R. I. 4h81

The ores from the Grandview mine and the Bella May mine are treated in
the 5C00-ton flotation plant of the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co. This
mill is situated at the Grandview mine. The Bella May. ore is transported by
truck 4 miles to this mill. The treatment and results are reported as similar
to those attained at the Pend Oreille mill.

The American, Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co. ships concentrates to its smelter
at Fast St. Louis, Ill. The Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co. has a contract
with the same smelter but, under special instructions from the War Production
Board, shipped its concentrates to Great Falls, Mont., during part of the war.
The freight charges on 2inc and lead concentrates to East St. Louis, Ill., are
$10.50 a ton. ‘he treatment charges are $31.50 a ton. Several interests have
plens under consideration for the establishment of an electrolytic zinc plant
in or near the district.

COST OF PRODUCTION

A decrease in production and an increase in costs were experienced during
the wer years by the operating companies of the district. This situation is
attributed mainly to higher wages and Federal taxes and manpower shortege.

In 1940 these companies were drilling extensively to extend the limits of the
ore deposits and were active in opening and developing ore reserves by under-
workings. Because of conditions brought about by the war, such company explo-
ration and development soon, had to be curtailed drastically and had almost
ceased by 1944, Owing to the serious labor shortage, the Pend Oreille Mines
& Metals Co. by the end of the war was able to operate its mine on e one-shift
basis only. It employed but 20 men underground. This condition forced the
mill to operate at less than half its normal capacity. Other operations in
the district were affected similarly.

The following production and cost figures were compiled from the published
annual reports of the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co. for the year ended April
30, 1940, a fairly normal year, and for the year ended April 30, 1945. These
figures provide comparative data for the last pre-war year and the last war
year:

TABLE 2, - Production data and costs, Pend-Oreille Mines & Metals Co.

Year ended Year ended
April 30, 1940! April 30, 1945
Tons of ore mined and milled..........e0000% | 233,339 | 139,516
Dry tons of concentrates produced... i 18,851. 8,677
Yield of zinc, Ib. .......eeeee seeeseee i 19,625,300 7,616,502
Jeld of Load, 1D. .ecceecssseeeeeeececeeeee | 645,870 781,677
Operating costs, per ton: |
Mining.....+ : 1.32. $2.059
Diamond drill i 0.06 -
MULLING. cee sees eee ee cece ! 0.51 0.783
Other direct operating costs... ‘7 0.20 0,304
Total direct operating costs...... 2.08 | 3.146

2936 - 10 -


R. I. 4461

~ TABLE 4, - Pertinent data on Bureau of Mines drill holes Metaline District, Pend-Oreille County, Wash.

“ To 7 Consolidated data .
Altitude | Length of hole Ore .and mineralized T Weighted assay,
collar as dcilled, | sections as drilled, Assay, percent | Thickness as | percent
Hole no, of hole feet | Interval _|.. Thickness Pb i an. Grilled, feet Pb i
North Pend Oreille area ; H whee
BLM. 2 ...6....] 2138.0 691.0 595-600 5:0 0.16 | 0.55
600-605 5.0 1.65 1.84
605-610 5.0 1.80: | ° 0.40 15.0 1.76 0.78
610-615 5.0 1.84 0.10
i 615-620 5.0 6.40 0.10
620-625 5.0 11.78 0.10 15.0 8.76 0.10
625-630 5.0 * 8.13 0.10
BUM. 3..e500004) 2125.78 1011.5 954-955 1.0 13.30 5.60 yi -
a : 6.0 4,60 4,10
955-960 5.0 2.84 3.80 H :
960-961 | 1.0 0.10 0.40 |
BM. 4.........] 2270.14 1084.9 |. 972-973 | 1.0 6.50 3.50 1.0 6.50 3.50
998.5-1000 1.5 0.30 3.50
1000-1005 | 5.0 0.30 7.40
1005-1010 | 5.0 C.10 3.60 26.5 | 0.37 5.67 -
1010-1015 5.0 0.10. | 10.40
1015-1020 5.0 | 0.20 3.20
1020-1025 5.0 | 0.10 440
| 10h2.7-1045 2.3 ; 0.10 2.00 : oo
' 1045-1050 5.0 |..0.10. }.*2.30 12.3 “0.10. 2.10
!. 1050-1055 __} 5.0. “0,10 2,00 - :
BoM. 6...eee006! 2361.75 1386.7 {1200-1205 “T 5.0 0.20 3.00
: 1205-1210 5.0 0.40 3.00 315.0 0.33 3.23
1210-1215 5.0 0.40 «| + 3.70
Te15-1220 5.0 | 0.20 1.80 ig . a
' 220-1225 5.0 |. 0.10 1.90 20.0 0.12 2.18
| 1225-1230 5.0 | 0.10 2.40 | |
|_ 1230-1235 5.0 ! 0.10 2.60! L i

2936:

-19-


pssco *
— 5 see]
LIMESTONE OVERBURDEN
ta

900

SCALE
1g a 230 oe

auneau oF mines

METALINE DISTRICT

SECTION AWA’ LOOKING N2¥E SHOW!
DRILL HOLE SECTIONS AND FLUME CREEK FAULT

PEND OREILLE COUNTY, WASH.

erect, File No.

Figure 11. - Flume Creek area cross-section.


R. I. 4461

TABLE 4, - Pertinent date on Bureau of Mines drill holes Metaline District, Pend Oreille County, Wash., cont'd,

Hole no.

Altitude | Length of hole

as drilled,

Ore and mineralized
sections as drilled,

Assay, percent.

Consolidated data

Thickness as

Interval

| drilled, feet

| Weighted assay,

-percent

Zn

West Bella May erea, cont!

BM. 28.
BoM. 29..0.006

BM, 30.0.0...

BM. 3l..es006
|
BuM. 32.,eceee

a)

Washington Rock area

BM. 20....00- |
BM. Qleeeeeee

BM. 22.ccc008
2936

5M 5-516.7
384-385,

Thickness

0.10
“0.40

6.20

3.00

408.5-411.3
412, 2-13

436.8-438
241, 8-2h3.3

410,5-411.3
416,2-416.9

rs Cohn

4776-482

Na
fo)

540.8-547.2

551-554..5

wlajwijoole pr

ra

630-635
635-639

a0 Jollee loo
BN NS

oo 19

‘No mineralization

i

878-879

; No mineralization

9,8-12.5

- Oh e

Plu
eo [oo Jule

.
q
o
Q
fc)





R. I. 4481

Drilling by the Bureau of Minos in this area greatly extended the form-
erly known limits of the ore-bearing horizon, The location of the holes
drilled by the Bureau of Mines is shown in figure 6. Graphic logs of the
drill holes, are shown in figuré 7. Additional details are given in table 4,

West Belle May Area

The West Bella May area adjoins and lies northwest of the Belle May mine
workings. It canprises about 130 acres of patented and unpatented lode claims
and mineral rights on patented homesteads in sec. 30, T. 39 N., R. 43 E. The
claims and other mineral rights are owned by the Metaline Contact Mines Co.,
which is controlled by the Metaline Mining and Leasing Co. It is a much
faulted area of rugged relief and was virtually unexplored prior to the drill-
ing done by the Bureau of Mines,

The Bureau of Mines drilled 18 irregularly spaced holes 100 to 650 feet
apart within an area of about 50 acres, This drilling provided valuable date
on ore deposition and also provided geologic and structural information that
will. be most helpful for further éxploration and development of the area,

The ore reserves indicated by this drilling are at an altitude well above the
main haulage level of the Bella May mine, from which they can be developed
and mined, The location of the Bureau drill holes in the area is shown in
figure 6, Graphic logs of the drill holes are shown in figure 8, Additional
dotails are provided in table 4,

Washington Rock Area

The Washington Rock area is in an overthrust block in the vicinity of
Washington Rock, southeast of center between the Slate Creek fault and the
Flume Creek fault. Washington Rock is just north of Metaline Falls, on the
wost side of the Pend Oreille River, about 4,000 feet south of the Pend Oreille
mine. A detailed survey and geological study was made of this area by the
Federal Geological Survey, Their conclusion was that the Metaline limestone
in this area had been thrust over the Ledbetter slate and that, in normal
succession, the limestone should be found to underlie this slate. Some drill-
ing in this area was considered justified.

