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Conda Mine

Past Producer in Caribou county in Idaho, United States with commodities Phosphorus-Phosphates, Fluorine-Fluorite, REE, Uranium, Vanadium
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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. 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. 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 10143808
MRDS ID W026092
MAS/MILS ID 0160290004
Record type Deposit
Current site name Conda Mine
Alternate or previous names Soda Springs NE, Area A, Woodal Mountain, N. Trail Canyon

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -111.52641, 42.72712 (WGS84)
Elevation 1920
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Caribou(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Soda Springs(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Soda Springs(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Preston(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Bear Lake(hydrologic unit)

Lower Bear(hydrologic accounting unit)

Bear(hydrologic subregion)

Great Basin(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Idaho Caribou

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 008 S 042 E 14,15 NENESE (15) 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
Calcite Unknown
Collophane Unknown
Dolomite Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Limonite Unknown
Muscovite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Sericite Unknown

Analytical data

Result RANDOM SAMPLES RANGED FROM 18 - 34 % P2O5, OTHERS AVG. 34 % P2O5
Result 142 SAMPLES OF STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION IN 300 LEVEL E CROSSCUT GAVE 34.2 % P2O5 MAX

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

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -111.52641, 42.72712
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Trail Creek Syncline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Thrust And Block Faults Of Bannock Thrust Zone
Type of structure Local
Structure name Small Anticlines
Type of structure Local
Structure name Syncline
Type of structure Local
Structure name Fault

Ore body information

  • Strike N00W
    Dip 20E
    Thickness 12M
    Length 1920M
    Width 359M
    Area 2475HA
    Depth to top 80M
    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
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 OTHER
    Strike And Dip N00W:20E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 840510
  • Strike N40W
    Dip 60E
    Thickness 14M
    Length 16000M
    Width 1000M
    Area 2475HA
    Depth to top 100M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 3
    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
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 OTHER
    Strike And Dip N40W:60E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 840510
  • General form IRREGULAR
    Strike N 10 DEG W
    Dip 55 DEG E
    Thickness 2.13M
    Area 2475HA
    Depth to bottom 304.8M
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 2475
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Structure

Comments on the geologic information

  • Tectonism & Weathering; Cret & Holo; Carbonate Fluorapatite, Quartz, Illite, Gypsum, Organic; Deposition By Upwelling Nutrient Laden Waters On Stable Shelf. Geology Complicated By Tectonism (Complicated Folding And Faulting). Weathering In Holocene Removed Some Carbonate, Thus Enriching The Material In P2o5

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1906
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1922
Milling method Washing
Production years 1919 - 1957 : Underground\n1952 - Present: Open Pit

Mining district

District name Trail Creek
District name SE Idaho Phosphate District \n

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Federal Lease

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner J. R. Simplot Co.
    ID 1000094
    Interest 74
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1975
  • Type Owner
    Owner U.S. Bureau Of Land Management
    Interest 26
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1975

Production statistics

  • Year 1959
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.1 % P205 150000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 150000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1960
    Description Phosphate Rock 27.1 % P205 290000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 290000mt 27wt-pct
  • Year 1961
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.5 % P205 260000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 260000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1962
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.6 % P205 300000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 300000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1963
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.6 % P205 470000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 470000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1964
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.6 % P205 310000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 310000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1965
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.2 % P205 460000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 460000mt 25wt-pct
  • Year 1966
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.6 % P205 500000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 500000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1967
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.5 % P205 420000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 420000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1968
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.2 % P205 570000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 570000mt 25wt-pct
  • Year 1969
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.5 % P205 400000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 400000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1970
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0 % P205 460000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 460000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1971
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.7 % P205 570000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 570000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0 % P205 540000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 540000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.1 % P205 530000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 530000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.1 % P205 610000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 610000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Description Phosphate Rock 24.5 % P205 690000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 690000mt 25wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Description Phosphate Rock 24.7 % P205 670000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 670000mt 25wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.5 % P205 1050000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 1050000mt 27wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Description Phosphate Rock 24.0 % P205 820000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 820000mt 24wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Description Phosphate Rock 23.2% P205 1260000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 1260000mt 23wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.0% P205 1623000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 1623000mt 25wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description Phosphate Rock 31.2% P205 784000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 784000mt 31wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description Phosphate Rock 29.9% P205 846000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 846000mt 30wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • Mined Out 1982. In Reclamation. The Present Access Road Is Adequate. Water And Electrial Power Are Available At The Site.
  • 1919 - 1957 : Underground, 1952 - Present: Open Pit, Production 1919 - 1959 By Anaconda Co., 1959 - Present By J. R. Simplot Co.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Total resources 65269000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 26.5 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Matrix 1, Column 2, Rows 1 And 2 Represent The Resources Remaining On Woodall Mountain. Matrix 1 Column 2, Row 3 Represents The Resources Remaining On Woodall Mountain And The Resources, Lying In The Area Between The Existing Simplot Leases And The Leases Belonging To Monsanto In The Blackfoot Bridge Area To The North. Matrix 3, Row 3,Represents Conda Resources Exclusive Of Woodall Mountain, Assuming A Bed Continuity To 250 M Downdip. Matrix 3, Row 4, Represents Conda Resources Exclusive Of Woodall Mountain, Based Upon The Area Underlain By The Phosphoria Formation And Adjusted For Bedding Dip.
  • Resources Remaining On Woodall Mountain Can Be Extracted By Surface Methods At A Stripping Ratio Which Exceeds 12.6:1 (T Of Waste To T Of Ore); A Ratio Which Exceeds The Economic Limit. Exploration Has Revealed That The Remaining Resources Lying At Depth Have A High Magnesium Oxide (Mgo) Content And Are Throughly Indurated. Costly Beneficiation Techniques Would Be Required To Upgrade The Phosphate Rock, Requiring A Redesigned Beneficiation Plant. Mining Activity On Woodall Mountain Will Crease Within The Year (1984), Although The Processing And Shipping Facilities Will Continue To Process Other Ores. Other Resource Areas In The Trail Creek District Which Could Feed The Conda Mill Are The Conda Anticline, Middle Sulfur Canyon, And The N. Trail Canyon Area.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface/Underground
    Length 45720M

