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Bear Valley Placers

Past Producer in Valley county in Idaho, United States with commodities REE, Niobium (Columbium), Titanium, Uranium, Gold, Silver, Garnet, Zirconium, Iron
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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. Host and associated rocks
  9. Nearby scientific data
  10. Ore body information
  11. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  12. Mining district
  13. Mineral rights holdings
  14. Land status
  15. Ownership information
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10168834
MRDS ID FS00125
MAS/MILS ID 0160850055
Record type Site
Current site name Bear Valley Placers
Alternate or previous names Bear Valley Group, Central Bear Valley, Lower Bear Valley, Porter Placer, Gold Eagle Group, Golden Eagle, Big Meadows Group

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -115.48015, 44.29568 (WGS84)
Elevation 1905
Location accuracy 10000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Valley(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Cache Creek(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Deadwood River(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Challis(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Middle Fork Salmon(hydrologic unit)

Salmon(hydrologic accounting unit)

Lower Snake(hydrologic subregion)

Pacific Northwest(hydrologic region)

Federal lands

Boise 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 Valley

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 011 N 008 E 14 Idaho

Commodities

Commodity Importance
REE Critical Primary
Niobium (Columbium) Critical Primary
Titanium Critical Primary
Uranium Primary
Gold Primary
Silver Primary
Garnet Secondary
Zirconium Critical Secondary
Iron Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Euxenite Ore
Biotite Unknown
Columbite Unknown
Epidote Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Fergusonite Unknown
Garnet Unknown
Gold Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Hornblende Unknown
Ilmenite Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Monazite Unknown
Plagioclase Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Rutile Unknown
Sphene Unknown
Zircon Unknown

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Unconsolidated Deposit > Gravel
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Holocene

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -115.48015, 44.29568
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 15M
    Length 6500M
    Width 2000M
    Depth to top 1M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 PLACER
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316
  • Thickness 15M
    Length 14500M
    Width 2000M
    Depth to top 1M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 4
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 PLACER
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316
  • Thickness 20M
    Length 4600M
    Width 4600M
    Depth to top 1M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 5
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 PLACER
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. NONE
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316
  • Area 1500HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 1500
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Placer
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Mining method Dredging
Milling method Gravity

Mining district

District name Bear Valley Area

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category National Forest
Area name Boise National Forest

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Bear Valley Associates
    Interest 100
    Home office Texas
    Year 1982
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Mineral Resources Corp.
    Interest 100
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1982

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • PLANNED DREDGING OPERATION IN U.S.(PRODUCED UNTIL 1959). WAS NOT IN WORLD TIO2/ZRO2 STUDY DUE TO GRADES BEING TOO LOW TO MEET STUDY CRITERIA. MINERAL RESOURCES CORP IS OWNER/OPERATOR SALMON STREAM RUNS THROUGH THESE DREDGE TAILS. INDIAN FISHING RIGHTS TREATY INVOLVED. IDAHO FISH & GAME TRYING TO RESTORE SALMON RUN IN BEAR VALLEY. NOT LIKELY TO START UP WITHOUT A MAJOR EMERGENCY SUCH AS WAR.
  • THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. THIS IS UPPER BEAR VALLEY MATRIX 2 REPRESENTS BLOCK 2 RESOURCES THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RNAGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. THIS IS UPPER BEAR VALLEY M3C1=M3C2+M3C3+M3C4. MATRIX 3 REPRESENTS BLOCK 3, BLOCK4 AND BLOCK 5 RESOURCES IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY. THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. M3C2=M3C1-M3C3-M3C4 MATRIX 3 COLUMN 2 REPRESENTS THE RESOURCE IN BLOCK 3 IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY. M3C3=M3C1-M3C2-M3C4 MATRIX 3 COLUMN 3 REPRESENTS THE RESOURCES IN BLOCK 4 IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY M3C4=M3C1-M3C2-M3C3 MATRIX 3 COLUMN 4 REPRESENTS THE RESOURCES IN BLOCK 5 IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY M4C1=M4C2+M4C3+M4C4 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 1 REPRESENTS THE TOTAL RESOURCE OF BLOCKS 1,2, AND 3 IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA. THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. M4C2=M4C1-M4C3-M4C4 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 2 REPRESENTS BLOCK I RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA M4C3=M4C1-M4C2-M4C4 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 3 REPRESENTS BLOCK II RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA. M4C4=M4C1-M4C2-M4C3 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 4 REPRESENTS BLOCK III RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA. MATRIX 5 COLUMN 1 REPRESENTS THE TOTAL RESOURCES FOR THE LOWER BEAR VALLEY AREA. THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 81HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method DREDGING
    Swell Factor 0
    Percent Waste Rock 98.4
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 1
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 0
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 0
    Capacity 11500
    Capacity Units CU-M ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 40
    Unit Production Cost 1.07
    Units of Production $/CU-M ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 90HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method DREDGING
    Swell Factor 0
    Percent Waste Rock 99
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 1
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 0
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 0
    Capacity 11500
    Capacity Units CU-M ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost .94
    Units of Production $/CU-M ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 160HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method DREDGING
    Swell Factor 0
    Percent Waste Rock 99.4
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 0
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 0
    Capacity 11500
    Capacity Units CU-M ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 1.59
    Units of Production $/CU-M ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 1082HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 2
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method DREDGING
    Swell Factor 0
    Percent Waste Rock 99.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 1
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Secondary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Hardness of Ore SAND, GRAVEL
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 0
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 0
    Capacity 11500
    Capacity Units CU-M ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 40
    Unit Production Cost 1.17
    Units of Production $/CU-M ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1982

