Washington minerals yearbook, 1989

16 Pages·1991·3.3 MB·English

by  Minarik, R.J

LLIN
MINERALS YEARBOOK
76193
I
WASHINGTON
By R. J. Minarik and N. L. Joseph
1989
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF MINES

# 1200 2202.99 ID: 380Fb193 AS
MoTN°E“RTLAS YEABRO O 'K
WASHINGTON
US.
DEPARTMENT
OF THE
INTERIOR
Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Secretary
BUREAU
OF
MINES F
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Director gro o% oh Ne
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June 1991
Contents Tables State Map
Trends and Developments ....... | Table 1.—Nonfuel Mineral Principal Mineral-Producing Localities
Employment. 405 4.6 0o5 eee ] Production in Washington ...... in Washington
Regulatory [ssues (5 savoen e ee 1 Table 2.—Washington: Crushed
Exploration Activities ........... 2 Stone Sold or Used by
Legislation and Government Producers in 1989, by Use ......
Programs “s.\en aes fegeenee e 2 Table 3.—Washington: Crushed
Review by Nonfuel Mineral Stone Sold or Used by
Commodities?!) (3056 -2ea e 2 Producers in 1989, by Use
Industrial: Minerals) 2 .....0.:2 : 2 and District. Sceeeee.s s
Calcrm: Chloride? 002, e er 2 Table 4.—Principal Producers ....
Cement s0es dete) eee Z
CTA Sa 7 ice Brome tthe eas eee ee 3
Diatonntes tae Meter 5
CSV PSUM esc cen 3
Lime: $eae een 3
Olivine. ieee tetas eaten, 3
Peat) Reeee ee eee 3
sand -andtGravel3..e ae 3
Cornsiiucneni ares oO: 3
TRCUStTIA erecnn teae ae 3
SLOTIC. AaaRb rane te yeene 3
Crushed weoee ies e e 3
Dimensiotiae ian 5a. 4c 3
SUULARECOVElCd) Gnass .ee d 3
Mictalsaay seeitah..n. yo uneees 6
A lirics aes oe ess sae es 6
Arcevia Serece.e a es 6
CHOIds An SHVCIr ue cmetliee. + 6
Magnesium Metal .......... i
SICON Ps ve eecerd e a 7
ZiIGHANG Beate it Retr 4 af
COVER PHOTO:
The Washington Capitol
Building in Olympia For comments or further information,
symbolizes the cooperative please contact
working relationship be- Spokane Regional Office of State
tween the Bureau of Mines Activities
and the mineral agencies of East 360 Third Ave.
the State. (Photo is Spokane, WA 99202-1413
courtesy of Harry T. Telephone: [phone];
Halverson, Olympia, WA.) FTS 439-2720
WASHINGTON MINERALS YEARBOOK—1989
THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF WASHINGTON
This chapter has been prepared under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Mines, U.S. Department
of the Interior, and the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources for collecting information on all nonfuel minerals.
By R. J. Minarik' and N. L. Joseph’
onfuel mineral production potential for growth. Three metal mines
EMPLOYMENT
value in Washington rose to were reported in operation with gold and
$480.9 million in 1989, an in- silver the primary commodities. Three
crease of almost 5% over that precious-metal mines were under develop-
The State’s mining industry employ-
of 1988. Substantial increases in the pro- ment or in the permitting stage. Although
ment increased by 9% over that of 1988.
duction value of construction materials— interest grew in Washington’s precious
According to the State of Washington
portland cement, construction sand and metals, the metallic minerals—gold, mag-
Employment Security Department, min-
gravel, and crushed stone—more than nesium, and silver—accounted for only
ing and quarrying employment rose to
offset declines in gold and olivine values. 44% of the State’s nonfuel mineral value
about 3,600 workers, 300 more than the
Construction sand and gravel was the ‘in 1989, a 5% drop from that of 1988.
total recorded in 1988. Employment in
leading commodity in terms of value, fol- The downturn mainly could be attributed
the State’s primary metals industry rose
lowed by magnesium metal, gold, crushed to a decline in gold and silver prices.
to 13,200 in 1989, an increase of 500 over
stone, and portland cement. There was also increased exploration ac-
that of 1988. Continued strength in the
- Washington ranked 21st in the Nation tivity for base metals, primarily lead and
aluminum smelting sector was reflected
in the value of nonfuel minerals produc- zinc deposits in the Metaline Formation
in its employment numbers—8,900 work-
tion, up from a 22d ranking in 1988. in Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties and
ers by yearend, up from 8,600 in 1988
copper porphyry deposits.
and 7,400 in 1987.