With such reccmmendation the Bureau of Mines drilled three holes in this
area at places designated by the Survey. Figure 9 shows the locations of
these holes, pertinent geological data, and other features.

Hole 20, after passing through 7 feet of overburden and 125 feet of slate,
entered a light-grey dolomitic limestone and continued in it for 161 feet with-
out encountering any mineralization, This dolomitic limestone is not charac-
teristic of the upper 500 feet of the Metaline formation. Hence, the possi-
bilities for encountering any ore deposition at a reasonable depth were
considered to be unfavorable; consequently, the hole was discontinued at eo
depth of 293.17 feet.

2936 -u-


R. I. 4481

TABLE 4, - Pertinent data on Bureau of Mines drill holes Metaline District, Pend Oreille County Wash., Cont'd.

Length of hole !

Ore and mineralized

Consolidated data

Weighted assay,

as drilled, eections as drilled, ercent | Thickness as percent
Hole no, feet interval — | Thickness; Zn_ | drilled, feet Po Zn
North Pend Oreille area, cont'd. i | :
BoM. 6.....000. | 1235-12h0 * 5.0 . 2.90 .
i 1eko-1245 5.0 4,50 0.12 3.28
| 1245-1250 5.0 0.20 2.30
j_ 1250-1255 5.0 0.10. 3.40
[1255-1260 5.0 0.10 2.70 _
{1260-1265 5.0 0.10 1.30 0.10 2.00
; 1265-1270 5.0 | 0.10 0.50 i
1
BM. I0......0% 1683.67 1470-1875 5.0 0.30 0.60 |
1475-1480 5.0 0.30 2.15
1480-1485 5.0 0.30 1,40 0530 1.77
1555-1559 4,0 0.20 1,00
1561-1585 4.0 | 9-20 1.85 7
1585-1587 2.0 0.20 2.00 0.20" 1.90
1624-1625 T.0 0.10 1.05
1625-1630 5.0 | 0.20 1.20 0.19 1.16
1630-1635 5.0 0:20 1,15
1635-1035 | 5.0 0.20 0.60
1547.0 1415-1420 ! 5.0 | 0.10 6.10
120-1421 | i.0 | 3.70 0.10 13-70 0.10
1508.75-1510 1.25 (18.90 C.0 | 18.90 0.40
1821.0 1683-1685 | 2.0 | 0.10 0.70
1795-1799 4.0 ©.10 }- 0.70
1643.67 1281-1285! 4.0 0.10 1.30 ! .
1285-1290; 5.0 0.10 1.40 | 0.10 1.36
1290-1295 5.0 0.10 2.00
1302-1304 2.6 0.10 4,60

2936

- 20 -


Figure |. - Looking south from Grandview mine showing Pend Oreille power plant, Metaline Falls on the Pend
Oreille River, the town of Metaline Falls, and the Metaline mine in the distance.


R. I, 4481

Hole 21 went through 5 fect of overburden and for tho next 49 feet was
in limestone. The upper 4.83 feet of this limestone was mineralized only
with pyrite, but directly bencath the drill passed through 2.67 feet of ore
containing pyrite, sphalerite, and a little galena assaying 15.1 percent zinc
and 0.20 percent lead.. The character of this ore resembles that of the Yellow-
head ore body. From a depth of 54 feet to 372 feet the drill passed through
316 fect of slate and 2 feet of schist. From 372 feet to 62h feet it passed
through 252 feet of unmineralized phyllitic limestone similar to that of the
lower Metaline series. The hole was stopped at a depth of 624 feet.

Hole 22 was drilled mainly as a triangular control for the correlation
of the underlying limestone formation, It was drilled to a depth of 516.25
feet. It passed successively, through 12 feet of overburden, 48 feet of .
limestone, 22 feet of slate, 4 feet of limestone, 44 feet of slate, 272 feet
of dolomitic limestone, and 114.25 feet of phyllitic limestme. No mineral-
ization was encountered.

Where drilled in this area, the limestone underlying the slate appears
to be similar in general character to the limestone of the lower Metaline
series; therefore, it may be much lower in the geologic column than the prin-
cipal known ore-bearing horizon that is in the upper Metaline formation.

South Josephine Area

The South Josephine area is southwest of and adjacent to the Pend Oreille
mine; it is south of Flume Creek and west cof the Pend Oreille River. Some
mineralization is exposed in en outcropping in the Metaline limestone on the
Carlington claim, Four holes were drilled by the Bureau of Mines - two on
the Carlington claim and two on the Frisco claim, which adjoins the Carlington
claim on the west.

Hole 39 was drilled near the outcropping on the Carlington claim to a
depth of 198 feet, all in an.vnmineralized dolomite and limestone. Hole 40,
after passing through 20 feet of overburden, continued in unmineralized dolo-
mite and calcite to a depth of 154 feet. Hole 41 was drilled to a depth of
229 feet. It passed through 69 feet of overburden, 70 feet of dolomite and
limestone with some calcite, and then into 90 feet of gray dolomite and lime-
stone. A fractured zone containing some slate drag, indicating a fault zone,
was encountered at a depth of 139 feet. Hole 42 went throvgh 39 feet of over-
burden into unmineralized gray dolomite for 125 feet. - The hole was stopped
ata depth cf 164 feet.

These four holes encountered no mineralization. They indicate that tho
mineralized ore horizon in this area has been almost entirely removed by ero-
sion. The location of these holes and other features are shown in figure 10.

Josephine Mine Area

The operating companies in the Metaline district had for some time con-
sidered further testing of the Metaline limestone series to depths well below
the principal mown ore horizon. The Yellowhead deposit in an upfaulted block
north of the Josephine mine is generally considered to be in an ore horizon
about 800 feet bolow the Ledbetter slate-Metaline limestone contact. The ore

2936 -b-


R. I. 4u81

TABLE 2. - Production data and costs, Pend Oreille Mines &
Metals Co, (Cont'd. )

| Year ended Year ended

LApril 30, 1940 | April 30, 1945

Operating costs, per ton: (Cont'd.) |

TAKCB. ce sccececcccecescetceecenseneenes $0.13 $0,152
General expenseS......seeeeee 0.13 0.185
Total operating COStS...ccesseeeee 2.34 3.483
Income: Receipts from ore sales....... 770,231.66 68h 458.03
Total operating cOStS....seseeeeeeeeeee 554,914 6h 486 033.79
Operating profit [215,317.02 198 wok Olt

1/ Before depreciation, depletion, and Federal taxes.
WORK BY THE BUREAU OF MINES
The Bureav of Mines project in the Metaline district began January 15,

Drilling started February 8, 1943, and, except for several recesses
The

1943.
during the most severe winter months, continued until August 6, 1945.
project was terminated September 8, 1945.

During this period 45 holes were drilled in seven areas, The total
footage drilled was 38,149.69 feet. Table 3, which follows, provides data
on the number of holes, the range in depth cf holes, the footage drilled,
footage drilled in the various formations, and the ore summarized according
to the area and in total. Additional and more detailed information on the
drilling done in the various areas is given under their separate headings
and in table 4, 0

TABLE 3. - Summary of Bureau_of Mines drilling Metaline District, Washington

| . a Footage drilled in -
+ iMetaline lime-
| No, of| Range in| Total Over- | Ledbetter |stone, dolomite,
Area | holes|depth, ft.| footage |burden slate ore, otc.
North Pend i
Oreille....../ 15 691-1821 | 20,840.37 | 659.00 | 17,063.75 | 3,117.62
Weet Bella May.; 18 176-957 | 10,349.15! 398.25 | 5,386.45 | 456445
Washington Rock 3 293-624 1,433.42] 24.00 509.00 j 900.42
Josephine mine, | |
underground..| 1 1361 | 1,361.00 - - | 1,362.00
South Josephine| y 154-229 \ 745.00; 128.00 - H 617.00
Slate Creek.... 1 2050 | 2,050.00} 10.00, 2,040.00 -
Flume Creek.... 3 | 220-608 | 1,370.75} 922.00 - 2/uu8.75
Total........[| §5 | = 136, 19.69 [21a 25 12h 999.20 17,009.24

i Includes quartzite, phyllite and schist,

2936

-l-


6 EJ
‘
;
5.0 - @76-0.10 210'- 277-244
a]
LEGEND

33

Lemprophyre dike

230'- 010-136
620 - 005 -052

100" - 030 - 177

60-020 -
11.0 - 019-

90
16

30' - 010- 150
110" - 030-040

Metatine Limestone

Doonite

Siticeous Zone
not minerotin

Siliegous Zone meeraied
‘minut 5% PD ond Z0

Ore Pius 5% Pb ond Zn
Thickness — 4D - % ZH
226 - 539 - 032
‘Sections on plane of ari of note #2
ScaLe
Sl ——— St

auncay of wines

METALINE DISTRICT

PEND OREILLE COUNTY, WASH.

