Loon Creek Placers

The Loon Creek Placers is a gold mine located in Custer county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,001 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

Name: Loon Creek Placers

State:  Idaho

County:  Custer

Elevation: 6,001 Feet (1,829 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 44.5842, -114.83170

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.


Satelite image of the Loon Creek Placers

Loon Creek Placers MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Loon Creek Placers
Secondary: Loon Creek Hydraulic Placer Co.
Secondary: Casto Bar
Secondary: Oro Grande Bar
Secondary: Grouse Creek Placer


Commodity

Primary: Gold


Location

State: Idaho
County: Custer
District: Loon Creek 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: Challis National Forest


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Surface


Ownership

Owner Name: Loon Creek Hydraulic Placer Mining Co.


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Surface
Year First Production: 1869
Discovery Year: 1869
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: Salmon River Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Clay, Mud
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: UPPER TERRACE GRAVELS AVG $0.25/YD AT A GOLD PRICE OF $20/OZ


Materials

Not available


Comments

Comment (Deposit): The Deposit, Once Operated By the Loon Creek Hydraulic Placer Mining Co., Now (1982) Consists of Several Claims Held By Different Claimants. The Point of Reference, For Convenience, Is Placed At the Confluence of Grouse and Loon Creeks.

Comment (Commodity): Au Value At $18/Oz.

Comment (Location): Claims Extend From Point Near Mouth of Canyon Creek To the Loon Creek Narrows, 4.5 Mi N.

Comment (Production): Production Value $500,000 - $2000000.

Comment (Development): 6 Claims; Company Had A 4000 - Foot Timber Flume, A Dam Across Loon Creek, Ditches and Buildings ( 1934 )

Comment (Workings): Work Was Done Mostly On the Alluvial Gravels, With Only Minor Work Being Done On the Terrace Gravels.


References

Reference (Deposit): Yinger, M.A., 1976 , Geology Of The Eastern Part Of The Loon Creek Mining District, Custer County, Idaho: Moscow, Idaho, Univ. Of Idaho, M.S. Thesis, P. 94 - 96 .

Reference (Deposit): Sibbett, B.S., 1976 , Geology Of The Northeast Part Of The Loon Creek Mining District, Custer County, Idaho: Moscow, Idaho, Univ. Of Idaho, M.S. Thesis, P. 100 - 104 .

Reference (Deposit): Ross, C. P., 1934 , Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Casto Quadrangle, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 854 , 135 P.

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J. B., 1913, A Preliminary Account Of The Ore Deposits Of The Loon Creek District, Idaho: U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 530, P. 66 - 74

Reference (Deposit): Bell, R. N., 1912, Fourteenth Annual Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho, P. 99.

Reference (Production): Umpleby, J. B., 1913, USGS Bulletin 530, P. 66 - 74.

Reference (Deposit): Bell, R. N., 1907, Ninth Annual Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho, P. 73-74.

Reference (Deposit): Moore, F. C., 1909, Eleventh Annual Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho, P. 49.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau Of Mines Open-File Report MLA 64-85, 1985, Table 10, No. 8, P. 175; Fig. 25, P. 173.


Idaho Gold

Where to Find Gold in Idaho

"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.