Similkameen Placers

The Similkameen Placers is a gold mine located in Okanogan county, Washington.

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

Name: Similkameen Placers  

State:  Washington

County:  Okanogan

Elevation:

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 48.93556, -119.44111

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Similkameen Placers

Similkameen Placers MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Similkameen Placers


Commodity

Primary: Gold


Location

State: Washington
County: Okanogan


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1955
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Deposition Of Heavy Minerals In River Gravels.


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Holocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Gold
Gangue: Sand and Gravel


Comments

Comment (Location): ALONG THE SIMILKAMEEN RIVER BETWEEN OROVILLE AND NIGHTHAWK.

Comment (Production): REPORTEDLY $500,000 IN THE FEW YEARS FOLLOWING 1859. INTERMITTENT TO 1955 (HUNTTING, 1956, P. 188).

Comment (Geology): DEPOSITS ARE IN RIVER BARS AND LOWER TERRACES OF THE SIMILKAMEEN RIVER (HUNTTING, 1956, P. 188).


References

Reference (Deposit): BETHUNE, G.A., 1892, MINES AND MINERALS OF WASHINGTON- SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF G. A. BETHUNE, STATE GEOLOGIST: WASHINGTON STATE PRINTER, 183 P.

Reference (Deposit): DERKEY, R.E.; JOSEPH, N.L.; LASMANIS, R., 1990, METAL MINES OF WASHINGTON-PRELIMINARY REPORT: STATE OF WASHINGTON, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES OPEN-FILE REPORT 90-18, 577 P.

Reference (Deposit): HANDY, F.M., 1916, AN INVESTIGATION OF THE MINERAL DEPOSITS OF NORTHERN OKANOGAN COUNTY: STATE COLLEGE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY BULLETIN 100, 27P.

Reference (Deposit): BETHUNE, G.A., 1891, MINES AND MINERALS OF WASHINGTON- ANNUAL REPORT OF G. A. BETHUNE, FIRST STATE GEOLOGIST: WASHINGTON STATE PRINTER, 122 P.

Reference (Deposit): HUNTTING, M. T., 1956, INVENTORY OF WASHINGTON MINERALS-PART II, METALLIC MINERALS: WASHINGTON DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULLETIN 37, V. 1, 428 P.; V. 2, 67 P.

Reference (Deposit): UMPLEBY, J.B., 1911, PART I.-- GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE MYERS CREEK MINING DISTRICT; PART II. -- GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE OROVILLE-NIGHTHAWK MINING DISTRICT: WASHINGTON GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 5, 111 P.


Washington Gold

Where to Find Gold in Washington

"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.