Industrial minerals showed a sharp in-
TRENDS AND crease in value of almost 16% over that
DEVELOPMENTS of 1988, with construction sand and REGULATORY ISSUES
gravel, crushed stone, and portland ce-
ment leading the way. Twenty companies
In 1989, Washington’s mineral in- produced industrial minerals from 29 sites The U.S. Forest Service awarded Del
dustry showed signs of strength and a during the year. Hur Industries of Port Angeles a $3.1]
TABLE 1
NONFUEL MINERAL PRODUCTION IN WASHINGTON!
1987 1988 1989
ale ae ee ge Ryans ges ae aac
Cement (portland) thousand short tons 1,282 $63,600 979 $48,233 W W
Clays metric tons 377,020 2,356 376,924 22235 233,267 $1,591
Gem stones NA 200 NA 200 NA 208
Peat thousand short tons 7 19] 5 142 W W
Sand and gravel: ‘:
Construction do. £25,300 £78,900 Bl b70 94,402 £37,800 £124,700
Industrial do. 294 5,186 W W WwW W
Stone: 7
Crushed do. 14,754 49.618 £13,900 £48,700 13,259 55,624
Dimension short tons 297 4) °697 “60 W W
Combined value of calcium chloride (natural, 1987-88),
cement (masonry), copper (1987), diatomite, gold,
gypsum, lime, magnesium metal, olivine, silver, and
values indicated by symbol W XX 238,341 XX 265,362 XX 298,756
Total XX 438,434 XX 459,334 XX 480,879
“Estimated. NA Not available. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; value included with “Combined value” figure. XX Not applicable.
'Production as measured by mine shipments, sales, or marketable production (including consumption by producers).
WASHINGTON MINERALS YEARBOOK—1989
million contract to clean up the extensive Republic Graben, Crown Resources and and First Mississippi Corp. explored for
tailings pile at the former copper mine Sutton Resources Inc. explored the South talc at their Totem Talc property in Pend
near Holden Village above Lake Chelan Penn and Seattle gold prospects; Boise Oreille County; a plan of operation was
in Chelan County. The mine was oper- Cascade Corp. did some drilling and submitted to the U.S. Forest Service.
ated by Howe Sound Mining Co. and trenching west of the town of Republic. Basic Resources Corp. continued to drill
produced copper and some gold, silver, Inland Gold and Silver Corp. and Pega- and test deposits of nonswelling bentonite
and zinc between 1939 and 1957. Owner- sus Gold Corp., in a joint venture with clays at the Rock Top property in Grant
ship of the tailings at the Holden Mine N. A. Degerstrom Inc., explored for gold County.
was held by the nearby Lutheran Church at the Leland-Kellogg property, which is
retreat; the tailings were leased to Red west and north of the Overlook Mine,
Butte Resources Ltd. The remote area currently being developed by Echo Bay LEGISLATION AND
could only be reached by boat and a Exploration Inc. In addition to drilling GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
steep, winding mountain road. The and mapping the site, the joint venture
project included revegetation and the did an array of geophysical and geochem-
placement of riprap along a creek; 3 years ical tests. Total revenue to the State from pros-
were estimated for completion. In the Wenatchee Heights area of pecting, mining, and quarrying on State
Negotiations continued on a disagree- Chelan County, Asamera Minerals Inc. lands was $687,000 for the fiscal year
ment between ASARCO Incorporated conducted a drilling program approxi- ending June 30, 1989. Increased pay-
and the Environmental Protection Agen- mately 3.5 miles southeast of its Cannon ments from sand and gravel quarrying
cy (EPA) about Asarco’s plan to clean up gold mine and staked new claims at sever- resulted in a 44% increase in revenue to
the Superfund (Comprehensive Environ- al sites north of the Wenatchee River. tne State compared with the fiscal year
mental Response, Compensation, and U.S. Borax explored for gold at its Sky- ending June 30, 1988.
