Trail Creek Proposed Mine

Prospect in Caribou county in Idaho, United States with commodities Phosphorus-Phosphates, Fluorine-Fluorite, REE, Uranium, Vanadium
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. Mineral occurrence model information
  9. Host and associated rocks
  10. Nearby scientific data
  11. Geologic structures
  12. Ore body information
  13. Controls for ore emplacement
  14. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  15. Mining district
  16. Mineral rights holdings
  17. Land status
  18. Ownership information
  19. Reserves and resources
  20. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10143793
MRDS ID W026164
MAS/MILS ID 0160290160
Record type Deposit
Current site name Trail Creek Proposed Mine
Alternate or previous names Trail Creek Lease, Aspen Range Property, Johnson Creek, Johnson Creek, Area B, 33-35, Johnson Creek, Area D, 36-51, Slug Creek Syncline

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -111.4244, 42.73552 (WGS84)
Elevation 2073
Location accuracy 10000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Caribou(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Johnson Creek(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Soda Springs(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Preston(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Blackfoot(hydrologic unit)

Upper Snake(hydrologic accounting unit)

Upper Snake(hydrologic subregion)

Pacific Northwest(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

ST(Federal land areas administered by ST)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Idaho Caribou

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 008 S 043 E 03,04,09,10,15,22 Idaho

Comments on the location information

  • Deposit Also In Secs 3,4,9,15,14,22,23,26

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Phosphorus-Phosphates Primary
Fluorine-Fluorite Critical Tertiary
REE Critical Tertiary
Uranium Tertiary
Vanadium Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Calcite Unknown
Chalcedony Unknown
Collophane Unknown
Dolomite Unknown
Kaolinite Unknown
Limonite Unknown
Montmorillonite Unknown
Orthoclase Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sericite Unknown

Analytical data

Result 119 SAMPLES OF STRATIGRAPHIC SEQUENCE GAVE 36.9 % P2O5 MAX ( SECTION 23)

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 243
USGS model code 34c
Deposit model name Phosphate, upwelling type

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Phosphoria Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Permian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock type qualifier Phosphatic Shale
    Rock unit name Phosphoria Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Permian
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Chemical Sediment > Chert
    Rock unit name Phosphoria Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Permian
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Wells Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Wells Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Wells Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Dinwoody Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock unit name Dinwoody Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Dinwoody Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Thaynes Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Thaynes Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Thaynes Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock unit name Thaynes Formation

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -111.4244, 42.73552

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Schmid Syncline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Slug Creek Syncline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Aspen Range Anticline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Aspen Range Anticline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Johnson Fault
Type of structure Local
Structure name Small Folds And Faults

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR, SEDIMENTARY
    Strike N25W
    Dip 25E
    Thickness 11.2M
    Length 6800M
    Width 180M
    Area 534HA
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Strike And Dip N25W:25E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 2
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316
  • General form TABULAR, SEDIMENTARY
    Strike N25W
    Dip 25E
    Thickness 1.8M
    Length 6096M
    Width 76M
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 3
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Secondary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Strike And Dip N20W:25E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 2
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316
  • General form TABULAR
    Strike N20W
    Dip 24E
    Thickness 59M
    Length 14484M
    Width 307M
    Area 445HA
    Depth to top 60M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Bedding
  • Faulting

Comments on the geologic information

  • Meade Peak Is 147 Ft Thick, Upper And Lower Are Zones Total 37 Ft Thick. Complex Structures And Many Smatll Fault Blocks Porphyritic Andesite Destroying Part Of The Ore Body.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Prospect
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Pit
Milling method Washing

Mining district

District name Trail Creek
District name Soda Springs Area
District name Slug Creek

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease
Type of mineral rights State Lease
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category State

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner U.S. Bureau Of Land Management
    Year 1978
  • Type Owner
    Owner State Of Idaho
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1978
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Monsanto Co.
    Home office Missouri
    Year 1980
  • Type Owner
    Owner U.S. Forest Service
    Year 1978

Comments on the ownership information

  • Deposit Consists Of Fed Leased I-013719, I-013720, I-014081, State Lease And Patented Land Owner: Monsanto Chemical Intermediates Co. In Addition To Above

Comments on the production information

  • Total Annual Calcine Phosphate Product Equals 648,550 Tonnes

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1978
    Measured 27000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 27000000mt ore
    Total resources 27000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 24.3 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1978
    Uranium U3O8 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1978
    Vanadium V2O5 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1978
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 2.4299 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1978
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1978
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 42000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 42000000mt ore
    Total resources 42000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 24.6999 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
    Uranium U3O8 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1975
    Vanadium V2O5 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1975
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 2.47 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1975
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 12000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 12000000mt ore
    Total resources 12000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 19.3 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
    Uranium U3O8 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1975
    Vanadium V2O5 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1975
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 1.9299 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1975
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 54000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 54000000mt ore
    Total resources 54000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 23.5 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
    Uranium U3O8 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1975
    Vanadium V2O5 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1975
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 2.35 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1975
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1975

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 154HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .75
    Percent Waste Rock 88.1
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 14
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 25
    Capacity 7300
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 11.68
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 130
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1984

Comments on the workings information

  • The 4 Pits Will Range From 2600-10000 Ft Long, 500-900 Ft Wide And 200-300 Ft Deep(Eis). 1335 Acres Will Be Disturbed 405 For Pits. 730 For Dumps, 100 For Roads, 100 For Safety And Water Control Meausres

Reference information

Bibliographic references

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Average Width Of Mineralization (G-Awm) For Matrix 1 Col 1 & Matrix 2 Col 1 Is That Measured Downdip 25 Degrees Average Thickness Of Mineralized Zone (G-Awm) Is A Cumula- Tive Figure Representing Minable Phosphate Strata And Does Not Include Intervening Strata Of Waste. In Matrix 3, Columns 1,2,&3 G-Awm Was Left Blank. Awm Is Variable In These Columns As One Goes From P-50 To P-10 Percent Quantity Levels. P-50 Represents The Situation Of The Mineralized Strata Continuing To A Depth Of 250 At The Same Constant Angle As It Dips At The Surface. P-25 De- Picts The Resource Possibility In The Situation Where The Strata Changes Inclination To Horizontal At Depth To Lease Boundary. P-10 Percent Shows What Resource May Be Present If The Strata Increased Its Dip To An Average Of 45 Degree At Depth To The Lease Boundary. Basic Thicknesses Of Phosphate Zones From Established Nearby U.S. Geologic Survey Measured Stratigraphic Section And Not From Company Sources. P205 Enrichment Near Surface Due To Leaching Results In Highest Grades This Enrichment Regionally Averages 250 M.
Deposit Leaching Of Calcium Results In Greater P2o5 Percentage. This Evaluated Area Also Involes Trail Creek District. Average Length Of Mineralized Zone Is Actually Outcrop Lengt Areas, B,D, Etc. Refer To Phosphate Study By Garrand Corp. Most Of These Deposits Are Leased. The Rest Is Not Leased.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JUN-76 Siefken, Robert R. (Miller, Pat) U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 13-JUN-94 Crockett U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 07-MAR-95 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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