1 ASOTIN\ V t J t IENTON - - - I I t I ,.------' ~u i / _ _ _J__ -~--_,,,--'-' - !...,.--' __ , '\..,. - EXPLANATION 1051 CREEK 14 HOlOEN lUIY lfEfU CLAIM Uronium occurrence, 6 " • 7 IAILWA'f OtKf 16 WINEl/\P CANYON Antos of numerous occurren,e, 8 SOUTH SKOOKUM lAKE 17 MACKINAW
Area name, 1 MIDNIGHT 9 STAlllGHT UlANIUM, 18 KULEIL ,.o,urr 1 • 2 MOUNT SPOKANE 10 flSH LAU 19 KIOMONA MINE 3 OllfNT 11 s,oKANf MOLYIOENUM 20 MOUY PI0,£1..-t·r I 12 AENEAS 21 .AINY MINE 4 SHUMAN ClEfl P/\55 NANCY CUU 40 0 40MllU ST. PETH CUElt 13 SAN ,Oil 22 8UM.P~NG \.AKE
FfCURE - 1. -Uranium in-·Washington; Western Nuclear's mill at their Sherwood mine
Mining operations at Midnite mine
4 Midnite mine and about 30 miles northeast of Dawn Mining Co. is currently mining uranium Spokane. This became the Daybreak mine ore with an average grade of about O. 10 per cent for milling at 450 to 500 tons per and marked the d iscovery of a second uranium u3o8 area in the state. Other discoveries were day at its Ford mill. The mine has proven made, but none proved to be as important as reserves of about 2. 25 million pounds of u o 3 8 the original two. As a result of these dis at a grade of 0. 145 percent (Klobusicky, 1978, coveries, a mill was built in 1957 at Ford, in written communication), with a cutoff grade Stevens County, to treat the ores, and Wash of a leaching site for low-grade ore ( 0. 03 to ington became an important producer of uran 0.05 percent ups>. ium. Around 1968, the Sherwood mine south Historically, mining was initiated at of the Midnite was acquired by Western Nuc the Midnite in 1955 and continued through lear, Inc. and exploration drilling disclosed 1962; milling of stockpiled ore continued until a large deposit of low-grade uranium ore. 1965. Mining and milling started again in 1970 In 1977, a mill was built at the deposit, and and has continued to the present. To date, in 19 78, the Sherwood mine became the state's Dawn has produced about 10 million pounds largest producer of uranium. of . up8 Exploration for uranium in Washington Western Nuclear began milling its stock State has been at a relatively high level of piled ore at the Sherwood mine recently at up ac tivity for the last several years. The esca to 2,000 tons per day. The ore grade runs lating dollar value for u o , the new Sherwood from 0.02 percent cutoff to a high of 0.15 3 8 project owned by Western Nuclear, Inc., and percent and average~ about 0, 08 per u 3o8 the numerous uranium occurrences and diverse cent , with ore reserves at 8 million up8 potential environments for uranium ore in tons containing 14,200,000 _pounds of . u3o8 northeastern Washington, where approximately The stripping ratio varies from 2: 1 for the 80 percent of the known uranium occurrences "east orebody" to 4 : 1 in the "west orebody," in the state are located (Ferry, Stevens, Pend but the ratio may at times be as high as 20 : 1 Oreille and northern Spokane Counties}, ap locally. Within the scope of mine design, the pear to account for this exploration intensity. total rock material is 66. 7 million tons, and on Twenty to twenty- five companies have been a tonnage basis the waste-to-ore ratio is 7. 3: 1. active in northeastern Washington in recent Potentially, the Sherwood project will produce years. about 1. 1 million pounds of u o per year. 3 8 The state's two active uranium mines are on the Spokane Indian Reservation, ap Future of Uranium Mining in Washington proximately 35 air miles northwest of Spokane, near the confluence of the Columbia and Discoveries made to date are more than Spokane Rivers. This area represents the sufficient to prove that the geological environ focal point for uranium exploration in Wash ment in eastern Washington is favorable for ington. The mined-out Daybreak mine in uranium deposits, and the chances for addi northeastern Spol 3 Lake batholith. Other deposits similar to the Division of Geology and Earth Resources, but Peters lease ore body (Sherwood) could occur to date only one area (Ellensburg- Yakima) has in the conglomerates interbedded in the San been investigated and reported on by us. poil Volcanics. In both of these environments, sizable ore bodies are known to occur, but poor ex DNR GEOLOGY FIELD OFFICE posures make them hard to find . Additional OPENS IN SPOKANE discoveries of ore bodies of the Mount Spokane type are almost certain to be made in the The Department of Natural Resources Mount Spokane area with further searching, has opened a field office