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Wooley Valley 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 10241427
MRDS ID ISM0344
MAS/MILS ID 0160290060
Record type Deposit
Current site name Wooley Valley Mine
Alternate or previous names Wooley Valley Units 1,3&4, Blackfoot Nose Unit #4, Little Long Valley Unit #3, Blackfoot Narrows Unit #1, Lower Valley, Area C, 7-11, Lower Valley, Area D, 12-15, Lower Valley, Area E, 16

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Pit
Geographic coordinates: -111.3789, 42.81212 (WGS84)
Elevation 2135
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

Lower Valley(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)

Federal lands

Caribou-Targhee 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 Caribou

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Boise 007 S 043 E 13 SESENE 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
Pyrite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Chalcedony Unknown
Collophane Unknown
Dolomite Unknown
Kaolinite Unknown
Limonite Unknown
Montmorillonite Unknown
Orthoclase Unknown
Sericite Unknown

Analytical data

Result 114 SAMPLES OF STRATIGRAPHIC SECTION GAVE UP TO 34.5 % P2O5 MAX. ( SECTION 24)

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

Nearby scientific data

Pit (1) -111.3789, 42.81212
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Regional
Structure name Georgetown Syncline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Schmid Syncline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Wooley Valley Anticline
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Blackfoot Fault
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Dry Valley Anticline

Ore body information

  • General form TABULAR, SEDIMENTARY
    Strike N40W
    Dip 60E
    Thickness 17M
    Length 1200M
    Width 100M
    Depth to top 40M
    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 N40W:60E
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 961106
  • General form TABULAR, SEDIMENTARY
    Strike N40W
    Dip 60E
    Thickness 15M
    Length 9000M
    Width 1000M
    Depth to top 500M
    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 961106

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Bedding

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1955
Year of last production 1983
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Gravity
Milling method Washing

Mining district

District name Blackfoot River District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Federal Lease

Land status

Ownership category National Forest
Area name Caribou National Forest

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Rhone-Poulenc Basic Chemicals
    Interest 100
    Year 1995
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Stauffer Chemical Co.
    ID 1000095
    Interest 100
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1983

Production statistics

  • Year 1955
    Description Phosphate Rock 23.9% P205 100000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 10000mt 24wt-pct
  • Year 1956
    Description Phosphate Rock 24.1% P205 100000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 100000mt 24wt-pct
  • Year 1967
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.1% P205 320000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 320000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1968
    Description Phosphate Rock 27.5% P205 380000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 380000mt 28wt-pct
  • Year 1969
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.8% P205 440000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 440000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1970
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.5% P205 510000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 510000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1971
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 420000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 420000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 360000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 360000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 330000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 330000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.7% P205 590000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 590000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Description Phosphate Rock 25.9 % P205 780000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 780000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 880000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 880000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 530000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 530000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.1% P205 700000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 700000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 1079000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 1079000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 1157000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 1157000mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description Phosphate Rock 28.3% P205 659000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 659000mt 28wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description Phosphate Rock 30.1% P205 118000 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 118000mt 30wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description None
  • Year 1984
    Description Phosphate Rock 26.0% P205 453700 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 453700mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description Phosphate Rock 26% P205 168900 Mt Ore Per Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 168900mt 26wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description Phosphate Rock 26% P2o5 201000
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major P2O5 Ore Phosphorus-Phosphates Phosphorus 201000mt 26wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • MINED OUT. THE PRESENT ACCESS ROAD IS ADEQUATE. WATER AND ELECTRICAL POWER ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SITE. POSSIBLY THE SAME MINE AS SEQ# 0160290015 WOOLEY VALLEY MINE.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 1000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1000000mt ore
    Inferred 2000000mt ore
    Total resources 3000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 17 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 17000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 17000000mt ore
    Inferred 13000000mt ore
    Total resources 30000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 26 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1975
    Indicated 16000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 16000000mt ore
    Inferred 11000000mt ore
    Total resources 27000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Phosphorus-Phosphates P2O5 27 wt-pct Phosphorus Major 1975