FILE NO

Figure 7. - Graphic drill hole logs with assays - North Pend Oreille area.


R. I. 4461

Surveying of Drill Holes

All holes except No, 24 were drilled from surface locations, Hole 2h
was drilled from an underground station. With the exception of hole 5, which
was a 55° down hole, all holes were started in a vertical position,

Drill holes were first surveyed with a Mass compass, but its use soon was
discontinved in favor of the Carlson compass, The gelatine solutions used and
the procedure at first followed were found unsatisfactory and unreliable owing
to temperature increases in the deeper holes, Dependable gelatin solutions
were developed after much.experimentation. This permitted the development of
a reliable technique for drill-hole surveying with the Carlson compass.
Carlson compass surveys were checked by acid etch tube readings.

Twenty-five drill holes (hole 10 and holes 15 to 38, inclusive) with a
combined length of 26,251 feet were surveyed both by the Bureau of Mines and
the Federal’ Geological Survey. The respective results were in close agreement,
These surveys showed that most of these holes, particularly the deeper ones,
had been deflected both horizontally and vertically. Such deflection or drift-
ing is common in drilling in the district, especially in the Ledbetter slate
formation. Maximum horizontal deflections from the vertical position occurred.

in holes 10, 16, and 19, These deflections were, respectively, 860, 845, and
660 feet.

Tests and studies made by the Bureau engineers and the drill contractor
indicated that an off-center, nonconcentric reamer shell might have caused
excessive deflection, A worn reamer shell of true concentricity was next used
in drilling hole 23, and everything possible was done to hold deflection to a
minimm, The same reamer shell was used, and the same procedure was followed
in drilling hole 25. Surveys showed the maximum deflection in these two holes
to be 360 and 280 feet, respectively. With such procedure, deflection was
found to be reduced considerably in all subsequently drilled holes, Studies -
disclosed that holes in the slate formation had a marked tendancy to be de-
flected normal or nearly normal to the observed cleavage planes. The holes
in the limestone formation usually went quite straight.

AREAS TRILLED
North Pend Oreille Area

The North Pend Oreille area is on the east side of the Pend Oreille River,
adjacent to the Pend Oreille mine area, and extends from the Grandview mine
property northward to Three Mile. Creek. This area comprises 320 acres of un-
patented lode mining claims and 320 acres of patented homestead and mineral
rights, It is owned by the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co, The Pend. Oreille
Mines & Metals Co. had drilled 80 holes immediately south of this area, The
Bureau of Mines drilled 15 holes at irregular spacing, ranging from 800 to
1,500 feet, within an area of approximately 275 acres. The company later
drilled four holes, intermediately spaced, between some holes drilled by the
Bureau of Mines,

2936 -b-


R. I. 4481

horizon in the Reeves McDonald mine, Just over the border in Canada, is ina
still lower horizon. Some geologists are of the opinion that the Reeves-
McDonald ore is in the lower Metaline limestone series, probably about 2,500
feet below the slate-limestone contact. Other geologists consider it to be
still lower, possibly in the upper part of the Maitlen formation,.

Equipment capable of core drilling to a depth of 3,000 feet or more was
not available at the time. Nevertheless, the Bureau of Mines decided on an
initial test hole to be drilled as deep as the available equigment could go.
For this purpose hole 24 was drilled from the bottom of stope 7-71 in the
Josephine (Pend Oreille) mine, where the Mctaline limestone is exposed over-
head and at the surface. The collar of this hole is at an altitude of 2,025
feet 140 feet below the surface. Its location for such testing-was considered.
to be one of the most favorable in the area,

Hole 2h was started vertical and drilled to a depth of 1,361 feet. ‘The
first 837 foet were drilled AX size and the remainder FX size. Surveys show
that its maximum horizontal deflection at the bottom was 90 feet. The summa~
rized log of hole 2h follows:

Depth, feet Thickness, feet Formation and assays
0-9 9 Silicified, fine-grained, gray limestone; no
mineralization,
9-25 16 Silicified, fine-grained, gray, mineralized

limestone. Assay, 10.7 percent zinc, 0.01
percent lead,

25 Hb 52 N27 Fine-grained, gray limestone (footwall of
7 principal. ore-horizon); no mineralization.
452-516 64 Coarse crystalline calcite.
516-525 9 FPine-grained, gray limestone; no mineralization,
525 +968 443 Gray dolomite, mainly. From 938-944, brecci-
ated, a trace of mineralization.
968-1007 39 Fault zone; brecciated dolomite.
1007-1012 5 Gray dolomite, mineralized. Assay, 2.6 percent
zinc, 0.2 percent lead.
1012-1361 3h9 Gray dolomite mainly, No mineralization.

No ore was found below 25 feet. Minéralization at 1007 to 1012 feet,
however, may indicate another ore horizon.

Hole 2k and the formation overhead provide a section of the Metaline
limestone formation about 1,500 feet thick.’ This hole would have to be deep-
ened about 1,500 feet to cut the entire thickness of the Metaline series. The
collar casing in this hole was left intact and capped, should its deepening
later be desirable. The location of hole 24 is shown in figure 10.

Slate Creek Area
Drilling by the Bureau of Mines in the North Pend Oreilla area confirmed
the extension of the favorable ore horizon east of the Pend Oreille River as
far north as Three Mile Creek. It also proved that the Ledbetter slate over-
lying the Metaline limestone becomes thicker to the north. However, it was

2936 -16-


R. I. 4481

Josephine mine has a maximum height of 240 feet. The thickness of the ore
may differ greatly within a few feet horizontally; such differences are asso-
ciated uevally with minor faults.

Large blocks of calcite and large blocks of low-grade or unmineralized
limestone or dolomite occur irregularly within the ore horizon between and
within the ore bodies. Open caves have been found in the Pend Oreille mine,
These caves may be a few fect to 120 fect in length, up to 110 feet in width,
and 15 feet in height.. Their backs usually are lined with paligorskite, or
"mountain leather", and the floors are covered with large pieces of waste,
under which high-grade zinc and lead ore generally. are found, 8

DESCRIPLION OF THE ORES

The general character of the mineralization and the associated gangue
material is similar in the Pend Oreille, Grandview, and Bella May mines.2
The ores are siliceous. The predominating economic mineral is sphalerite.
Galena is distributed through the ores but appears to occur in larger con-
centrations nearer to the peripheries of the ore bodies than elsewhere.
Pyrite, marcasite, smithsonite, cerussite, and chalcopyrite are present in
varying but small amounts. The ore at the Yellowhead mine differs in that
it has mich pyrite associated with the sphalerite and galena. Some of the
sphalerite in the Yellowhead ore is of a rich yellow color, which has not
been observed elsewhere. These replacement zinc-lead ores are generally
maseive but in some places are porous and vuggy. The vugs generally are
lined with crystals of sphalerite and quartz.

Sphalerite occurs in a variety of colors, pale yellow (resin jack), a
brilliant reddish type (ruby jack), and a brown, all of. which may be present
in a single ore shoot, The texture of the zinc ores usually is fine-grained
to dense, but sometimes is coarse-grained and massive, The galena crystals
probably average larger than the sphalerite crystals.

The gangue is customarily dark-gray or black jasperoid, which in places
grades into milky quartz. Crystalline dolomite. and coarse calcite are abun-
dant. In some places sphalerite and galena are disseminated in dolomite and
limestone.

The ores are very spotty and irregular in occurrence and tenor. Fven in
the larger stopes the mineralization may change from high-grade to low-grade
within a few feet. Locally the combined zinc-lead content of the ore may be
20 percent or more, The over all tonnage as mined normally will average 5 to
7 percent in combined zinc and lead. Small quantities of silver and copper,
as well as a little gold and cadmium, may also be present in some of the ores.

