The mountains of Washington State contain gold ore.
Metaline Falls is in the far northeast corner of Washington State in Pend Oreille County. This small mountain village has played an important role in several industries, such as logging and homesteading, and remains a part of the nation's gold-producing regions.
Commercial Mines
Metaline Contact Mines began developing mines in the Metaline Falls area in 1928, with a focus on gold, zinc and lead. In 1960, additional acquisitions increased Metaline Contact Mines' mineral rights to 8,200 acres. Gold has been mined from this property for many years, and in July 2010, a drilling sample revealed a promising new vein of gold at the Golden Chest location; further exploration is sure to follow.
Recreational Prospecting
Individuals can hunt for gold in Washington's many fruitful placer deposits, which are loose accumulations of dense mineral deposits found in "trap zones" like creek beds or the inside bends of a river. Sullivan Creek, which is north of Metaline Falls, and the Pend Oreille River are prime gold-hunting locations. Specific locations of gold-rich placer deposits in the Metaline Falls area include Brown's Lake Placers, on Brown's Lake; Harvey Bar Placer and Schierding Placer, both on the Bend Oreille River; Schultz Placer; and Sullivan Creek Placer, on Sullivan Creek, where lucky prospectors have found gold nuggets weighing up to 2 oz.
History
Metaline Falls' "gold rush" occurred in 1850, before the town was even truly settled, when gold was discovered in the northern section of Pend Oreille County. Miners who missed out on the California gold rush flocked to the settlements of what would become Metaline Falls to sift through the loose placer deposits for gold nuggets. Gold mining eventually took a backseat to lead and zinc mining, but Metaline Falls remains a popular destination for prospectors looking for a lucky break.
Tags: Metaline Falls, Pend Oreille, placer deposits, Sullivan Creek, Brown Lake
