Silver Bell

The Silver Bell is a copper mine located in Washington county, Idaho at an elevation of 4,101 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

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.

Site Name

Primary: Silver Bell
Secondary: Bell Mine

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Lead

Location

State: Idaho
County: Washington
District: Mineral District

Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Ladd Metal Co.
Home Office: Portland, Or
Years: 1922 -

Owner Name: Melzer, Emil
Home Office: Baker, Or

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1887
Discovery Year: 1875
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Payette Section
Physiographic Detail: Cuddy Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Area Appears To Be On The North Limb Of A Faulted Anticline Of General N.E. Trend.

Type: L
Description: Trough Was Formed By A Westerly Dipping Basalt Dike And An Easterly Dipping Ore-Bearing Seam.

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidization, Sericitic

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: CONTAINS .9 - 1.25% CU AND 10 TO 28 OZ. AG/TON.

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Marcasite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Gypsum
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Tourmaline

Comments

Comment (Workings): MINE IS COMPOSED OF 3 ADITS AND 2000 FT OF DRIFTS AND CROSSCUTS. MOST OF THE MINE IS INACCESSIBLE.

Comment (Geology): THE ANDESITIC ROCKS ARE PORPHYRITIC, GREEN IN COLOR, FELDSPARS ARE NOT DETERMINABLE.

Comment (Deposit): QUARTZ - DIORITE INTRUSION WAS FOUND IN THE LOWER MINE TUNNELS.

Comment (Location): LOCATED EAST OF SILVER STILL GROUP.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1870'S

References

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., AND WAGNER, W. R., 1952, RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE MINERAL DISTRICT, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 95, 26 P.

Reference (Deposit): LIVINGSTON, D. C., 1925, RECON. OF THE MINERAL AND CUDDY MTN. MINING DISTRICTS: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 13, P. 19.

Reference (Deposit): TURNER, H. W., 1908, ORE DEPOSITS AT MINERAL IDAHO: ECON. GEOLOGY, V 3, NO. 6, P. 492 - 502.

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1963, SILVER MINERALIZATION IN THE MINERAL DISTRICT, IDAHO: ECON. GEOLOGY, V. 58, NO. 8, P. 1195 - 1217.

Reference (Deposit): 5) BELL, R. N., 1920, TWENTY - FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINING INDUSTRY OF IDAHO FOR THE YEAR 1919, P. 87 - 88.

Reference (Deposit): 1920 COMPILE 21ST ANN. REPT. OF THE MINING INDUSTRY FOR 1919

Reference (Deposit): 1925 RECON IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., PAMPHLET 13

Reference (Deposit): 1952 GEOLMAP IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 95

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.