8/ Lambly, C. A. R., Methods and Costs of Mining Zinc-Lead Ores at the Pend

~ Oreille Mines & Metals Co., Metaline Falls, Wash.: Bureau of Mines
Inf. Circ. 7152, March 1941, p. 3.

9/ Park, C. F., Jv., and Cennon, R. 8., dr., p. 50,

2936 -8-


R. I. 482

Mines engineers, with the cooperation of C, F. Park, Jr., and other members
of the Federal Geological Survey, investigated the district during 1942. As
a result of that investigation, an extensive program of diamond drilling was
recommended,

The Bureau of Mines drilling program was started January 15, 1943. Drill-
ing continued until August 6, 1945. The project was terminated September 8,
1945. Diamond core-drilling was conducted in seven areas, referred to as the
North Pend Oreille, West Bella May, Washington Rock, Josephine, South Josephine,
Slate Creek, and the Flume Creek areas.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Metaline project wes under the general supervision of P. E. Oscarson,
district engineer, Washington district office at Spokane, Wash.; W. B. Cole
was the project engineer. Samples were analyzed by the Metallurgical Division
laboratories at Reno, Nev., and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The valuable cooperation and assistance of the officials and staff of
the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co. and the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting
Co. are acknowledged gratefully.. These companies provided mich information
regarding the properties owned or operated by them.

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Metaline mining district is in the northern part of Pend Oreille
County in the northeastern corner of the State of Washington. Metaline Falls,
the principal mining center, is 108 miles north of Spokane by highway; it has
a population of abcut 900. The town of Metaline, with about 400 inhabitants,
is 2 miles southwest of Metaline Falls. The three operating mines are near
these two towns (fig. +).

State Highway 6, leading northward from Spokane via Newport, the county
seat, serves the Metaline district and connects with the Canadian Highway to
Trail end Nelson ‘in British Columbia. A network of county roads from this
highway leads to the various mines and prospects. The Auto Interurban Bus
Line maintains daily passenger and express service over Highway 6 between
Spokane and Metaline Falls, The Chicago, Milwenkee, St. Paul & Pacific Rail-
road provides freight service but no passenger sorvice over its branch line
between Spokane and MetaJine Falls.

The dominant topographic feature is the Pend Oreille River, which flows
northerly through the west-central part of the district and joins the Columbia
River in Caneda close to the United States-Canada border, The topography to
the east and weet of this river is moderate to rugged in relief, ranging in
altitudes between 2,000 and 5,500 feet. Some of the more distant mountain
peaks rise to altitudes es high as 7,300 feet.

Climatic conditions during the winter months are generally moderate, al-
though the temperature may occasionally drop to 20° below zero. The normal
annual snowfall around the towns and mines ranges from 18 to 30 inches but is
considerably more at higher altitudes. The other seasons are temperate. The
average annual precipitation during the past 8 years has been 28.85 inches.

2936 -4-


LEGEND

Pend Oreille Mine Workings

EE attne une
[Z| rasan ee

‘See Fig tor Section A—a’

VER

T

oureau _oF_wimes

METALINE DISTRICT

PEND OREILLE COUNTY, WASH

Figure

10. - Pend Oreille mine, South Josephine, and Flume Creek areas





Figure 2. - View showing Pend Oreille mill, No. | shaft, Josephine mine, and Pend Oreille River. Slate Creek
Canyon in center background.

¢ *®

4 = TD tgs

Figure 3. - View of the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co. The light-colored cliff behind buildings marks the
Yellowhead mine.




R. I. 4481
MINING

The Pend Oreille-Josephine mine is entered by a main vertical shaft 320
feet deep and a 1,500-foot adit known as the "500" level. The 1,000-foot
"zero" level adit and the old Josephine shaft, which is a 300-foot, 80° in+
cline, have not been in use for the past 8 years. The "500"-level adit in-
tersects the ore body below the "300" level; it is used as the main haulage
level for ore mined on the "300" level and above. Diamond drilling from the
surface proved the ore body to dip under the "500" level. The main 320-foot
vertical shaft, therefore, was sunk to meet this situation and be located as
near to the center of the ore body as then developed by drilling and still be
near the mill, Two levels, the "700" and "800", lead from this shaft. The
"800" level is the main heulage level. In extending the underground workings
into the area east of the Pend Oreille River, an incline was driven from the
end of the "800" level down to the "1,000" level, which is 100 feet below the
deepest bedrock surface in the river.

Mine development from these workings is by drifts and raises. The ore is
mined in open stopes by benching downward from the top of the ore body, The
broken ore is transferred to raises with mechanical scrapers .l0/ The drifts,
raises and stope workings stand very well without timbering. Low-grade or
barren material is left for pillars and for wall support. .Open stopes have
been mined 50 to 120 feet and more high, 50 to 100 fest wide, 100 to 300 feet
long. Such stopes have remained open for more than 10 years without any
sloughing from the backs or walls.

The Grandview mine, 1 mile northcast of the town of Metaline Falls, is
opened by a main adit 2,200 feet long and a 190-foot inclined shaft, The
underground development includes about 3,000 feet of laterals. Conditions
in the underground workings are similar to those in the Pend Oreille mine.
Similar methods of mining are employed.

The Bella May mine workings include those of the Blue Bucket at the east
and the Bella May at the west. The old Bella May mine was formerly entered by
two adits. The Blue Bucket mine was entered by.a shallow shaft. The old upper
workings now are inaccessible. Thegg two groups now are opened and worked from
a new lower adit, the 2,050 level. This adit is 6,375 feet long; it trends
westerly from its portal on the west bank of the Pend Oreille River, about
1/2 mile south of the town of Metalinc, and attains a maximum depth of 1,000
feet below the surface. Including the 1,905 level below this main adit and
the 2,179 level above it, the total accessible underground workings in the
Bella May property are more than 12,000 feet in length. Underground condi-
tions in general are similar to those at the Pend Oreille and Grandview mines.

MILLING AND SMELTING

Ore from the Pend Oreille-Josephine mine is treated in the company's
800-ton flotation plant. The ore is ground in closed circuit to 60-percent
minue 200-mesh. The average recovery isa. little, over 90 percent. The zinc
concentrates average 60 to 62 percent. zinc;. the lead concentrates average 70
to 80 percent lead. :
lo/ Lembly, C; A. R., Methods and Costs of Mining Zinc-Lcad Ores at the Pend

Oreille Mines & Metals Co..; Bureau of Mines Inf. Circ. 7152, March
1941, pp. 14.

2936 -9-



R. I. 4481

The operating mines and the principal known ore deposits are within 4
highly shattered fault block between the Flume Creek fault on the west and
the Slate Creek fault on the east. The vertical downward displacement of the
Flume Creek fault is at least 10,000 feet. This faulted block trends north-
east and ranges in width from 1-1/2 to 4-1/2 miles. Several periods of de-
formation have produced folding, overthrusting, and normal and reverse fault-
ing. The principal known ore-bearing horizon occurs within the upper 50. to
500 feet of the Metaline limestone formation. Drilling and other exploration
so far conducted indicate that this ore-bearing horizon in the upper Metaline
limestone in this faulted block is more than 4,500 feet wide in places and
extends northeasterly to Three Mile Creek, a distance of about 28,000 feet.
It may extend as far as Slate Creek and beyond.

Preceding the ore deposition, the upper part of the Metaline limestone
formation was dolomitized, This dolomitization was very irregular; it does
not conform to the bedding.. Ore deposition was accompanied by hydrothermal
solutions that altered the limestone and dolomite to jasperoid. In general,
the ores replaced jasperoid rather than dolomite; they were deposited mainly
in the brecciated zones and thé less strongly developed fissures.

