The Minidoka is a gold mine located in Blaine county, Idaho at an elevation of 4,199 feet.
About the MRDS Data:
All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.
Mine Info
Elevation: 4,199 Feet (1,280 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 42.67139, -113.44056
Map: View on Google Maps
Satelite View
MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.
Minidoka MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Minidoka
Secondary: Sweetzer-Burroughs Dredge
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Platinum
Location
State: Idaho
County: Blaine
District: Snake River Area
Land Status
Land ownership: Federal
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Stream Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Snake River Plain
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Placer Au-PGE
Orebody
Form: STREAM SEDIMENT DEPOSITS
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Allanite
Ore: Zircon
Ore: Garnet
Ore: Gold
Ore: Olivine
Ore: Platinum
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Augite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Obsidian
Comments
Comment (Location): AREA NOW COVERED BY LAKE WALCOTT BEHIND MINIDOKA DAM. LOCATION IS ESTIMATED IN LAKE AREA
Comment (Commodity): GOLD IS FINE AND FLAKY. PLATINUM IS ASHY GRAY METALLIC PARTICLES FOUND IN THE AMALGAMATION OF GOLD (MICROSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION), ABOUT SAME SIZE AS GOLD PARTICLES. SUPPOSEDLY 0.25 OZ OF PT IN POSESSION OF LEWEIS SWEETZER. SHANNON ATTRIBUTES ONE OF DAY'S SAMPLES TO MINIDOKA AREA - POSSIBLY THE ONES WE USED FOR BLACKFOOT AREA, WHICH MAY NOT CONTAIN PT.
References
Reference (Deposit): SHANNON, E.V., 1922, MINERALOGY OF SOME BLACK SANDS FROM IDAHO, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS USED FOR THEIR STUDY: PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, V. 60, ART. 3, 33 P.
Reference (Deposit): HILL, J.M., 1916, NOTES ON THE FINE GOLD OF SNAKE RIVER, IDAHO, IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONIMIC GEOLOGY 1915: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 620, P. 271-294.
Idaho Gold
"Where to Find Gold in Idaho" looks at the density of modern placer mining claims along with historical gold mining locations and mining district descriptions to determine areas of high gold discovery potential in Idaho. Read more: Where to Find Gold in Idaho.
