updated 2015 Mining in the Margaret/Winston/Packwood?

[jackmaster]

Anyone know for what they're drilling? This is exploration drilling - test holes. Environmental impact should be minimal at worst. I'd like to get more facts before getting all excited about this. If it's for natural gas or oil, I wouldn't oppose it. I've been saying drill baby drill for 8 years. I won't change now just because it's in my backyard. My 

and here we go again i keep saying you got to run for president damn it, i like the way you think, i just need a good animal counting job with good bennys when you get to be the pres though...

[Special T]

Hunt bear, I am normally a very straight shooter and my commnets are not sarcastic.  If you noticed i separated my main question from my side comment.

I know they use mercury to separate gold out of other material, it is pretty toxic... But there are ways to minimize the problem.   

Since Boomman2 said he has done a lot of research on this issue i am only asking him to enlighten me.  I currently have no opinion on this issue, but am some what skeptical.

My commnet about Silver Mt area is that some "Damage" to the environment does not really hurt things in the long run... Cyanide is bad stuff, but He did not explain the process of how its used. I doubt its just injected into the ground. 

[Archery King]

If it is BLM ground as they metion, then they can drill on it after all BLM is public land but it is managed For MULTI use, logging mineing grazing of cattle ect.  I understand that this does effect other peoples honey holes but honestly im glad to see it happening for are state more revenue more jobs at times like this it is great to utilize these multi use properties to make money for our state and the people in it

[RadSav]

I thought copper mining used Sulfuric acid instead of cyanide   Evaporation methods pretty much eliminate environmental issues with sulfuric.  I doubt gold is a primary exploration there.  More natural mercury in our streams in that area than gold.  And like the rest of our volcanic regions (Monte Cristo as best example) the deeper you go the less gold.  And even back then they railcar transfered the ore for processing off the mountain.

At this time I am not "for" or "against" it.  I'd like to find out more from the test drilling before I get all worked up.

[Special T]

I know that gold copper and lead are often found together or at least near each other.  I took the mining tour out sinde of Squamish BC and it was pretty interesting, but that was an OLD mine with very old processes.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

My biggest issue with it is the water table... The green is a great river that flows to even greater rivers that wee all depend on. I am in no way a granola eating hippie, but i like my water...

[bench beast]

Ascot is a Canadian Co. They need to mine in their own country!!!

[Alpinegus]

I would imagine a new road from the mining site, down the Green river to I-5. There had been talk in the past to put a road in this side of St helens, now they have more of an excuse.

[slim9300]

Strange how the Feds will potentially allow a giant open pit mine but harvesting timber on federal ground is pretty much completely shut down.

It's not strange, it's sickening and typical government hypocrisy.


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[fireweed]

Just got back from a family trip there.  Hiked the trail, swam in Green River, picnicked in the Horse Camp. Saw the stakes where the drilling is supposed to happen--one stake right literally IN  the campground! 

IMHO there is NO WAY on earth that this mine will happen in this location.  Forget it, there will be no jobs.  There are simply too many issues to overcome.  Steep unstable slopes sliding left and right.  Mount St. Helens Monument literally next door.   Potential for eruptions that dump feet of ash and pumice.  Streams galore.  Massive amounts of rain and snow.  Old growth , Spotted Owls, drinking water, fish-- you name the issue, it's there.  Remember this is "eco-minded" Washington state--and the wet side, too--not dry Nevada, Utah or Montana.
We've got both senators against it.  The USFS can't possibly say it's ok (they'd get run out on a rail and the Park Service would be waiting to take over the area).  And the Government owns 1/2 the mineral rights.
It might be understandable if this mine was critical for the UNITED STATES and the minerals needed here for OUR country--but for a Canadian company to mine for copper that China wants for ipods???  NO WAY. 
This is just a scheme by Ascot to find a profitable load, advertise how much $$ is underground (without stating the problems) raise their stock prices, and make money from speculators, before they dump it. Don't be duped: no jobs here (unless the USFS returns to logging).

[tbuck6568]

I definately agree with fireweed. This area would be a mega challenge to mine. As for running a highway to 5 from there, I'd doubt that too. Exsisting roads in place #1, even if they need major improvement. #2 engineering problems would abound. But I definately agree with Alpinegus that it adds a great big excuse. And I agree with beach beast too. Why hasn't an American mining company been able to bed this down? We'd stand to gain some "profit" in taxes, fees, and possible local ecomoninc boost, but just seems like we're letting the big money go to someone else.
As for reasons the volcanic natl monument lines were drawn around that area, I read (of course on the internet-google Mt Margaret Washington mining and you'll find all sorts of interesting articles) that the original owners wouldn't sell the land to the feds because they knew the potential value of the area. There's been mines there for a long time-early 1900's. Just look at a trail map for the area and they're marked. You can even find em on gps topo uploads.
Here's why I think they're pretty serious about mining this area though. (as in going beyond boosting stock value)
#1, They've invested over $122 million dollars on this project already, seems like a lot of money just to dump it. #2, There's all kinds of claims that this is the biggest deposit in Washington state. According to thier finds, there's a LOT of copper and some gold in this deposit.
And #3, support. At least one Republican group, and various state officials support it. Ascot has (or had, I haven't attempted to call the number I found) an office in Morton and has been attempting to gain a lot of local support for this.
With this kind of action and weight behind it they mean business. I hope that NFS or somebody will build access around the area so everybody can still get to the trail and rebuild a camp if they tear up the existing one.

[nontypical176]

Just my opinion, but so much river was badly hurt by the St. Helens eruption.  The Green river is healthy and fish thrive there.  It has limited access, lots of cover, clean and prestine.  Kind of amazing to be that close to the blast zone and still have that quality of water up there.  Its about as far up the Toutle drainage as you can go and still find spawning water that nice.  I would hate to see it ruined.  Fish create jobs too, from boats, to gear, licenses and all that.  I just feel like the fish that were affected by the Mt. eruption still have enough to deal with.  The Green might just be a little river, but its been very important to the fish runs near the blast zone.   

[youngbull]

If i remember right there are old mines there along the river already

[Huntbear]

Yes, there are old fashioned mines, dug into the mtns...

NOT open pit cyanide strip mines..

[Knocker of rocks]

Yes, there are old fashioned mines, dug into the mtns...

NOT open pit cyanide strip mines..

Cyanide leaching is a refining process distinct from the mining process.  The ore can be removed by tunnel and stoop or by open pit.  The ore is then processed by one or more methods, thermal reduction being common for sulphur bearing ores.  Because gold is often disseminated in a quartz matrix, and because cyanide dissolves gold, a combination of mechanical pulverizing, gravity separation and cyanide dissolution is often employed.  I believe the gold ore from the Lone Jack , up the Nooksack, is sent to Trail BC for batch leaching.

The open pit mine at Kennecotts Bingham Utah mine is the nations largest hole, and employs no cyanide (AFAIK), and all refining is thermal for primarily copper and lesser gold, silver and lead.

I know nothing about this mine in question, but assume it would be a gold mine into the younger acidic rocks of the Cascades.  The Wenatchee mines utilized a similar young rhyolite as their source.