Washington’s first gold discovery was in 1853. After the closure of the last gold mine in 2017, there is no commercial gold mining in the state; read about these and other facts and figures about gold mining in WA.
Contents
- Is there Gold in Washington?
- Where is Gold in Washington?
- What is the History of Gold Mining in Washington?
- How much Gold has been Mined in Washington?
- What is the Current State of Gold Mining in Washington?
- How many Gold Reserves are in Washington?
- What Companies Mine Gold in Washington?
- Where are New Gold Mines Explored or Developed in Washington?
- Is it Legal to Mine Gold in Washington?
- Where Can I Pan for Gold in Washington?
- Is There Gold in Other US States?
Is there Gold in Washington?
Yes, there is gold in Washington, but no active commercial gold mining industry anymore:
- Commercial mining since the middle of the 19th century for nearly 150 years, with the North Cascade Range and the Okanogan geological province the most active areas.
- Contributed to US gold production till 2017, when the last mine, the underground Kettle River-Buckhorn Mine closed after 10 years of operation.
- In 1965, Washington had the 11th highest output of gold ever produced in the USA. (The states with the biggest production were California, Colorado and South Dakota)
- In the 20th century, the year with the highest gold production was 2010. Here, 6.1 tonnes were produced.
- Around 3,500 historic gold sites in Washington are listed by the US geological Survey, this includes the Blewett Camp and the Cannon Gold Mine.
- Several gold projects in Washington that might develop into gold mines
Key Takeaways:
| Fact | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Remember | Commercial gold mining ceased in 2017 with the closure of the last mine |
| Gold Deposits | Yes |
| Discovery Year | 1853 |
| Discoverer | Capt. George McCelland |
| Mining Industry | Not active |
| Last Gold Mine | Kettle River-Buckhorn Mine (closed in 2017) |
| Mining Companies | Last gold mine owned by Kinross |
| Panning Locations | Cle Elum River (Kittas Valley), Republic and Okanangan Areas and Swauk Creek near Cle Elum |
Check out the video about exploring an abandoned gold mine in Washington State:
Where is Gold in Washington?
Gold in Washington is found in several areas, primarily in the mountainous regions where geological conditions have been favorable for gold deposits (see map of gold deposits in Washington).
Key locations include:
- Northeastern Washington State: This area, particularly in counties like Stevens, Ferry, and Okanogan, has been a significant gold-producing region. The Republic mining district in Ferry County, for example, is one of the largest and oldest gold districts in Washington, with the town of Republic serving as a hub for miners.
- Columbia River Basin: Placer gold deposits have been found in the sand and gravel bars of the Columbia River and its tributaries. Gold panning in these areas can sometimes yield small amounts of gold.
- The Cascades: The areas on both the eastern and western sides of the Cascade Range have yielded gold. The Wenatchee District on the eastern side and areas near Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier on the western side have historic gold mines and prospects.
- Southwestern Washington: Although not as prolific as the northeastern part of the state, the area around Lewis and Cowlitz counties has some history of gold prospecting, particularly in the rivers and creeks flowing off the western slopes of the Cascades.
- Liberty area: Located in Kittitas County, the Liberty area is known for its unique crystalline gold nuggets, attracting prospectors interested in metal detecting and placer mining.
Washington’s gold mining history is less prominent than that of other states, but there has been a consistent interest in gold prospecting, particularly in the areas mentioned above. Recreational gold panning is a popular activity in some of these areas, and there are still opportunities for finding gold, especially for those who do their research and respect the land and property rights.
Sources: goldrushnuggets, kissin977, Washington State Department of Natural Resources,
What is the History of Gold Mining in Washington?
Gold mining has a rich history in Washington of more than 150 years.
Who discovered gold in Washington?
Gold was discovered in 1853 by a party let by Captain George McCelland who explored the area for a railroad route.
What was the nature of gold mining in Washington?
