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Abandoned mines › Washington
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Kittitas County, Washington

Kittitas County, Washington has 369 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1953–2003, including 81 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts) and 52 prospect pits; 7 of the features carry a name on the map. OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 18 problems in the county, 4 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 59 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Kittitas County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.

Mapped mine features (USGS)
369
Mine openings
81
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
4
MSHA mines marked abandoned
59
7 features carry a name52 prospect pits41 quadrangle maps, published 1953–2003 18 OSMRE problems, 14 reclaimed 0 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    96 24.8%
  2. Prospect pits and trenches
    shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
    52 13.4%
  3. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    94 24.3%
  4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    125 32.3%
  5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    17 4.4%
  6. Mills, tipples and facilities
    processing plants and hazardous structures
    1 0.3%
  7. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    2 0.5%
Named features on the maps7 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Goodrich Mine Prospect Pit
Independent Mine Prospect Pit
Rothlisberger Mine Mine Shaft
Silica Mine Strip Mine area
Silica Mines Strip Mine area
Silica Mines Strip Mine area
Skookum Mine Adit

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

OSMRE abandoned mine land problems18 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Gallagher Mine P2 Portals In Reclamation
Independent Mine P2 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Jonesville Mine P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Nwi No. 3 Mine P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Nwi No. 3 Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Roslyn Cascade Mines P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities Reclamation Completed
Roslyn Cascade Mines P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Roslyn Cascade Mines P2 Surface Burning Reclamation Completed
Roslyn Cascade Mines P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Roslyn Fuels Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Roslyn Fuels Mine P2 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Rothlisberger Mine P2 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Summit Mine P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Summit Mine P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Wright Mine P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Wright Mine P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Yakima-roslyn Mines P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Yakima-roslyn Mines P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed

