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Red Ledge Mine

Producer in Adams county in Idaho, United States with commodities Copper, Silver, Zinc, Gold, Lead
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Alteration
  9. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Mineral rights holdings
  18. Land status
  19. Ownership information
  20. Reserves and resources
  21. Workings at the site
  22. Links to other databases
  23. Bibliographic references
  24. General comments
  25. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10070111
MRDS ID W012803
MAS/MILS ID 0160030096
Record type Site
Current site name Red Ledge Mine
Alternate or previous names Red Ledge Prospect, Red Eagle

Geographic coordinates

Geographic coordinates: -116.6692, 45.2286 (WGS84)
Elevation 853
Relative position 2 MILES ABOVE MOUTH OF DEEP CREEK; 10 MILES N.E. OF CUPRUM.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Adams(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

White Monument(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Riggins(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Grangeville(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Hells Canyon(hydrologic unit)

Lower Snake(hydrologic accounting unit)

Lower Snake(hydrologic subregion)

Pacific Northwest(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Payette National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Idaho Adams

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 022N 003W 23 SWNWSE Idaho

Comments on the location information

  • Is 5 Miles By Road From Eagle Bar On The Snake; And 3/4 Mi. Above Mouth Of Oxbow Creek North Of Deep Creek, Near Hell'S Canyon Dam.

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Secondary
Gold Tertiary
Lead Tertiary

Comments on the commodity information

  • Highest Grade Ore Over 7 Ft. Assayed 5.8% Cu, 8.1% Zn, 1.49 Oz. Ag, 0.49 Oz. Au. Below The Enrichment Zone, Values Fall Off.

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Covellite Ore
Galena Ore
Malachite Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Tetrahedrite Ore
Barite Gangue
Bismuthinite Gangue
Calcite Gangue
Chlorite Gangue
Clay Gangue
Epidote Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Magnetite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Zoisite Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) INTENSE
  • (Local) Sericitic
  • (Local) Propylitic
  • (Local) Pyritization
  • (Local) Oxidation
  • (Local) Bleaching

Analytical data

Result 3.6% CU, 8 OZ./TON AG, UP TO 9% ZN IN ZONE OF ENRICHMENT. OTHER SAMPLES GAVE $1.28 - $1.34 AU, 1.5 AND 4 OZ. AG, 1.5, 3.3% CU, ASSAYS OVER 120 FT OF HANGING WALL ZONE ASSAYED 1.78% CU, 7.33% ZN, 3.1 OZ. AG AND .028 OZ. AU/TON. SILICIFIED ZONE ASSAYED 1.61% CU, .21% ZN, .58 OZ AG, .007 OZ. AU OVER 63 FT.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 184
USGS model code 28a
Deposit model name Massive sulfide, kuroko
Mark3 model number 93

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite
    Rock unit name Seven Devils Volcanics-Rhyolite, Andesite;Red Ledge Intrusion-Rhyolite, Quartz Porphyry;Cret-Tert
    Rock description Seven Devils Volcanics-Rhyolite, Andesite;Red Ledge Intrusion-Rhyolite, Quartz Porphyry;Cret-Tert
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Early Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Felsic Volcanic Rock > Rhyolite

Nearby scientific data

(1) -116.6692, 45.2286
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure description Brecciation, Gossan

Ore body information

  • General form LENTICULAR, STRINGERS
    Strike N 75 DEG E
    Dip NW
    Length 914.4M
    Width 609.6M
  • General form IRREGULAR STOCKWORK, REPLACEMENT BRECCIA FILL
    Strike N45E
    Dip 85W
    Thickness 200M
    Length 610M
    Width 610M
    Area 100HA
    Depth to top 10M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Ne Striking Shear Zones
  • FAULTING
  • CONTACT ZONE

Comments on the geologic information

  • 50 Ft. Of Supergene Enrichment Below The Oxidation Zone ; Mineralization Related To Emplacement Of Red Ledge Intrusion
  • The Seven Devils Group Consists Of Mafic To Siliceous Flows, Epiclastic Volcanic Breccias And Conglomerates, Tuffaceous Units, And Locally Limestone Lenses. They Have Been Metamorphosed To The Greenschist Facies. Strong Sets Of Northeast-Tr Ending Faults And Fractures Cross The Area And Control, At L East In Part, The Boundaries Of The Intrusion And The Associated Alteration And Mineralization. Sulfide Mineralization Occurs Mainly Within The Intrusive Along The Northwest Edge Of The Intrusive Where It Is In Contact With The Greenstone.
  • Pyrite Is Disseminated Throughout The Deposit And In The Surrounding Greenstone. Quarty And Barite Are Only Significant Gangue Minerals Supergene Copper Enrichment Is Of Minor Economic Importance.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant No
Discovery year 1895
Discoverer Thomas Heady

Mining district

District name Seven Devils District
District name Eagle Bar Area

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Rankin-General Mining Co.
    Year 1922
  • Type Operator
    Owner Texasgulf
    Year 1977
    First year 1974
  • Type Owner
    Owner Butler Ore Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office St. Paul, Minn.
    Year 1977
  • Type Owner
    Owner Idaho Copper Co.
    Home office Idaho

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1954
    Total resources 226000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.4 wt-pct Copper Major 1954
    Gold Au 0.847 g/mt Gold Trace 1954
    Zinc Zn 3 wt-pct Zinc Minor 1954
    Silver Ag 50.824 g/mt Silver Major 1954
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1954
    Indicated 453592mt ore
    Demonstrated 453592mt ore
    Total resources 453592mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 61.7 g/mt Silver Major 1954
    Zinc Zn 3 wt-pct Zinc Minor 1954
    Gold Au 1.028 g/mt Gold Trace 1954
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1954
    Indicated 1814400mt ore
    Demonstrated 1814400mt ore
    Total resources 1814400mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1 wt-pct Copper Major 1954

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • If Cut Off Is Lowered To 1.0% Cu Probable Ore Reserves Are Raised To 2 Million Tons
  • Massive Sulfide Resources As Computed By Tolman (1942). Resources From Texasgulf Report, 1977. Resources From Texasgulf Report , 1974.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface/Underground
    Length 1219.2M
    Overall depth 460M

Comments on the workings information

  • Exploration Which Began In 1900 Had 2400 Ft Of Workings And 16000 Ft Of Diamond Drilling At Cost Of $1000000.
  • Area Is Located Just South Of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Access Is Limited To Foot, Horse, Or Trailbike. Because Of Environmental Problems Large-Tonnage Low Grade Underground Mining Methods Will Have To Be Used.

