Lead Belt Mine

The Lead Belt Mine is a lead and silver mine located in Butte county, Idaho at an elevation of 7,201 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

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.

Site Name

Primary: Lead Belt Mine
Secondary: Antelope Mine
Secondary: Big Dipper
Secondary: Weiler Group

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Gold
Tertiary: Copper

Location

State: Idaho
County: Butte
District: Lava 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/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Lead Belt Mines Syndicate

Production

Year: 1913
Material type: ?
Description: Ap_Grade: ^16 % Pb, 16 Oz Ag/Ton

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1908
Discovery Year: 1890
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Pioneer Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR, CHIMNEY-LIKE, BUNCHES, LENS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Early Permian

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SOME HAND - SORTED MATERIAL NEAR SURFACE HAD 300 OZ AG/TON
Analytical Data: SAMPLES GAVE 10 - 30 % PB, 1 OZ AG/UNIT PB, $1 AU/TON

Materials

Ore: Galena
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Rhodochrosite

Comments

Comment (Geology): Age Of Limestone Inferred From Nelson And Ross (1968), Limestone Belongs Either To White Knob Limestone Or Copper Basin

Comment (Location): Very Near Head Of Lead Belt Creek, A Tributary Of Antelope Creek

Comment (Production): A Small Amount Of Pb-Ag Ore Was Produced In 1908. Item 2 Totaled 3 Carloads.

References

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1929, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Lava Creek District, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 32, 70 P.

Reference (Deposit): Salt Lake Mining Review, 1923, Mineral Resources And Opportunities Of Custer County, Idaho: Salt Lake Mining Review, V. 25, No. 6, P. 12-15

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J. B., 1917, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Mackay Region,Idaho: USGS Prof. Paper 97, 129 P.

Reference (Deposit): Nelson, W. H., And Ross, C. P., 1968, Geology Of Part Of The Alder Creek Mining District, Custer County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 1252-A, 30 P.

Reference (Production): USBM, 1943, Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, And Zinc In Idaho: USBM Mineral Yearbook For 1941, P. 331-357

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau Of Mines Open-File Report MLA 6-91, 1991, Table A-4, No. 615, P. 246.

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.