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Abandoned mines › Washington
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Whatcom County, Washington

Whatcom County, Washington has 283 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1919–2002, including 51 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts) and 47 prospect pits; 16 of the features carry a name on the map. OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 6 problems in the county, 3 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 80 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Whatcom 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)
283
Mine openings
51
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
3
MSHA mines marked abandoned
80
16 features carry a name47 prospect pits40 quadrangle maps, published 1919–2002 6 OSMRE problems, 3 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
    55 19.0%
  2. Prospect pits and trenches
    shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
    47 16.3%
  3. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    4 1.4%
  4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    180 62.3%
  5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    2 0.7%
  6. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    1 0.3%
Named features on the maps16 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Azurite Mine Adit
Excelsior Mine Adit
Excelsior Mine Adit
Gargett Mine Adit
Gargett Mine Adit
Goat Mine Adit
Gold Hill Mine Adit
Illinois Mine Adit
Lone Jack Mine Adit
North American Mine Adit
Old Nooksack Mine Mine
Red Mountain Mine Adit
Red Mountain Mine Adit
Silvertip Mine Adit
Silvertip Mine Prospect Pit
Whistler 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 problems6 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Bellingham #1 Mine P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Glacier Mines P2 Portals In Reclamation
Sehome Mine P2 Portals In Reclamation
Van Zandt Mine P2 Portals In Reclamation
Wa - Whatcom - Fea P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Wa - Whatcom - Fea P1 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 Abandoned80 on register
  1. A & B Rock Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · A & B Rock, Inc. · MSHA ID 4503685
    Abandoned
  2. A L R T Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · A L R T Corporation · MSHA ID 4503303
    Abandoned
  3. Able Pit & Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Transportation Services Dept · MSHA ID 4500539
    Abandoned
  4. Amrize Apex
    Surface metal/non-metal · Amrize Southwest Inc. · MSHA ID 4500611
    Abandoned
  5. Amrize Axton Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Amrize West Central Inc. · MSHA ID 4503707
    Abandoned
  6. Amrize Siper Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Amrize West Central Inc. · MSHA ID 4503593
    Abandoned
  7. Axton Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · City Of Bellingham · MSHA ID 4500503
    Abandoned
  8. Axton Pit And Portable Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wilder Construction Company · MSHA ID 4500953
    Abandoned
  9. AXTON RD. PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ferndale Ready Mix & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4503235
    Abandoned
  10. Axton Road Pit No F-34
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington State Department Of Highways · MSHA ID 4502385
    Abandoned
  11. Axton Wash Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Granite Construction Company · MSHA ID 4503587
    Abandoned
  12. Blaine Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Somnys Excavating · MSHA ID 4500584
    Abandoned
  13. Bluebird Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Public Works · MSHA ID 4501761
    Abandoned
  14. Childers Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Puget Sound Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4502662
    Abandoned
  15. Clark Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Public Works · MSHA ID 4502713
    Abandoned
  16. Clauson Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Clauson Quarry LLC · MSHA ID 4500058
    Abandoned
  17. Colacurcio Brothers Incorporated
    Surface metal/non-metal · Colacurcio Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 4503182
    Abandoned
  18. D D One
    Underground metal/non-metal · Diversified Development Company · MSHA ID 4503276
    Abandoned
  19. D L Pullar Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · D L Pullar Company · MSHA ID 4500619
    Abandoned
  20. Deming Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Road District 1 2 3 · MSHA ID 4501945
    Abandoned
  21. Dependable Designs Portable
    Surface metal/non-metal · Dependable Designs Inc · MSHA ID 4503581
    Abandoned
  22. Devries Pit And Mill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Richard Devries · MSHA ID 4502088
    Abandoned
  23. Excelsior Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Pacific Coast Mines Inc · MSHA ID 4502531
    Abandoned
  24. Friday Harbor S&G Co-Killam Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Friday Harbor Sand & Gravel Co. · MSHA ID 4503492
    Abandoned
  25. Gansler Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacific Concrete Industries · MSHA ID 4502744
    Abandoned
  26. Gilbert Iverson Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Iverson Gravel · MSHA ID 4502029
    Abandoned
  27. H Karb Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · H Karb Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4503116
    Abandoned
  28. Kendall Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mid-Island Rock Products Inc · MSHA ID 4502792
    Abandoned
  29. Killam Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Due South Aggregate Inc · MSHA ID 4503488
    Abandoned
  30. LAUREL PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom Builders Inc · MSHA ID 4500723
    Abandoned
  31. Leaton Gravel Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Leaton Gravel · MSHA ID 4501760
    Abandoned
  32. Lummi Island Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Robert Culbertson · MSHA ID 4502714
    Abandoned
  33. LUMMI ISLAND QUARRY
