Viola Mine

The Viola Mine is a lead mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 8,599 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: Viola Mine  

State:  Idaho

County:  Lemhi

Elevation: 8,599 Feet (2,621 Meters)

Commodity: Lead

Lat, Long: 44.37694, -112.34694

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 Viola Mine

Viola Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Viola Mine
Secondary: Nicholia-Viola Mine
Secondary: Nicholia Mine
Secondary: Viola Zinc Property


Commodity

Primary: Lead
Secondary: Silver
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Gold


Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Italian Peak Rare II 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: Targhee National Forest


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Surface/Underground


Ownership

Not available


Production

Year: 1925
Time Period: 1924-1925
Material type: CON
Description: Cp_Grade: ^31 % Pb, 7.5 % Zn, 7.5 Oz Ag/Ton


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1882
Discovery Year: 1880
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: Beaverhead Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR, STRINGERS


Structure

Type: L
Structure: Faulting

Type: L
Structure: Folding


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Bleaching

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Oxidation


Rocks

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Devonian


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: A ZINC ORE SAMPLE (SMITHSONITE) ASSAYED 45% ZN, 0.5% PB, TRACE AG
Analytical Data: SAMPLES OF LEAD CARBONATE ORE HAD 20-60% PB AND 5-15 OZ AG/TON


Materials

Ore: Anglesite
Ore: Smithsonite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Plumbojarosite
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Sand
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Iron


Comments

Comment (Geology): Original Structures entry: Local - Small Folds, Sets Of Minor Faults

Comment (Geology): Original concentration process entry: Hydrothermal

Comment (Geology): Original alteration entry: Local - Oxidation, Bleaching

Comment (Geology): Original ore control entry: Bedding Planes In Limestone

Comment (Workings): Extensive Workings, Now Mostly Caved

Comment (Geology): Mine Workings Are In Upper Ordovician And Devonian Limestone; The Ordovician Limestone And Quartzite Are Separated In Places By A Fault, In Other Areas They Appear Conformable

Comment (Production): Total Production Estimated At Between $2,500,000 (Umpleby) And $5,000,000 (Bell); Between 1885 And 1887 About 130 Tons Of Ore Smelted Daily; Item 9, Several Carloads; Item 11 Value $1,400,000

Comment (Deposit): Lead Ore Localized Within 3 Large, Irregular Bodies; Dips Varied, As Dip Steepened, Ore Was Pinched Out; Zinc Ore Bodies Are Confined To Undersides Of Lead Ore Bodies And Are 1-10 Ft. Thick

Comment (Location): 1.5 Mi NE Of Nicholia (Town); Mine Located At Crest Of Steep Frontal Slope Of Range


References

Reference (Deposit): Shenon, P. J., 1928, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Birch Creek District, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology, Pamphlet 27, 25 P.

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., And Wagner, W. R., 1944, Lead-Zinc-Copper Deposits Of The Birch Creek District, Clark And Lemhi Counties, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 70, P. 36-42

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J. B., 1913, Geology And Ore Deposits Of Lemhi County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 528, 104 P.

Reference (Production): Items 8, 9, Shenon, P. J., 1928, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 27; Items 10-12, Anderson, A. L., And Wagner, W. R., 1944, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 70

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau Of Mines Open-File Report MLA 53-83, 1983, Table 1, No. 15, P. 18.


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