Problem types carry OSMRE's priority prefix: P1 and P2 are threats to health, safety and property, P3 is environmental. A problem area is a cluster of problems reclaimed as one project; several rows can share one location.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned59 on register
  1. Ace Of Diamonds
    Underground metal/non-metal · Clarence Jordan Jr · MSHA ID 4501930
    Abandoned
  2. Anna Mae Claim
    Underground metal/non-metal · Robert Bowman · MSHA ID 4501929
    Abandoned
  3. August 1st Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Chichaco Mining Company · MSHA ID 4503154
    Abandoned
  4. Big M Quarries
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sunco Incorp · MSHA ID 4502457
    Abandoned
  5. Boulder Creek Quartz Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Jack J Kirsch · MSHA ID 4502352
    Abandoned
  6. Burlington Northern C-55 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4502499
    Abandoned
  7. C & H Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · C & H Trucking & Construction Inc · MSHA ID 4503168
    Abandoned
  8. C & L PORTABLE CRUSHER
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cresto & Lanphere Inc · MSHA ID 4502505
    Abandoned
  9. Charlton Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · American Construction Services Inc · MSHA ID 4503635
    Abandoned
  10. Chic 1, 2, 3
    Underground metal/non-metal · Preferred Iron of Texas, LLC · MSHA ID 4503726
    Abandoned
  11. Chic U G Placer
    Underground metal/non-metal · Gold Teck Resources · MSHA ID 4502722
    Abandoned
  12. Chichaco Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Chichaco Mining Company · MSHA ID 4503147
    Abandoned
  13. Cle Elum Cement Products Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cle Elum Cement Products Company Inc · MSHA ID 4502718
    Abandoned
  14. Cle Elum Sand & Gravel
    Surface metal/non-metal · Blue Dot Excavating Inc · MSHA ID 4503255
    Abandoned
  15. Cresto Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ellensburg Cement Products Inc · MSHA ID 4502497
    Abandoned
  16. Crusher 2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ellensburg Cement Products Inc · MSHA ID 4501271
    Abandoned
  17. Crystal Springs Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502770
    Abandoned
  18. D J Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · D J Milling · MSHA ID 4503153
    Abandoned
  19. East Nelson Siding Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Roy Rich & Sons · MSHA ID 4502889
    Abandoned
  20. Edna G Placer Mine #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Al Geason · MSHA ID 4502968
    Abandoned
  21. Elk Heights Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4502494
    Abandoned
  22. Forest Service-Crystal Sale Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cresto & Lanphere Inc · MSHA ID 4502949
    Abandoned
  23. Frost Mountain Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cascade Roads Inc · MSHA ID 4502939
    Abandoned
  24. GBI #19
    Surface metal/non-metal · Goodfellow Bros., Inc. · MSHA ID 4503673
    Abandoned
  25. Gold Beach
    Underground metal/non-metal · Spano Mining Company · MSHA ID 4502850
    Abandoned
  26. Gold Creek Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · M A Segale Inc · MSHA ID 4502498
    Abandoned
  27. Gold Placer Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Goodfellow Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4502028
    Abandoned
  28. Good Hope Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Bill Snyder · MSHA ID 4501624
    Abandoned
  29. Hansen Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4501274
    Abandoned
  30. Keechelus Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502773
    Abandoned
  31. Lavinal
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lavinal Inc · MSHA ID 4503828
    Abandoned
  32. Liberty Mining & Exploration, LLC
    Surface metal/non-metal · Swauk Creek Aggregates, LLC · MSHA ID 4503624
    Abandoned
  33. Liberty Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502771
    Abandoned
  34. Manastash Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4502201
    Abandoned
  35. Maverick Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502774
    Abandoned
  36. Milwaukie Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cresto & Lanphere Inc · MSHA ID 4502458
    Abandoned
  37. Olds Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4501273
    Abandoned
  38. Oro Fino Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · G E Greder · MSHA ID 4502969
    Abandoned
  39. P U D Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4502496
    Abandoned
  40. Plant 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Upper Peoh Pt Rd Rock Quarry, LLC · MSHA ID 4503857
    Abandoned
  41. Potatoe Patch
    Surface metal/non-metal · Andy Herndon · MSHA ID 4503749
    Abandoned
  42. Preston Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Roy G Sunburg & Boyd Davis · MSHA ID 4502970
    Abandoned
  43. Qs S 68 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington State Department Of Highways · MSHA ID 4502048
    Abandoned
  44. Red Jacket
    Underground metal/non-metal · Ed Miner · MSHA ID 4501931
    Abandoned
  45. Saddle Mountain Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4502495
    Abandoned
  46. Schnebly Pit C-28
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4501269
    Abandoned
  47. Silver Girl #2
    Underground metal/non-metal · Art Baydo Mining · MSHA ID 4502746
    Abandoned
  48. Stampede Sand & Gravel LLC
    Surface metal/non-metal · Stampede Sand & Gravel LLC · MSHA ID 4503619
    Abandoned
  49. State Pit-C-45
    Surface metal/non-metal · Verbeck Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4500038
    Abandoned
  50. State Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Kittitas County Road Department · MSHA ID 4502202
    Abandoned
  51. Swauk Creek Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Liberty Mining & Exploration LLC · MSHA ID 4503592
    Abandoned
  52. Swauk Creek Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · Swauk Creek Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4503194
    Abandoned
  53. Taneum 23 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Verbeck Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4502938
    Abandoned
  54. Trina Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · John Mey · MSHA ID 4503146
    Abandoned
  55. TRINA MINE
    Surface metal/non-metal · Trina Mine · MSHA ID 4503450
    Abandoned
  56. Upper Kachess Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502772
    Abandoned
  57. Valentine Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mike Strakey Company · MSHA ID 4503152
    Abandoned
  58. Williams Creek Fraction
    Underground metal/non-metal · Jack J Kirsch · MSHA ID 4500501
    Abandoned
  59. Williams Creek Fraction
    Underground metal/non-metal · B & H Mining Company · MSHA ID 4503191
    Abandoned

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms
Feature type Features
Adit 64
Prospect Pit 52
Quarry 48
Open Pit Mine 43
Borrow Pit 40
Gravel Pit 28
Silica Mine 17
Mine Shaft 17
Open Pit Mine 11
Tailings - Undifferentiated 9
Strip Mine 9
Silica Mine 8
P2 Vertical Openings 8
Mine Dump 5
Tailings - Pond 3
P2 Portals 3
P1 Vertical Openings 3
Disturbed Surface 3
Gravel Pit 3
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 2
Borrow Pit 2
Quarry 2
P2 Dangerous Highwalls 1
Placer Mine 1
Strip Mine 1
P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities 1
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 1
P2 Surface Burning 1
P1 Portals 1
Other counties in WashingtonAll counties →
How to read these numbers

A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.

Sources
  1. USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
    597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
  2. USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
    States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
  3. OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
    One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
  4. MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
    Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
  5. US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
    Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
  6. GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
    Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
  7. Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
    The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
  8. IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
    Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.