Blackfoot Bridge 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 10193174
MRDS ID W026135
MAS/MILS ID 0160290167
Record type Deposit
Current site name Blackfoot Bridge Proposed Mine
Alternate or previous names Blackfoot Bridge, Blackfoot Bridge Site, Aspen Range North Property 1966

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -111.52441, 42.79072 (WGS84)
Elevation 1945
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position 10 MI NE OF SODA SPRINGS

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Caribou(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

China Hat(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)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Idaho Caribou

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 007 S 042 E 26 SENWNW Idaho

Commodities

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

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Travertine Gangue
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 92 SAMPLES OF STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION GAVE 35.6 % P2O5 MAX ( SECTION 26)

Mineral occurrence model information

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

Host and associated rocks

  • 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 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
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock unit name Phosphoria Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Chemical Sediment > Chert
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -111.52441, 42.79072

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Trail Creek Syncline
Type of structure Local
Structure name Minor Faults
Type of structure Local
Structure name Sedimentary

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR
    Strike N20W
    Dip 45E
    Thickness 14.1M
    Length 3683M
    Width 70M
    Area 263HA
    Depth to top 30M
    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
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 OTHER
    Strike And Dip N20W:45E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 2
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 840912
  • General form IRREGULAR
    Strike N 20 DEG W
    Dip 50 DEG NE
    Thickness 15.24M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Bedding

Comments on the geologic information

  • 120.73 FT THICKNESS OF PHOSPHATIC SHALE MEMBER ( SECTION 26 ); THICKNESS ABOVE FOR 2 ORE ZONES

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

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease

Land status

Ownership category Private
Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Monsanto
    Interest 100
    Home office Missouri
    Year 1984

Comments on the ownership information

  • OWNERS: PART OWNED BY MONSANTO CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES

Comments on the production information

  • PRODUCTION PROJECTED TO BEGIN 1999 AND END IN 2001 ( USGS, 1975 )

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1978
    Measured 5400000mt ore
    Demonstrated 5400000mt ore
    Total resources 5400000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Uranium U 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1978
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 26 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1978
    Vanadium V 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1978
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 2.6 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1978
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1978
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 7000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 7000000mt ore
    Total resources 7000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1975
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 2.64 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1975
    Vanadium V 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1975
    Uranium U 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1975
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 26.4 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 2000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 2000000mt ore
    Total resources 2000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1975
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 1.74 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1975
    Vanadium V 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1975
    Uranium U 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1975
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 17.4 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 9000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 9000000mt ore
    Total resources 9000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    REE REE 0.1 wt-pct REE Trace 1975
    Fluorine-Fluorite F 2.46 wt-pct Fluorine Trace 1975
    Vanadium V 0.07 wt-pct Vanadium Trace 1975
    Uranium U 0.01 wt-pct Uranium Trace 1975
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 24.6 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • MATRIX 1 REPRESENTS RECOVERABLE RESERVES. THE TONNAGE WAS OBTAINED FROM MONSANTO THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT. THE GRADE IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON DATA FROM THE DEVELOPED LOCAL STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION. MATRIX 2 IS A RESOURCE ESTIMATE MADE BY TED LOWE. THE FIGURES ARE THE RESULT OF CALCULATIONS BASED ON COMPANY REPORTED PIT DIMENSIONS, AND ON APPROXIMATIONS WHERE COMPANY DATA WERE ABSENT. MATRIX 3 STATES IDENTIFIED RESOURCES. COLUMN 1 REPRESENTS LOW, MEDIUM, AND HIGH GRADE RESOURCES. COLUMN 2 REPRESENTS MEDIUM, AND HIGH GRADE RESOURCES, COLUMN 3 REPRESENTS HIGH GRADE RESOURCES. ROW 3 CONTAINS A RESOURCE ESTIMATE DERIVED BY EXTENDING THE DOWN DIP WIDTH DIMENSION TO 250 M AND MULTIPLYING BY THE APPROPRIATE LENGTH, THICKNESS, AND TONNAGE FACTOR. ROW 4 IS AN ESTIMATE OF RESOURCE TONNAGE IN THE MEAD PEAK MEMBER LYING BETWEEN THE OUTCROP AND A VERTICAL PROJECTION OF LEASE BOUNDARIES.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 55HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .67
    Percent Waste Rock 88.1
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 35
    Primary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 60
    Secondary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 40
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 7000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 10.4
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 130
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1984

Comments on the workings information

  • 2 OPEN PITS PROPOSED WILL BE 10600 FT LONG, 500 FT WIDE, AND ABOUT 200 FT DEEP

Comments on development

  • 600 ACRE LEASE FOR PROPOSED MINE ( 1975 ) ; ECON.COM: STRIPPING RATIO WOULD BE 3 : 1 (CY WASTE : TONS ORE)

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    CARTER, R. A. AN INTEGRATED INDUSTRY - PHOSPHATE MINING AND MILING IN IDAHO. MIN. ENG., V. 30, NO. 1, 1978, PP. 29-36.

