Buffalo Mine

The Buffalo Mine is a ree, copper, thorium, and titanium mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,558 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: Buffalo Mine

Commodity

Primary: REE
Primary: Copper
Primary: Thorium
Primary: Titanium
Tertiary: Uranium

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Mcdevitt 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: Salmon National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Irvin C. Porter

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1925
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: Beaverhead Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: PODS, POCKETS, MASSIVE

Structure

Type: R
Description: Lemhi Pass Fault Zone

Type: L
Description: Brecciation, Slickensides

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: TH CONTENT RANGES 0.04 TO 1.0 % IN SEVERAL GRAB SAMPLES. THERE WAS ALSO 0.001 - 0.008 % U AND 0.008 - 0.18 % EU

Materials

Ore: Monazite
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Rutile
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Goethite
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Specularite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Commodity): MAIN RADIOACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH DARK QUARTZ AND HEMATITE TO 0.2 MR/HR, AG FOUND FROM 0.2-2.0 OZ/TON

Comment (Location): ON RIDGE BETWEEN AGENCY AND FLUME CREEKS LITTLE LESS THAN A MI N OF COPPER QUEEN MINE

Comment (Development): 2 CLAIMS, THE BUFFALO AND BUFFALO NO. 1

Comment (Deposit): 4 VEINS

Comment (Workings): 4 PITS, 1 ADIT

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: EARLY 1900S

References

Reference (Production): ANDERSON, A. L., 1958, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 115

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1958, URANIUM, THORIUM, COLUMBIUM, AND RARE EARTH DEPOSITS IN THE SALMON REGION, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 115, 81 P.

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1960, GEOLOGY OF RARE EARTH DEPOSITS IN THE LEMHI PASS REGION, IN STUDY OF TWO IDAHO THORITE DEPOSITS: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 122, P. 33-39.

Reference (Deposit): WEIS, P. L., AND OTHERS, 1958 RECONNAISSANCE FOR RADIOACTIVE MINERALS IN WASHINGTON, IDAHO, AND WESTERN MONTANA 1952-1955: USGS BULL. 1074-B, 48 P.

Reference (Deposit): SHARP, W. N., AND CAVENDAR, W. S., 1962, GEOLOGY AND THORIUM-BEARING DEPOSITS OF THE LEMHI PASS AREA, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO, AND BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA: USGS BULL. 1126, 76 P.

Reference (Deposit): 5) STAATZ, M. H., 1972, GEOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF THORIUM - BEARING VEINS, LEMHI PASS QUADRANGLE, IDAHO AND MONTANA: USGS BULL. 1351, 94 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1958 RECON IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 115

Reference (Deposit): 1958 RECON P. L. WEIS AND OTHERS, BULL. 1074-B

Reference (Deposit): 1960 GEOLMAP IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 122

Reference (Deposit): 1962 RECON SHARP, W. N., AND CAVENDAR, W. S., BULL. 1126

Reference (Deposit): 1972 GEOLMAP STAATZ, M. H., BULL 1351

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.