Liability Act of 1980) site around its line property northwest of Wenatchee. The Mining and Mineral Resources In-
former copper smelter near Tacoma, Orient Mining Co., a joint venture of stitute of the University of Washington,
Pierce County. Asarco proposed to clean Boise Cascade and Pathfinder Gold Seattle, received an allotment of $195,000
up two playgrounds near the closed Corp., drilled and mapped in the First from the Bureau of Mines in 1989. The
smelter and create a cleanup fund instead Thought area, Stevens County. Also in school had received a total of $1.7 mil-
of following an EPA plan to sample more Stevens County, Boise Cascade drilled for lion since inception of the Mineral Insti-
than 1,100 residential lots for arsenic gold at the McNally-Freedom prospect, tute Program in 1978.
contamination. Newmont Exploration Ltd. drilled near
the old Kettle River Mine, Vanhorn and
Watson Mining Co. sampled at the REVIEW BY NONFUEL
EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES Copper Penny and Gold Nugget proper-
MINERAL COMMODITIES
ties, and Formation Capital investigated
the Reed Iron deposit.
Metals exploration and development Steelhead Resources Ltd. reached an Industrial Minerals
remained strong in 1989 with more than agreement with FMC Gold Corp. where-
Calcium Chloride.—Occidental Chem-
80 companies and individuals active. in FMC Gold obtained an option and
ical Corp. in Tacoma, Pierce County,
According to Crown Resources Corp., performed a detailed feasibility evaluation
manufactured synthetic calcium chloride
results of the drilling program at its Buck- of the Excelsior gold property in What-
using hydrochloric acid and limestone
horn Mountain gold property, east of com County. In Pend Oreille County,
barged in from British Columbia,
Chesaw, Okanogan County, were en- Raven Hill Mining Co. continued surface
Canada.
couraging. The company announced exploration for copper and silver at the
several acquisitions, including the near- Cooks Copper property and began the Cement.—The State’s portland cement
by Crystal Butte property optioned from dewatering of its Glass Mountain base production and sales remained relatively
Orvana Resources Corp. The 2,140-acre and precious-metals mine. the same in quantity and showed a
Keystone Gold Inc. property on the west Interest in base metal exploration was modest increase in value from those of
and east sides of Buckhorn Mountain was renewed. The joint venture of Vanderbilt 1988.
optioned from Curlew Lake Resources; Gold Corp. and Brenda Inc. leased a Portland cement was produced by
also included was the Strawberry Lake copper-molybdenum property near Ideal Basic Industries Inc. in King
property, 4 miles west of Buckhorn Mazama, Okanogan County, from Quin- County and by LaFarge Corp. in Pend
Mountain. tana Minerals Corp. Wilbur Hallauer Oreille County. Also in King County,
The joint venture of Crown Resources drilled the Starr Molybdenum property Ash Grove Cement West Inc. mined sil-
and Cambior USA Inc. continued explo- on Aeneas Mountain 10 miles west of ica from the Superior Quarry, operated
ration and development of the Ida and Tonasket and also the Kelsey property, a grinding facility, and maintained a bulk
Mount Elizabeth gold properties in a low-grade porphyry copper and molyb- cement distribution center from where it
Okanogan and Ferry Counties. United denum deposit. In Skamania County, sold portland cement. All three facilities
States Borax & Chemical Corp. and Plexus Resources Corp. drilled the Silver sold modest amounts of masonry cement.
