Redbird Mine

The Redbird Mine is a silver and lead mine located in Custer county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,801 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

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Site Name

Primary: Redbird Mine
Secondary: Red Bird

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Idaho
County: Custer
District: Bayhorse District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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.

Holdings

Type: Patented

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Bunker Hill Co. ( 1957 )

Production

Year: 1918
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^40. % Pb, 30 Oz/Ton Ag
Year: 1956
Time Period: 1947 - 1956
Material type: ORE
Description: Cp_Grade: ^10 Oz Ag/Ton, 14 % Pb
Year: 1904
Time Period: 1884-1904
Material type: ORE
Description: Cp_Grade: ^30 - 40 % Pb, 40 - 60 Oz Ag/T

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1878
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

Form: TABULAR, IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Clayton Anticline

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Fe, Mn Stains

Rocks

Name: Slate
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Ordovician

Name: Slate
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Ordovician

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SAMPLE OF PRINCIPAL ORE MINERAL ANGLESITE FOUND 2 - 3 OZ AG/UNIT PB.
Analytical Data: ORE ANALYSIS: 30 - 40 % PB, 40 - 60 OZ/TON AG

Materials

Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Anglesite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Unknown: Cerussite
Unknown: Cerargyrite
Unknown: Calcite
Unknown: Calamine
Unknown: Galena
Unknown: Wulfenite
Unknown: Wad
Unknown: Tetrahedrite
Unknown: Sphalerite
Unknown: Siderite
Unknown: Limonite
Unknown: Fluorite

Comments

Comment (Production): Item 9 Value Over $500,000

Comment (Development): 21 Patented, 12 Unpatented Claims ( 1957 )

Comment (Deposit): 5 Ore Bodies, Largest Known As Potato Patch

Comment (Workings): 9 Levels

References

Reference (Production): Ross, C.P., 1937 , USGS Bulletin 877 , P. 140 ( Item 8 ); Item 1 , Bell, R.N., 1919 , 20th Annual Report, P. 63 ; Item 2 , Campbell, A., 1947 , 48th Annual Report, P. 240 Item 9 , The Wallace Miner, Nov. 14 , 1957

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Ross, C. P., 1937, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Bayhorse Region, Custer County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 877, 161 P., P. 140.

Reference (Deposit): Ross, C. P., 1937, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Bayhorse Region, Custer County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 877, 161 P.

Reference (Deposit): Bell, R. N., 1919, Twentieth Annual Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho For The Year 1918.

Reference (Deposit): Campbell, A., 1947, Forty - Eighth Annual Report Of The Mining Industry For The Year 1946.

Reference (Deposit): The Wallace Miner, Nov. 14 , 1957

Reference (Deposit): 1884 Direxpl Omaha & Grant Co., USGS Bulletin 877

Reference (Deposit): 1913 Geolmap Umpleby, J. B., Bulletin 539

Reference (Deposit): 1912 Direxpl Idaho Mining & Smelting Co., USGS Bulletin 877

Reference (Deposit): 1919 Compile 20th Ann. Idaho State Mine Inspector'S Rept., 1918

Reference (Deposit): 1925 Direxpl Ford Motor Co., USGS Bulletin 877

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J. B., 1913, Some Ore Deposits In Northwestern Custer County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 539, 104 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1937 Geolmap Ross, C. P., Bulletin 877

Reference (Deposit): USBM 'Activity Of Id Mining Properties In 1974,' 1975, P.8

Reference (Deposit): USGS Open File Rept. 1975, Geol. Map, Clayton, Id Quad.

Reference (Deposit): Patton, 1948, Cornell Univ., M.S. Thesis: Geol. Of The Clayton Area, Custer Co., Id

Reference (Deposit): 1947 Compile 48th Ann. Idaho State Mine Inspector'S Rept., 1946

Reference (Deposit): Campbell, 25th, 26th, &2 8th Ann. Rept. Of The Mineral Industry In Idaho For 1923, 1924, & 1926

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.