Comments on development

  • Property Consists Of 23 Patented, And A Large Number Of Unpatented, Lode And Millsite Claims, Covering Over 1500 Acres. 3 Ddh Up To 2000 Ft Depth Planned (1971). 8 Holes Completed For Total Of 3804 Ft.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Cook, E. F., 1954, Mining Geology Of The Seven Devils Region: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 97, 22 P.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Cook, E. F., 1954, Id. Bur. Of Mines And Geol. Pamphlet 97, 22 P.

  • Deposit

    U.S. Bureau Of Mines, 1975, Activity Of Idaho Mining Properties, 1974, U.S. Bureau Of Mines, Boise, Idaho, 61 P.

  • Deposit

    Livingston, D. C., And Laney, F. B., 1920, The Copper Deposits Of The Seven Devils And Adjacent Districts; Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Bulletin 1, P. 42 - 57.

  • Deposit

    Spokane Chronicle, June 1, 1971; Feb. 2, 1971; Dec. 8, 1970.

  • Deposit

    Western Mining News, 1974-75 Directory Of Mines In Idaho (Coeur D'Alenes) And Washington, P. 32.

  • Deposit

    Idaho Department Of Labor And Industrial Services, First Annual Report Addendum, July 1, 1974 - June 30, 1975, 95 P.

  • Deposit

    Long, R.C., 1976 , Geology And Mineral Deposits Of The Red Ledge Mine Area, Adams County, Idaho: Corvallis, Oregon, Oregon State University, M.S. Thesis, 115 P.

  • Deposit

    Fredericksen, R., 1977 , Precious And Base Metal Mineralization At The Iron Dyke And Red Ledge Deposits: A Paper Presented To The Northwest Mining Association, December, 1976 , 28 P.

  • Deposit

    1920 Compile Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geol. Bulletin 1

  • Deposit

    1954 Geolmap Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geol. Pamphlet 97

  • Deposit

    1975 Compile 1st Ann. Rept. Add., Idaho Dept. Of Labor

  • Deposit

    1975 Compile Us Bur Mines Mining Activity List For 1974 {{ 5) 1976 Direxpl Texasgulf, Inc., Northwest Mining Association Paper

  • Deposit

    Tolman, 1942 Consulting Geologists Report To Butler Co. 39 P

  • Deposit

    Morganti ,1972 Ms Thesis Washington State University 148 P

  • Deposit

    Us Bureau Of Mines 1943 War Mineral Report Of Red Ledge Mine

  • Deposit

    Bell 1916 Seventeenth Ann Rept Of The Min Ind Of Idaho P 96

  • Deposit

    Schell, G.D., 1972, Red Ledge Property, Adams County, Idaho: Unpublished Company Report, Cities Service Minerals Corp., Northwest District.

  • Deposit

    Lindgren, W. 1899, Copper Deposits Of The Seven Devils, Mining And Scientific Press, Vol. 78, P. 125.

  • Deposit

    Kennedy, F.A., 1922, Diamond Drilling In The Seven Devils Mountains, Eng. And Mining Jour. Press, Vol. 113 No. 13 Page 521-523

  • Deposit

    Bell, 1916, 17th Ann. Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho, P. 96-99.

  • Deposit

    Close, T.J., And Others, Mineral Resources Of The Hells Canyon Wilderness Area And Portions Of The Hells Canyon National Recreation Study Area, Adams, Idaho, And Nez Perce Counties, Idaho, And Wallowa County, Oregon: Unpublished U.S. Bureau Of Mines File Report, P. 146-157.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Discovery Year: 1890'S ?
Deposit Maximum Ore Zones Of 150 Ft Wide Occurs In Several Subparallel Steeply Dipping Zones.
Deposit Cities Service Stopped Work In 1974.
Deposit 5-77 Texasgulf Feels There Is Potential For A Large Massive Deposit Off The Flank Of The Rhyolite Dome 11-77 Resource Estimates Of Column 1 Are From Kinkel 1974 Resource Estimates Of Column 2 Are From Fredericken 1977 Resource Estimates Of Column 3 Are From Tolman 1942 Mine Capital Costs: Acquisition 1000000 Exploration 7000000 Development 6758220 Plant & Equip 11386515 Working Cap 1725276 Mill Capital Costs: Plant & Equip 21052040 Working Cap 1119300 Grade Difference Between Matrix And Beneficiation Records Is Assumed Dilution Attendant To Mining. Column 3 In The Matrix Is From Tolmans Work 1942. Column 2 In The Matrix Is From Fredericksen 1977 Column 1 In The Matrix Is From Kinkle 1974. Feeder Zone.Is 152.5mx305mx305m. Stringer Zone Is 30.5mx457.5mx457.5m.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-DEC-1975 Benjamin, David A.; Miller, Pat U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 01-JUL-1977 Siefken, Robert R. U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 03-FEB-1997 Close, Terry J. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

External references

Maps centered on this site