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Golden Sunbeam Mine

Past Producer in Custer county in Idaho, United States with commodities Gold, Silver, Copper, REE
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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. Mineral rights holdings
  18. Land status
  19. Ownership information
  20. Production statistics
  21. Reserves and resources
  22. Workings at the site
  23. Links to other databases
  24. Bibliographic references
  25. General comments
  26. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10144271
MRDS ID W014272
MAS/MILS ID 0160370034
Record type Site
Current site name Golden Sunbeam Mine
Alternate or previous names Sunbeam, Grouse Creek Venture, Bismarck, Grouse Creek, Golden Sunbeam, Bismark, Grouse Creek Project, Grouse Creek Open Pit, Grouse Creek Unit, Daisy, Montana-Sunbeam

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -114.74204, 44.43988 (WGS84)
Elevation 2226
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position The project is located about 80 km southwest of Challis Idaho, and 3 km south of Idaho's River of No Return Wilderness, at a 2,226-m elevation.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Custer(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Custer(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

White Cloud Peaks(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Challis(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Salmon(hydrologic unit)

Salmon(hydrologic accounting unit)

Lower Snake(hydrologic subregion)

Pacific Northwest(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Salmon-Challis National Forest(National Forest)

National Forest FS(Type of land area)

FS(Federal land areas administered by FS)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Idaho Custer

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 013 N 014 E 19,20,29 Idaho

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Gold Primary
Silver Primary
Copper Tertiary
REE Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Gold Ore
Silver Ore
Argentite Ore
Electrum Ore
Arsenopyrite Ore
Pyrargyrite Ore
Pyrite Gangue
Quartz Gangue

Alteration

  • (Local) Sericitized
  • (Local) Silicification

Analytical data

Result AVG. GRADE OF 540 ASSAYS: $1.14/TON
Result AG - AU RATIO OF 2.5: 1, SOME SAMPLES OF BIG STOPE ORE ASSAYED $50 - 100/TON, ORE AVG. $2-4/TON.

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 104
USGS model code 25a
Deposit model name Hot-spring Au-Ag
Mark3 model number 45

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Rock unit name Wood River Formation
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Pennsylvanian
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Volcanic Rock (Aphanitic) > Pyroclastic Rock > Tuff
    Rock unit name Challis Volcanics
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Oligocene

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) Challis Volcanic Group.
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Brecciation
Type of structure Local
Structure name Gouge

Ore body information

  • Thickness 400M
    Length 2000M
    Width 1000M
    Area 100HA
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SERICITIC
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 100
    Date of Last Modification 960711
  • Name Grouse Creek
    General form IRREGULAR, LENSES, SEAMS
    Length 914.4M
    Width 609.6M
    Depth to bottom 304.8M

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Fracture Zones

Comments on the geologic information

  • Fractures Trend From N 70 Deg W To N 70 Deg E and Dip 55 Deg NE To 75 Deg Nw.
  • The Sunbeam and Grouse deposits lie in the mountainside above the mill complex, and are hosted in Eocene volcanic rocks within the Custer graben, a major, northeast-trending, tectonic depression. The Custer graben forms part of the trans-Challis fault system, a 140-mile-long by 40-mile-wide zone defined by regional, high-angle faults, grabens, and cauldron subsidence features.

    The ash flow tuffs in the Sunbeam pit are intruded by rhyolite flow domes and post-mineralized dikes. Mineralization occurs along silicified and argillized zones of hydrothermal-fault breccias, controlled by northeasterly trending structures.

    Ore minerals include native gold, electrum, pyrargyrite (ruby silver), pyrite, and arsenopyrite. The central part of the deposit is higher in grade than either the top or the bottom.

    The geology of the Grouse differs from Sunbeam in that a carbonaceous black shale overlies the ash flow tuffs, with rhyolitic flow domes intruding at a much deeper level. Mineralization predominates in the hydrothermal-volcanic breccias and in the basal portion of the sedimentary unit that caps the sequence.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Large
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1879
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1903
Plant type Leach
Plant subcategory Hydromet
Milling method Carbon-In-Pulp-Merrill-Crowe

Mining district

District name Yankee Fork

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Private
Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Hecla Mining Co.
    Interest 100
    Home office 6500 North Mineral Drive\nSuite 200\nCoeur d'Alene ID 83815-9408
    Year 1997
    First year 1997
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Hecla Mining Co.
    Interest 80
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1996
    First year 1991
    Last year 1997
  • Type Owner
    Owner Great Lakes Minerals Inc
    Interest 20
    Home office Canada
    Year 1996
    First year 1994
    Last year 1997
  • Type Operator
    Owner James L Hora - Sunbeam Mining Corp. (See "O"Comments)
    Interest 100
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1986
  • Type Owner
    Owner Jason Vaught
    Year 1973
  • Type Operator
    Owner Vernon Taylor
    Home office Colorado
    Year 1973
  • Type Operator
    Owner Long Lac Minco
    Home office Canada
    Year 1973

Production statistics

  • Year 1994
    Material Ore Milled
    Ore mined 80413mt
    Description Ore Milled 80413 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 272559.8g
    Major Gold Gold 65099.58g
  • Year 1995
    Material Ore Mined
    Ore mined 1255188mt
    Description Ore Production 1255188 Mt Ore Mined
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 21054412.84g
    Major Gold Gold 2600530.94g
  • Year 1995
    Material Ore Milled
    Ore mined 1773746mt
    Description Ore Milled 1773746 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 21054412.84g
    Major Gold Gold 2600530.94g
  • Year 1996
    Material Ore Milled
    Ore mined 1586207mt
    Description Ore Milled 1586207 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 10674683.57g
    Major Gold Gold 2387192.16g

