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Galena Mine

Producer in Shoshone county in Idaho, United States with commodities Silver, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Uranium, Antimony, Gold
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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. Land status
  18. Ownership information
  19. Production statistics
  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 10078343
MRDS ID W026630
Record type Site
Current site name Galena Mine
Alternate or previous names Vulcan Mine

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Geographic coordinates: Elevation UTM Precision Relative position Point location
Ore Body -115.96382, 47.47957 (WGS84) 1.5 MI W OF WALLACE IMMEDIATELY S OF HIGHWAY 10
(click for info)
-115.96382, 47.47957 (WGS84) 952 On Lake Creek
-115.96382, 47.47957 (WGS84) 932 On Lake Creek

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Shoshone(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Wallace(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Wallace(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Wallace(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

South Fork Coeur d'Alene(hydrologic unit)

Spokane(hydrologic accounting unit)

Kootenai-Pend Oreille-Spokane(hydrologic subregion)

Pacific Northwest(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Idaho Shoshone

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 048N 004E 28,29,20,33,34 Idaho

Commodities

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

Comments on the commodity information

  • RADIOACTIVITY FROM 2800 FT LEVEL. PB ISOTOPE COMPOSITION: PB206/PB204 = 16.304 ; PB207/PB204 = 15.394 ; PB208/PB204 = 35.968

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Tetrahedrite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Galena Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Quartz Gangue
Siderite Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Magnetite Gangue
Arsenopyrite Gangue
Bornite Trace
Meneghinite Trace
Bournonite Trace
Boulangerite Trace
Jamesonite Trace
Pitchblende Trace
Gersdorffite Trace

Alteration

  • (Local) Bleaching of hematite-bearing sediments, Sericitization, Chloritization
  • (Local) Halos of disseminated arsenopyrite extend 6 meters into the wall rock from the veins, probably associated with much more extensive zones of disseminated carbonate.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 85
USGS model code 22c
Deposit model name Polymetallic veins
Mark3 model number 46

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Revett Formation
    Rock description Revett Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Neoproterozoic

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure description Big Creek Anticline (WNW-trending), deposit within overturned north limb
Type of structure Regional
Structure description Osburn Fault, WNW, is 1.5 Mi N.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Argentine Fault, N60W 60-70SW, shows normal movement.
Type of structure Regional
Structure description Polaris Fault, N60W 50-65SW, splays into several branches in eastern part of mine.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Vulcan Fault, N68W 95SW
Type of structure Local
Structure description Killbuck Fault, N53W 65NE, shows normal displacement.
Type of structure Local
Structure description Wire Silver Fault, bounds the Silver Zone to the west

Ore body information

  • Name Silver Vein
    General form PINCH AND SWELL, STRINGERS
    Strike N 60 DEG W
    Dip 65 DEG S
    Thickness 600M
    Length 400M
    Width 3
  • Name North Vein
    General form PINCH AND SWELL
    Strike steep SW
    Dip steep SW

Comments on the ore body information

  • The principal silver-bearing vein zones, Argentine (North), West Argentine, Southeastern, and Silver generally strike N70W to N80W and average 2 meters thick. The Lead Zone, between the Polaris Fault Branches B and E, west of Wire Silver Fault, is 300 meters long in an E-W direction, 61 meters N-S, and 300 meters vertical, consisting of 8 principal veins, many veinlets and stringers, striking N70W with steet SW dipt, up to 8 meters wide.
  • Galena is more abundant than tetrahedrite above the 2000 foot (610 meter) mine level and tetrahedrite is more abuGalena is more abundant than tetrahedrite above the 2000 foot (610 meter) mine level and tetrahedrite is more abundant below. Quartz-uraninite veinlets appear to be an earlier stage of mineralization.

