Silver Bell Mine

The Silver Bell Mine is a lead and silver mine located in Butte county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,499 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: Silver Bell Mine

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Manganese
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Idaho
County: Butte
District: Lava Creek District

Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Federal Mining And Smelting Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Year First Production: 1928
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

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Gouge

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Sericitization

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Silicification

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Bleaching

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: HIGH GRADE ORE SAMPLES HAVE RUN AS WELL AS 66% PB AND 84 OZ AG/TON

Materials

Ore: Rhodochrosite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Smithsonite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite

Comments

Comment (Development): 12 Claims ; Econ.Com: Mineralization Irregular And Erratic

Comment (Deposit): 1 Vein, The Big Vein, Is Described Above, It Is Also Several Dozen Ft Long; There Are 2 Other Veins, Possibly Extensions Of The Big Vein, 1 Trends N 55 Deg E And Dips 68 Deg Nw, And 2nd Trends N 63 Deg E, Dips 67 Deg Nw, And Is 3 Ft Thick, 10 Ft Long, 20 Ft Wide

Comment (Geology): 1 Set Of Fractures With The Greatest Amount Of Mineralization Trends N 35 Deg E And Dips From Vertical To 60 Deg Nw; A Second Set Of Less Mineralized Fractures Trends N 70 Deg W And Dips 30-75 Deg Ne

Comment (Location): Along S Fk Lava Creek Nearly 3 Mi From Martin Post Office

Comment (Production): One Carload Of Ore Produced In 1928 Ran $50/Ton Pb And Ag.

Comment (Geology): Original Structures entry: Gouge

Comment (Geology): Original Alteration entry: Bleaching, Silicification, Sericitization

Comment (Geology): Original Ore Control entry: Fractures

References

Reference (Production): Anderson, A. L., 1929, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 32

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): Prinz, W. C., 1964, Mineral Resources - Manganese, In Mineral And Water Resources Of Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Spec. Rept. No. 1, P. 116-119.

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.