in eastern Washington and discoveries are possible elsewhere in for the Division of Geology and Earth Resources. Washington where rocks similar to Mount The office will serve as a contact for geologic Spokane alaskite are known to occur. These exploration, mining, and energy activities al ore bodies are likely to be small, but some ready established in that part of the state, may be large enough for a successful small as well as for the general public. operation. Keith Stoffel and Bonnie Bunning, Uranium occurrences found to date in division geologists, a re now In the office. The the Cascade Mountains appear to have little office will be open to the public on Mondays or no potential value. This area, however, and on Fridays from 8 o'clock until 4: 30 p. m. has been prospected very inadequately for It may also be open on other week days as uranium. Enough anomalies have been found field schedules permit. to suggest that the areas has possibilities The address is Department of Natural (fig. 1). Resources, Senior Hall, Eastern Washington In order to encourage and promote the University, Cheney, WA 99004, telephone development of known uranium occurrences in ( 509) 359-2278. the state, as well as to look for new occur rences, the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources has for the past 2 years GEOLOGIC RESEARCH PROJECTS been actively investigating potential uranium areas. One geologist has, during this time, Geologic research activities conducted carried out geological, geophysical, and geo by Washington colleges and universities on the chemical surveys in areas where the geology geology of Washington State during 1979 are is favorable for the discovery of new occur listed below: rences. A potential for new uranium deposits Eastern Washington University lies predominately in the northeastern part of the state. However, several parts of north Faculty Research Projects central Washington, as well as the central and Behavior of major and trace elements in meta east- central Cascade region, also exhibit favor morphic rocks at the contacts of igneous able characteristics for uranium deposits based on sound geologic evidence. Fifteen areas of intrusions (Mohammed lkramuddin). the state are considered favorable and will be Geochemistry of granitic rocks of northeastern evaluated for their uranium potential by the Washington (Mohammed lkramuddin). 5 Permian bryozoans of the carbonate units of alization at the Midnite mine, northeastern the Mission Argillite, northeastern Wash Washington (Gin Chou). ington (Ernest H. Gilmour). Geologic hazards in the Spokane quadrangle Fumarole and geothermal ice cave monitoring, (Tom Davis). Mounts Rainier and Baker (Eugene P. Geochemistry of granitic rocks from the New Kiver) . port quadrangle, northeastern Washington Quaternary geology of the northeastern Colum (Abebe Kassaye). bia Plateau and terraces along the Spokane Geochemistry of the Loon Lake quartz monzonite and Columbia Rivers upstream from Grand and its relation to uranium mineralization Coulee (Eugene P. Kiver and Dare S. at the Midnite mine, northeastern Wash Stradling) . ington (Kirk P . Kinart) . Quaternary map of northeastern Washington Geology of part of the Dunn Mountain quad east of the Okanogan River (Eugene P. rangle (Ed Lucas). Kiver and Dale S. Stradling) . Geology of part of the lnchelium quadrangle Compilation of computer data base of whole ( Howard Orlean) . rock chemical analyses of igneous rocks from Washington (Felix E. Mutschler). Geology of part of the lnchelium quadrangle (Bruce Smith). Major a nd trace element chemistry of "porphyry'' molybdenum, tin-tungsten systems Patterned ground in the Cheney quadrangle (Felix E. Mutschler). ( Lee Anr;i Tallyn). Geologic map of lnchelium quadrangle, Wash Computer modeling of total geomagnetic field ington (James R. Snook). anomalies over basalts in northeastern Washington (Hau-Ran Wang). Paleomagnetism of intrusive igneous rocks of Geology of part of the lnchelium quadrangle northeastern Washington (William K. (Dick Winters). Steele). Grays Harbor College Student Research Projects Faculty Research Projects Geology of part of the lnchelium quadrangle (Mark Abrams). The distribution and transport of sediments near the entrance to Grays Harbor Sedimentology and depositional environments of (James B. Phipps). the Touchet beds, Columbia Basin (Bruce Bjornstad) . Bay- shore erosion at Ocean Shores ( James B. Phipps). Geochemistry of alaskite and quartz monzonite of Mount Spokane, northeastern Washing University of Washington ton, and its relation to uranium Minerali zation (Roy Bongiovanni). Faculty Research Projects Geochemistry of metapelites and calc-silicate Origin of the Lopez tectonic complex, San Juan hornfelses associated with uranium miner- Islands (Darrel Cowan). 