Westmont Mining Inc. maintained explo- Star property looking for copper, The Lehigh Portland Cement Co. plant
ration programs near Manhattan Moun- molybdenum, and silver. in Metaline Falls was purchased, along
tain in the Torada Creek Graben. In the The joint venture of Southern Talc Co. with the company’s distribution terminals,
2
WASHINGTON MINERALS YEARBOOK—1989
by LaFarge Corp., a prominent French pits in Grant County. A new pit was per- even-numbered years only; data for odd-
cement manufacturer. This dry-process mitted in the Frenchman Hills. Diatoma- numbered years are based on annual
facility was the only cement plant to use ceous earth was processed and calcined company estimates. This chapter contains
stone that was mined in the State. Ideal at a plant in Quincy. The bulk of the estimates for 1987 and 1989 and actual
Basic was the State’s largest producer of diatomite was used for filtration, with a data for 1988.
cement. Limestone for its wet-process fa- small quantity consumed as paint filler. The State’s 1989 construction sand and
cility in Seattle was barged in from Tex- gravel production increased significantly,
Gypsum.—The quantity of crude gyp-
ada Island, British Columbia. The more than 21% in quantity and about
sum produced in the State remained rela-
Bellingham cement plant operated by Til- 32% in value. Prosperity in the private-
tively the same, but value almost doubled
bury Cement Co. of Delta, British sector construction industry and the on-
from that of 1988. Agro Minerals Inc.
Columbia, was used only to grind clinker going construction of several large-scale
operated the Poison Lake Mine near
for portland cement in 1989. Puget Sound area governmental projects
Tonasket, Okanogan County, the only
The bulk of Washington’s cement kept construction sand and gravel pro-
crude gypsum mine in the State. Agro
production was general use, moderate- duction at a high level.
Minerals has mined gypsite from small
heat, Types I and II gray portland
saline lake bottoms since 1948; the dried Industrial.— Production of industrial
cement, with lesser amounts of high-
and sized product was used as a soil con- sand and gravel rose modestly in tonnage
early-strength Type II and high-sulfate-
ditioner. Calcined gypsum was produced and by almost 6% in quantity from that
resistant Type V; oil well and pozzolanic
by James Hardie Gypsum in Seattle and of 1988. Production was reported from
cements also were produced. Portland
by Domtar Gypsum America Inc. at three operations: L-Bar Products Inc.
cement was used by ready-mixed con-
Tacoma. mined one pit near Ravensdale, King
crete companies (63%), building materi-
County, and Lane Mountain Silica Co.
al dealers (10%), other contractors (8%), Lime.—Although the quantity of lime
operated two pits near Valley, Stevens
concrete products manufacturers (6%), produced dropped by more than 2%,
County. Ash Grove Cement West mined,
highway contractors and government value increased by more than 2% from
crushed, and screened silica at the Superi-
agencies (2%), and miscellaneous cus- that of 1988. Quicklime was produced at
or Quarry, King County. Primary uses
tomers (11%). a plant in Addy, Stevens County, by
for the industrial sand and gravel were
Individual cement plants used a mix of Northwest Alloys Inc., the State’s largest
glass containers (43%), flat-glass
natural gas, fuel oil, and bituminous and producer. The Tacoma Lime Div. of Con-
manufacture (15%), cement manufacture
anthracite coal for fuel; electricity also tinental Lime Inc. produced both quick-
(12%), sandblasting (10%), and fiberglass
was purchased for energy. Raw materi- lime and hydrated lime at its Tacoma
(9%).
als consumed were anhydrite, cement plant in Pierce County.
rock, clay, fly ash, gypsum, iron ore, lime- Olivine. —Washington was one of two Stone.—Crushed.—Stone production
stone, pyrite, quartz, sand, and slag. States to produce olivine in 1989. The is surveyed by the Bureau of Mines for
odd-numbered years only; data for even-
Clays.—Clay production in 1989 level of production dropped sharply,
numbered years are based on annual
dropped sharply, by 38% in quantity and quantity declined by 10%, and value fell
company estimates. This chapter contains
29% in value, from that of 1988. Com- almost 52% from that of 1988. Olivine
actual data for 1987 and 1989 and esti-
mon clay was produced by five compa- Corp. mined and milled olivine from the
mates for 1988.
nies from eight pits in five counties. Swen Larsen quarry in Whatcom
The volume of crushed stone produced
About 82% of the production came from County. Part of the production was used
in 1989 dropped nearly 5% from that es-
Clallam and King Counties. Fire clay was in the fabrication of modular olivine
timated for 1988, but the value increased
produced from three pits in two counties. refractory slabs. Olivine Corp. no longer
more than 14%. Production was reported
Mutual Materials Co. was the largest refined the crude production but sold it
in 36 of the State’s 39 counties. Five
clay producer in the State. Most of its to Applied Industrial Minerals Corp.
