Giant Spar Mine

The Giant Spar Mine is a fluorine-fluorite mine located in Custer county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,201 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

Name: Giant Spar Mine

State:  Idaho

County:  Custer

Elevation: 6,201 Feet (1,890 Meters)

Commodity: Fluorine-Fluorite

Lat, Long: 44.25, -114.85580

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.


Satelite image of the Giant Spar Mine

Giant Spar Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Giant Spar Mine


Commodity

Primary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Tertiary: Silver
Tertiary: Gold


Location

State: Idaho
County: Custer
District: Stanley 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

Type: Minerals Only
Type: Patented


Workings

Type: Surface/Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Alcoa - Aluminum Co. Of America
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Pittsburgh, PA
Info Year: 1976


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1942
Discovery Year: 1860
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: Salmon River Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: LINEAR


Structure

Type: R
Description: Idaho Batholith

Type: L
Description: Fault With Attitude N 29 Deg E, 84 Deg Nw; Slickensides Plunging 18 Deg Sw On N Wall Of Vein


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Hydrothermal Alteration, Iron-Oxide Stains


Rocks

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 18 LB SAMPLE CHIPPED FROM PORTAL ASSAYED AT : 71.5% CAF2, NO AU, NO AG
Analytical Data: 3 CHIP SAMPLES ACROSS 2 F VEINS AVG. : 76.26% CA F2.


Materials

Ore: Fluorite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Chalcedony


Comments

Comment (Location): 1/4 M S of the Salmon River. Near Mouths of Big and Little Casino Creeks.

Comment (Commodity): Fluorite Is Non Radioactive and Non-Fluorescent, But Is Triboluminescent.

Comment (Production): Total Production Consists of Several Truckloads of Fluorite Shipped During Or After World War II.

Comment (Development): The Group Is Adjoined On the Northeast By Gold Chance Claims and To the West and Southwest By Homestake Claims. 4 Patented Claims

Comment (Workings): The Workings Consist of A 150-Ft Adit, 19 Cuts, 6 Prospect Pits, 4 Diamond Drill Holes


References

Reference (Deposit): Choate, Raoul, 1962, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Stanley Area: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 126, 120 P.

Reference (Deposit): Tschanz, C. M., And Others, 1974, Mineral Resources Of The Eastern Part Of The Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Custer And Blaine Counties, Idaho: USGS Open-File Rept., 648 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1962 Geolmap Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 126

Reference (Deposit): 1974 Recon Tschanz, C. M., And Others, Open-File Rept.

Reference (Deposit): Direxpl Alcoa, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 126

Reference (Production): Choate, Raoul, 1962, Idaho Bur Of Mines And Geology, Pamphlet 126, P. 82

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Tschanz, C. M., And Others, 1974, USGS O.F. Rept., P. 594.

Reference (Deposit): Vannoy & Others, 1986, USGS Bulletin 1545e, P. 437, Pl. 3, No. 41

Reference (Deposit): Shawe & Others 1976 USGS Prof Paper 933 P 36-37


Idaho Gold

Where to Find Gold in Idaho

"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.