6 Mesozoic structural evolution of the southern Mounts Baker and Shuksan 15- minute quad San Juan Islands ( Darrel Cowan). rangles (Peter Misch). Structural and petrologic evolution of the San Metamorphic facies and petrogenesis of Shuksan Juan Island and adjacent areas greenschist (Peter Misch). (John T . Whetten). Petrology of Cascade River schist and its Structure, stratigraphy, and sedimentology associated metaplutonic rocks ( Peter Misch). of the Chlwaukum graben (John T. Metasomatic progressive metamorphism of ultra Whetten). mafic rocks in Skagit metamorphic suite Origin of chaotic rocks in the San Juan (Peter Misch). Islands (Darrel S. Cowan) . Geology, geochemistry and origin of the Golden Stratigraphy, metamorphism, and tectonic Horn batholith (Peter Misch, with R. T. evolution of the San Juan Islands Stull) . (Joseph A. Vance). Outline of the petrology of the Yellow Aster Tertiary stratigraphy and structure of the complex (Peter Misch) . area between Darrington and Skykomish Stratigraphy and structure of rocks in the (Joseph A. Vance) . Hoh River, Clearwater River area, western Fission track geochronology of the Tertiary Olympic Peninsula (Richard J. Stewart). volcanic rocks of the Washington Cas Enrichment carbon- 14 dating of late Quaternary cades and Oregon (Joseph A. Vance) . glacial events, Olympic Peninsula, Wash Chronology of neoglacial moraines at Mount ington (Minze Stuiver) . Rainier (Stephen C. Porter). Carbon- 14 and carbon- 13 analysis of Douglas Regional Cenozoic tectonic patterns and fir trees from western Washington as an geologic hazards of the Skagit nuclear indicator of carbon reservoir c hanges power site ( Eric S. Cheney) . (Minze Stuiver). Sunspot activity as monitored by C- 14 changes Stratigraphy and structure and ore deposits of in Pacific Northwest trees (Minze Stuiver). the Okanogan Highlands (Eric S. Cheney). Stratigraphy and structure of Mesozoic and Structure and origin of the Twin Sisters Tertiary rocks of the western Cascades Dunite (Nikolas I . Christensen). (John T. Whetten). Physical properties of Olympic Peninsula Minor and trace element geochemistry of Meso graywackes (Nikolas I. Christensen) . zoic oceanic volcanic and plutonic rocks Gravity studies south and southwest of Mount in northwestern Washington (Joseph A . Baker (Nikolas I. Christensen). Vance). Petrology of ultramafic hornfelses, Icicle Geochemistry of the Easton blueschists and Creek, central Cascades ( B. R. Frost) . green schists (Joseph A. Vance). Stratigraphy, structural geology. and regional Quaternary evolution of the Willapa Bay interpretation of the Wenatchee Formation estuary (Barbara L. Whitney, V . Standish (Randall L. Gresens}. Mallory, and Sandra Leo). 7 Correlation of stratigraphic units of Washington Ochoco unconformity in Washington and western Oregon (V. Standish Mallory). Oregon (Sandra Leo). Stratigraphy and paleontology of Lower Creta Fossil vertebrates from the Claren donia n and ceous sediments of the northern Meth ow Hemphill ian of northern Oregon and Valley (Julian D. Barksdale and V. Stan Washington (James Martin}. dish Mallory). Paleoecology of the upper Eocene Cowlitz For Petrology and metamorphic ~ istory of the Chi mation and its associated coalbeds, south waukum schist in the Stevens Pass area western Washington (Dann Joseph May). (Bernard W. Evans). Factors affecting the oxygen- 18 composit ion of Sources and fate of sediment from Olympic Douglas Fir tree rings from west ern Wash Mounta ins (Thomas Dunne and Leslie Reid). ington ( Robert L. Burk) . Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Mount Dan iel Graduate Program [area], central Washington Cascades (Eric Simonson). Paleoecology and biostratiqraphy of the Kulshan Metamorphism of the Chiwaukum Schist at glaciomarine drift, northwestern Washington Stevens Pass, Cascade Range, Washin gton (Maria A. Balzarini). (John Berti). Late Quaternary volcanic stratigraphy and Tertiary evolution of northwestern Washington concomitant volcanic hazards at Glacier and southwestern British Columbia Peak, Washington (James Beget). (Lee Fairchild). Structural geology and petrology of pre- Tertiary Washington State University rocks on southern San Juan Island, in nor thwestern Washington (Mark Brandon). Faculty Research Projects Volcanic and g lacial stratigraphy of the Goat Geohydrologic investigat ions of eastern Wash Rocks area, central Cascade Mountains ington basalts (James W. Crosby, 111 ). (Geoffrey Clayton). Geophysical investigations of Ringold Formation Mechanics of river meanders, Sinlahekin River in Hanford environs (James W. Crosby, Ill}. (W illiam Dietrich). Computer s imulation of thermal energy storage Hydrothermal clay and ther mal activity in in aquifers (James W. Crosby, Ill). source areas of debris avalanches at Stratigraphy and petrogenesis of Columbia Mount Rainier and Mount Baker River basalt in southeast Wash ington (Davicl Frank). (Peter R. Hooper). Late Quaternary evolution of western Wa sh Detailed geologic mapping of the Pull man an d ington coast (A. Dan Horn). Moscow west quadrangles (Peter R. Hooper Petrology of pelitic and ultramafic hornfels and Gary D. Webster) . north of Icicle Creek , Washington Late glacial p lant macrofossil s and pollen, (B . Keith Kaneda). Manis mastodon site, Sequim, Washington Stratalogic analysis of the intra-Miocen e (Peter J. Mehringer). 8 Age, sediments, microfossils, and tephra of Petrology of the Cretaceous strata, Matia. cores from the Scabland Lakes of the Clark, and Barnes Islands, San Juan Cheney-Palouse Tract (Peter J. Mehringer). County, Washington (Robert Egemeier). Geology and mineral deposits of the black shale Strain analysis in the Kootenay Arc (Michael belt, northeast Washington (Joseph W. Ellis) . Mills). Sulfur isotope study of ore deposits of north Analysis of fold interference patterns, Cedar east Washington (Joseph W. Mills). Lake, Stevens County, Washington (Paul Ginthe1·). Sulfide- bearing black shales of northern Wash ington State (Joseph W. Mills). Geology of Paleozoic b lack shale sequences of Cretaceous stratigraphy, San Juan I stands, Clugston Creek, Stevens County, Wash San Juan County, Washington (W. Frank ington (Curt Hogge). Scott). Mineralogy of the sediments of Wildcat Lake, Beach erosion, San Juan Islands, San Juan Whitman County, Washington (Clarence County, Washington (W. Frank Scott). Johnson). Bonneville flood gravels in the Snake River Ore deposits of the Ruby Hill area, Okanogan Canyon (Gary D. Webster). County, Washington (Donald Lance) . Devonian conodonts in the black shale belt of Structural analysis and detailed mapping of the northeast Washington (Gary D. Webster China Bend region (Donald Minkel) . with Francis Beka) [ abstract in Cordillera GSA Meeting 1980, Corvallis]. Geology and petrochemistry of part of the Colville batholith (Don Orazulike). Student Research Projects Petrology of the Cretaceous strata, Waldron Sheet gravels near the mouth of the Snake Island, San Juan County. Washington River (Lance Richman). ( James Ba ichtal) . Petrogenesis of Mount Baker volcano (Victor Ore deposits of the Yellowhead horizon, Pend Swan). Oreille mine, Metaline mining district, Gravel deposits in the Clarkston area, south Washington (Michael Bemski). east Washington (Gail Waggoner). The Togo Formation in Hunters and Turtle Lake quadrangles (Ali Calagari). Older gravel deposits in the Snake River can yon below Clarkston, Washington (Mark Sedimentology and stratigraphy of an interbasalt Wheeler). bed along the eastern part of the Columbia Plateau (Gerry Drobny) . Structural mapping in the Kettle dome, Wash ington (Joseph Wilson). Petrology of the Cretaceous strata, Patos Island, San Juan County, Washington Geology of the northeast Cascades, Glacier (Norman Dainty). Peak area, Washington (Wade Holder). 9 Western Washington University Formation of calcareous cements in Pleistocene and Recent sediments with ultramafic clasts Faculty Research Projects (D. R. Pevear) . Geochemistry of magmatic rocks in the north Marine biogeographic realms during la te Cascades (R. S. Babcock). Paleozoic time (C . A, Ross). Paleomagnetism and tectonics of the Washington The fit of South and North America during the coast range (M. E. Beck , Jr,) . late Paleozoic (C. A. Ross) . Tectonics of the Washington Cascades Recent foraminiferal populations, Samish Bay, (M. E. Beck, Jr.). Washington (C. A. Ross). Shape analysis of paleomagnetic secular varia tion data (M. E. Beck, Jr.) . Cobb Seamount; sea level changes during the Cenozoic (M. L. Schwartz) . Structure and petrology of metamorphic / Coast sea level changes, sediment drift studies, tectonic