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Abandoned mines › Washington
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Pierce County, Washington

Pierce County, Washington has 422 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1937–1997, including 13 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts) and 10 prospect pits; 3 of the features carry a name on the map. OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 30 problems in the county, 6 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 83 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Pierce 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)
422
Mine openings
13
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
6
MSHA mines marked abandoned
83
3 features carry a name10 prospect pits51 quadrangle maps, published 1937–1997 30 OSMRE problems, 24 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
    33 7.3%
  2. Prospect pits and trenches
    shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
    10 2.2%
  3. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    30 6.6%
  4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    369 81.6%
  5. Mills, tipples and facilities
    processing plants and hazardous structures
    2 0.4%
  6. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    8 1.8%
Named features on the maps3 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Clipper Mine Tunnel Adit
Copper King Mine Prospect Pit
Queen Bee Mine Prospect Pit

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 problems30 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Buckley Mine P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Buckley Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Buckley Mine P2 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Buckley Mine P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Carbon Hill Mine P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Carbonado P1 Hazardous Equip & Facilities Reclamation Completed
Carbonado P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Carbonado P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Carbonado P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Carbonado P2 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Fairfax Bridge Mine P1 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Gleason Mine P1 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Hi-davis Mine P1 Portals In Reclamation
Hi-davis Mine P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Hi-davis Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Spiketon Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Spiketon Mine P2 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Upper Fairfax Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Upper Fairfax Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Pending
Wa - Pierce - Fea P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Wa - Pierce - Fea P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Wilkeson Mine P1 Clogged Stream Lands Reclamation Completed
Wilkeson Mine P1 Hazardous Equip & Facilities Reclamation Completed
Wilkeson Mine P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Wilkeson Mine P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Wilkeson Mine P1 Vertical Openings In Reclamation
Wilkeson Mine P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Wilkeson Mine P2 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Wingate P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Wingate P2 Portals In Reclamation

