South Fork Lewis River

The South Fork Lewis River is a gold mine located in Clark county, Washington at an elevation of 751 feet.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.

Site Name

Primary: South Fork Lewis River
Secondary: Mcmunn Placer

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Secondary: Platinum

Location

State: Washington
County: Clark
District: South Fork Lewis River

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Harvey Mcmunn
Years: 1912 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Stream Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1895
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: Puget Trough

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Placer Au-PGE

Orebody

Form: STREAM SEDIMENT DEPOSITS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Name: Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic)
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 0.126 GM/YD PT (0.00405 OZ/YD), 1.14 GM/YD AU (0.0367 OZ/YD). PT:AU=1:7 TO 1:10

Materials

Ore: Limonite
Ore: Hematite
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Gold

Comments

Comment (Geology): SERPENTINE EXPOSED UPSTREAM IS LIKELY SOURCE FOR PT

Comment (Location): HUNTTING INDICATES SECTION IS ESTIMATED. LOCATION GIVEN IS FOR MILE 29 MARKER SHOWN ON TOPO MAP

Comment (Commodity): PLATINUM GRAINS ARE SMOOTH BUT PITTED AND SOMEWHAT MAGNETIC. PT IS 1/2-1/3 THE SIZE OF AU GRAINS

Comment (Deposit): GOLD IS FOUND IN TERRACE AND STREAM GRAVELS WHEREAS PT IS FOUND ONLY IN THE STREAM GRAVELS. METALS OCCUR IN CRACKS AND CREVICES IN BEDROCK IN THE STREAM

References

Reference (Deposit): PARDEE, J.T., 1929, PLATINUM AND BLACK SAND IN WASHINGTON, IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY 1928: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 805, P. 6-9.

Reference (Deposit): HUNTTING, M.T., 1955, GOLD IN WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULLETIN 42, P. 118.

Reference (Deposit): MERTIE, J.B., JR., 1969, ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF THE PLATINUM METALS: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 630, P. 101.

Reference (Deposit): PATTY, E.N., AND GLOVER, S.L., 1921, THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON, WITH STATISTICS FOR 1919: WASHINGTON GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 21, P. 84-85.

Washington Gold

"Where to Find Gold in Washington" looks at the density of modern placer mining claims along with historical gold mining locations and mining district descriptions to determine areas of high gold discovery potential in Arizona. Read more: Where to Find Gold in Washington.