Comments on the production information

  • Mining ended in April 1997 due to higher than expected operating costs and lower than expected operating margins, primarily because the ore occurred in thinner, less continuous structures than had been originally expected.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 7793000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 1.51 g/mt Gold Major 1996
    Silver Ag 42.86 g/mt Silver Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 7793000mt ore
    Inferred 7033000mt ore
    Total resources 14826000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 1.34 g/mt Gold Major 1996
    Silver Ag 40.93 g/mt Silver Major 1996
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 546397mt ore
    Total resources 546397mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 1.37 g/mt Gold Major 1997
    Silver Ag 10.29 g/mt Silver Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Inferred 9410000mt ore
    Total resources 9410000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 1.51 g/mt Gold Major 1997
    Silver Ag 41.14 g/mt Silver Major 1997

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Mining Operations Were Suspended In the Second Quarter of 1997.
  • 12/31/95 Reserves Are Considered Preliminary Because of the Ongoing Mine Plan Evaluation, Which Could Result In Changes In the Ore Reserves Estimate. Reserves As Reported In Bib. Ref. Were Divided By 0.80 (80%) To Get the Total Resreves of the Property.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 50HA
    Length 9144M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .65
    Percent Waste Rock 0
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Capacity 10000
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 1.5
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1974

Comments on the workings information

  • 5 Tunnels , 6000 Ft Trenches and Holes; Open Pit Operation In 1988

Comments on other economic factors

  • Mill Prod Is Saleable Bullion No Transportation Record Requi Milling Ore Operation. Expected Start of Production In 1st Qtr. of 1989. Estimated Annual Au Output of 41,000 Oz. 1988 Reserve= 254,254 Cont. Oz. Au. Recovery Estimated At 93% Au and 70% Ag.

Comments on development

  • 4 Patented, 3 Unpatented Claims; 450 Ton Mill

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    LOCKARD, D. W., 1970, EVALUATION OF THE GOLDEN SUNBEAM DEPOSIT, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO: MOSCOW, IDAHO, UNIV. OF IDAHO MS THESIS, 78 P.

  • Production

    HECLA MINING COMPANY, 1995 FORM 10-K REPORT, P8.

  • Deposit

    ANDERSON, A. L., 1949, SILVER - LEAD DEPOSITS OF THE YANKEE FORK DISTRICT, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 83, 37 P.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HECLA MINING COMPANY, 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P20.

  • Production

    UMPLEBY, J. B., 1913, USGS BULL. 539, P. 87.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HECLA MINING COMPANY, 1996 FORM 10-K REPORT, P19.

  • Deposit

    STILES, C. A., 1976 , GEOLOGY AND ALTERATION OF THE WEST FORK MAYFIELD CREEK AREA, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO: MOSCOW, IDAHO, UNIV. OF IDAHO M.S. THESIS, P. 103 - 106.

  • Reserve-Resource

    HECLA MINING COMPANY, 1996 ANNUAL REPORT, P22.

  • Deposit

    ROSS, C. P., 1927 , ORE DEPOSITS IN THE TERTIARY LAVA IN THE SALMON RIVER MOUNTAINS, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 25 , 20 P.

  • Deposit

    UMPLEBY, J. B., 1913, SOME ORE DEPOSITS IN NORTHWESTERN CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO: USGS BULL. 539, 104 P.

  • Deposit

    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 877, 1937, P.

  • Deposit

    GABARDI, J.A., 1987, MINERAL REPORT FOR PATENT APPLICATION, SUNBEAM MINING CORP.: U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE, CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST, MINERAL SURVEY 3651A, SERIAL NUMBER 1-20585, 28 P.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, MARCH 27, 1987, P. 237.

  • Deposit

    1927 OTHER IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPH 25

  • Deposit

    1949 RECON IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPH 83

  • Deposit

    U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 6-91, 1991, TABLE A-3, NO. 468, P. 216.

  • Deposit

    1966 DIREXPL USBM, LOCKARD MS THESIS

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD VOL 106, #35, "GROUSE CREEK MINE DEDICATION", P2.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD VOL 106, #35, "GROUSE CREEK MINE PRODUCES 35,197 OZ. GOLD IN FIRST HALF. P1.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD. V106/N4. "COURT RULES ON OPERATIONS IN IDAHO NATIONAL FORESTS. DEC. 25, 1995. P1.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL MINING DIRECTORY, 1994/95, U.S. MINES & MINING COMPANIES, P271.

  • Deposit

    RANDOL MINING DIRECTORY, 1996/97, U.S. MINES & MINING COMPANIES, PP. 197, 198.

  • Deposit

    THE MINING RECORD, VOL., 107, #46, NOV., 13, 1996, P6. "HECLA TO CLOSE GROUSE CREEK".

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Two Distinct Ore Deposts: Grouse Creek & Sunbeam: Area Has Been In Gold/Silver Production On and Off Since 1903. Most Recent Operating History; Mine Started Dec 1994.
Deposit Discovery Year: 1879, RESTAKED 1937
Deposit The Main Ore Body, A Mineralized Stockwork, Is Named the Big Stope.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 08-OCT-97 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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