The Smith Creek Hydraulic Co. Placer is a gold mine located in Valley county, Idaho at an elevation of 5,699 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: 5,699 Feet (1,737 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 45.155, -115.30940
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.
Smith Creek Hydraulic Co. Placer MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Smith Creek Hydraulic Co. Placer
Secondary: Pebble Claim
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Titanium
Tertiary: Iron
Location
State: Idaho
County: Valley
District: Edwardsburg District
Land Status
Land ownership: National Primitive 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.
Administrative Organization: Idaho Primitive Area
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Smith Creek Hydraulic Co.
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1901
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: POCKETS, LENSES, STRINGERS
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Alluvium
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene
Name: Alluvium
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: IN 17 MILLION CY, AVG ABOUT 10 CENTS AU/CY, AVG BLACK SANDS 2.2 LB/CY
Materials
Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Staurolite
Comments
Comment (Location): 1.5 MI UPSTREAM ON SMITH CREEK FROM BIG CREEK.
Comment (Reserve-Resource): ITEM 1 ABOVE IS IN AREA ABOVE PLACER CREEK; ITEM 2 REFERS TO AREA BETWEEN PLACER CREEK AND BRIDGE AT PLACER CREEK MOUTH; ITEM 3 REFERS TO MOUTH OF SMITH CREEK AND EXTENDING 1 1/2 MI DOWN BIG CREEK; THESE AVERAGE 10 CENTS AU/CY.
Comment (Production): ABOUT 15000 CY MATERIAL MOVED IN OPERATION; ITEM 8 ABOVE, GOLD AT $20/OZ.
Comment (Development): 80 OR MORE PLACER CLAIMS ; ECON.COM: GOLD VALUES BASED ON $47.85/TOZ
Comment (Deposit): TOTAL RESOURCES ESTIMATED TO BE 17 MILLION C.Y.
Comment (Workings): ABOUT 15,000 CY MATERIAL MOVED IN 1921-1922
References
Reference (Deposit): CATER, F. W., AND OTHERS, 1973, MINERAL RESOURCES OF IDAHO PRIMITIVE AREA AND VICINITY, IDAHO: USGS BULL. 1304, 431 P
Reference (Deposit): 1973 RECON F. W. CATER AND OTHERS, BULL. 130
Reference (Production): CATER, F. W., AND OTHERS, 1973, USGS BULL. 1304
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.
