The Last Chance Mine is a mica mine located in Latah county, Idaho at an elevation of 3,550 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: 3,550 Feet (1,082 Meters)
Commodity: Mica
Lat, Long: 46.8786, -116.58080
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.
Last Chance Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Last Chance Mine
Secondary: Silver White
Secondary: Maybe, Witherow Lease
Commodity
Primary: Mica
Secondary: Beryllium
Secondary: Feldspar
Tertiary: Uranium
Location
State: Idaho
County: Latah
District: Avon Mica 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
Not available
Workings
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Ida Mica And Others
Years: 1968 -
Owner Name: J. Witherow, B. Meier, C. Roseberry
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1888
Discovery Year: 1888
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: Clearwater Mountains - Mica Mountain
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: TABULAR, PIPELIKE, SEAMS
Structure
Type: R
Description: Steeply Dipping W Limb Of Anticline Of Great Width
Type: L
Description: Cleavage Planes Of Schists Strike N 55 Deg W. One Pegmatite Strikes N, Dips 77-83 Deg E, Parallel To Foliation
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: PEGMATITE COMPOSITION: 35% QUARTZ, 35% ALBITE, 12% TOURMALINE, 14% MUSCOVITE, SPARSE GARNET. A 91 LB COMPOSITE SAMPLE HAD 0.013% BEO.
Materials
Ore: Beryl
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Vivianite
Gangue: Lithiophilite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Graphite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): OTHER READINGS ON STRIKE RANGE N 6-70 DEG E, ON DIP RANGE 30-90 DEG SE. 5 PEGMATITES. PEGMATITE IN CUT NO. 3 PLUNGES ABOUT 55 DEG, N 65 DEG E.
Comment (Workings): SEVERAL HUNDRED FT EXPLORATION TUNNELS
Comment (Geology): SCHISTOSITY OF ENCLOSING ROCKS STRIKES N 40 DEG W, DIPS 80 DEG E
Comment (Reserve-Resource): ADDITIONAL RESERVES MIGHT BE DEVELOPED BY OPENING CAVED WORKINGS
Comment (Location): ON W SLOPE MICA MOUNTAIN, 3/4 MI E OF THE LUELLA, 2200 FT NW OF STEELSMITH MINE AND ON SAME CLAIM AS WITHEROW LEASE 600 FT E
Comment (Production): ITEM 11 BERYL PRODUCTION INCLUDES 50 LBS FROM LAST CHANCE MINE AND 500 LBS. FROM THE WITHEROW MINE
Comment (Development): LAST CHANCE AND WITHEROW MINES ARE ON SAME CLAIM
References
Reference (Deposit): WEIS, P. L., ARMSTRONG, F. C., AND ROSENBLUM, S., 1958, RECONNAISSANCE FOR RADIOACTIVE MINERALS IN WASHINGTON, IDAHO, AND WESTERN MONTANA, 1952-1955: USGS BULL. 1074-B, 48 P.
Reference (Deposit): 5) MINOBRAS (PUB.), 1975, IDAHO INDUSTRIAL MINERALS, P. 44.
Reference (Deposit): 6) PATTEE, E. C., AND OTHERS, 1968, BERYLLIUM RESOURCES OF IDAHO, WASHINGTON, MONTANA, AND OREGON: US BUR MINES REPT. INV. 7148, P. 40-42.
Reference (Deposit): 1925 RECON IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 14
Reference (Deposit): 1943 RECON W. C. STOLL, PROF. PAPER 229
Reference (Deposit): 1944 DIREXPL US BUR MINES, REPT. INV. 3898
Reference (Deposit): 1957 OTHER IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY CO. REPT. 2
Reference (Deposit): 1958 RECON P. L. WEIS AND OTHERS, BULL. 1074-B
Reference (Deposit): 1958 RECON US BUR MINES, REPT. INV. 7148
Reference (Production): STOLL, W. C., 1950, USGS PROF. PAPER 229, 64 P. { LESURE, F. G., 1964, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SPEC. PAPER 1, P. 131. { PATTEE, E. C., AND OTHERS, 1968, US BUR MINES, P. 25.
Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1925, MICA DEPOSITS OF LATAH CO., IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. PAMPHLET 14, 15 P.
Reference (Deposit): STOLL, W. C., 1950, MICA AND BERYL PEGMATITES IN IDAHO AND MONTANA: USGS PROF. PAPER 229, 64 P.
Reference (Deposit): HUBBARD, C. R., 1957, MINERAL RESOURCES OF LATAH COUNTY: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY COUNTY REPT. 2, 29 P.
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.
