Breckenridge Creek

The Breckenridge Creek is a chromium mine located in Whatcom county, Washington at an elevation of 2,500 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: Breckenridge Creek
Secondary: Sumas Mountain
Secondary: Stein

Commodity

Primary: Chromium

Location

State: Washington
County: Whatcom
District: Mount Baker District

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Nooksack Mining Co.

Owner Name: Yamate Trading Co., Ltd.
Home Office: San Francisco, Ca
Years: 1967 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1930
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: Podiform chromite (minor)

Orebody

Form: BANDS, LENTICULAR BODIES, DISSEMINATED

Structure

Type: L
Description: One Joint Set Parallels Chromite Bands, Other Set Includes Offsetting Cross Faults

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Peridotite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Peridotite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: CR:FE=2.11:1. RELATIVELY PURE PIECIE OF CHROMITE YIELDED 45.1% CR2O3, 17.6% FEO, 18.1% MGO, TR CAO, 8.3% SIO2, 5.6% AL2O3, LOSS ON IGNITION 2.8%, P.C.E. 39-40.
Analytical Data: 38.8% CR2O3 IN ORE

Materials

Ore: Chromite
Gangue: Antigorite
Gangue: Chrysotile
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Serpentine

Comments

Comment (Location): ON TRIBUTARY TO BRECKENRIDGE CREEK AT NORTH END OF SUMAS MOUNTAIN. ORE IS ALSO SAID TO BE IN CENTER OR NE/4 SEC. 30 (HUNTTING)

Comment (Production): SEVERAL TONS WERE PRODUCED IN 1946

Comment (Workings): ADIT

Comment (Geology): PALEOZOIC GRAYWACKE AND ARGILLITE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERPENTINITE

Comment (Deposit): LOCATION AND GEOLOGIC MAP OF DEPOSIT GIVEN IN MOEN, 1967. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

Comment (Deposit): CHROMITE IS CONCENTRATED IN PARALLEL BANDS 0.25-2 IN. THICK (AVG 1 IN. THICK), IN A FEW PLACES FORMING LENTICULAR BODIES. LARGEST LENS OBSERVED WAS 5 FT LONG AND 4 IN. THICK. MASSIVE CHROMITE SEEN IN STOCKPILE INDICATES SOME LENSES MAY HAVE BEEN 10 IN. THICK. THE CHROMITE BANDS ALTERNATE WITH LAYERS OF SERPENTINITE. MOST CHROMITE BANDS TERMINATE AGAINST AND ARE OFFSET BY SMALL CROSS FAULTS STRIKING N15W, DIPPING 50NE.

References

Reference (Deposit): MOEN, W.S., 1969, MINES AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULLETIN 57, P. 69-71.

Reference (Deposit): HUNTTING, M.T., 1956, INVENTORY OF WASHINGTON MINERALS - PART II, METALLIC MINERALS: WASHINGTON DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULLETIN 37, V. 1, P. 42.

Reference (Deposit): DERKEY, R.E., JOSEPH, N.L., AND LASMANIS, RAYMOND, 1990, METAL MINES OF WASHINGTON - PRELIMINARY REPORT: WASHINGTON DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES OPEN-FILE REPORT 90-18, P. 545.

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.