Dismal Swamp Placer Mine

The Dismal Swamp Placer Mine is a niobium (columbium) mine located in Elmore county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,900 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: Dismal Swamp Placer Mine

Commodity

Primary: Niobium (Columbium)
Tertiary: Titanium
Tertiary: Tantalum
Tertiary: Uranium

Location

State: Idaho
County: Elmore
District: Rocky Bar 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: Boise National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Placer
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: Sawtooth Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericite

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Holocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: IN THE AGGREGATE, THE GRAVEL CONTAINS 1.40 - 1.87 LBS. "WEAKLY MAGNETIC" MATERIAL/CUBIC YARD, AVERAGING 14 - 20% NB2O5 + TA2O5, AND .15 - .19% U3O8.

Materials

Ore: Zircon
Ore: Monazite
Ore: Anatase
Ore: Cassiterite
Ore: Columbite
Ore: Xenotime
Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Rutile
Ore: Garnet
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Topaz
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): 1 1/2 Mi. By Jeep Road From A Point On The Rocky Bar - Cougar Creek Road; On Headwaters Of Northwesternmost Principal Fork Of Buck Creek.

Comment (Development): Property Consists Of 10 Continuous, Unpatented Placer Mining Claims. Only Two Claims, Associated Gem Groups Nos. 2 & 3, Were Explored. ; Econ.Com: Graded Dirt Road To Within 20 Mi. Of Mountain Home, Id.; Rest Of The Way Is Paved. Union Pacific R. R. Passes Through Mountain Home.

Comment (Workings): Sixteen Bulldozer Trenches, 2 Shafts, And 25 Churn - Drill Holes Totaling 329.4 Ft. Of Drilling.

References

Reference (Deposit): Parker, R. L., 1964, Mineral Resources - Niobium And Tantalum, In Mineral And Water Resources Of Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Special Rept. No. 1, P. 142.

Reference (Deposit): 1951 Recon Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 91

Reference (Deposit): 1956 Compile Mackin, J. H., Prof. Paper 300

Reference (Deposit): 1957 Recon Anderson, F. C., Bulletin 1042 - K.

Reference (Deposit): 1964 Compile Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Spec. Rept. 1

Reference (Production): Parker, R. L., 1964, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Spec. Rept. No. 1

Reference (Deposit): Armstrong, F. C., 1957, Dismal Swamp Placer Deposit, Elmore County, Idaho: U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1042 - K, P. 383 - 392.

Reference (Deposit): Savage, C. N., 1961, Economic Geology Of Central Idaho Blacksand Placers, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology, Bulletin 17

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.