Fortress Mountain

The Fortress Mountain is a copper mine located in Snohomish county, Washington at an elevation of 6,900 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: Fortress Mountain

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Molybdenum

Location

State: Washington
County: Snohomish
District: Sampson District

Land Status

Land ownership: National Wilderness
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.
Administrative Organization: In Glacier Peak Wilderness In Mount Baker National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Bear Creek Mining Co.
Years: 1962 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Pacific Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Cascade-Sierra Mountains
Physiographic Section: Northern Cascade Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Porphyry Cu-Mo

Orebody

Form: SMALL PLUGS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericitization, Potassic

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: MANY SAMPLES ANALYZED. BEST AVERAGES OF SHALLOW DRILL HOLES ARE 0.34% CU

Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Epidote

Comments

Comment (Location): UNSURVEYED

Comment (Deposit): DIMENSIONS GIVEN ARE FOR HIGHEST GRADE OF 2 PLUGS

Comment (Development): DRILLING PROGRAM WAS ABANDONED WITH THE ADVENT OF WILDERNESS CONTROVERSY

Comment (Workings): EXTENSIVE SURFACE SAMPLING, DRILLING

References

Reference (Deposit): TABOR, R.W., BOOTH, D.B., VANCE, J.A., FORD, A.B., AND ORT, M.H., 1988, PRELIMINARY GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE SAUK RIVER 30 BY 60 MINUTE QUADRANGLE, WASHINGTON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 88-692, SCALE 1:100,000.

Reference (Deposit): GRANT, A.R., 1982, SUMMARY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY DATA FOR THE GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS, CHELAN, SNOHOMISH, AND SKAGIT COUNTIES, WASHINGTON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OPEN-FILE REPORT 82-408, P. 22-24.

Reference (Deposit): STOTELMEYER, R.B., JOHNSON, F.L., MCHUGH, E.L., FEDERSPIEL, F.E., DENTON, D.K., JR., AND STEBBINS, S.A., 1982, MINERAL INVESTIGATION OF THE GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS AND ADACENT AREAS, CHELAN, SKAGIT, AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES, WASHINGTON: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT 89-82, P. 22.

Reference (Deposit): CHURCH, S.E., FORD, A.B., FLANIGAN, V.J., AND STOTELMEYER, R.B., 1984, MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS AND ADJACENT AREAS, CHELAN, SKAGIT, AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES, WASHINGTON: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES MAP MF-1652-A, SCALE 1:100,000.

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.