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Fracturing in three principal directions (parallel to the Polaris fault, EW faults, and NE faults); Feather Joints Along A Bedding Plane Fault; Most ore hosted by upper Revett Formation quartzite.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1885
Mining method Filled Stopes - Inclined Cut and Fill
Year of first production 1922
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation
Production years 1922, 1926-1931, 1937-1938, 1940-1941, 1950-Present (2005)

Mining district

District name Placer Center, Evolution

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Kill Buck Mining Co., Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office Butte, Montana
    First year 1900
    Last year 1921
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Chicago-Boston Mining Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office Wallace, Idaho
    First year 1906
    Last year 1921
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Galena Mining Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office Wallace, Idaho
    First year 1921
    Last year 1922
  • Type Owner
    Owner Silver Range Mining and Milling Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office Spokane, Washington
    First year 1918
    Last year 1925
  • Type Owner
    Owner Wallace Mining, Milling & Realty Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office Wallace, Idaho
    First year 1905
    Last year 1925
  • Type Owner
    Owner Argentine Mining Co.
    Interest 100
    First year 1923
    Last year 1927
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Callahan Zinc-Lead Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office New York
    First year 1921
    Last year 1958
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Callahan Mining Corp
    Interest 100
    Home office New York
    First year 1958
    Last year 1991
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Vulcan Silver-Lead Corp
    Interest 100
    Home office Wallace, Idaho
    First year 1946
    Last year 1958
  • Type Lessee/Operator
    Owner American Smelting and Refining Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office New York
    First year 1946
    Last year 1976
  • Type Lessee/Operator
    Owner Asarco, Inc
    Interest 100
    Home office New York
    First year 1976
    Last year 1995
  • Type Owner
    Owner Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp.
    Interest 100
    Home office Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
    First year 1991
    Last year 1995
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Silver Valley Resources Corp
    Interest 100
    Home office Wilmington, Delaware
    First year 1995
    Last year 2000
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp.
    Interest 100
    Home office Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
    First year 2000

Comments on the ownership information

  • The modern Galena mine is an amalgamation of several properties. The Chicago-Boston Mining Co. in 1921 absorbed the Kill Buck Mining Co., Ltd., and changed its name to Galena Mining Co. which was purchased by Callahan Zinc-Lead Co. in 1922. Callahan subsequently purchased the Argentine Mining Co. and Silver Range Mining and Milling Co. in 1925 and the Wallace Mining, Milling & Realty Co. in 1927.
  • In 1946, Callahan Zinc-Lead Co. transferred the Galena mine to a newly created subsidiary, Vulcan Silver-Lead Corp. The property was then leased to American Smelting & Refining Co. Callahan Zinc-Lead Co. absorbed its Vulcan Silver-Lead Corp. subsidiary in 1958 and changed its name to Callahan Mining Corp. Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. purchased Callahan Mining Corp. in 1991.
  • In 1995, Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. and Asarco, Inc. pooled their interests in the Galena and Coeur mines into the Silver Valley Resources Corp., on a 50/50 basis. Coeur d'Alene Mines acquired Asarco's share in 2000 to become the sole owner of the Galena mine.

Production statistics

  • Year 2005
    Period 1922-1950
    Material Ore Treated
    Ore mined 158385mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major in concentrates Silver Silver 4576mt 763g/mt
  • Year 2005
    Period 1950-1958
    Material Galena Ore Milled
    Ore mined 399148mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor in concentrates Copper Copper 40904mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 2005
    Period 1959-2003
    Material Ore Milled
    Ore mined 6170339mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Minor in concentrates Lead Lead 2200mt 1wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • Production by Callahan Zinc-Lead Co. from Vulcan mine exploration, 1922 to 1950.
  • Production of Pb-Zn bearing ores in the upper part of the veins from 1950-1958.
  • Production from tetrahedrite veins from 1959 to 2003. Records of production of lead, zinc, and gold are incomplete.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Name Proven and Probable Reserves
    Estimate year 2003
    Total resources 650000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver 739 g/mt Silver Major 2003
  • Type In-situ
    Name Additional Resource
    Estimate year 2003
    Total resources 2043000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver 375 g/mt Silver Major 2003
  • Type In-situ
    Name Lead-silver resource
    Estimate year 1998
    Total resources 316000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Lead 12.34 wt-pct Lead Minor 1998

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • From Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp. Annual Report for 2003.
  • Reported by Asarco, Inc. in its 1998 annual report.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Name of workings Total Workings
    Length 43923.81M
    Overall depth 1493.52M

Comments on the workings information

  • TOTAL DEVELOPMENT BY 1966 GIVEN IN LENGTH OF WORKINGS ABOVE

Comments on development

  • 1039 ACRES IN 53 PATENTED AND 19 UNPATENTED CLAIMS. 13338 FT OF UNDERGROUND DIAMOND DRILLING BY 1966 ; ECON.COM: $3.6 MILLION SPENT IN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT WORK IN RECENT YEARS ( 1976 REF)
  • The modern Galena mine is based on silver-rich veins, the first of which was discovered by American Smelting and Refining Co. in 1951. Lead rich ores had been found earlier, certainly by 1946.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    CAMPBELL, A. B., AND OTHERS, 1961 , GUIDEBOOK TO THE GEOLOGY OF THE COEUR D'ALENE MINING DISTRICT: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOLOGY BULL. 16

  • Deposit

    COOK, E. F., 1955 , PROSPECTING FOR URANIUM, THORIUM, AND TUNGSTEN IN IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 102 , 53 P.

