Diamond Creek Proposed Mine

Producer in Caribou county in Idaho, United States with commodities Fluorine-Fluorite, Phosphorus-Phosphates, 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 10265360
MRDS ID W026151
MAS/MILS ID 0160290163
Record type Deposit
Current site name Diamond Creek Proposed Mine
Alternate or previous names Diamond Creek / Alumet

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -111.2491, 42.77992 (WGS84)
Elevation 2020
Location accuracy 100(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Caribou(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Diamond Flat(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 045 E 30 Idaho

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Fluorine-Fluorite Critical Tertiary
Phosphorus-Phosphates Primary
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

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 Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    Rock type qualifier Phosphatic Shale
    Rock unit name Phosphoria Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Chemical Sediment > Chert
    Rock unit name Phosphoria Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Phosphoria 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 Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Shale
    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 > Carbonate > Limestone
    Rock unit name Wells Formation
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Sandstone
    Rock unit name Wells Formation

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) Alluvial deposits.

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Upthrown Block Of Upper Valley Fault
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Snowdrift Anticline
Type of structure Local
Structure name Faulting
Type of structure Local
Structure name Folding

Ore body information

  • General form IRREGULAR
    Strike N30W
    Dip 45E
    Thickness 18M
    Length 4910M
    Area 411HA
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 2
    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 N30W:45E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 2
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Bedding
  • Structure

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Pit
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Milling method Thermal Decomposition

Comments on exploration

  • THE SITE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY MINING. THE SITE HAS BEEN EXPLORED BY DRILLS AND TRENCHS. AIR PHOTOS(JULY 1978) SHOW 8 BULLDOZER TRENCHES CUTTING THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION AND TEN DRILL PADS SCATTERED OVER THE LEASE HOLDINGS.

Mining district

District name Slug Creek District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner U.S. Forest Service
    Interest 100
    Year 1978
    First year 1978
    Last year 1995
  • Type Operator
    Owner Alumet Corp.
    Year 1978
    First year 1978
    Last year 1995

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 2127000mt ore
    Demonstrated 2127000mt ore
    Total resources 2127000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 27.2 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 259000mt ore
    Demonstrated 259000mt ore
    Total resources 259000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 17.1999 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 2386000mt ore
    Demonstrated 2386000mt ore
    Total resources 2386000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 26.1 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • GARRAND RESERVES ARE FOR THE FOLLOWING ORE BLOCKS: UPPER VALLEY QUAD: 36B-37B. GARRAND ONLY SHOWS THE RESOURCES IN NW CORNER OF LEASES (SECS 24, 25, T7S R44E).

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 265HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .3
    Percent Waste Rock 89.2
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 2
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover HARD ROCKS
    Tertiary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 13
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 5739
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 968.9
    Unit Production Cost 7.06
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1984

Comments on the workings information

  • 1 PIT WILL BE 12,000 FT LONG, 1400 FT WIDE (AVG.), UP TO 750 FT DEEP

Comments on other economic factors

  • MINE WILL OPERATE 350 DAYS PER YEAR: 4147 MT/DAY ORE(2 SHIFTS); 34257 MT/DAY WASTE(3 SHIFTS). WASTE ROCK WOULD BE REMOVED BY ELECTRIC SHOVELS AND DUMP TRUCKS. ORE WOULD BE REMOVED BY HYDRAULIC EXCAVATORS AND DUMP TRUCKS. ONLY THE REX CHERT WILL REQUIRE BLASTING

Comments on development

  • ALUMET GROUP LEASE COVERS 1195 ACRES ( 1975 ) ; ECON.COM: STRIPPING RATIO WILL START AT 3.4 : 1 AND INCREASE TO 10.4 : 1 IN 1981 (EXPRESSED AS CY OF OVERBURDEN : CY OF ORE)

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Geology

    EMIGH, G. D., 1958, PETROGRAPHY, MINERALOGY AND ORIGIN OF PHOSPHATE PELLETS IN THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, PAMPHLET NO. 114, 60 P.

