Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite
Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Great Excelsior Mine, Mount Baker Mining District, Whatcom County, Washington, USAi
Regional Level Types
Great Excelsior MineMine
Mount Baker Mining DistrictMining District
Whatcom CountyCounty
WashingtonState
USACountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
48° 53' 55'' North , 121° 48' 17'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
48.89889,-121.80473
GeoHash:
G#: c29qhmb88
GRN:
N33W59
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
Cfb : Temperate oceanic climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Glacier211 (2011)10.3km
Slesse Park238 (2011)19.8km
Maple Falls324 (2011)20.1km
Bell Acres582 (2011)20.4km
Baker Trails635 (2011)23.0km
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
ClubLocationDistance
Abbotsford Rock & Gem ClubAbbotsford, British Columbia40km
Mindat Locality ID:
28933
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:28933:6
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Lincoln Mine; President Mine; Excelsior Mine; Wells Creek Mine


A gold-silver mine located above the Nooksack River on Wells Creek. The ore occurred in a large breccia zone along a fracture system in andesite, argillite, and slate. It was generally low in sulfides, and ore minerals were rarely visible. Poor recoveries in the mill led to the mine being unprofitable. It was estimated that 1250000 tons of rock grading 0.09 oz/ton Au and 3.44 oz/ton Ag is above the workings. Development consisted of around 1700' of workings and a mill. Metallurgical issues prevented the successful operation of the mill. The mine produced around 10000 tons of ore from 1902-1905, and some ore in 1917.
Structure: West-Plunging Syncline Superimposed On West Limb Of Regional North-Trending Anticline Strong Shears

Alteration: Andesite Is Silicified And Sericitized

Tectonics: Cascade Volcanic Arc

Deposit: Property consists of 10 claims and 2 fractions. Map of mine workings in moen (1969, pl. 7). ; info.src : 1 pub lit see also mrds record m700409 deposit is sulfide-cemented brecciated veins along a shear zone. The main fractures are about 4,000 ft long. Dimensions are of brecciated zone. Dip given is that of east border.

Deposit type: Polymetallic veins

Development: In 1902, a 20 stamp mill was constructed. Drilled by hanna mining co. (1975), quintana exploration co. (1976). U.s. Borax and chemical corp. (1977-1981), and steelhead gold (1984-1987)

Rock formation(s): Wells Creek Volcanics;Wells Creek Volcanics;Wells Creek Volcanics;Wells Creek Volcanics;Wells Creek Volcanics


Ore(s): Shear Zone

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


16 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Acanthite
Formula: Ag2S
ⓘ Anatase
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Brookite
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ 'Freibergite Subgroup'
Formula: (Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ 'K Feldspar var. Adularia'
Formula: KAlSi3O8
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum
Formula: (Au,Ag)
ⓘ Native Silver
Formula: Ag
ⓘ Polybasite
Formula: [Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold
var. Electrum		1.AA.05(Au,Ag)
ⓘ1.AA.05Au
ⓘNative Silver1.AA.05Ag
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘAcanthite2.BA.35Ag2S
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
ⓘ'Freibergite Subgroup'2.GB.05(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C2+2)Sb4S12S0-1
ⓘ'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
ⓘPolybasite2.GB.15[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘAnatase4.DD.05TiO2
ⓘBrookite4.DD.10TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'K Feldspar
var. Adularia'		-KAlSi3O8
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Oⓘ AnataseTiO2
Oⓘ BrookiteTiO2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SSulfur
Sⓘ AcanthiteAg2S
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
Sⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
KPotassium
Kⓘ K Feldspar var. AdulariaKAlSi3O8
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ AnataseTiO2
Tiⓘ BrookiteTiO2
FeIron
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Cuⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Cuⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
AgSilver
Agⓘ AcanthiteAg2S
Agⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Agⓘ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Agⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Agⓘ Native SilverAg
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ Freibergite Subgroup(Ag6,[Ag6]4+)(Cu4 C22+)Sb4S12S0-1
Sbⓘ Polybasite[Ag6Sb2S7][Ag9CuS4]
Sbⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
AuGold
Auⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10047768

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Valentine, Grant M., Huntting, Marshall T. (1960) Part II - Metallic Minerals, in Inventory of Washington Minerals. Vol II. Bulletin 37, Washington Geological Survey.
Moen, W. (1969) Mines and Mineral Deposits of Whatcom County, Washington. Washington Division of Mines and Geology Bulletin 57, 134 pages.
Derkey, Robert E., Joseph, Nancy L., Lasmanis, Raymond (1990, November) Metal Mines of Washington - Preliminary Report. Open File Report 90-18. Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources
Fritz E. Wolff, Donald T. McKay, Jr., David K. Norman, and Matthew I. Brookshier (2004) Inactive and Abandoned Mine Lands— Great Excelsior Mine, Mount Baker Mining District, Whatcom County, Washington. Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Open File Report 2004-5
Quick NavTopCommoditiesMineral ListRock TypesOther DatabasesOther RegionsReferences
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 3, 2026 06:08:36 Page updated: August 15, 2025 01:10:02
Go to top of page