counties—Benton, Clark, Cowlitz, Sno-
clay was mined from pits in King County. (AIMCOR), which processed the material
homish, and Spokane—accounted for
Another major King County clay pro- at its plant in Skagit County. AIMCOR
nearly 52% of the State’s total produc-
ducer was Moulden & Sons Inc. Ideal sold the refined product for use as foun-
tion. Traprock accounted for the bulk of
Basic Industries mined the Twin River dry and blasting sands both domestically
the production, almost 77% of the total
Quarry, Clallam County, the largest clay and as an export to South America and
Washington crushed stone output, fol-
pit in the State. The clay was barged to Pacific Rim countries. AIMCOR form-
lowed by, in order of quantity produced,
the Ideal Cement plant at Seattle for the erly mined an olivine-bearing till from the
sandstone, limestone, granite, dolomite,
production of portland cement. Clay was Twin Sisters quarry in Skagit County, but
and volcanic cinder.
also mined by Interpace Industries Corp. the deposit is now depleted.
and used at its Mica brick plant in Peat.—The quantity and value of Dimension.—Dimension stone was
Spokane County. Washington’s peat production dropped produced by two companies: Island Fron-
sharply from that of 1988. Three compa- tier Landscape Construction Co. operated
Diatomite.—Washington diatomite
nies in Grays Harbor, Kitsap, and Okano- two quarries in Skagit County, and
production dropped slightly in quantity
gan Counties reported production. Heatherstone Inc. reported production
and more than 6% in value from that of
from one quarry in Yakima County.
1988. The Inorganic Specialties Div. of Sand and Gravel.—Construction.—
Witco Corp., the State’s sole producer, Construction sand and gravel production Sulfur (Recovered).—All of the State’s
mined diatomaceous material from two is surveyed by the Bureau of Mines for sulfur production was recovered as
3
WASHINGTON MINERALS YEARBOOK—1989
LEGEND
State boundary
County boundary
Capital
City
Waterway
Crushed stone/sand
& gravel districts
Clay
MINERAL SYMBOLS
Aluminum plant
Au Gold t cS:
ERS
Clay Clay
Lf \\ Z ::
CS Crushed Stone
D-Q Dimension Quartzite
@ Seattle —
Dia Diatomite
/Cem Clay,
Dol Dolomite ; Cem Peat)
Ferrosilic
ait on i, 1 cSS i |
Gypsum
Limestone
Magnesium metal plant Bi cs Neg |
Peat
Olivine
‘OLYMPIA |
Lead
Peat
(Clay |.
Silica
Zinc
cs
Principal Mineral-Producing Localities
~ [al] cs
\ [al] cs
GTON
CS
Spokane
Clay
eoma e e
cs /
Sia
\ Wenatchee @ Fs
f
. Au
: [|aAll]l 4 4 ‘
% Fs
\ Dia
@ Yakima
]
|
i
j
byproduct from petroleum refining in the TABLE 2
Puget Sound area. Companies reporting WASHINGTON: CRUSHED STONE! SOLD OR USED
production were Shell Oil Co. and Tex- BY PRODUCERS IN 1989, BY USE
aco Inc. from their Skagit County refiner-
ies and Atlantic Richfield Co. and British (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars)
Petroleum Oil Co. from refinery opera-
tions at Cherry Point and Ferndale in
Use Quantity Value
Whatcom County. Reported production
Coarse aggregate (+1 1/2 inch):
dropped 13% in quantity and 14% in
Macadam 549 2,182
value from that of 1988.
Riprap and jetty stone as 10,745
Metals Filter stone 250 1,141
Aluminum.— Aluminum production in Coarse aggregate, graded:
Washington increased by almost 5% in Concrete aggregate, coarse 209 874
quantity, but value dropped by nearly
Bituminous aggregate, coarse 371 1,197
17% from that of 1988. Prices, which
Bituminous surface-treatment aggregate 365 ps
averaged $1.10 per pound in 1988, fell to
Railroad ballast 233 764
an average of 88 cents per pound in 1989.
