Hardrock Mining in Northern Washington State

Last Post 13 Nov 2016 11:16 AM by ARTHUR WAUGH

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Kevin Gillas

Greenhorn
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12 Nov 2016 10:29 PM
I have access to a 1900's hard rock mine. I've been through the tailing piles, assed several locations plus have old surveys of the area that have shows .05 oz/ton. There is quartz veins that have been worked, several pyrites including arsenic and lead, there are hot rock everywhere, only after breaking up the hot rock there is nothing. The audits are over a 100ft. I've found no history on what was found on this claim. The claim is not road accessible, so I do not see them pulling out much ore on backpacks for processing. The question is would they work a claim from the 1900 to the 1950 and not really be pulling out any visible gold? Does anybody know the history of the 1000s of claims in this part of the country and how they/if they got gold out of them. This is not the Liberty district. Thank You much. Kevin

Wayne Crowder

Highbanker
Posts:105

13 Nov 2016 10:24 AM
Kevin, I don't have specific info but would suggest mining history pubs for the county you are interested in. The local library may have some of these. Also the US Bureau of Mines put out reports that were specific to county production and sometimes mine specific. Problem is that mine owners may have not wanted to put out info to the public domain. Good luck!

ADAM ANDREWS

Greenhorn
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13 Nov 2016 10:45 AM
It's possible that the free mill Gold is mined out, after that they quit when the veins turned into sulfide Gold. I once smashed a hot rock & I could swear the was tiny Gold in it, but after blue bowling it at 50 mesh, there was no Gold

Kevin Gillas

Greenhorn
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13 Nov 2016 11:08 AM
Thanks Great ideas, Yes I've tried the local libraries and history with no help. It seems miners don't talk a lot or donate any information to libraries even after they close down operation. It seems some graduate students were my best source of information. They have a mining library in Olympia WA that I have not gotten to yet. I tried looking for gold sulfides, I've crushed, screened, cooked the ore and used a chemical process with no luck. How would you find any experts in this field? Thanks for your input. Kevin

ARTHUR WAUGH

Advanced Member
Posts:967

13 Nov 2016 11:16 AM
Might check with the state minerals and geology office with the location of where you are interested. They should have reports on file from at least the 1930's. I know down here I have read several from the areas surrounding where I live. Found pretty detailed info on several old mines they went away when WWII started and were not re=opened after the war. Might take some digging, but you should get some pretty detailed info, if not for the mine in question, at least the surrounding area.

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