The mineralized bodies are irregular in form and differ greatly in size.
Usually they cross the bedding. In the Pend Oreille mine area and to the
east and northeast, the dip of the principal ore-bearing horizon averages
10° to 20° northeast but varies locally. The thickness of the ore bodies
ranges from a few feet to 200 feet and more. Because of minor faults, the
thickness may differ greatly within a few feet horizontally. Open stopes,
by benching downward from the top of the ore body, have been mined 50 to
120 feet and more in height, 50 to 100 feet in width, and 100 to 300 feet in
length without timber support. Such stopes have remained open for more than
10 years without subsidence or sloughing from the back and walls. Low-grade
or barren material is left for pillars. :

The zinc-lead ores are siliceous and generally massive but in some places
may be vuggy and porous. The predominating economic mineral is sphalerite.
Galena is most abundant; it may predominate locally. Pyrite, marcasite,
smithsonite, and cerrusite are present in small amounts. Small quantities
of silver, copper, and a little gold and cadmium may be present in some of
the ores, Locally, the combined zinc-lead content may be 20 percent or more,
The over-all tonnage, as mined, has averaged between 5 and 7 percent in com-
bined zinc and lead.

INTRODUCTION

The Metaline mining district in Pend Oreille County, Wash., is an im-
portant producer of zinc and lead concentrates from relatively low-grade
replacement-type ore. The geology and the. ore deposits of the Metaline
Quadrangle have been described by Park and. Cannon.3/ Their description is
based upon extensive field work in the Metaline district before 1941, Because
of the exceptionally large wartime requirements of zinc and lead, Bureau of

3/ Park, C. F,, dr., and Cannon, R. S., Jr., Geology and Ore Deposits of
. the Metaline Quadrangle, Wash.: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 202,
1943, p. 78.

2936 -3-


R43 € 7

1 "LEGEND

}
w+ none oF wines ome noues |

—-—- PEND OREILLE MINES @ METALS PROPERTY BOUNDARIES (APPROXIMATE)

‘GRANDVIEW MINES PROPERTY BOUNDARIES (APPROXIMATE)

woe - SELLA MAY MINE PROPERTY BOUNDARIES (APPROXIMATE) — - | -~ -
‘ AR unveReRoUND MINE WORKINGS. ,
34 35g : g|36
: q 3
: sso00 US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF MINES
: METALINE DISTRICT
Ras 0 UT
ww SCALE-FEET Pend Orete County, Ween
E FILE NO.

Figure 6. - General map showing location of Bureau of Mines drill holes and the principal mine workings.


R. |. 4481 June 1949

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
J. A. Kruc, Secretary

BUREAU OF MINES
James Boyp, Director

REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS

DIAMOND DRILLING IN THE METALINE DISTRICT
PEND OREILLE COUNTY, WASH.

BY

N. L. WIMMLER AND W. B. COLE






{EE VES-MACDONALD

Group

z

WES

R43E. BOUNDARY
j
12
z
2
5!
Zi
6 7 z
z fo 3
z :
=
=
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1p an: € 3 3 .

MINE

fANDVIEW

24

IMETALINE
FALLS
27

25

a,

36

pele Fa
fe Be
88
v 23 SCALEINMILES
BSI & cc os |
EY ai i
E
[-® Areas drilled by the Bureau of Mines,

@ North Pend Oreille.
@) Washington Rock.

@) Josephine mine.(Underground)

@®) South Josephine.

Figure 4, - Index map of the Metaline mining district, Pend Oreille
County, Wash.


OR. I, 4h81

TABLE 4, - Pertinent data on Bureau of Mines drill holes _ Metaline District, Pend Oreille County, Wash., cont'd,

Ore and mineralized

r

Consol dated, data

Altitude | Length of hole | Weighted assay,
collar as drilled, j, sections as drilled, Assay, pencgrt | Thickness as ~ percent
Hole no, of hole feet i Interval | Thickness Poof jarilled, feet Pb Zn
North Pend Oreille area cont'd, H
BM. 35......66] 2341.67 1381.0 1264-1266 2.0 0.20 4.90 | 2.0 0.20 4.90
BUM. 36.....0.4 | 2364.65 933.0 No mineralization
BwM. 37...2004-| 2513.06 1789.0 No mineralizati on
B.M. 38........] 2513.57 1547.1 1419,8-1422 2,2 0.20 1.50
West Bella May area ' |
BoM. Lisseeeeee | 3049.2 | 390.0 200-205 5.07 G.10_| 1.96 5.0 0.10 1.90
205-210 ; 5.0) «| 5.50 | 0.60
210-2. ! 5.0.1. 8.40 0.90 1¢.0 6.95 0.75
| 215-220 | 5.0 0.10 0.40
1 1
BUM. 5.eceeeeee | 3049.2 530.0 182-153 | 1.0 75.90 0.40 | 1.0 75.90 0.40
BM. 7e..eeee+. | 3240.22 543.65 | 2.0 | 0.10 | 1.50
| 2 1.80 | 0.60! 1.2 1.31 0.85
i 6.8 7 0.30 | 9.10 |
22 | 0.10 | (0,10
- | 3.0 | 8.10 } 1.60}
. | 2.2 | 4.00 | 2.10 | £0 6.58 Lda
| 2.6 | 0.10 | L.2l0 | | :
BoM. B..ceeeee6 | 2995.7 176.0 No mineralization | | |
BM. Olvis. e020 | 290552 “eT | No minerelization |

2936

- 22







LEGEND

auLuvIUM

METALINE LIMESTONE

XK
7
q
LEDBETTER SLATE : Sesye
FAULTS METALINE Ceuta oF tat renee
FALLS Pf
ScaLe WA TOWNSITE —a

METALINE DISTRICT

PEND OREILLE COUNTY, WASH.

File No.

A:=

Figure 9. - Washington Rock area.




R. I. 4482.

Drilling Fquipment and Procedure

All drilling was done under contract .by J, L. Havlick, diamond core-drill
contractor of Spokane, Wash., under Bureau of Mines supervision.

A Sullivan @2HD-E screw feed drill was used for drilling the deeper holes
and a Boyles Bros, BBS-1F screw feed drill for shallower holes. Drilling
through overburden was accomplished with the diamond drill rig by churn drill-
ing and standpiping with 3-inch or 6-inch. standard weli casing. ‘The size of
hole and casing was governed by the depth of overburden to be penetrated,
Nearly 92 percent of all drilling in rock was of FX size. Larger bit sizes
were used only for relatively short distances below bedrock in badly fractured
rock. EX plug bits with a small central opening were used in drilling in the
Ledbetter slate; their use in this formation greatly increased the speed of
drilling and lowered the cost, These plug bits, with a special adapter in
the EX core barrel, provided pencil cores 3/16 or 5/16 inch in diameter, In
addition to pencil cores, regular-size FX cores elso were taken in @- to 5-foot
sections at each 100- or 200-foot interval.

Double-tube ball-bearing core barrels were used for all core drilling.
All bits were set with bortz. Over 90 percent of the drill bits were hand
set; other bits were of the cast type.

A summary of this drilling follows:

Size or type
BX hole........06
AX hole....ceeseeee
EX standard and plug-bit drilling.......
Standpipe drilling....

++ 2,102.25

Footage reamed...... 3,166.07
Footage cased......... 3,357.49
Footage cemented. 351.16

The average contract cost of all drilling was $4.75 a foot. This in-
cluded the cost of standpiping through overburden, all drilling, reaming,
casing, and cementing. Also included was payment for the use of the drill
and for drilling time lost to the contractor while the holes were surveyed.

Sampling

Core recovery from ore and mineralized sections generally ranged from 90
to 100 percent, except where badly fractured or when solid sulfides or porous
or vugsy ores were encountered. Sludges were recovered, also, from most of
the ore and mineralized sections, When the core recovery in the ore sections
was less. than 90 percent and sludge recoveries were dependable, the assays of
the core and sludge were adjusted according to the Longyear forma,

4,076 core and sludge samples were taken for assay. These samples were

assayed in the laboratories of the Bureau of Mines at Reno, Nev., and at
Salt Lake City, Utah.

2936 -12-


R. I. 4481

not known whether the Ledbetter slate would maintain its normal northerly dip
in the area north of Three Mile Creek. The distance: from Three Mile Creek to
Slate Creek is about 14,000 feet. Detailed: surveys and geological studies
were made in that area by the Feileral Geological Survey. As a result drilling
a deep hole at the site designated was recommended.