  • Deposit

    WEIS, P. L., AND OTHERS, 1958 , RECONNAISSANCE FOR RADIOACTIVE MINERALS IN WASHINGTON, IDAHO, AND WESTERN MONTANA, 1952 - 1955 : USGS BULL. 1074 - B, P. 7 - 48

  • Deposit

    Chan, Samuel Shu Mou, 1966, Mineralogical and geochemical studies of the vein materials from the Galena mine, Shoshone County, Idaho: Moscow, University of Idaho, PhD dissertation, 251 p.

  • Deposit

    Clark, Allen Leroy, 1968, Wall rock alteration and trace element distribution in the Galena mine, Shoshone County, Idaho: Moscow, University of Idaho, PhD dissertation, 140 p.

  • Deposit

    Dahl, Mary Katherine, 1981, Structural and stratigraphic control of ore through the Crescent, Sunshine, Silver Summit, Coeur and Galena mines, Coeur d'Alene mining district, Idaho: Moscow, University of Idaho, MS thesis, 97 p.

  • Deposit

    Fryklund, V.C., Jr., 1964, Ore deposits of the Coeur d'Alene district, Shoshone County, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 445, 103 p.

  • Deposit

    Kesten, S.N., 1963, Geology of the Page and Galena mines, in The Coeur d'Alene mining district in 1963: Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology Pamphlet 133, p. 95-98.

  • Deposit

    Yates, Martin G., 1987, Geology and geochemistry of the Ag-Cu-Pb deposits in the Galena mine, Coeur d'Alene district, Idaho: Bloomington, Indiana University, PhD dissertation, 220 p.

  • Deposit

    Gordon, Robert E., 1973, Relationship of ore-bearing veins to the geology at the Galena mine, Silver Belt portion of the Coeur d'Alene district, Shoshone County, Idaho: Paper presented at Pacific Northwest Metals Conference, Spokane, Washington, 19 p.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit PAGE-GALENA MINERAL BELT IS ABOUT 67000 FT. LONG. STRIKE AND DIP ABOVE REFER TO WINZE AND 600 E. NO. 2 ORE SHOOTS, THE LATTER OF WHICH IS 50 FT. LONG. THE LEAD ORE SHOOT STRIKES N 70 DEG W, DIPS STEEPLY S, IS PLUS OR MINUS 1800 FT LONG. THE SILVER ORE SHOOT STRIKES S 70 DEG W, DIPS 70 DEG S, IS 800 FT LONG. ALTITUDE OF THE VEINS RANGES FROM 3100 FT TO -300 FT (BELOW SEA LEVEL)
Deposit THE WINZE AND 600 E NO. 2 ORE SHOOTS LIE N. OF THE POLARIS FAULT; THE LEAD VEIN LIES JUST S OF THE POLARIS FAULT BUT AT A MUCH GREATER DEPTH.
Deposit Discovery Year: 1880'S

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-FEB-1975 Miller, Pat J. U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 01-OCT-1978 Murphy, Lyn S. U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 22-MAY-1986 Kauffman, John D. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 18-JUN-1997 Clarke, Donald U.S. Bureau of Mines
Updater 11-MAR-2005 Long, Keith R. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusActive since 04/25/1995
MSHA mine ID1000082
Mine name (MSHA)Galena
Current operatorU.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc.
Current controller (parent)Americas Gold and Silver Corporation
Mine typeUnderground (Metal / non-metal)

Inferred by coordinate + name similarity (631 m, 1.00 match). Confirm against MSHA if precision matters — non-USGS-curated cross-references may occasionally point at a neighbouring mine.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • American Smelting and Refining Co. — acquired by Asarco LLC, subsidiary of Grupo México (2009)
    Renamed to Asarco; filed Chapter 11 in 2005; acquired by Grupo México in 2009.

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

External references

Maps centered on this site