First Thought Mine

The First Thought Mine is a silver mine located in Okanogan county, Washington at an elevation of 2,999 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: First Thought Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Washington
County: Okanogan
District: Conconcully District; Ruby Hill Area

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: First Thought Silver Mining Co.
Years: 1922 - 1926

Owner Name: Benton Bailey
Home Office: Okanogan, Wa.
Years: 1949 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1892
Year Last Production: 1925
Discovery Year: 1886
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: DISCONTINUOUS, LENTICULAR MASSES

Structure

Type: L
Description: Foliation Parallels Strike Of Ore Bodies.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Paleocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: OLD ASSAYS ACROSS THE VEIN SHOWED $30 AG/TON.
Analytical Data: MASSIVE QTZ: 6-8 OZ AG/TON
Analytical Data: ORE SHOOTS: 75-100 OZ AG/TON

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Stephanite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Commodity): PRODUCTION FROM 1892-1893 AND IN 1920S (SMALL AMOUNTS).

Comment (Development): ADITS, CROSSCUTS, AND DRIFTS; AND SHAFTS

Comment (Location): NW END OF RUBY HILL; UPPER ADIT AT 3250 FT ELEV.

Comment (Deposit): DISCONTINUOUS LENTICULAR MASSES OF MINERALIZED QTZ; ORE MINERALS ARE CONCENTRATED IN ORE SHOOTS ALONG THE WALLS OF THE QTZ LENSES; SOME SHOOTS ARE UP TO 5 FT THICK. MINOR ORE IS DISSEMINATED IN THE MASSIVE QTZ. LENSES TO 700 FT IN DIAM.

Comment (Workings): UNDERGROUND MINE WORKINGS AT THE FIRST THOUGHT MINE ARE IN EXCESS OF 4000 FT AND ARE ON THREE LEVELS THAT HAVE A VERTICAL EXTENT OF 350 FT. ADIT NO. 1, THE MAIN ADIT, IS AT ELEVATION 2960 FT, AND IS ABOUT 50 FT WEST OF THE RUBY HILL ROAD. THE ADIT HEADS S60E AND IS CAVED AT THE PORTAL (1973). JUDGING FROM THE DUMP SIZE, MINE WORKINGS IN THIS ADIT COULD BE ABOUT 2000 LINEAR FT. ADIT NO. 2 IS 450 FT SE OF ADIT NO. 1, AND ABOUT 150 FT ABOVE IT. THIS ADIT HEADS S75E FOR 65 FT, WHERE IT IS CAVED; AT 60 FT FROM THE PORTAL A DRIFT HEADS SOUTH FOR AN UNDETERMINED DISTANCE. THE DUMP AT ADIT NO. 2 SUGGESTS AT LEAST 700 FT OF WORKINGS. THE UPPERMOST ADIT, ADIT NO. 3, IS 225 FT SE AND 100 FT ABOVE ADIT NO. 2. THIS ADIT IS CAVED AT THE PORTAL, BUT THE DUMP SIZE SUGGESTS 800 FT OF WORKINGS. THERE ARE, ALSO, 3 SHAFTS OF UNKNOWN DEPTHS IN THE SW CORNER OF THE CLAIM. THESE LIE IN A LINE TRENDING GENERALLY NE. INTERIOR WORKINGS ARE UNKNOWN DUE TO CAVING IN THE ADITS.

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: STRONGLY FOLIATED

References

Reference (Deposit): WASH. DMG BULL. 37, PART II, P. 303.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 23, P. 248, 255

Reference (Deposit): WASH. DMG IC 49, P. 8,9, 16-17

Reference (Production): MOEN, 1973, P. 16

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.