The State ranked first in aluminum out- Fine aggregate (-3/8 inch):
put nationally and was credited with Stone sand, concrete 170 604
30% of total domestic output. The State’s
Stone sand, bituminous mix or seal 130 414
seven aluminum smelters, in aggregate,
Screening, undesignated 684 1,305
operated at nearly 98% of total annual
Coarse and fine aggregates:
rated capacity of 1,231,000 metric tons
of aluminum ingot in 1989.3 Graded road base or subbase 3,191 9,712
Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Unpaved road surfacing 762 2,736
Corp., a division of MAXXAM Inc., was Terrazzo and exposed aggregate 19 190
the State’s largest producer. The compa-
Crusher run or fill or waste Sule, 659
ny operated two smelters—in Mead,
Other construction materials 102 525
Spokane County and Tacoma, Pierce
Agricultural: Agricultural limestone and poultry grit and mineral food al 134
County—with a total rated capacity of
274,000 metric tons per year. The largest Special: Other fillers and extenders _ 40 3,804
single plant, rated at 260,000 metric tons Other miscellaneous uses? 206 995
per year, in Ferndale, Whatcom County,
Unspecified:
was operated by Intalco Aluminum
Actual 1,816 4,959
Corp., a subsidiary of Alumax Inc.
Estimated 3,049 11,571
Washington’s other aluminum smel-
ters, by order of rated capacity, were Total 13,259 55,624
Aluminum Co. of America’s (Alcoa) ‘Includes traprock, sandstone, limestone, granite, dolomite, volcanic cinder or scoria, quartzite, and miscellaneous stone.
plant in Wenatchee, Chelan County; 2tncludes stone used in cement manufacture, asphalt fillers or extenders, whiting or whiting substitute, abrasives, and roofing granules.
3Includes production reported without a breakdown by end use and estimates for nonrespondents.
the Reynolds Metals Co. operation in
Longview, Cowlitz County; a plant in
Goldendale, Klickitat County, owned by
Columbia Aluminum Co.; and a smelter State’s ranking for gold fell from sixth to mining properties and exploration
in Vancouver, Clark County, operated by seventh place nationally. Silver, as a projects from Gulf Canada Resources
Vanalco Inc. byproduct from gold production, was also Ltd., including the Cannon Mine.
reported from the two lode mines. Asamera continued exploration and de-
Arsenic.—Asarco shipped byproduct
Production of silver fell almost 2% in velopment work underground and in the
arsenic trioxide from stock at its closed
quantity and more than 17% in value area immediately surrounding the mine.
Tacoma copper smelter. The smelter, per-
from that of 1988. Hecla Mining Co’s Republic Unit Mine
manently shut down in 1985, had been
The Cannon Mine in Chelan County (Knob Hill) at Republic, Ferry County,
the only domestic processor of high-
was the largest gold mine in the State and was Washington’s second-ranked gold
arsenic copper concentrate. In 1989, the
the second largest underground gold mine producer and the State’s top-ranked silver
shipments of arsenic from the stockpile
in the Nation. The joint venture between producer. In June, Hecla celebrated pro-
decreased by 50%, and the value of ship-
Asamera Minerals (U.S.) Inc., as the oper- duction of the 2 millionth ounce of gold
ments dropped by almost 42%.
ator, and Breakwater Resources Ltd. hoisted from a single shaft. This milestone
Gold and Silver.—Two lode mines in ranked 15th nationally in terms of value was achieved by the Knob Hill No. 2
Chelan and Ferry Counties reported pro- of gold production in 1989. Corona Corp. shaft; only six other shafts in the Nation
duction in 1989. Total gold production announced that, if approved by the board have achieved this production. Hecla
dropped 3% in quantity and more than of directors for both companies, it would was doing extensive underground and sur-
15% in value from that of 1988; the acquire all of Asamera Mineral’s U.S. face exploration and announced plans to
6
WASHINGTON MINERALS YEARBOOK—1989