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 Abandoned83 on register
  1. 0602 Road 1818 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4501838
    Abandoned
  2. 194 Road & Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502098
    Abandoned
  3. 72nd St Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Randles Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4503495
    Abandoned
  4. Active Construction Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Active Construction Inc · MSHA ID 4501751
    Abandoned
  5. Apple Valley Recycling LLC
    Surface metal/non-metal · Apple Valley Recycling LLC · MSHA ID 4503629
    Abandoned
  6. B & L Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · B & L Trucking & Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 4502549
    Abandoned
  7. Bridge Camp Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · De Gross Construction Inc · MSHA ID 4502754
    Abandoned
  8. Buckley Flume
    Surface metal/non-metal · City Transfer Inc · MSHA ID 4503345
    Abandoned
  9. Burlington Northern Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aurora Equipment Inc · MSHA ID 4502802
    Abandoned
  10. CANYON PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Miles Sand & Gravel Co Inc · MSHA ID 4500587
    Abandoned
  11. CANYON PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Northwest Cascade Inc · MSHA ID 4503258
    Abandoned
  12. Capital Rock Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rockeries Inc · MSHA ID 4500145
    Abandoned
  13. Carbon Rv Blowdown
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4501839
    Abandoned
  14. Charboneau Yard
    Surface metal/non-metal · Charboneau Construction Inc · MSHA ID 4503202
    Abandoned
  15. Clay City Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mutual Materials Co · MSHA ID 4501372
    Abandoned
  16. Clay City Pits
    Surface metal/non-metal · R Borgstrom Bulldozing Inc · MSHA ID 4500257
    Abandoned
  17. Collins Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Collins Road Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4502777
    Abandoned
  18. Crescent Valley Pit And Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Spadoni Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4501394
    Abandoned
  19. CRESCENT VALLEY PLANT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Spadoni Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4502874
    Abandoned
  20. Crystal Mountain Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Crystal Mountain Inc · MSHA ID 4502711
    Abandoned
  21. Dalles Ridge Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4501926
    Abandoned
  22. Eatonville Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ohop Valley Supply · MSHA ID 4502989
    Abandoned
  23. Enterprise Valley Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · E V Q Company · MSHA ID 4501745
    Abandoned
  24. Fife Sand & Gravel
    Surface metal/non-metal · Fife Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4501291
    Abandoned
  25. FIRWOOD PIT & PLANT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Tim Corliss & Son Inc · MSHA ID 4501110
    Abandoned
  26. Forler Portable Screens
    Surface metal/non-metal · Steve Forler Trucking · MSHA ID 4503328
    Abandoned
  27. Fredrickson Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Randles Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4503073
    Abandoned
  28. Gammon Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Donald Oline · MSHA ID 4501946
    Abandoned
  29. Glacier Sand & Gravel Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Glacier Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 4500629
    Abandoned
  30. Hill Three Clay Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mutual Materials Company · MSHA ID 4501375
    Abandoned
  31. Hylebos Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Woodworth & Company Inc · MSHA ID 4500726
    Abandoned
  32. Kapowsin Clay Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mutual Materials Company · MSHA ID 4501374
    Abandoned
  33. Kapowsin Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · St Regis Paper Company · MSHA ID 4501281
    Abandoned
  34. Kapowsin Tree Farm
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hancock Forest Management · MSHA ID 4503574
    Abandoned
  35. Lakeland Hills
    Surface metal/non-metal · City Transfer Inc · MSHA ID 4503474
    Abandoned
  36. Lakeridge Sand & Gravel
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lakeridge Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4503063
    Abandoned
  37. Looker Prop. So. Canyon Pit Portable
    Surface metal/non-metal · Randle's Sand & Gravel Inc. · MSHA ID 4503562
    Abandoned
  38. Lower North River Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Weyerhaeuser Company · MSHA ID 4502632
    Abandoned
  39. MARINE VIEW
    Surface metal/non-metal · Interwest Development Inc · MSHA ID 4503475
    Abandoned
  40. MARINE VIEW PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Marine View Sand & Gravel Llc · MSHA ID 4503414
    Abandoned
  41. Marine View S & G
    Surface metal/non-metal · City Transfer Inc · MSHA ID 4503501
    Abandoned
  42. Mather Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4502154
    Abandoned
  43. Meadow Park Pit Or Meadow Park Pit & Mil
    Surface metal/non-metal · Holroyd Company Inc · MSHA ID 4500638
    Abandoned
  44. Mowich Rock Stockpile
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington Rock Quarries Inc. · MSHA ID 4503825
    Abandoned
  45. Ninth Street Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pierce County Highway Department-Wa · MSHA ID 4501645
    Abandoned
  46. North Hill Sand And Gravel Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · North Hill Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 4501376
    Abandoned
  47. OLSON PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · R & M Trucking · MSHA ID 4503416
    Abandoned
  48. Pierce County Rock Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pierce County Surface Water Management · MSHA ID 4501268
    Abandoned
  49. Plant II
    Surface metal/non-metal · Dickson Company · MSHA ID 4503643
    Abandoned
  50. Pole Line Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Spadoni Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4502680
    Abandoned
  51. PORTABLE #1 WALRATH SAND PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · T E Walrath Trucking Inc · MSHA ID 4503420
    Abandoned
  52. Portable 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pinnacle Crushing and Construction, L.L.C. · MSHA ID 4503755
    Abandoned
  53. Portable 2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pinnacle Crushing and Construction, L.L.C. · MSHA ID 4503756
    Abandoned
  54. Portable 3
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pinnacle Crushing and Construction, L.L.C. · MSHA ID 4503763
    Abandoned
  55. Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · Dickson Company · MSHA ID 4503626
    Abandoned
  56. Purdy Topsoil & Gravel
    Surface metal/non-metal · Purdy Topsoil & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4503201
    Abandoned
  57. Queen Mine
    Underground coal · Queen Coal Company · MSHA ID 4500275
    Abandoned
  58. Rainier Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rainier Gravel · MSHA ID 4503068
    Abandoned
  59. Rainier Park Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · U S Park Service · MSHA ID 4502810
    Abandoned
  60. Rainier Rock Incorporated
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rainier Rock Inc · MSHA ID 4503144
    Abandoned
  61. Randall Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · M & M Crushing Company Inc · MSHA ID 4502884
    Abandoned
  62. Randle's Lynch Creek Quarry LLC,Port.Cru
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lynch Creek Quarry LLC · MSHA ID 4503339
    Abandoned
  63. Sawmill M-Line Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Weyerhaeuser Company · MSHA ID 4502631
    Abandoned
  64. Shaw Clay Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mutual Materials Company · MSHA ID 4501373
    Abandoned
  65. Shotwell Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Miles Sand & Gravel Co Inc · MSHA ID 4502610
    Abandoned
  66. South Canyon Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Looker Properties · MSHA ID 4503117
    Abandoned
  67. South Hill Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · South Hill Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 4501267
    Abandoned
  68. South Hill Sand & Gravel
    Surface metal/non-metal · South Hill Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4503092
    Abandoned
  69. Steilacoom Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Glacier Northwest · MSHA ID 4500675
    Abandoned
  70. Storey Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · D T & M Inc · MSHA ID 4502007
    Abandoned
  71. Sumner Front Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Tim Corliss & Son Inc · MSHA ID 4501767
    Abandoned
  72. Sumner Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sumner Sand & Gravel, LLC · MSHA ID 4502611
    Abandoned
  73. Sunset Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sunset Quarry LLC · MSHA ID 4503422
    Abandoned
  74. Tacoma Pit And Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · J D Shotwell Company · MSHA ID 4500641
    Abandoned
  75. TROMELL #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Superior Rockeries · MSHA ID 4503396
    Abandoned
  76. Upper Eleanor Creek Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4501927
    Abandoned
  77. Viola Creek Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · U S Forest Service · MSHA ID 4501587
    Abandoned
  78. Waller Road Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lige Dickson Company · MSHA ID 4500212
    Abandoned
  79. Waller Road Pit & Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Tucci & Sons Inc · MSHA ID 4501056
    Abandoned
  80. Walrath Sand Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · T E Walrath Trucking Inc · MSHA ID 4503437
    Abandoned
  81. Weyerhaeuser Rock Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pierce County River Improvement · MSHA ID 4503023
    Abandoned
  82. Wilkeson Sandstone Quarry LLC
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wilkeson Sandstone Quarry LLC · MSHA ID 4503361
    Abandoned
  83. Woodworth Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · Woodworth & Company Inc · MSHA ID 4500725
    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
Gravel Pit 125
Borrow Pit 114
Gravel Pit 76
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 28
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 19
Quarry 19
P1 Vertical Openings 13
Adit 12
Prospect Pit 10
Clay Pit 7
P1 Portals 4
P2 Subsidence 4
Borrow Pit 3
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 3
P1 Subsidence 3
Quarry 2
P1 Hazardous Equip & Facilities 2
P2 Vertical Openings 2
P2 Portals 1
Sand Pit 1
Coal Mine 1
Mine Shaft 1
Disturbed Surface 1
P1 Clogged Stream Lands 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.