Comments on development

  • Non-Geologic Constraints On Development Or Expansion In 1-5 Yrs. (Environment; Govt. Regulations;). Development(Yes); Exploration(Yes); Byproduct Uranium, Fluorine, And Vanadium Can Be Produced
  • 3400 Acres Of Patented Placer Claims (1976).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    British Sulphur Corp. Ltd., 1980: World Survey Of Phosphate Deposits, 4th Ed., London

  • Reserve-Resource

    Carter, R. A. An Integrated Industry-Phosphate Mining And Milling In Idaho. Min Eng., V. 30, No. 1, 1978, Pp. 29-36.

  • 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

    Mckelvey, V. E., And Others, 1953 , Stratigraphic Sections Of The Phosphoria Formation In Idaho, 1947 - 1948 , Part 1 : USGS Circ. 208 , 49 P.

  • 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.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Garrand, L.J., 1975: Phosphate Study Southeast Idaho, For U.S. Department Of Agriculture, Caribou National Forest, U.S. Department Of Agriculture Contract No.50-820, Garrand Corp.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Gulbrandsen, R. A., K. P. Mclaughlin, F. S. Hunkala, And S. E. Clabaugh. Geology Of The Johnson Creek Quadrangle, Caribou County, Idaho. U.S. Geol Surv Bulletin 1042-A, 1956, 23 Pp.

  • 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

    Mansfield, G. R. Geography, Geology, And Mineral Resources Of Southeastern Idaho. U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 152, 1927.

  • 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

    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 Benefication Of Western Phosphates. Min. Eng., V. 30, No. 1, 1978, Pp. 36-40.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Russel, T. C. Mining Of Phosphate Rock At Conda, Idaho. Min. Eng., V. 1, No. 8, 1949, Pp. 279-282.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Schwarz, D A. History Of The Conda Operation Underground To Strip Mining. Anatomy Of The Western Phosphate Field, Fifteenth Annu. Field Conf., Intermountain Assoc. Of Geol., 1967.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Service, . 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

    Service, A. L. And C. C. Popoff. An Evaluation Of The (In Five Parts); Part 1, Introductory Review. Bumines Ri 6485, 1964, 86pp

  • Reserve-Resource

    Thompson, M.E. Distribution Of Uranium In Rich Phosphate Beds Of The Phosphoria Formation. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bul. 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. Bulletin 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 V., 1978.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit This Record Was Compiled For The International Strategic Minerals Inventory. The Data Were Used In Preparation Of The USGS Circular 930 Series Of Reports. Mineral Resource Categories And Codes Herein Are From The International Classification System Recommended By The United Nations Group Of Experts On Definitions And Terminology For Mineral Resources. (See National Resources Forum, V. 4, No. 3, P. 307-313.). Surface Ore Is Transported By Rail (160 Km) To The Mill At Leefe Wyo. Or (560 Km) To The Mill At Silver Bow, Mont.
Deposit 8320 Acre Area Regarded As Phosphate Land Within Township ( 1927 ); 199.15 Ft Thickness Phosphatic Shale Member In 300 Level E Crosscut

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 05-APR-1995 Spear, James M. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JAN-1983 Saam, Henning, G. Bundesanstalt Fuer Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffee (Germany)
Reporter 01-JUN-1976 Matthews, John Y.; Miller, Pat U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 01/01/1992
MSHA mine ID1000094
Mine name (MSHA)Conda Mill
Current operatorJ R Simplot Company
Current controller (parent)Scott Simplot
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

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

External references

Maps centered on this site