Bethlehem Mine

The Bethlehem Mine is a lead mine located in Boundary 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

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: Bethlehem Mine
Secondary: Dora Tunnel Prospect
Secondary: Brush Lake Mines
Secondary: Mable Tunnel

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Tertiary: Gold
Tertiary: Silver
Tertiary: Tungsten
Tertiary: Sulfur
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Idaho
County: Boundary
District: Brush Lake District

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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.
Administrative Organization: Kaniksu National Forest

Holdings

Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: W. Tilley

Owner Name: Bethlehem Mining Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Purcell Range

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Gouge Seam

Type: L
Structure: Vein In Sill

Type: L
Description: Kaniksu Batholith; Vein In Sill

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Gabbro
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Quartz Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Deposit): One Vein Strikes N 50 Deg W, Dips 43 - 53 Deg Sw

Comment (Development): W. Tilley Did Direxpl In 1968, Working On Lowest Adit: $5 To $10/Ton, For All Metals

Comment (Workings): Lowest Adit Is 400 Ft Long, Strikes N 60 Deg E, In A Sill; Main Level, Open Cuts, 2 Short Adits On Joint Planes

Comment (Development): 7 Unpatented Claims

References

Reference (Deposit): Soper, E. K., 1918 , Mining Districts Of Northern Idaho: Mining And Scientific Press, V. 116 , P. 121 - 126

Reference (Deposit): 1926 Geolmap Idaho Bureau Of Mines & Geol. Bulletin 10

Reference (Deposit): Kirkham, Virgil R. D., And Ellis, Ernest W., 1926, Geology And Ore Deposits Of Boundary County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Bulletin, No. 10, 78 P.

Reference (Deposit): Brackebusch, F. W., 1969, Economic Geology Of The Queen Mountain Area, A Part Of The Purcell Range, Boundary County, Idaho: Unpublished Thesis, Univ. Idaho, 76 P.

Reference (Deposit): Kiilsgaard, T. H., 1951, Descriptions Of Some Ore Deposits And The Relationships To The Purcell Sills, Boundary County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geol. Pamphlet 85, 31 P.

Reference (Deposit): Bishop, Don, Geology Of Boundary County: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet In Preparation.

Reference (Deposit): 1951 Other Idaho Bureau Of Mines & Geol. Pamphlet 85

Reference (Deposit): 1968 Direxpl Tilley Worked On Lowest Adit: $5 - $10 Per Ton All Metals

Reference (Deposit): 1973 Other Idaho Bureau Of Mines & Geol. Open - File Rept.

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.