units in the north Cascades coastal archaeology, coastal morphology, (E. H. Brown) . and beach preservation in Puget Sound Cascades project; a study of significant geo and on the Pacific coast (M . L. Schwartz). logic sites in the Washington, Oregon, Stratigraphic relationships of the Chuckanut and California Cascades (D . J. Easterbrook) . Formation, northwest Washington ( C . A. Glacial history of Puget Lowland and Columbia Suczek). Plateau ( D. J. Easterbrook) . Plate tectonics and sandstone compositions Volcanic and glacial geology of Mount Baker {C. A. Suczek). ( D. J. Easterbrook) • Graduate Program Paleomagnetism of glacial sediments in Wash ington (D, J . Easterbrook). Tectonic rotations in the Cascade Mountains of C lay mineral distribution in rocks of the Olympic Skamania County, southern Washington Peninsula (.0. R. Pevear). ( Roger Bates). Mixed layer illite/ smectites in Tertiary benton Petrology, petrography, and geochemistry of ites of western Washington and British the Black Jack breccia pipe of the Silver Columbia {D.R. Pevear). Star plutonic complex, Skamania County, Mineralogy ( especially clays) of Chuckanut and Washington (Robert Birk). Huntingdon Formations, northwestern Hydrology of Whatcom Creek, Bellingham, Wash Washington and British Columbia ington (Stan Carrick). (D. R . Pevear). Geology of the Chilliwack Group near Sauk Mineral transformation in Pleistocene paleosols, Mountain, Washington (Bruce Chr istenson) . northern Puget Sound ( D. R . Pevear) . Geology, mineralogy, and d iagenetic history of Geochemical criteria for determining paleosalinity bentonites and associated rocks of the applied to t ill s and glaciomarine drift Chuckanut Formation, Mount Higgins, (D. R. Pevear). north Cascades, Washington {Sue Cruver). 10 Neoglaciation of the Middle Fork, Nooksack Paleomagnetism, geochemistry, and petrology Valley, and Avalanche Gorge, Mount of the Black Hills basalt, Thurston, Baker, Washington (Steve Fuller). Mason, and Grays Harbor Counties, Washington ( Bri:an Globerman). Coal petrology of the Big Seam, Centralia, Washington (David Hadley) . Whitman College The net shore drift of Whatcom County, Wash ington (Edmund Jacobsen). Department of Geology The Chilliwack Group of Black Mountain, Wash Quaternary geology of the Skokomi sh area, ington (Jerry Lizak). Mason County, Washington (R . J. Carson; William Long, U.S. Forest Service). The geology and tectonic framework of the Eocene- Oligocene sedimentary rocks in Quaternary and environmental geology of the the Lake McMurray area of Washington eastern Olympic ?eninsula (R. J. Carson). (Kim Marcus). Geohydrology of eastern Jefferson County, Structure and petrology of the Goat Mountain Washington (Peder Grimstad, Washington area, north Cascades, Washington Department of Ecology; R. J. Carson). (Paul Rady). Yakima Valley College The depositional framework and regional extent of the West Beach silt and its significance Department of Geology in pre- late Wisconsin stratigraphy of the Stratigraphic relationship between the Thorp Puget Lowland, Washington Gravel and Ellensburg Formation (Newell (Jeffrey Sprague). Campbell). Petrology of the pre- Tertiary rocks in the Cultus Mountain area, Washington Evaluation of late Cenozoic structures in the (Jack Cruver). southwest Columbia Basin (Newell Campbell). Geochemistry of the Shuksan metamorphic unit, north Cascades, Washington (Lea Street). RECENT U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORTS ADDED TO OUR LIBRARY Mineralogy and orig in of bentonite clays in Centralia coal mine (Linda Reinik-Smith). The following reports are now available Igneous activity in the Cascades for inspection in our division library: (David Blackwell). Paleoecological evaluation of late Eocene biostrati Stratigraphy and depositional environment of graphic zonations on the west coast, by the Deming formation, Washington Kristin McDougall. uses Open-File (Bob Crandall). Report 79-934, 206 p. The mechanics of creep and its relationship to Bibliography of selected reports related to studies slope stability (north slope of Manastash on earthquake tectonics and risk, 1975- Ridge (Ellensburg Formation) near Ellens 1978, by Jane P. Ohl. USGS Open- File burg, Washington) (Chuck Eccleston). Report 79-1184, 35 p. 11 ------, Graphic display of box cores collected from tidal rangle, Washington : U.S . Geological flats in Willa pa Bay , Washington, by Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Gary w. Hill and