The Why Not Mine is a gold mine located in Custer county, Idaho at an elevation of 9,199 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
Elevation: 9,199 Feet (2,804 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 44.44472, -114.70583
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.
Why Not Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Why Not Mine
Secondary: Hidden Treasure
Secondary: Thunderbolt
Secondary: Estes Mountain
Secondary: Franklin Group
Secondary: Eustace Mountain
Secondary: Estes Gold
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Silver
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc
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
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
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: Salmon River Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Tuff
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Oligocene
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: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Argentite
Ore: Gold
Comments
Comment (Location): Upper S Slope Estes Mtn.
Comment (Workings): 3 Tunnels, All Inaccessible
Comment (Deposit): Why Not Mine On Same Vein As the Mcfadden (The Contact Vein)
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 (Deposit): Stiles, C. A., 1976 , Geology And Alteration Of The West Fork Mayfield Creek Area, Custer County, Idaho: Moscow, Idaho, Univ. Of Idaho M.S. Thesis, P. 103 - 106 .
Reference (Production): Anderson, A. L., 1949, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet Pamphlet 83, 37 P.
Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau Of Mines Open-File Report MLA 6-91, 1991, Table A-3, No. 473, P. 217.
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.