  • Geology

    MARTIN, G. W., 1958, MINERALOGY OF PHOSPHATE OOLITES: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 53, NO. 8, DECEMBER, P. 1046-1048.

  • Reserve-Resource

    GARRAND, L. J., 1975, PHOSPHATE STUDY SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO, FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CARIBOU NATIONAL FOREST, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONTRACT NO. 50-820: GARRAND CORP.

  • Reserve-Resource

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

  • Deposit

    LI, TA M., 1978, SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO PHOSPHATE MINING: HOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DISTORTS GROWTH PLANS: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 30, NO. 1, P. 25-28.

  • Deposit

    CARTER, RUSSELL A., 1978, AN INTEGRATED INDUSTRY - PHOSPHATE MINING AND MILLING IN IDAHO: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 30, NO. 1, P. 29-36.

  • Deposit

    RULE, A. R., D. E. KIRBY, AND D. C. DAHLIN, 1978, RECENT ADVANCES IN BENEFICIATION OF WESTERN PHOSPHATES: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 30, NO. 1, P. 37-40.

  • Deposit

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

  • Deposit

    RICHARDS, R.W., 1914, GEOLOGY OF THE PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS NORTHEAST OF GEORGETOWN, IDAHO, USGS BULL 577.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, JAN 1978, ALUMET'S DIAMOND CREEK READIES FOR PRODUCTION, PP 35-36.

  • Deposit

    SHELDON, R.P., 1953, STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN IDAHO, 1949, PART 4, USGS CIRC, 304.

  • Deposit

    O'MALLEY, F.W., 1953, STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN IDAHO, 1947-48, PART 3, USGS CIRC. 262.

  • Deposit

    SERVICE, A. L., 1966, AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS), 3. IDAHO: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 6801, 201 P.

  • Deposit

    SERVICE, A. L. AND POPOFF, C. C., 1964, AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS), 1. INTRODUCTORY REVIEW: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 6485, 86 P.

  • Deposit

    DAY, R. L., 1973, TRENDS IN THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY OF IDAHO AND THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, PAMPHLET 155, 63 P.

  • Deposit

    POWELL, J. D., 1974, EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, INFORMATION CIRCULAR NO. 25, 33 P.

  • Deposit

    RIOUX, R.L., 1975, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE UPPER VALLEY QUAD., CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO, USGS MAP GQ-1194.

  • Deposit

    SERVICE, A. L., AND PETERSEN, N. S., 1967, AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS) TRENDS AND OUTLOOK: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 6935, 131 P.

  • Deposit

    THOMPSON, M. E., 1953, DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 988-D, P. 45-65.

  • Deposit

    THOMPSON, M. E., 1954, FURTHER STUDIES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1009-D, P. 107-122

  • Deposit

    MC DIVITT, J. F., 1956, ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE AND OTHER MINERALS IN SOUTHERN IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, PAMPHLET NO. 111, 48 P.

  • Deposit

    DE UOTO, R. H., 1979, URANIFEROUS PHOSPHATE RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS OF URANIUM RECOVERY FROM PHOSHPATE RESOURCES, U.S., AND FREE WORLD., OPEN FILE REPORT, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE AVERAGE WIDTH OF MINERALIZATION(AWM) DIMENSION IS HARD TO PUT A FINGER ON, NO MENTION OF IT IS GIVEN IN THE EIS. FOR MATRIX 3 50% PROB LEVEL IT IS 250M. FOR MATRIX 3 PROB LEVELS 25-10% IT IS ALSO VARIABLE(810 ACRES OF LEASES WAS ASSUMED TO BE UNDERLAIN BY P205) THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF MINERALIZATION(ALM) DIMENSION FOR MATRICES 1 AND 9 IS UNKNOWN, NO MENTION IS MADE OF HOW FAR NW OF THE LEASES ALUMENT PLANS TO MINE.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 25-APR-95 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JUN-76 Siefken, Robert R. (Miller, Pat) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 15-NOV-10 Causey, J. Douglas U.S. Geological Survey Added Model

Beyond USGS

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