Drill Results Map — Washington

Washington — an emerging gold jurisdiction in the Okanogan Highlands, with geological continuity into BC's Similkameen belt — is a prime target for junior exploration companies. Here's how to create a professional drill results map using Exploration Maps in 15–30 minutes.

Example drill results map created in Exploration Maps — Example drill results map exported from Exploration Maps — style your Washington data the same way.

About Mining in Washington

Washington State hosts the Buckhorn gold mine in the Okanogan Highlands and has multiple advanced-stage gold exploration projects in its northeastern Cascade ranges.

Key minerals: gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, magnesite. Notable deposits: Buckhorn Gold, Republic, Holden Mine. Mining districts: Republic, Okanogan, Stevens County.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administers mineral rights in Washington. Claim data is accessible through BLM MLRS (Mineral & Land Records System).

Getting Mining Data for Washington

Portal	Formats	Notes
BLM MLRS (Mineral & Land Records System)	MLRS reports + map viewer (claims by legal description)	Washington State BLM mining claims primarily fall in UTM Zone 10N (EPSG:32610). The Washington DNR manages state-land mineral rights on a separate system. Properties in the Okanogan Highlands (northeast corner) are adjacent to BC's Similkameen district — consider noting cross-border geological context in your title block.

How to Create a Drill Results Map for Washington

For a full step-by-step guide to drill results maps, see How to Make a Drill Results Map.

Import your drill collar CSV (columns: hole ID, latitude, longitude, depth, assay)
Assign the Drillholes layer role
Import the property claims boundary as GeoJSON
Add callout labels to key holes showing hole ID and best intercept
Use Badge Label type to highlight the highest-grade holes
Configure the title with program name and date
Set the Landscape 16:9 ratio for news release figures
Export as PNG at 2× for email and PDF for the news release attachment

Labelling a drillhole with its best intercept in Exploration Maps.

Tip for Washington: Okanogan Highlands properties benefit from showing the cross-border geological context with BC's Similkameen belt — include a simple regional inset or label indicating the proximity to established BC producers to position your project within a recognized mineralized corridor.

Recommended Settings for Washington

Basemap: Light or Satellite
Design theme: Investor — Navy & White
Export format: PNG at 2× for investor presentations, PDF (Letter or A4) for NI 43-101 reports
Coordinate system: Ensure source data is in WGS84 (EPSG:4326)

Common Use Cases in Washington

Exploration news releases
NI 43-101 technical reports
Investor day presentations
Analyst briefings

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format do I need for Washington mineral claims data?

Washington mineral claims boundaries are available from BLM MLRS (Mineral & Land Records System) and can typically be downloaded as Shapefiles or KML. Convert these to GeoJSON at mapshaper.org before importing into Exploration Maps.

Who regulates mineral claims in Washington?

Mineral claims in Washington are regulated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). All tenure and claims data can be queried through BLM MLRS (Mineral & Land Records System).

What minerals are typically mapped in Washington?

Washington is known for its gold, silver, copper, zinc deposits. Key producing and exploration-stage properties include Buckhorn Gold, Republic, Holden Mine. The main mining districts are Republic, Okanogan, Stevens County.

Can I export a Washington drill results map for a NI 43-101 report?

Yes. Exploration Maps exports PNG and PDF at 2–3× pixel ratio, suitable for inclusion in NI 43-101 technical reports as required figures. The export includes north arrow, scale bar, legend, and title block — all standard map elements required for NI 43-101 compliance.