Gold exploration first started as placer mining in several locations such as Colville district, Columbia and Pend Oreille Rivers and in the counties of Oreille, Chelan and Kittas. 50 years after the first discovery, at the turn of the 19th century, the steams were exhausted for serious prospecting.
When was the gold rush in Washington?
A gold rush took pace in Washington in the late 1870s after the discovery of gold in along the Ruby Creek. This attracted hundreds of prospectors who found only little gold. The gold rush was already over by 1880 and small in comparison to the famous gold rush in California around 20 years earlier.
When did industrial mining start in Washington?
Apart from the placer gold, i.e. gold extracted from riverbeds, lode gold deposits were found in the 1870s. They became more important as placer mining declined. The Republic district in Ferry country used to be the most important lode gold district in the state. It had the most consistent output of gold of any district in Washington state.
See the graph below for the annual gold mining activity in Washington from 1881 till 1965.
In 1965 Washington was the 11th biggest gold mining state in the US, by total gold production; see below.
What are well known historical gold mines in Washington?
Well known historic gold mines are:
- Knob Hill surface and underground gold and silver mine in Ferry county, Republic district (the last gold mine in the state was built in close proximity to this mine), active development from 1910, closure of operation in 1978
- Black Warrior mine is a copper mine with gold as a byproduct, located in Chelan county
- Golden King mine (also known as Lovitt mine), surface and underground operations, with mining activity starting in 1885
- Kettle river underground mine owned by Echo Bay Mines Ltd. closed in 2003
- Cannon mine in operation from the 1980s till 1994
Check out the video about gold geology in the Liberty area:
When did industrial mining end in Washington?
The last gold mine was active in the state from 2008 until 2017. This was the underground Kettle River-Buckhorn mine which was owned by Kinross. It was located in the north-central part of the state. It produced in total 1.3 million ounce of gold (around 40.4 tonnes).
Check out the video about the Kettle River-Buckhorn mine pouring the one millionth gold ounce:
Sources: USGS
How much Gold has been Mined in Washington?
There is no record for the total amount of gold mined in Washington. Two date ranges:
- Until 1965, in total 114.15 tonnes (3,67 mio troy ounces) of gold had been mined in the state.
- In the 21th century, 50.7 tonnes (1,63 mio troy ounces) of gold had been mined. (In 2017 the last commercial mine closed in the state – no gold output thereafter.)
What is the Current State of Gold Mining in Washington?
The state of gold mining in Washington is largely limited to recreational prospecting and small-scale operations.
The following mines were the last ones in operation in the state; see also the graph below:
- The Cannon mine, which stated production, operated only until 1994.
- The Kettle River mine was the only gold mine in operation after the closure of the Canon mine. The Kettle River mine finally closed for good in 2007. However, already in 2003, 2006 and 2007 no gold production was recorded for this mine.
- Two years later, in 2009, the Kettle River-Buckhorn mine produced a record of 6.18 tonnes of gold. Thereafter, production numbers steadily declined until 2017, the last year of operation. Here, only 2.38 tonnes of gold were produced.
Since 2018 there is no gold mining anymore in the state of Washington.
Annual gold production numbers in Washington from 1993 till 2023:
| Year | Tonnes | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 7.1 | Kettle River mine and Cannon Mine |
| 1994 | 7.4 | last year of production from Cannon mine |
| 1995 | 0.0 | not disclosed |
| 1996 | 0.0 | not disclosed |
| 1997 | 4.0 | |
| 1998 | 3.5 | |
| 1999 | 3.2 | |
| 2000 | 2.9 | |
| 2001 | 1.6 | |
| 2002 | 1.0 | |
| 2003 | 0.0 | |
| 2004 | 3.0 | |
| 2005 | 2.1 | |
| 2006 | 0.0 | |
| 2007 | 0.0 | Closure of the Kettle River gold mine |
| 2008 | 0.9 | Production start at the new Kettle River-Buckhorn mine |
| 2009 | 5.4 | … First full year of production |
| 2010 | 6.2 | |
| 2011 | 5.5 | |
| 2012 | 4.9 | |
| 2013 | 4.6 | |
| 2014 | 3.8 | |
| 2015 | 3.0 | |
| 2016 | 3.5 | |
| 2017 | 2.4 | Closure of Kettle River-Buckhorn mine |
| 2018 | 0.0 | |
| 2019 | 0.0 | |
| 2020 | 0.0 | |
| 2021 | 0.0 | |
| 2022 | 0.0 | |
| 2023 | 0.0 |
What are major gold mines in Washington?