Hole 26 therefore was drilled in the gorge of Slate Creek at an altitude
of 2,340 feet. The location selected was several hundred: feet: downstream
from the bridge on Highway 6, in the NE 1/4 of sec. 36, T. 40ON., R. 43 E.,
on the No, 80 lode mining claim of the Pend Oreille Mines.& Metals Co, This
hole was drilled to a depth of 2,050 feet, the limit of the equipment. Except
for 10 feet of overburden, the hole was entirely in the Ledbetter slate form-
ation. . Some thin beds of quartzite’ were interstratified with the’ slates,

Above the 1,100-foot mark, the only core that showed bedding was obtained
at 302 feet; at thia point the bedding dipped 17-: -1/20,: Below the 1,100-foot
depth, the dip ranged from 74° to-79°,. This was interpreted to mean folding
or faulting. The survey of this hole showed a deflection of 8° from the ver-
tical in the upper portion to 16-1/2° at the bottom. The total horizontal
deflection from the vertical was 295 feet. .

Hole 26 was the longest drilled in the district by the Bureau of Mines
and was also the deepest penetration in the Ledbetter slate formation. The
depth at which the Metaline limestone contact could be reached at this point
remains unknown,

Flume Creek Area

The Flume Creek fault, according to Park and camon ,22/ has a known ver-
tical displacement of at least 10,000 feet. Although its attitude is not
accurately known, its comparatively straight trace indicated the dip as prob-
ably being steep or vertical. Most of the area west of this fault within the
Flume Creek-Russian Creek fault block is underlain by the Maitlen phyllite
and the Gypsy quartzite formations. Some of the upper part of the underlying
Monk formation is exposed along the Flume Creek fault.

An area along Flume Creek between the Flume Creek fault and the exposed
Metaline limestone to the east, southwest of the Sullivan outcrop, was con-
sidered to be one of the most favorable areas in which to explore for the
western and southern extensions of the Metaline ore horizon, It also was
considered to be a favorable area in which to obtain structural data on the
Flume Creck fault. The Bureau of Mines therefore drilled three holes, Nos,
43, 4, and 45, in this area. The locations of these holes and other data
are shown in figures 10 and ll.

Hole 43 was drilled through 231 feet of overburden, then through 19 feet
of slightly fractured Gypsy quartzite that contained some scattered sparse
mineralization of pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and molybdenite. The hole
then passed through 16 feet of unmineralized quartzite and then 208 feet of
phyllitic schist containing some thin beds of quartzite. Considerable

li/ Park, Cc. F., dr., and Cannon, R. S., dr., op, cit., p. 28.

2936 -17 -


R. I, 4481

specular hematite is present in the schist. From a depth of 474 feet down
to the bottom of the hole at 608 feet, the formation was mainly quartzite.
Bedding planes crossed in the lower part of this hole showed a dip of 45°,

Hole 44, after going through 361 feet of overburden, 34 fect of schist,
and 37.75 feet of quartzite, was stopped at a depth of 432,75 feet. No min-
eralization was found,

Hole 45 was drilled through overburden to a depth of 330 feet. The Pend
Oreille Mines & Metals Co. continued this hole and reached bedrock at 331.5
feet. From 331.5 to 411 feot, the drill was in an unmineralized chert-lime
fault breccia; from 411 to 503 feet, in unmineralized fault breccia of dolo-
mite cemented with lime. From 503 to 511 feet, the drill went through 8 feet
of tough black fault gouge. From there to the bottom of the hole, at 526 feet,
the drill was in an ummineralized schistose quartzite. This quartzite is con-
sidered to be on the footwall side of the Flume Creek fault.

The drilling in the Flume Creek area indicates the relative positions of
the foot and hanging walls of the Flume Creek fault. It also indicates that
the fault dips to the east at an angle somewhere between 40° and 70°. To
establish the possibilities of an ore horizon in the Metaline limestone on
the hanging-wall side of the fault, additional drilling east of the fault
will be required. Such drilling, if continued deep enough to cut the. Plume
Creek fault also, should provide information that would determine the atti-
tude of the fault more definitely, Figure 11 is a cross section looking north
along Flume Creek and the Flume Creek fault.

PERTINENT DATA ON BUREAU OF MINES DRILL HOLES AND ANALYSES
Table 4, which follows, provides additional pertinent data on all of the

holes drilled by the Bureau of Mines in the various areas in the Metaline
district.

2936 -~ 18 -




R. I. hkl

ILLUSTRATIONS (Cont'd. )

Following
Fig. . page _
2, View looking north showing Pend Oreille mill, No, 1 shaft
Josephine mine, and the Pend Oreille River. Slate Creek
canyon in right background......ccece cere cece csereecceenes 2
3. View of the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co, The light col-
ored cliff behind buildings marks the Yellowhead mine..... 2
Ky Index M8peccsecsese cece es see ese ceecetensecscecesenes tee 4

ete ceneceee 4

5. Geological map of part of district.........5
6. General map showing location of Bureau of Mines drill holes

and-the principal mine workingS.......cceseseceeeesenceees an
7. Graphie-drill.hole.logs.with assays - North Pend Oreille

BLCA ces ee eee cer ere renee enon eee ee sree ee pereeseeessseenes 14h

8. Graphic drill hole.logs vith.assays - West Bella May area, 1s
9. Washington.Rock area.....cc cece eee beeen e ese wy
10, Pend Oreille.mine,.Sonth Josephine, and Flume Creek areas... uy

ll. Flume Creek areca cross-section. .c.ccces esp cecceeccceeccecece 16
- SUMMARY

The Metaline mining. district was, examined in 1942 by Bureau of Mines
engineers with .the cooperation of geologists of the Federal Geological Survey.
Because the demands of. war production were rapidly depleting reserves in some
of the older zinc-lead producing districts of the United States, it was de-
cided that an attempt. should be. made to increase tho proved or indicated ore
reserves of the Metaline district. . With this objective, certain areas to be
explored by.,diamond drilling were selected. ‘The Bureau of Mines began work
on this program January..15, 1943; work terminated September 8, 1945. Forty-
five holes were drilled.in seven areas. The holes ranged from 154 feet to
2,050 feet in length. . Their combined length was 38,150 feet. Thirty-three
of the holes were drilled in the North Pend Oreille and the West Bella May
areas,

The Metaline mining district.is an important producer of zinc and lead
concentrates from relatively low-grade replacement-type ores in the Metaline
limestone formation, The first recorded production from the district was a
small shipment of high-grade lead ore in 1906, In 1915, 3,111 tons of ore
valued at $8.76 a ton was shipped from the Clark property, later the Pend
Oreille Mines & Metals Co. mine. Some years later the Grandview mine and
the Metaline, or Bella May, mine were developed. Both of these mines are
now operated by the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co. Fram 1906 to 19hh,
inclusive, the Metaline district produced 2,560,331 tons of ore that yielded
206,956,618 pounds of zine and 72,970,556 pounds of lead, The three mines
mentioned have. accounted for, virtually all this production. The Pend Oreille
Mines & Metals Co. selective flotation mill at its Josephine mine has a daily
capacity of 800 tons; the American Ziné, Lead & Smelting Co. has a 500-ton:
flotation mill at the Grandview mince. High-grade zinc and lead concentrates
are produced; they are shipped to East St. Louis, Ill., for smelting. Freight
to East St. Louis is $10.50 a ton.

2936 -2-


R. I. 4481
TABLE 4, - Pertinent data on Bureau of Minesdrill holes Metaline District, Pend Oreille County, Wash., cont'd,

Consolidated fata

Altitude | Length of hole Ore and mineralized Weighted assay,

collar as drilled, sections as drilled, Assay, percent | Thiclmess as ercent .
Hole no, of hole feet . Interval Thickness Po} Zn | drilled, feet Pb Zn
1

Josephine mine, underground

BM. 2h.......] 2025.0 1361.0 g-1h 5.0 0.10 4.30
1y-15 1.0 0.10 | 21.90 16.0 0.10 10.07
15-20 5.0 0.10 | 20.20
20-25 5.0 0.10 3.35 1
1007-1012 5.0 0.20 2.80

South Josephine area

BM. 39...60.6| 2546.1 198.0 No mineralization |
BM. 40....... | 2538.73 154.0 No mineralization '
BM. 41.......| 2536.68 229.0 No mineralization |

BM. 42.......| 2539.87 164.0 No mineralization |

Slate Creek area

BM. 26. oe 2340.0 2050 No mineralization - All in slate.