John L. Chin. uses Map MF-1046, 2 sheets, scale 1 :48,000. Open-File Report 79-1501, 1 plate, Prepar ed in cooperation with the Wash scale 1: 24,000. ington Division of Geology and Earth Resources. Guidelines for logging, describing, and sampl ing cores and cuttings of coal and associated rocks at the drill site, by Robert c. Hobbs. uses Open- File DIVIS ION LIBRARY ACTIVITIES Report 79- 1522, 23 p. 11 Theses on Washington-A comprehen Ground- water hydrology of the sagebrush flat s ive Bibliography, 190€- 197911 is the title of area and possible relations to the dis a forthcoming report that has been compiled charge of Rattlesnake Springs, Grant by Connie Manson, division librarian. It is and Douglas Counties, by K. L. Walters now in the editing and typing stage and [prepared in cooperation with the should be ready for the printers later this Washington Department of Ecology]. spring. A report on geologic mapping in USGS Open- File Report 79- 1530, 27 p. Washington is also in progress. Preliminary geologic map of the Clear Lake NW The theses listed below were recently quadrangle, Skagit County, Washington, added to our library and are available for by John T. Whetten, David P. Dethier, reference wor k : and Paul R. Carroll. USGS Open- File Ash, Simon Harry, 1924 , Systems of coal min Report 80-247, 2 plates, scale 1 :24,000, ing in western Washington : University of 13 p. Washington B.S. thesis, 74 p. Submarine features and bottom configuration Ashleman, James C., 1979, The geology of the in the Port Townsend q uadrangle, wester n part of the Kachess Lake quad Puget Sound region, Washington, by rangle, Washington: University of Wash M. J. Chrzastowski. U.S . Geological ington M.S. thesis, 88 p. Survey Water-Resources Investigation Sarnosky , Cathy Lynn, 1979, Late Quaternary Open- File Report 80- 14, text and map vegetational history of the southern Puget on 1 sheet, scale 1 : 100, 000 . Lowland- A long record from Davis Lake, Washington: University of Washington M.S. thesis, 47 p. RECENT uses REPORT ADDED TO OUR LIBRARY Bassett, Randy Lynn , 1976, The geochemistry of boron in thermal waters: Stanford The following report is now available University Ph. D. thesis, 290 p. for inspection in our division library : Broch, Michael John, 1979, Igneous and meta Banks, N. D.; and others, 1979, Preliminary morphic petrology, structure, and mineral geologic map and geophysical studies deposit s of the Mineral Ridge area (Moses of the NE-]. of the Spirit Lake quad- mining district) , Colville Indian Reservation, 12 .. Washington: Washington State University Washington: Portland State University M.S. thesis, 204 p. M.S. thesis, 90 p. Burbank, Douglas West, 1979, Late Holocene Finn, Dennis D., 1979, Prospecting for mag g lacier fluctuations on Mount Rainier and matic and hydrothermal deposits of uranium their relationship to the historical climate and associated elements by computer eval record: University of Washington M .S. uation of the chemistry and petrogenesis thesis, 84 p. of igneous source rocks: Eastern Wash ington University M.S. thesis, 336 p. Carpenter, John Tyer, 1932, A tentative correlation of northwestern Tertiary Fritz, Lloyd G., 1978, Petrography of the strata: University of Idaho M .S. thesis, crystalline rocks south of Okanogan, in 27 p. north-central Washington: Eastern Wash ington University M .S. thesis, 36 p. Corson, Donald L., 1974, The western Wash ington coal industry, 1875- 1935- A study Gusey, Daryl L., 1978, The geology of south of an ephemeral industry : California western Fida Igo Island: Western Washing State University M.A. thesis, 63 p. ton University M.S. thesis, 85 p. Deeter, Jerald D., 1979, Quaternary geology Hartwell, James N., 1979, A paleocurrent and stratigraphy of Kitsap County, Wash analysis of a portion of the Chuckanut ington: Western Washington University depositional basin near Bellingham, Wash M.S. thesis, 175 p. ington: Western Washington University M.S. thesis, 85 p . Donnelly, Brian James, 1978, Structural geology of the Nancy Creek area, east Hibbert, Dennis M., 1979, Pollen analysis of flank of the Kettle Dome, Ferry County, late Quaternary sediments from two lakes Washington : Washington State University in the southern Puget Lowland, Washing M.S. thesis, 251 p. ton: University of Washington M .S. thesis, 37 p. Du, Ming - Ho, 1979, Geology of the Germania tungsten deposits, Stevens County, Wash Hoblitt, Richard Patrick, 1978, Emplacement ington : Eastern Washington University