The Shell Creek Placer is a gold mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 3,501 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
Elevation: 3,501 Feet (1,067 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 45.3014, -114.54140
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.
Shell Creek Placer MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Shell Creek Placer
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: REE
Tertiary: Zirconium
Tertiary: Iron
Location
State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Clear Creek - Upper Big Deer Creek Area
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: Salmon National Forest
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Fred Colson
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1975
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Surface
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
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: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Zircon
Comments
Comment (Development): Work Consisted Of Reconnaissance Geologic Mapping And Geochemical Sampling ; Econ.Com: Samples From Test Pits Contained Gold Value Of $0.11/Cy; Reconnaissance Pan Samples Had Values Up To $1.42/Cy
Comment (Deposit): Shell Creek Placer On Homestead Entry Survey 624. Area Of Gravel Approximately 4.5 Ha. Volume Of Gravel Is 455,000 M3. Volume Of Overburden Is 48,000 M3. Values In Reconnaissance Pan Samples Taken Near Old Placer Workings Were 0.5756/M3.
Comment (Commodity): Gravel Contains Black Sands
Comment (Production): Some Evidence Of Past Mining Activities
References
Reference (Deposit): Cater, F. W., Pinckney, D. M., And Stotelmeyer, R. B., 1975, Mineral Resources Of The Clear Creek-Upper Big Deer Creek Area, Contiguous The Idaho Primitive Area, Lemhi County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 1391-C, P 35 - 36
Reference (Production): Cater, F. W., Pinkney, D. M., And Stotelmeyer, R. B., 1975, USGS Bulletin 1391-C.
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.