Flume Creek area '

BM. 43....... | 2h61.47 608.0 ; 231-250 Sparse mineralization in Gypsy quartzite.
BM. 4h....... | 2622.65 432.75 H No mineralizetion

\a
ie)
ion
°

B.M. 45....... | 2398.56

No mineralization L i
n

2936 - 25 -


R. I. 4481

TABLE 4. - Pertinent data on Bureau of Mines drill holes Metaline District, Pend Oreille County, Wash., cont'd.

i Consolidated data
Altitude |Length of hole Ore and mineralized . Weighted aseay,
; collar as drilled, sections ag drilled, Assay, percent | Thickness as percent
Hole no. of hole | feet interval T Thickness Pb Zn_ | drilled, feet Pb Zn
West Bella May area, cont'd. I
BM, 11....... | 3098.8 692.17 527-530 3.0 0.10 0.10
BM. 12....... | 3027.3: 200.0 468,6-470 Ly 3.40 4.90
470-475 5.0 2,80 7.80
480,5-484 3.5 8.80 T4O 21.4 3.21 4.30
4845-490 5-5. 3.50 3.70
493-49h.6 1.6 0.50 | 0.60 :
501. 2-504 2.8 0.60 7.16 11.0 0.20 1.86
BM. Uh...ese6 | 3000.09 742.17 No mineralization —
3164.2 916.0 666-668 2.0 0.30 | 0.10
672. 7-674 1.3 5.40 4,10 1.3 5.40 4,10
BM. 17...... .. | 3126.0 676.15 558-560 2.0 1.60 ; 2.10" .
560-565 5.0 0.10 ; 2.50 12.¢ 0.35 2.01
565-570 5.0 {| 0.10 1.50
570-572 2.0 | 1.40 6.20
72-575. j___ 3.0 0,10 2,60 5.0 0.62 4 Ok
| | 575-979 ~~ «| 4.0 [0.50 10.70
BM. 18.....-. | 2952.4 | 251.0 143-148.5 | 565 7.30 | 0.20 5.5 17230 0.20
| | 159-16h | 5.0 0.10 0.20 .
. | 4 164-168 | hkco 3.90 | 0.60 9.0 1.78 0.38
BM. 27. ..000- 3222.6 | 586.0 jBh 5-437 2.5 o.4o | 2.80 |
438.7 -439.8 es “0.40 2.00 | 5.3 | 0.27 1.52
| ~450.5-258.5 4.0 [0-30 3.50 | EO 0.30 3.50
i E57. 5-462 h5 | 0.30 2.60 |
| 462-465 3.0; 0.20 | 0.70 5 0.26 | 1,84

2936 - 23 -


R. I. 4481

Fir, spruce, white pine, cedar, lodgepole pine, and various other trees
abound in the nearby forest areas. These provide an abundant supply of timber
and lumber for mining and building purposes.

POWER

Power is generated in the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co.'s 2,250 kilo-
watts hydro-electric plant on the Pend Oreille River at Metaline Falls, Foun-
dations for an additional installation of a 2,000- horsepower water wheel and
@ 2,250-kilowatt generator were laid when this plant was originally construc-
ted. This plant operates under a variable low head ranging from 26 to 18 feet,
according to the river level; it normally generates about 1,780 kilowatts.

The American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co. obtains some power from the Pend Oreille
Mines & Metals Co, plant, but when additional power is required it also oper-
ates a 720-kilowatt generator plant driven by two Diesel engines. The Lehigh
Portland Cement Co. utilizes the water from Sullivan Lake and Creek to gen-
erate power in its hydroelectric plant at Metaline Falls. This plant also
provides electricity to the local power and light company. The War Department,
U. S. Army Engineers, has camploted plans and foundation drilling for the con-
templated Boundary dam and hydroelectric plant on the Pend Oreille River near
the United States-Canadian border, 11 miles downstream (north) from Metaline
Falls. This project later was abandoned because of threatened damage to the
mines by flooding with water-back of the dam, Bonneville Power Administra-
tion in 1948 made power from Grand Coulee: dam available to the district.

LABOR AND LIVING CONDITIONS

Adequate labor was. available before the war, At that time the wage
scale for the district was based upon the price of. prime western zinc at East
St. Louis, Ill, The hourly rates differed according to-eight classes of labor.
All the mines now operate under a closed-shop agreement with a union affili-
ated with the C. I. 0, With the approval of the NLRB, wages no longer are
based wpon changing. metal prices. The present average wage scale (1948) for
an 8-hour shift is $11.65 for miners, $12.40 for timbermen, and $11.15 for
muckers. A serious shortage of manpower developed during the war, but good
workers are again becoming available.

Living and housing facilities at Metaline Falls and Meteline have been
adequate for past operations, but additional. facilities will be required in
the future. Plans are under way to mect this situation. Board and room for
mine employees have. been made available at Metaline Falls at $47.50 to $55
@ month, .

HISTORY AND PRODUCTION

According to Mineral Resources ,t/ deposits of lead ore were known in the
Metaline district as early as 1869. Apparently some attempt at mining was
made about 1886. Prior to 1906 the district was, however, accessible only
by river and wagon road. It was not until the railroad branch was completed
to Metaline Falls that the region entered a new era of development end ex-
ploitation of -its mineral and timber resources. The suctessful growth and
the mining development of the district is due largely to the efforts of
i/ U.S. Geol. Survey, Mineral Resources, 1906, p. 451.

2936 -5-


R. I. 4482

The, most extensive and produ Ave of the known ore deposits in the
Metaline district are those in’ th upper part of the Metaline limestone. The
Metaline limestone formation’ is middle Cambrian age; it-has a maximum
thickness of 3,000 feet. It is overlain by the Ordovician Ledbetter slates,
which are as much as 2,500 feet thick. These formations form most of the
valley floor of the Pend Oreille River’ and:some of the lower hills and lower
parts of the valley walls ‘in this area, The Maitlen phyllite and the Gypsy
quartzite. formations beneath the Metaliné limestone are exposed in valley
walls at distances up to a mile and more to the east and west of the river.
Sand and gravel terraces occur irregularly ‘along the debris-covered slopes:
up to altitudes of about 2,600 feet. Sand and gravel overburden covers much
of the rock formation in the valley to depths of 10 to 250 fcet (fig. 5).

The operating mines and the principal mown ore deposits are within a
highly shattered fault block lying between the Flume Creek fault on the west
and the Slate Creek fault on the east. The vertical downward displacement of
the Flume Creek fault is at least 10,000 feet. This faulted block -trends
northeast and ranges from 1-1/2 to 4- 21/2 miles in width, Several periods of
deformation have produced folding, overthrusting, and normal and reverse
faulting. The principal kmown ore-bearing horizon is in the upper:50 to.500
feet of the Metaline limestone formation. -Drilling and other exploration so
far conducted indicate that this ore-bearing horizon within this faulted block
is more than 4,500 feet wide in places and extends northeasterly to Three Mile
Creek; a distance of about 28,000 feet. Jt may extend as far as Slate Creek
and beyond, “ a ~

The upper 500 feet of the Métaline limestone formation is composed largely
of mottled, dense, gray, magnesium limestone containing chert nodules; it is
underlain by a fine-grained cream-colored dolomite with alternating layers of
white and black dolomite. The Metaline limestone was dolomitized regionally
before ore deposition, This dolomitization was very irregular in the upper
part, where, generally, it does not conform with the bedding. Ore deposition
was accompanied by hydrothermal solutions “that altered the limestone and dole-
mite to jasperoid, In general, the ores replace jasperoid rather than dolo-
mite and were deposited mainly in the brecciated zones and lesser breaks.

Other than a few minor exceptions, no ore has been found along the major faults,

One important ore body, known as the Yellowhead, is in an environment
that differs materially from that described. This ore body is in a fault
block that has been vpthrust with relation to thé principal ore-bearing fault
block mentioned. Its stratigraphic position in the Mctaline limestone forma-
tion has not been determined definitely but is believed to be about 800 feet
below the contact of the Metaline dmestone with the overlying Ledbetter

_ Slate formation.

The strike of the favorable beds in the principal ore-beart ng horizon
differs from place to place, ,.The mineralized bodies are irregular in form
and differ greatly in’size.. They usually cross the bedding, . although some
follow the bedding in a‘general way. In-the Pend Oreille mine area and to
the east and northeast the dip of this ore-bearing horizon averages. between
10 to 12 northeast, but.locally may.bé flat. ‘The ore bodies range in thick-
ness from a few feet to 200 feet and more. One stope now being mined in the

2936 -T.