There are no active gold mines in Washington. The last one closed in 2017. This was the Kettle River-Buckhorn mine.
How many Gold Reserves are in Washington?
There is no estimate about the gold reserves in Washington.
What Companies Mine Gold in Washington?
There are currently no active gold mines in Washington. The last gold mine was owned by Kinross.
Current gold mining activities in Washington are amateur and hobby prospecting, primarily consisting of individual or small-scale placer operations.
However, there are several mining companies that developing gold mines in the state; see next section.
Check out the video about the land reclamation of the former Kettle River-Buckhorn gold mine:
Where are New Gold Mines Explored or Developed in Washington?
There are several exploration projects that might lead to gold mining operations in Washington, such as:
- Adameda Minerals Corp. undertakes exploration drilling for gold on the Buckhorn 2.0 property. However, the last results from the beginning of 2024 did not show significant gold values.
- Belmont Resources Ltd. and Marquee Resources Ltd. have completed a preliminary economic assessment technical report for their Lone Star Project. Close to the project is a prospect of a gold deposit.
- Calibre Mining Corp.’s second phase drill program at its Golden Eagle Project shows promising gold values in 2023.
Sources: junior mining network, junior mining network, junior mining network
Is it Legal to Mine Gold in Washington?
Yes, it is legal to mine gold in Washington, subject to certain regulations and guidelines.
- While it is illegal to mine or prospect for gold on established mining claims, there are still many unclaimed grounds where gold panning is allowed.
- Recreational gold panning and prospecting are allowed without a permit in Washington State if using basic tools like a gold pan, mini-rocker box, or non-motorized, small sluice box and if the location is open for panning.
- However, a formal Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) is required for activities like sluicing and dredging. See also the booklet Gold and Fish with details for recreational gold panners.
- It’s essential to check with the appropriate state or federal agencies to ensure that the chosen location is open for recreational panning and to follow regulations outlined in the Gold and Fish booklet provided by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (see video below).
- See map below for areas where motorized aquatic gold mining may be allowed.
Sources: Department of Ecology, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Where Can I Pan for Gold in Washington?
Check out the video about the gold guide in Washington:
In Washington, there are several areas where you can pan for gold, especially in the state’s northern and central regions. Here are some notable locations:
- Cle Elum River: Located in the Kittitas Valley, this river is a tributary of the Yakima River and offers productive areas for gold panning near Liberty, Roslyn, and Ronald
- Snoqualmie River: Known as one of the richest gold-bearing rivers in Washington, areas around North Bend and Carnation are popular spots for panning.
- Nooksack River: Originating in the North Cascades and flowing into Bellingham Bay in Whatcom County, the Nooksack River is another great spot for gold panning, particularly around Deming and Everson.
- Greenwater River: Located near Mount Rainier National Park, this river offers opportunities for both recreational and small-scale commercial mining operations.
Sources: keyw, bizarre hobby
Is There Gold in Other US States?
Check out gold production in the neighboring states of Washington: Idaho and Oregon.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGC), there are 11 states that mine gold and contribute towards the gold mining statistic: Nevada is responsible for the majority of gold output, around 72%, followed by Alaska (13%). 9 other contribute in sum to the remaining 15% of gold production: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.