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 52HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Swell Factor .7
    Percent Waste Rock 84.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 50
    Primary Material Cover SAND, SILT
    Percentage 20
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 80
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 5
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 1745
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 7.19
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 1
    Year of Information 1985

Comments on development

  • 2 LEASES TOTAL 760 ACRES ( 1966 ) ; ECON.COM: RESERVES WILL BE DEPLETED BY 1982 ( USGS, 1975 )
  • NON-GEOLOGIC CONSTRAINTS ON DEVELOPMENT OR EXPANSION IN 1-5 YRS. (). DEVELOPMENT(UNKNOWN); EXPLORATION(UNKNOWN); RUN OF MINE ORE 18-24 % P2O5 (39.3-52.4 % BPL), THE ORE IS RAISED TO 24-28 % P2O5 (52.4-61.1 % BPL)

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    O'MALLEY, F. W., AND OTHERS, 1953 , STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN IDAHO, 1947 - 1948 , PART 3 : USGS CIRC. 262 , 43 P.

  • Deposit

    IDAHO DEPT. OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, 1975 , FIRST ANNUAL REPORT ADDENDUM FOR JULY 1 , 1974 - JUNE 30 , 1975 , 95 P.

  • Deposit

    1927 RECON G. R. MANSFIELD, PROF. PAPER 152

  • Deposit

    1955 DIREXPL TERTELING LAND CO., USBM REPT. INV. 6801

  • Reserve-Resource

    CARTER, R.A. AN INTEGRATED INDUSTRY-PHOSPHATE MINING AND MILLING IN IDAHO. MIN. ENG., V. 30, NO. 1, 1978 PP. 29-36.

  • Deposit

    1975 COMPILE IDAHO DEPT. LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, ADDENDUM

  • Reserve-Resource

    DAY, R. L. TRENDS IN THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY OF IDAHO AND THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE FILED. ID BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. PAMPHLET 155, 1973, 63 PP.

  • 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. PHOSPHATE STUDY SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO. U.S. FOREST SERVICE CONTRACT NO., 50-820, GARRAND CORP., 1975.

  • Reserve-Resource

    LI, T.M. SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO PHOSPHATE DURING MINING; HOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DISTORTS GROWTH PLANS. MIN. ENG., V. 30, NO. 1, 1987, 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. 250, 1974, 33 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RULE, A. R., D. E. KIRBY, AND D. C. DAHLIN. RECENT ADVANCES IN BENEFICIATION OF WESTERN PHOSPHATES. MIN. ENG., V. 30, NO. 1, 1978, PP. 36-40.

  • Reserve-Resource

    SERVICE, A.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

    SERVCE, 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, 86 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    THOMPSON, M. E. DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION. U. S. GEOL. SURV. BULL. 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. BULL. 1049-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. PP. 107-122.

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 PHOSPHATE CONCENTRATE THE RUN OF MINE ORE GRADES 19-23 % P2O5. PART OF THE OUTPUT IS UP-GRADED TO 30 % P2O5 BY WASHING. SOME OF UPGRADED PRODUCT IS THEN MIXED WITH UNWASHED MATRIX TO PROVIDE A 25 % P2O5 (54.6 % BPL) MATERIAL.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 06-NOV-96 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JAN-83 Saam, Henning, G. Bundesanstalt Fuer Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffee (Germany)
Reporter 01-JUN-76 Siefken, Robert R. (Miller, Pat) U.S. Geological Survey
Updater 15-DEC-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.

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusAbandoned since 06/17/1992
MSHA mine ID1000095
Mine name (MSHA)Wooley Valley Operation
Current operatorRhone-Poulenc Basic Chemicals Company
Current controller (parent)Rhone-Poulenc S A
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.

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:

  • Stauffer Chemical Co. — dissolved ~1985
    Acquired by Rhône-Poulenc in 1985; agricultural and industrial chemical businesses dispersed through multiple owners over the following two decades.

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.

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