R. I. 4461,
June 1949,

REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR - BUREAU OF MINES

DIAMOND DRILLING IN THE METALINE DISTRICT PEND OREILLE COUNTY, wasH,2/

By N. L. Wimmler2/ and w..B. Cole2/

_, CONTENTS ,
Page
SUMMALY.. cece ee eeee 2
Introduction,. 3
Acknowledgments.... Veeeeeeeencees »~ 4
Physical features and communications........ 4
POWED wee cece roeeee 5
Labor and living conditions 5
History and production... . 5
Geology and ore deposits. » 6
Description of the ores..... 8
Mining. ..eceeeceececerseeees 9
Milling and smelting....., 9
Cost of production.......... 10.
Work by the Bureau of Mines.... reese Ll
Drilling equipment and procedure... seecee 12
Sampling... ..seceeeeeee ooseese. 12
Surveying of drill holes, seee 13
Areas drilled......... see eeee 13
North Pend Oreille area... 13
West Bella May. 14
Washington Rock... ans
South Josephine,..... 15
Josephine Mine.... » 15
Slate Creek.......45 - 16

Flume Creek. ccc cc cee s ec ee cer erecectvesecscveevesecceoes: 17
Pertinent data on Bureau of Mines drill holes and analyses... 18
TLLUSTRATIONS
Following
Fig. page

1. Looking south from Grandview mine showing Pend Oreille power
plant, Metaline Falls on the Pend Oreille River, the town
of Metaline Falls, and the Metaline (Bella May) mine in
the distant center.....-sseseeeee

eee ee eee eee eee eee 2

i/ The Bureau of Mines will welcome reprinting of this paper, provided the
following footnote acknowledgment is made: "Reprinted from Bureau. of
Mines Report of Investigations 4481."

2/ Mining engineer, Bureau of Mines, Mining Division, Albany Branch.

2936






A Century of Conservation






R. I. 4y81

TABLE 4, - Pertinent data on Bureau of Mines drill holes Metaline District, Pend Oreille County, Wash., cont'd.

Consolidated data

Altitude | Length of hcle Ore and mineralized Weighted assay,
. collar as: driiled, sections as drilled, Assay, percent | Thickness as ercent
Hole no. , of hole feet Interval Thickness Pb Zn | drilled, feet Pb Zn
North Pend Oreille area, cont'd, _ | io
B.M. 19 (cont'd.) 1311-1316 5.0 0.10 0.95 |
1326-1330 4.0 0.10 1.15 | {
1330-1335.9 5.9 0.10 0.75
he.k-Ighk.2 1.8 o.10 | 1.35 62.0 0.05 | 0.52
1345-1348.8 3.8 0.10 Q.75 j
1350-1355 5.0 | 0.10 0.30
1355-1358 3.0 | 0.10 0.50
1363-1368 5.0 1 0.10 | 0.75
1368-1373 __ 5.0 | 0,10 1.20 | .
(1433-1438 5.0 [0.10 0.15 t
1495-1496 1.0 | 0.10 0.40 |
. 1520-1525 5.0 | 0.10 } 0.20
BoM. 23..-.0c06| Q141.19 1493.0 1164-1167 3.0 0.15 0.80 I
{1171-1176 5.0 0.50 1.30 “| :
| 1179-1181 2.0 2.40 1.10 17.0 0.50 | 0.80
j; 1186-1188 2.0 0.50 2.25
BM. 25....0008 2h09.5 1230,0 1003-1005 2.0 | 5.10 | 1.40
| 1012,5-1014 1.5 [33.20 0.20
1018-1019 1:0 133.80 0.20 2236 | 3039 0,32
102h,3-1025.6 1.3 21.40 3.00 i
BLM. 33..+005 2348.37 1597.83 1493-1496 3.0 ~0.20 | 1.50 3.0 i 0.10 1,50
1502, 6-1505 2.4 0.30 0.50 1
1505-1510 5.0 0.30 0.40 12.0 0.30 0.40
1510-1513.6 3.6 0.30 0.30
1517-1518.2 120 0.30 0.60
2936 -e2l-


60 650-144

646-590-092

20 030-010

—

ee
re
——eef
se" ss09
peso ss0e
e300" sues
atuadeot 2172 inet __tseo_
sere
Te
et
[ssoe al 20 suse
15 i
LEGEND
09 108 F] overburden
prc0o / ee
Metotine Limestone
18'= 900-020
2109 Dolomite
\ | 107 040.300
\ + 015-500 Siiceous Zone not mineralized
000 ‘ = 020-170 2100
64 010-052 ae 480-040 . = 030-350 ‘hese Zane- minerolized minut 5% PO ond 20
NN
7-926 104 100

Ore Plus 5% Pb ane 20

‘Sections on plane of drift of hole,unless otherwise noted

SCALE wo

dureau of Mines

METALINE DISTRICT

PEND OREILLE COUNTY, WASH

[eee erie wo |

Figure

8. - Graphic drill

hole logs with assays - West Bella May area.


SPI

hse

ig,
fi Nii
MiiDiys
so
yp =

RN

tre

Section along line B-B

Mop scale

ral 200 teat

Sections scale

Figure 5. - Geologic map and sections of part of
quadrangle.



R. I. AMSL

L. P. Larsen. Larsen first became interested in the district in 1906, when
he acquired control of what was then kmown as the Clark property. Larsen
and his associates repeatedly tried to develop ore and construct plants capa-
ble of handling the low-grade zinc-lead ores profitably. It was, not until
1928-29 however, that, as a result of diamond core drilling, a considerable
body of minable ore was found on the property of the Pend Oreille Mines &
Metals Co, From then on development was rapid, and the limite of the known
ore deposits have been greatly extended.3,

The first recorded production of ore from the district was in 1906, when
a small. shipment wes made, This shipment contained 73.1 percent lead, 2 per-
cent zinc, and 1.1 ounces silver per ton. Production was negligible however,
until 1915, when 3,111 tons valued at.$8.76 a ton were shipped from the Pend
Oreille mine (Clark property). Production has been made yearly since 1915,
except in 1920, 1921, 1928, and 1935. During the early period of mining, the
principal product was lead, but in recent years zinc has been the metal of
predominant economic importance to the district.

The approximate total metal production of the Metaline district to Jenu-
ary 1, 1945, es campiled by the Mineral Resources Branch of the U. S, Bureau
of Mines, and from the recent records of the producing companies, is given
in the following table.

TABLE 1

Year Tons of ore | Zinc, lb, | Lead, 1b,

1906-1936, incl. ....eseeeee 297,138 | 39,914,450 ; 11,202,397

> incl... 887,765 | 74,375,158 | 25,314,201

1941-1943, incl. ........... | 1,069,912 | 74,226,000 | 25,899,958
iol-dan, 1, 195.00... H

sees 305,516 | 18,471,000 | 10,555,000
I incl. teceseseees | 25500, 45], 200,980,018 a4 °70,550

Three mines have accounted for most of this production, These are the
Pend Oreille mine, owned and operated by the Pend Oreille Mines & Metals Co.;
the Grandv mine, owned by the Grandview Mining Co., and operated since 19ho
by the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co.; and the Bella May, also Imown as
the Metaline mine, of the Metaline Mining & Leasing Co., operated since 1936
by the American Zinc, Lead & Smelting Co. ‘The tyvo companies above mentioned
are the only companies now producing in the district; cach operates its own
flotation plant. In the past, small shipments of ore have been made from
the Oriole, Z, Canyon, Lead Hill, Lead King, Iucky Strike, Cliff, Diamond R.,
end a few other claims,

GEOLOGY AND ORF DEPOSITS

“The geology of the ore deposits of the Mctaline Quadrangle has been mapped
and recorded by members of the Federal Geological Survey, particularly by Park
and Cannon, 7/ The following general resume has been compiled mainly from their
report, The reader is referred to that report for details. ©

5/ Park, C. F., dy., and Cannon, R. S., dr., op. cit., p. 43.
6/ U.S, Geol. Survey, Mineral Resources, 1906, p. 451.
7/ Park, C. F., dt,, and Cannon, RB. S., Jr., op. cit.

2936 -6-