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    ANDERSON, A.L., AND SAVAGE, C.N., THROIUM AND THE RARE EARTHS:IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF IDAHO. SPECIAL REPORT NO.1, NOVEMBER, 1964.

  • Deposit

    ARGALL, G.O.JR., NEW DREDGING TECHNIQUES RECOVER IDAHO MONAZITE, MINING WORLD, FEBRUARY 1954, P.26-30.

  • Deposit

    BARTON, W.R., COLUMBIUM AND TANTALUM, A MATERIALS SURVEY, U.S. BUMINES IC 8120.

  • Deposit

    CHANEY, E., PROPOSED MINERAL WITHDRAWAL, BEAR VALLEY AND MARSH CREEK DRAINAGES, TRIBUTARIES TO MIDDLE FORK SALMON RIVER - IDAHO. U.S. DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORT, MARCH 1981, REGION I.

  • Deposit

    CLARK, L.C., DREDGING COSTS PROVIDED BY THE YUBA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, WRITTEN COMMUN., APRIL 9, 1964.

  • Deposit

    DAYTON, S.H., IDAHO PLACER IS SOURCE OF 99 PERCENT OF U.S. COLUMBIUM-TANTALUM OUTPUT, MINING WORLD, JANUARY 1958, P.38-43.

  • Deposit

    DAYTON, S.H., RADIOACTIVE BLACK SAND IS YIELDING COLUMBITE CONCENTRATE AT IDAHO MILL, MINING WORLD, MAY 1958, P. 38-43.

  • Deposit

    ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT AND PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN, BEAR VALLEY PLANNING UNIT, BOISE NATIONAL FOREST AND CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST, U.S. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, AUGUST 1974.

  • Deposit

    FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FOR THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE WITHDRAWAL OF BEAR VALLEY, MARSH, AND ELK CREEKS, JULY 9, 1979.

  • Deposit

    GRAY, E., IDAHO PROPERTY REALTY COMPANY., BOISE IDAHO, ORAL COMMUNICATION, AUGUST 1981.

  • Deposit

    GARFIELD, E., ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, SPOKANE WASH., ORAL COMMUNICATION, JANUARY 1982.

  • Deposit

    HALE, W.N., PROPOSED EXPLORATORY DRILLING FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WITHDRAWAL, BEAR VALLEY CREEK AND VALLEY CREEK, VALLEY COUNTY, IDAHO. U.S. BUMINES UNPUBLISHED REPORT

  • Deposit

    HOUK, L.G., MONAZITE SAND, U.S. BUREAU OF MINES IC 7233.

  • Deposit

    KLINE, M.H., AND STORCH, R.H., GOLD FORK PLACER AREAS, VALLEY COUNTY, IDAHO. PROJECT REPORT NO. BM-SMIB-4602-12, APRIL 15, 1954.

  • Deposit

    KLINE, M.H., CARLSON, E.J., STORCH, R.H., AND ROBERTSON, A.F., BEAR VALLEY RADIOACTIVE MINERAL PLACERS, VALLEY COUNTY, IDAHO. BUREAU OF MINES REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, REPORT NO. RME-3130, OCTOBER 1953.

