Thompson Claim

The Thompson Claim is a manganese mine located in Clallam county, Washington at an elevation of 3,399 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: Thompson Claim
Secondary: Sutherland, Thompson Group
Secondary: See, Also, Hemlock S Cedar

Commodity

Primary: Manganese

Location

State: Washington
County: Clallam

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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: Henry, William, And Vic Thompson, Port Angeles, Wa.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Pacific Border Province
Physiographic Section: Olympic Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Volcanogenic Mn, Olympic Peninsula

Orebody

Form: LENSES

Structure

Type: L
Description: Small Faults Showing Offset Of A Few Inches To A Few Ft.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ASSAYS: 30.6-34.2% MN, 6.2-9.2% FE, 19.2-34.2% SIO2

Materials

Ore: Hausmannite
Ore: Bementite

Comments

Comment (Development): EXPLORATORY WORK ON THE PROPERTY, PERFORMED BY THE U.S. BUREAU OF MINES IN 1940, CONSISTED OF REHABILITATING 9,840 FT OF OLD TRAIL AND CONSTRUCTING 6,000 FT OF NEW TRAIL; STRIPPING MORE THAN 700 CUBIC YARDS OF MATERIAL FROM THE OUTCROP AND CLEARING 4,500 SQ FT OF ADJOINING SURFACE AREA; AND SINKING AN INCLINED SHAFT TO A DEPTH OF 154 FT ON THE MINERALIZED ZONE.

Comment (Deposit): SURFACE STRIPPING DISCLOSED A ZONE OF CLOSELY SPACED LENSES OF BEMENTITE, WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF HAUSMANNITE ENCLOSED IN BASALT. THESE LENSES AVERAGED 4 FT WIDE AND 2.5 FT THICK AND EXTENDED FOR A STRIKE LENGTH OF 300 FT. THE ZONE STRIKES NORTHWEST AND DIPS 30 TO 35 SW. AN INCLINED SHAFT WAS SUNK BY THE BUREAU OF MINES IN 1940 NEAR THE LOWER END OF THE DEPOSIT AT AN APPROXIMATE ELEVATION OF 2,912 FT. THIS SHAFT FOLLOWS THE MANGANIFEROUS RED-LIMESTONE BED DOWN DIP FOR 154 FT. THE THICKNESS OF THE LIMESTONE IS FAIRLY CONSTANT EXCEPT FOR VARIATIONS DUE TO FAULT OFFSETS. MOST OF THE MANGANESE MINERALS ARE IN THE LOWER MEMBER OF THE RED LIMESTONE, BETWEEN OVERLYING PILLOW BASALT AND UNDERLYING BASALTIC TUFF. IN SEVERAL PLACES THE ACTUAL DIP OF THE ORE ZONE HAS BEEN STEEPENED BY NORMAL FAULTS. INDIVIDUAL OFFSETS RANGE FROM A FEW INCHES TO MANY FEET. AT 35 FT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SHAFT TWO MINERALIZED ZONES, EACH 2.5 FT THICK, HAVE CONVERGED TO FORM ONE ORE BODY. ABOUT 6 IN. OF RED

Comment (Deposit): LIMESTONE SEPARATES THE ORE FROM THE TUFF FOOTWALL, WHEREAS 3 FT OF RED LIMESTONE SEPARATES THE ORE FROM THE BASALT ABOVE. THE STEEP ATTITUDE OF THE ORE 20 FT FROM THE SHAFT BOTTOM IS THE RESULT OF DRAG BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL FAULTS. FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE 154-FT INCLINE REVEAL MANGANIFEROUS MATERIAL 1.5 TO 2 FT THICK

Comment (Location): THE THOMPSON DEPOSITS ARE ON THE NORTH SLOPE OF BALDY RIDGE, WHICH CONNECTS MOUNT BALDY WITH STORM KING MOUNTAIN TO THE WEST. ACCESS IS FROM THE EAST END OF LAKE SUTHERLAND, 13.7 MILES WEST OF PORT ANGELES ON U.S. HIGHWAY 101. A BRANCH ROAD EXTENDS SOUTHWEST ONE-HALF MILE, THEN A VERY STEEP TRAIL LEADS SOUTH 3 MILES TO THE DEPOSITS. ELEVATIONS AT THE DEPOSITS RANGE FROM 2,850 TO 3,050 FEET.

References

Reference (Deposit): HUNTTING, M.T., 1956, INVENTORY OF WASHINGTON MINERALS - PART II, METALLIC MINERALS: WASHINGTON DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULLETIN 37, P. 257.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. BUREAU OF MINES REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 5530, P. 52-55, 77.

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.