THE CRACKER CREEK
GOLD AND SILVER MINING PROJECT
Baker County, Oregon, USA
The Historic Cracker Creek narrow-vein gold and silver mines reopening after 80 years
A team of industry veterans with over 100 years of combined mining and corporate finance experience have come together to reopen the four gold and silver mines on the historic Cracker Creek mining site. The permitting process with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) is launched.
“Cracker Creek represents a unique opportunity of re-opening of an existing group of mining operations that started over 130 years ago. The project will greatly benefit local and regional businesses and create solid ties with the community.”
​
Dr. Michael Werner
COO & Chief Technical Officer
Sumpter Development LLC
Geography & Mining History
The Cracker Creek Property is located in Baker County, Oregon, USA, approximately 30 km west of Baker City and 9 km north of Sumpter. It is within the Elkhorn Mountains, a part of the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon.
The property consolidates four historic mines in the district: North Pole, Excelsior, Eurika, Columbia.
Historically, the Cracker Creek mining district is one of the most important mining districts in Oregon. The Cracker Creek mining complex was discovered in the bed of Cracker Creek in 1873. Full scale mining operations began in 1895 and continued until the beginning of World War II. Total production during this period is estimated at 525,000 ounces of gold.
Mining Operation & Environmental Stewardship
Mineral extraction will be accomplished using “cut-and-fill” or “undercut-and-fill” mining methods to maximize recovery and optimize safety and efficiency. Existing horizontal access tunnels (drifts, adits, and declines) will be reopened, and new development will be constructed off the shafts and declines to access the area of mineralization. The onsite processing plant will use gravity concentration followed by flotation.
​
The mining operation is designed to minimize surface disturbances and will have minimal impact on the local and regional environment. The processing plant will not be using cyanide and will have zero discharge. Waste material will be consolidated with cement and fly ash and put back into the mine.
​
Community Engagement
The Cracker Creek team knows well that reopening a mining site is never just a technical or financial endeavor; it is a social one. We are committed to working closely with local and regional authorities and communities to ensure that the project is a strong contributor to the local economy and is developed in a responsible and sustainable manner.
