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Thompson Creek Mine

Past Producer in Custer county in Idaho, United States with commodity Tungsten
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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. 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. Workings at the site
  21. Links to other databases
  22. Bibliographic references
  23. General comments
  24. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10289747
MRDS ID W018008
MAS/MILS ID 0160370001
Record type Site
Current site name Thompson Creek Mine
Alternate or previous names Thompson Creek Tungsten Mine, Tungsten Jim Mine, Tungsten Jim Nos. 1-4, Scheelite Nellie Nos. 1-4, Nelvinny Nos. 1-4, Salmon River Scheelite Mine

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -114.58623, 44.33379 (WGS84)
Elevation 2134
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Custer(county)

Idaho(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Thompson Creek(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 012 N 016 E 28 Idaho

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Tungsten Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Scheelite Ore
Garnet Gangue
Pyrite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Amphibole Unknown
Calcite Unknown
Diopside Unknown
Epidote Unknown
Feldspar Unknown
Ferberite Unknown
Goethite Unknown
Powellite Unknown
Pyrrhotite Unknown
Siderite Unknown
Sphene Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) Hydrothermal

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Idaho Batholith-Quartz Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type
    Rock unit name Wood River Formation
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Limestone
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Metasedimentary Rock > Quartzite
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Late Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Metamorphic Rock > Skarn (Tactite)

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -114.58623, 44.33379
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Faulting

Ore body information

  • General form IRREGULAR, PODS
    Length 243.84M
    Width 6.1M
    Area 20HA
    Depth to top 1M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Type of Orebody #3 SHEAR ZONE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Secondary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 CARBONATE SILIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 820827

Controls for ore emplacement

  • Intrusive Contact Of Idaho Batholith And Wood River Formation

Comments on the geologic information

  • MINE IS COMPOSED OF 2 ORE BODIES: A) WEST ORE BODY: STRIKES N-S, DIPS 80 DEG EAST 150 M LONG, 61 M DEEP, 5 M THICK B) EAST ORE BODY: STRIKES N 65 DEG E, DIPS 80 DEG SOUTH ONE PORTION IS 116 M LONG, 49 M DEEP, 3M THICK SMALLER PORTION IS 52M LONG, 3M THICK; 24 M DEEP ON THE WEST END, 49M DEEP ON THE EAST END. BOTH PORTIONS ARE CONNECTED.
  • SCHEELITE IN TACTITE AND IN ALTERED GRANITE ALONG INTRUSIVE CONTACT OF IDAHO BATHOLITH AND WOOD RIVER FORMATION

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Past Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Small
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1953
Discoverer James Clutus
Mining method Shrinkage Methods
Year of first production 1954
Milling method Gravity

Mining district

District name Bayhorse District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Land status

Ownership category National Forest
Area name Challis National Forest

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Cyprus Mines
    Interest 100
    First year 1980
  • Type Unknown
    Owner R. M. Barrett
    Home office Idaho
    Year 1981
    First year 1967
    Last year 1980

Comments on the ownership information

  • MINE IS LOCATED WITHIN CYPRUS MINES THOMPSON CREEK MOLYBDENUM MINE CLAIM BLOCK. THE CLAIMS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE TUNGSTEN MINE ARE CONTROLLED BY BARRETT OF CHALLIS, IDAHO. IN 1980 MR. BARRETT SOLD THE CLAIMS TO CYPRUS. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SALE BARRETT HAS UNTIL 1984 TO MINE WHATEVER HE WANTS FORM THE CLAIMS. IN 1984 THE CLAIMS WILL BE COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY CYPRUS. MILL SITE AND MILL WERE NOT SOLD TO CYPRUS, MR. BARRETT STILL OWNS THEM. BARRETT PLANS TO USE MILL TO PROCESS GOLD ORE FROM MINE NEAR SUNBEAM IDAHO.

Production statistics

  • Year 1954
    Description Ore Output .6% Wo3 4470 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 4470mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1961
    Description Ore Output 1.8% Wo3 2720 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 2720mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1962
    Description Ore Output 2.0% Wo3 1810 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 1810mt 2wt-pct
  • Year 1966
    Description Ore Output 13610 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 13610mt
  • Year 1967
    Description Ore Output .92% Wo3 101360 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 101360mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1968
    Description Ore Output .88% Wo3 7250 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 7250mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1969
    Description Ore Output .60% Wo3 29940 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 29940mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1970
    Description Ore Output .60% Wo3 5170 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 5170mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1971
    Description Ore Output .90% Wo3 19050 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 19050mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Description Ore Output .91% Wo3 1370 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 1370mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Description Ore Output .60% Wo3 5030 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 5030mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Description Ore Output .60% Wo3 17580 Mt Ore/Year
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major WO3 Ore Tungsten Tungsten 17580mt 1wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • MILL PRODUCES A 61 PERCENT WO3 CONCENTRATE, 1.088 MT/DAY, 272 MT/YEAR