  • Deposit

    MANSFIELD, G. R., 1927 , GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF PART OF SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO: USGS PROF. PAPER 152 , 453 P.

  • Deposit

    SERVICE, A. L., 1966 , AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES, PART 3 , IDAHO: USBM REPT. INV. 6801 , 201 P.

  • Deposit

    USGS, 1975 , DEVELOPMENT OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO: DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, V. 2 , PT. 9.4 , P. 81 - 109

  • Reserve-Resource

    DAY, R. L. TRENDS IN THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY OF IDAHO AND THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD. ID BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. PAMPHLET 155, 1973, 63 PP.

  • Deposit

    O'MALLEY, F. W., AND OTHERS, 1953 , STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN IDAHO, 1947 - 1948 , PART 3 : USGS CIRC. 262 , 43 P.

  • Deposit

    POWELL, J. D., 1974 , EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF. CIRC. 25 , 33 P.

  • Deposit

    1927 RECON G. R. MANSFIELD, PROF. PAPER 152

  • Deposit

    1953 COMPILE F. W. O'MALLEY AND OTHERS, CIRC. 262

  • Reserve-Resource

    EMIGH, G. D. PETROGRAPHY, MINERALOGY, AND ORIGIN OF PHOSPHATE PELLETS IN THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION. ID BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. PAMPHLET NO. 114, 1958, 60 PP.

  • Deposit

    1966 RECON USBM REPT. INV. 6801

  • Deposit

    1974 RECON IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF. CIRC. 25

  • Deposit

    1975 RECON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, V. 2 , PT. 9.4

  • Reserve-Resource

    GARRAND, L. J. PHOSPHATE STUDY SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO. U.S. FOREST SERVICE CONTRACT NO. 50-820, GARRAND CORP., 1975.

  • Reserve-Resource

    LI, T. M. SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO PHOSPHATE DURING MINING. HOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DISTORTS GROWTH PLANS. MIN. ENG., V. 30, NO. 1, 1978, PP. 25-28.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MARTIN, G. W. MINERALOGY OF PHOSPHATE OOLITES. ECON. GEOL., V. 53, NO. 8, 1958, PP. 1046-1048.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MCDIVITT, J. F. ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE AND OTHER MINERALS IN SOUTHERN IDAHO. ID BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. PAMPHLET NO. 111, 1956.

  • Reserve-Resource

    O'MALLEY, F. W., D. F. DAVIDSON, R. A. HOPPIN, AND R. P. SHELDON. STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN IDAHO, 1947-48, PART III. U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRC. 262, 1953, PP. 24-26.

  • Reserve-Resource

    POWELL, J. D. EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO. ID BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. IC NO. 25, 1974, 33 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RULE, A. R., D. E. KIRBY, AND D. C. DAHLIN. RECENT ADVANCES IN BENEFICIATION OF WESTERN PHOSPHATES. MIN. ENG., V. 30, NO. 1, 1978, PP. 36-40.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SERVICE, A. L. AND C. C. POPOFF. AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOUCES (IN FIVE PARTS); PART 1, INTRODUCTORY REVIEW. BUMINES RI 6485, 1964, 86 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SERVICE, A. L. AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS); PART 3, IDAHO. BUMINES RI 6801, 1966, 201 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SERVICE, A. L. AND N. S. PETERSEN. AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS); PART 5, TRENDS AND OUTLOOK. BUMINES RI 6935, 1967, 131 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    THOMPSON, M. E. DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION. U.S. GEOL. SURV. BULL. 988-D, 1953, PP. 45-65.

  • Reserve-Resource

    THOMPSON, M. E. FURTHER STUDIES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION. U.S. GEOL. SURV. BULL. 1009-D, 1954, PP. 107-122.

  • Reserve-Resource

    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE. FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/DEVELOPMENT OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO. FOUR VOLUMES, 1978.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE PROPERTY IS TRAVERSED BY AN ACCESS ROAD; WATER AT THE SITE IS ADEQUATE FOR A MINING OPERATION. POWER WOULD BE GENERATED AT THE SITE OR TRANSMITTED FROM THE POWERLINE THAT TRAVERSES THE PROPERTY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPORTS A LENGTH FOR THE TWO PITS OF 3,230 M, AN AVERAGE PIT WIDTH OF 150 M, AND AN AVERAGE DEPTH OF 60 M. AN AVERAGE PIT WIDTH OF 170 M WAS CALCULATED AND A DOWNDIP WIDTH OF 86 M, AND A TOTAL ORE THICKNESS OF 14.1 M. APPROVED & NOT DEVELOPED. ON HOLD FOR 20+ YEARS. OPTION IF BRIDGE CLOSES. UNLIKELY.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-MAR-1995 Spear, James M. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JUN-1976 Siefken, Robert R. (Miller, Pat) U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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