snow. Up to 1,780 cm (700 inches) of snow may fall at these 

 higher elevations contributing to the 3.7 m (12-foot) snow 

 pack in some areas. Variable winds, fog, intense thunder- 

 storms, gentle rains and hot humid days characterize the 

 summer climate of the area. 



Geology 



The Bull River-Lake Creek Valley is a down-dropped fault 

 block flanked on the east and west by two major north-south 

 trending faults. Dramatic rock pinnacles and cliff terrain 

 are evidence of these and lesser faults along the east face 

 of Mount Vernon (known as the Spires) and along Spar and Ross 

 creeks. In general, mineralization has occurred along the 

 fault structures and fracture zones of the area (Johns 1970) . 

 Strata-bound copper occurrences of known and potentially high 

 economic benefit are known to occur in Star Gulch, near Ross 

 Point, Spar Peak and on Mount Vernon. Gold reserves are 

 being developed in Rock Creek and copper deposits near Seven 

 Point Mountain, Waloven Creek, Taylor and Chicago Peaks in 

 the East Cabinet Mountains are being studied for mineral de- 

 velopment. Both Ross Point and Chicago Peak are undergoing 

 exploratory drilling operations. 



The U.S. Forest Service delineates areas within the 

 Forest according to mineral activity classification sub- 

 units (MACS) which are based on available geological, geo- 

 technical, geophysical, structural information and upon re- 

 corded and reported mineral-related activities (KNF, Keeler 

 Planning Unit 19 78) . Within the study area four MACS have 

 been identified. MAC 1 has the highest potential for the 

 discovery of economically desseminated copper-silver deposits, 

 MAC 1 encompasses the majority of the West Cabinet Mountain 

 range from the Clark Fork River north to Grouse Mountain, 

 Copper Mountain, Lime Butte and Carr Draw (KNF, Keeler Plan- 

 ning Unit 1978 and Bull Lake-Napolean Planning Unit mailer 

 1977). Copper, gold, zinc, lead and silver deposits have 

 been located in the study area and a few have been developed, 

 although increasingly refined mining technology and mounting 

 public demand will likely increase exploration and develop- 

 ment of the Cabinet Mountains' mineral resources. 



Soils 



Soils associated with the continental and alpine glaci- 

 ation contain 40-65 percent rock. Soils developed at the 

 higher elevations are sandy loam in texture and are composed 

 of up to 80 percent angular rock. The Lake Creek and Bull 

 River valleys have very deep, complex soils composed of 

 layered and intermixed gravel, sand and silt. After the 

 continental glacier retreated, a layer of wind-blown silt 

 and volcanic ash settled on north slopes from the peaks to 