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503187
    Abandoned
  34. Lynden Ready Mix Pit Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lynden Ready Mix Inc · MSHA ID 4500991
    Abandoned
  35. Mariotta Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Public Works · MSHA ID 4503038
    Abandoned
  36. Mission Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom Builders Inc · MSHA ID 4502278
    Abandoned
  37. Mission Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacific Concrete Industries · MSHA ID 4503310
    Abandoned
  38. Mission Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Van Boven Gravel Co. · MSHA ID 4503510
    Abandoned
  39. Mission Portable Wash Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503708
    Abandoned
  40. Mission Road #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Arnold Finkbonner & Sons · MSHA ID 4503298
    Abandoned
  41. Nooksack River Gravel Bar
    Surface metal/non-metal · Van Boven Gravel Company · MSHA ID 4500956
    Abandoned
  42. North Star Sand & Gravel
    Surface metal/non-metal · North Star Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4503664
    Abandoned
  43. Northwest Excavating
    Surface metal/non-metal · Northwest Excavating · MSHA ID 4503649
    Abandoned
  44. Northwest Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacific Concrete Industries · MSHA ID 4502745
    Abandoned
  45. Olivine Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Olivine Corp · MSHA ID 4500942
    Abandoned
  46. Pangborn Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Stremler Gravel · MSHA ID 4503205
    Abandoned
  47. POLE ROAD PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Concrete Nor'West · MSHA ID 4502582
    Abandoned
  48. Pole Road Pit No 2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Vellema Construction Co Wa · MSHA ID 4502583
    Abandoned
  49. Portable #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sumas Transport Inc · MSHA ID 4503203
    Abandoned
  50. Portable 2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Martin's Feed Inc · MSHA ID 4503740
    Abandoned
  51. Portable C
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503605
    Abandoned
  52. Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · A K Hutchinson Rock Products · MSHA ID 4503207
    Abandoned
  53. Portable Crusher #93
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503309
    Abandoned
  54. Portable Crusher A
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503228
    Abandoned
  55. Portable Crusher B
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503376
    Abandoned
  56. Red Mt Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Clauson Quarry LLC · MSHA ID 4503051
    Abandoned
  57. River Bars And Washing Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ferndale Ready Mix & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4501954
    Abandoned
  58. Romberg Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Romberg Construction · MSHA ID 4503181
    Abandoned
  59. S W Pit & Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Starkenburg & Wiersma · MSHA ID 4502638
    Abandoned
  60. SHAMROCK INDS.
    Surface metal/non-metal · Shamrock Industries · MSHA ID 4503297
    Abandoned
  61. Shuksan Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · C Martin Trucking Inc · MSHA ID 4502920
    Abandoned
  62. Siper Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacific Concrete Ind Inc · MSHA ID 4502387
    Abandoned
  63. Siper Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Public Works · MSHA ID 4502596
    Abandoned
  64. Siper Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Henifin & Associates Inc · MSHA ID 4502641
    Abandoned
  65. Siper Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Van Boven Gravel Co. · MSHA ID 4503512
    Abandoned
  66. Siper Pit #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Sumas Transport Inc · MSHA ID 4502642
    Abandoned
  67. Squalicum Pit & Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacific Concrete Industries · MSHA ID 4500654
    Abandoned
  68. Swen Larsen Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Olivine Corp · MSHA ID 4500993
    Abandoned
  69. Swen Larson Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Olivine Corp · MSHA ID 4500933
    Abandoned
  70. TILBURY QUARRY
    Surface metal/non-metal · Tilbury Cement Company · MSHA ID 4500011
    Abandoned
  71. Trapline Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Miles Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 4502986
    Abandoned
  72. Van Boven Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Van Boven Gravel Company · MSHA ID 4503000
    Abandoned
  73. Van Buren Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Len Honcoop Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 4502608
    Abandoned
  74. Van Buren Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Karpat Industries Ltd · MSHA ID 4502656
    Abandoned
  75. Van Buren Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Aggregates West Inc · MSHA ID 4503204
    Abandoned
  76. Waschke Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ludtke Pacific Trucking · MSHA ID 4503219
    Abandoned
  77. Welcome Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Road District 1 2 3 · MSHA ID 4501083
    Abandoned
  78. West Valley Aggregate Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · West Valley Aggregate Inc · MSHA ID 4502158
    Abandoned
  79. Western Gold New Light Project
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lion Mines Ltd (Usa) · MSHA ID 4500499
    Abandoned
  80. Y Road Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Whatcom County Road District 1 2 3 · MSHA ID 4502595
    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 100
Adit 48
Prospect Pit 47
Borrow Pit 37
Gravel Pit 17
Quarry 17
Quarry 4
P2 Portals 3
Mine Shaft 3
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 3
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 2
Tailings - Undifferentiated 1
Sand Pit 1
P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments 1
Quarry - Limestone 1
P1 Vertical Openings 1
Mine 1
P1 Subsidence 1
Coal Mine 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.