The Valley Chief Nos. 1-11 Claims is a silver mine located in Elmore county, Idaho at an elevation of 7,402 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: 7,402 Feet (2,256 Meters)
Commodity: Silver
Lat, Long: 43.9767, -115.23640
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.
Valley Chief Nos. 1-11 Claims MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Valley Chief Nos. 1-11 Claims
Secondary: Bayhorse Pass Prospects
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Bismuth
Tertiary: Gold
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Lead
Location
State: Idaho
County: Elmore
District: Black Warrior 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: Boise National Forest
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Ray Cooper
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Sawtooth Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: VEINLETS
Structure
Type: R
Description: Montezuma Fault
Type: L
Description: Brecciation, Altered Zone
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Chlorite, Silicification
Rocks
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ANOTHER DUMP SAMPLE ASSAYED : TRACE AU, 3.8 OZ AG/TON
Analytical Data: DUMP SAMPLE CONTAINED : 7.3 OZ AG/TON, 0.3% CU, 0.4% PB, 1.0% ZN
Analytical Data: SELECTED SAMPLE OF MINERAL FRAGMENTS FROM DUMP CONTAINED : 14.6 OZ AG/TON., 0.1% CU, 0.7% PB, 0.6% ZN, 0.07% BI.
Analytical Data: UP TO 12 OZ. AG/TON AND SEVERAL % ZN HAVE BEEN OBTAINED BY OWNERS IN PAST.
Materials
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Development): Econ.Com: Random Chip Sample Of Vein Assayed Trace Au, 0.7 Oz Ag/Ton; None Of Veins Minable At Present Costs And Prices
Comment (Deposit): Several Veins
Comment (Workings): Adits, Pits
Comment (Geology): 1 Altered Zone Strikes N 60 Deg W, Dips Steeply Ne, Another Strikes N 40 Deg E, Dips 78 Deg Se
Comment (Location): Sw. Side Of Montezuma Fault South Of Bayhorse Pass, NW Of The Graham Ranger Station
Comment (Development): 3 Unpatented Claims
Comment (Location): Original coordinates for line#1 were: lat/long NAD27 43-58-30N 115-14-23W (43.975 -115.23972); UTM N4870300 E641600 Z11N; PLSS line# 1: Meridian- Boise, TWNSHP 007N, RNG 010E, Sect 02, Sect_fract
Comment (Commodity): Nine Collected Samples Around The Area Contained 0.02 To 500.2 Grams Silver, Zero To 0.03 Grams Gold Per Tonne, Tr To 0.1 Percent Copper, 0 To 0.7 Percent Lead,0 To 1.0 Percent Zinc, 0 To 0.07 Percent Bismuth And One Sample Contained A Trace Tin. Several Workings Lie Sw Of The Monumental Fault South Of Bayhorse Pass In Sec 2, T7n, R10e. Other Prospect Pits Occur In Sec 1,T7n,R10e In The Sawtooth Primitive Area.
References
Reference (Deposit): Green, W. R., 1967, Valley Chief Mine: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Open - File Report
Reference (Deposit): Kiilsgaard, T. H., And Others, 1970, Mineral Resources Of The Sawtooth Primitive Area, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 1319-D, 174p., p. D79-D81.
Reference (Deposit): V.E. Mitchell, Et. Al, Mines And Prospects Map Series, 1981, Hailey Quad
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.