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ESTIMATE 210000 MT ORE IN THE GROUND. BUT PAST MINING HAS EXTRACTED 21000, LEAVING 189000 MT. GRADE WAS CALCULATED FROM PAST PRODUCTION GRADE (.84% WO3) ASSUMING A 10% DILUTION.
  • MULTIPLE COLUMNS ON ONE MATRIX. OTHER NAMES: TUNGSTEN JIM MINE, TUNGSTEN JIM. MOLYBDENUM MINING AND EXTRACTION HAS PRIORITY . THIS AND 0160370698 THOMPSON CREEK MOLYBDENUM ARE SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN F.Y.1981. RESOURCES AS OF 1/83.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 1195M
    Overall depth 91.44M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SHRINKAGE METHODS
    Percent Waste Rock 12.3
    Percent Recovery 90
    Hardness of Rock HARDROCK FISSURED WITH MODERATE WATER
    Rock Characteristics ONE SYSTEM OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. TIMBER
    Length of Inclines (m) 122
    Slope of Inclines 7
    Number of Inclines 1
    Avg. Length of Adits (m) 275
    Number of Adits 1
    1st Condition of Workings PART ACCESSIBLE
    Capacity 100
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 33.35
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 250
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1981

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    BAKER, JOHN, 1981, CYPRUS MINES, PERSONAL COMMUN.

  • Deposit

    BARRETT, R.M., 1981, PERSONAL COMMUN.

  • Deposit

    B.L.M., 1980, PRE-FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, PROPOSED 230 KV POWERLINE AND RELATED FACILITIES, MOORE IDAHO TO SQUAW CREEK IDAHO, SALMON DISTRICT, SALMON, IDAHO

  • Deposit

    COOK, E. F., 1956, TUNGSTEN DEPOSITS OF SOUTH - CENTRAL IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 108, 40 P.

  • Deposit

    HOBBS, W. S., 1964, MINERAL RESOURCE - TUNGSTEN, IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SPEC. REPT. NO. 1, P. 323 - 333.

  • Deposit

    LARSON, L.L., 1969, AVAILABILITY OF TUNGSTEN AT VARIOUS PRICES FROM RESOURCES IN THE U.S. U.S.B.M. PRELIMINARY CONFIDENTIAL REPORT (SEE U.S.B.M. IC 8500 FOR PUBLISHED REPORT)

  • Deposit

    MAYFIELD, CHARLES, 1973, GEOLOGY OF THE THOMPSON CREEK AREA, CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO, M.S. THESIS, UNIV. OF IDAHO, MOSCOW, IDAHO.

  • Deposit

    NEWMAN, KEN, 1981, CYPRUS MINES PERSONAL COMMUN.

  • Deposit

    ROSS, CLYDE, 1937, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BAY HORSE REGION, CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO, U.S.G.S. BULL 877

  • Deposit

    SAVAGE, BILL, 1981, U.S.F.S., PERSONAL COMMUN.

  • Deposit

    SCHMIDT, E.A., 1980, TALK GIVEN AT NORTHWEST MINING CONVENTION IN DEC 1980 ON THOMPSON CREEK MOLYBDENUM MINE

  • Deposit

    TAFT, FRANK, 1960, SALMON RIVER SCHEELITE CORPORATION'S REPORT ON D.M.E.A. WORK (DOCKET NO. DMEA 3667) UNPUBLISHED

  • Deposit

    U.S.B.M., 1981, MINERAL PROPERTY FILE, TUNGSTEN JIM, W.F.O.C

  • Deposit

    U.S. FOREST SERVICE, 1980, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, THOMPSON CREEK MOLYBDENUM PROJECT, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO, CYPRUS MINES CORPORATION

  • Deposit

    U.T.N. CONSOLIDATED, INC, 1980, TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE THOMPSON CREEK MOLYBDENUM PROJECT, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO, CYPRUS MINES CORPORATION.

  • Deposit

    WALLACE, RAY, 1981, U.S.F.S., PERSONAL COMMUN.

  • Deposit

    U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 6-91, 1991, TABLE A-3, NO. 499, P. 222.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit ORE WAS DISCOVERED IN 1953 BY JIM CLUTUS WHO FORMED THE SALMON RIVER SCHEELITE CORP. FROM 1955-60 DEVELOPMENT WORK WAS DONE BY D.M.E.A. AND SALMON RIVER SCHEELITE CORP. FROM 1961-66 THE MINE WAS OPERATED AND THE ORE PROCESSED AT A MILL AT THE MINE SITE. IN 1967 MR. BARRETT BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AND BUILT THE PRESENT MILL LOCATED 12KM DOWNSTREAM FROM THE MINE. IN 1977 MR. BARRETT HIRED CENTENNIAL DEVELOPMENT CORP. TO DRIVE THE 6950 LEVEL ADIT AND DRIFTS AND THE SMALL 7300 LEVEL ADIT ON THE EAST ORE BODY. IN 1980 MR BARRETT SOLD OUT TO CYPRUS MINES. MILL IS LOCATED DOWNSTREAM FROM MINE ABOUT 12KM IN SEC 24 R16E, T11N. THIS OPERATION COULD BE MSHA.DBF # 1070061 (AS OF 1995), HOWEVER INFORMATION IS LIMITED.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 01-JAN-76 Weeks, Robert U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 01-JUL-76 Siefken, Robert R. (Miller, Pat) U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 07-MAR-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.

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:

  • Cyprus Mines — now part of Subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan (2007)
    Merged with AMAX into Cyprus Amax (1993); then to Phelps Dodge (1999); then to Freeport-McMoRan (2007).

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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