mechanisms of unsorted and unstratified M.S. thesis, 58 p. deposits of volcanic rock debris as deter mined from paleomagnetically derived Felts, Wayne Moore, 1936, A contribution to emplacement-temperature information : the Pleistocene paleontology of the University of Colorado Ph. D. thesis, 206 p. Willamette Valley : University of Cincinnati M .S. thesis, 22 p . Hubert, Kathleen Ann, 1979, Physical prop Felts, Wayne Moore, 1938, A granodiorite stock erties of selected basalt and graywacke in the Cascade Mountains of southwestern and the inferred seismic structure of the Washington: University of Cincinnati Olympic Peninsula, Washington: University Ph. D. thesis, 40 p. of Washington M.5. thesis, 96 p. Fiksdal, Allen James, 1979, Geology for land Hurley , Bruce William, 1980, The Metaline use planning in part of Pierce County, Formation- Ledbetter Slate conta• ct in 13 \. northeastern Washington: Washington Deception Creek area • Ca sea de Moun ta ins, State University Ph. D. thesis, 141 p . Washington : Oregon State University lchlmura, Vernon T. , 1978, Uranium concen M.S. thesis, 86 p. tration in the ground waters of the McMillen , Daniel David, 1979, The structure Pullman- Moscow basin, Washington , Idaho, and economic geology of Buckhorn Moun by the nuclear track technique : Wash tain, Okanogan County, Washington : ington State University M. S. thesis, 124 p . University of Washington M .S. thesis, Kent, Mavis Hensley , 1978, Stratigraphy and 68 p. petrography of the Selah Member of the Najjar, Ismail Muhammad, 1972, Distribution Ellensbur g Formation in south- central of trace elements in the ground water of Washington and north-central Oregon : the Moscow- Pullman basin, Idaho, Wash Portland State University M .S. thesis, ington : University of Idaho M . S. thesis, 118 p . 189 p . Keuler, Ralph F., 1979, Coastal zone processes Nesbit, Lee C ., 1979, Hydrothermal uranium and geomorpholog y of Skagit County, mineralization genesis of the Gillis lease, Washington : Western Wa shington University Spokane Indian Reservation, Stevens M.S. thesis, 127 p. County, Wa shington: Eastern Washington Krimmel, Robert M, , 1968, Gravimetric ice University M. S. thesis, 34 p. thickness determination, south Cascade Nijak, Walter F., 1979, Reconnaissance petrol Glacier, Washington : Univers ity of Puget ogy of the Loon Lake batholith, north Sound B .S. theis, 9 p . eastern Washington : Eastern Washington Lepp, Louis R., 1978r Geophysical investigation University M.S . thesis, 132 p. of southeastern Puget Sound Lowland, Orazulike, Donatus Maduka, 1979, Hydrother Washington, USA: University of Puget mal alteration associated with porphyry Sound B . S . the sis, 11 p . copper mineralization in Fawn Peak stock, Lowell , Wayne R. , 1936, Study of the factors Okanogan County, Washington : Washington that affect the ground- water supply of State University M. S . thesis, 71 p. Magee Flats : Washington State College Phillips, William Morton, 1979, Structural B.S. thesis, 9 p . geology and Cambrian stratigraphy of the Malfait, Bruce, 1964, A g r avity survey of the Crown Creek- Bowen Lake a r ea , Stevens Kitsap Peninsula, Washington: University County, Washington : Washington State of Puget Sound ( N. S . F . Summer Science University M. S. thesis, 82 p. Institute report] , 12 p. Reeve, William, 1979, Bedrock geology of the Mattson, John Lyle, 1971, A contribution of Blue Hills, Kitsap County, Washington: Skagit prehistory~ Washington State Colorado School of Mines M .S. thesis, University M. A. thesis , 215 p. 58 p . McDougall, James William , 1980, Geology and Reidel, Stephen Paul, 1978, The stratigraphy structural evolution of the Foss River- and petrogenesis of the Grande Ronde 14 Basalt in the Lower Salmon and adjacent Institute of Mining and Technology M.S. Snake River canyons: Washington State thesis, 101 p. University Ph. D. thesis, 415 p. Thorson, Robert M. , 1979, Isostatic effects Riedell, Karl Brock, 1979, Geology and por of the last glaciation in the Puget Lowland, phyry copper mineralization of the Fawn Wa shington : University of Washington Peak intrusive complex, Methow Valley, Ph.D. thesis, 154 p . Washington: University of Washington Walsh, R. P., 1928, Geology of the Spokane M.S. t hesis, 52 p. silver and lead mine: University of Min Schipper, Louis 8., Ill, 1979, Behavior of nesota E.M. thesis, 41 p. major and trace elements in contact aureoles, Williams, V. Eileen, 1978, Coal petrology of northeastern Washington : Eastern Wash the Tulameen coalfield, south-central ington University M.S. thesis, 65 p. British Columbia: Western Washington Shedd, Solon S., 1907, Ceography and geology University M.S. thesis, 77 p. of Washington: Stanford University M.S. Wotruba, Nancy Jane, 1978, Fluid inclusion thesis, 116 p. geothermometry of the Metaline mining Sondergaard, Jon N., 1979, Stratigraphy and district, Washington: Washington State petrology of the Nooksack Group in the University M.S. thesis, 54 p. Glacier Creek- Skyline Divide area, north Yett, Jan Reynolds, 1979, Eocene Foraminifera Cascades, Washington: Western Washington from the Olequa Creek Member of the University M.S. thesis, 103 p. Cowlitz Formation, southwestern Washing Swenson , David Howard, 1973, Geochemistry ton: University of Washington M.S. thesis, of three Cascade volcanoes: New Mexico 146 p. U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 7t-MINUTE TOPOGRAPHIC QUADRANGLES (Maps received in the division library February 27, 1980) New Photo Latitude Longitude Name edition revised (indicates southeast corner} County Angeles Point 1950 1978 48°07'3011 123°30'00" Clallam Bonneville Dam, Washington- 1979 45°37'3011 121°52'3011 Skamania; Oregon Hood River, Oregon Dungeness 1956 1979 48°07'30" 123°03'00" Clallam Glade 1979 46°15'00" 119°00'00" Franklin Othello 1954 1979 46°45'00" 119°07'30" Adams Port Angeles 1961 1979 48°00'00" 123°22'30" Clallam 15 t "NITED STATBS roro<,1it ,,11111c 01, 1~10, DY.PARTMEl-'T Of" TIIE l!\"TI:RtoR WASHINGTON "tsrnt, \1\VP-9'<, lZ!t• 124• . -~.t:..i.:..t.:L:J . ; · ..Q....l'.~ .. • ~ • -1,f I• ~ ' ' .. • \ l ...... i l' " w . •• "I• I• ... fu .. , ), .. • ' VI ' ll•, •.• ;..- C O I I 11s• ~ __J 'o -W,,,... KI 2 1 2 ·" i"----...... •• ~~,; ' I . );;, .c·j· I- T''T .., 47• !. t - .,. y .,. -.-t.-• . ~- I ...... ·: ...... -.. ,. 1. -l .{\' A 4 .' .. ·, .. :. I, .- 'i ...... I T•I• .. . . • ( , l ) ,,_: - Yo ___ .._ l:.__L_ 1,1: • A .. . - ;:.-- .. ~ .. •I i' , tf • .,. , ·' .. -> ' c,. - ;:\_ _... 12)":-- -> . , .. •e· .i.. - - - - 114• \ -~ 8:l 111• 111• ~~~!!£'1G PROGRAM ..120- J Status of to pographic mopping in Washington , Apri I 1, 1980 ~ ., • ., ·, I ,·, f "'.J \ - 1; ·~.( . ) l l ;..'I Summit of Mount St. Helens after gas explosion of Morch 27th. Explosion pit in upper left-hand corner. Dark a rea surrounding pit consists of steam- ejected pumice fragments. Note newly created crevasses extending across upper right of picture. (Photo by G . W. Thorsen) l MOUNT ST. HELENS ACT IVE AGAINl/ Mount St. Helens, which has been called the most active and violent volcano in the United States is once again active. British Columbia Around 1 p.m. on March 27, steam and ash issued from a vent near the summit on the north slope of the mountain. Since WASHINGTON March 20, earthquakes of up to 4 magni tude ( Richter scale} were recorded in the vicinity of the- mountain. Over the past Mount St . Helens 4,000 years the mountain has erupted at least 24 times. The mountain has been Oregon dormant since 1857, at which time tephra eruptions and possibly some lava flows occurred. By Friday morning, March 28th, a crater roughly 300 feet in diameter and about 150 feet deep had appeared on the summit; several jagged fissures extended from the crater. Infrared photog raphy of the summit showed heat emissions from fissures. A plume of steam and ash rose to elevations of 16,000 feet, or 10,000 feet above the summit of the mountain. Technically, the mountain has not erupted but continues to emit clouds of ash and steam. Situated 45 miles north of the Columbia River. which marks the border between Washington and Oregon, the peak rises to an elevation of 9,677 feet in the southern Cascades of Washington. Mount St. Helens is a Quaternary stratovolcano consisting of lava flows of olivine basalt, pyroxene andesite, and pyroclastic flow deposits. Eruptive material from past eruptions filled the valley of the North Fork of the Toutle River and created a natural dam, behind which rests Spirit Lake. Mount St. Helens was named by Captain George Vancouver in October 1792 . Y This issue of the Washington Geologic Newsletter was ready to go to press when Mount St. Helens began issuing minor steam and ash. A full account of this recent eruptive action of the mountain will appear in the next issue of the newsletter. 18 ' . -- IUUC IATI Department of Natural Resources U. S. POST AGI PASO Division of Geology and Earth Resources o,,..,, •. w...... Olympia, WA 98504 ,_. HJ