Mines and mineral deposits of Whatcom County, Washington

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1969 · Bull. - Wash., Div. Mines Geol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5309872

Moen, W S

Whathom County, in the NW. part of Washington, is composed of approx. 66% federal lands, 6% state lands, and 28% privately owned lands. The rocks of the county range from Recent to Devonian in age. The Recent Pleistocene rocks serve as sources for sand and gravel and common clay. The lower Tertiary sedimentary rocks, which consist mainly of the Chuckanut Formation, contain coal measures and beds of building stone and fire clays. Green andesite has been quarried for use as building stone from Cretaceous rocks, which also contain beds of iron. The limestone deposits range in age from Permian to Devonian and are found mostly in rocks of the Chilliwack Group. The olivine is confined mainly to Twin Sisters Mt. and is of early Tertiary age. Most of the deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc occur as hydrothermal quartz fissure veins that are related to granodiorite and quartz diorite intrusions of early Tertiary age. Since 1900, 75 wells have been drilled for gas and oil, but as yet no oil production has resulted. In spite of this unsuccessful drilling, sporadic exploration for oil still continues in Whatcom Basin. The total mineral (excluding sand, gravel, and building stone) production of the county from 1900 to 1965 is in the neighborhood of $46 million; $43-1/2 million is credited to nonmetallic minerals, and $2-1/2 million to metallic minerals. (106 refs.)

• OSTI ID: 5309872
• Journal Information: Bull. - Wash., Div. Mines Geol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. - Wash., Div. Mines Geol.; (United States) Vol. 57; ISSN WCGBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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