Whale Mine

The Whale Mine is a gold mine located in Custer county, Idaho at an elevation of 8,501 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: Whale Mine

State:  Idaho

County:  Custer

Elevation: 8,501 Feet (2,591 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 44.4419, -114.75080

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 Whale Mine

Whale Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Whale Mine
Secondary: Mulcahy


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Silver


Location

State: Idaho
County: Custer
District: Yankee Fork 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

Not available


Ownership

Owner Name: Sunbeam, Inc.


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface-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: Salmon River Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericitized


Rocks

Name: Tuff
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Oligocene

Name: Tuff
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Oligocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Argentite
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite


Comments

Comment (Location): NW. Jesse James, On First Tributary of Jordan Creek Above Golden Sunbeam

Comment (Workings): Shallow Cuts, Tunnels, Several Trenches

Comment (Geology): Fractures Trend N 10 Deg E - N 60 Deg E and Less Commonly N - NW.


References

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1949, Silver - Gold Deposits Of The Yankee Fork District, Custer County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 83, 37 P

Reference (Production): Anderson, A. L., 1949, Ida. Bureau Of Mines & Geol. Pamphlet 83, P. 34.

Reference (Deposit): Jacobs, M.H., 1902, Report Of The Mining Districts Of Idaho For The Year 1901, P. 24-26.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau Of Mines Open-File Report MLA 6-91, 1991, Table A-3, No. 469, P. 217.


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.