  • Deposit

    LOWMAN, J.P., REGIONAL SOLICITORS OPINION, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION 'ON' EFFECTS OF THE CENTRAL IDAHO WILDERNESS ACT OF 1980, ON THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL IN THE UPPER HEADWATERS AREA OF THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER, FEBRUARY 26, 1981.

  • Deposit

    MACKIN, J.H., AND SCHMIDT, D.L., URANIUM AND THORIUM BEARING MINERALS IN PLACER DEPOSITS IN IDAHO. IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, MINERAL RESOURCES REPORT NO. 7, JUNE 1957.

  • Deposit

    MALEY, T.S., SUMMERY OF MINERAL LAW. T.S. MALEY AND ASSOCIATES, P.O. BOX 1186, BOISE IDAHO, 83701. COPYRIGHT 1978.

  • Deposit

    MILLER, R.N., ARCO-ANACONDA COMPANY, DENVER COLORADO, ORAL COMMUNICATION, JANUARY 1982, WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, 1971.

  • Deposit

    CORK, J., OREGON METALLURGICAL CORPORATION (OREMET), ALBANY OREGON, ORAL COMMUNICATION, SEPTEMBER, 1981.

  • Deposit

    MINERAL COMMODITY SUMMARIES, 1981, U.S. BUMINES. ILMENITE, P70, RARE EARTHS, P. 124, GARNET, P. 54, COLUMBIUM, P.26, ZIRCONIUM, P. 165, URANIUM,P. 158.

  • Deposit

    NAFZIGER, R.H., JORDAN, R.R., AND HUNTER, W.L., ELECTRIC-ARC FURNACE PROCESSING OF DOMESTIC TITANIFEROUS MATERIALS, U.S. BUMINES R.I. 8511.

  • Deposit

    NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER EPA FORM 7550-23A (7-73).

  • Deposit

    PERSSE, F.H., LOCKARD, D.W., AND LINDQUIST, A.E., COAL SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION COSTS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. U.S. BUMINES IC 8737.

  • Deposit

    ROMANOWITZ, C.M., BENNETT, H.J., AND DARE, W.L., GOLD PLACER MINING, PLACER EVALUATION AND DREDGE SELECTION, U.S. BUMINES IC 8462.

  • Deposit

    SODERBERG, R.L., AND BUSCH, R.A., DESIGN GUIDE FOR METAL AND NONMETAL TAILINGS DISPOSAL. U.S. BUMINES IC 8755.

  • Deposit

    STORCH, R.H., AND HOLT, D.C., TITANIUM PLACER DEPOSITS OF IDAHO, U.S. BUMINES RI 6319.

  • Deposit

    STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS STOCKPILING ACT, 53 STAT., 811, AS AMENDED, (50 U.S.C., 98-984)

  • Deposit

    TINSLEY, R.C., GOLD DREDGING PROJECT FINANCE CASE STUDY, PRESENTED ON FEBRUARY 22, 1981 TO: PROJECT FINANCING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES. SOCIETY OF MINING ENGINEERS, A.I.M.E., SHORT COURSE, CHICAGO ILL.

  • Deposit

    TRUESDELL, D., WEGRZYN, R., AND DIXON, M., PROVIDENCE OF OF RADIOACTIVE PLACERS, BIG MEADOWS AREA, VALLEY AND BOISE COUNTIES, IDAHO. BENDIX FIELD ENGINEERING CORP FOR U.S. ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANMINISTRATION. CONTRACT NO. E(05-1)-1664, APRIL 1977.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE BEAR VALLEY PLACER SANDS CONSIST OF MATERIAL ERODED FROM GRANITE AND PEGMATITES OF THE IDAHO BATHOLITH AND THEY CONTAIN URANIUM-BEARING EUXENITE, MAGNETITE, ILMENITE, GARNET, SPHENE, QUARTZ, GELOSPAR, HORNBLENDE, ALLANTITE, BIOTITE, EPIDOTE, LIMONITE, HEMATITE, SERICITE, ILMENORVTILE, AND VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONAZITE, COLUMBITE, SPINEL, RUTILE, ZIRCON, OCTAHEDRITE, AND PYRITE.
Deposit ONE OF SIX GROUPS INCLUDED IN MS 3549, CONTAINING 910 ACRES.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 02-MAR-1995 Wetzel, Nicholas U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JUN-1976 Sierk, Betty M. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

Maps centered on this site