Bovill Clay-Sand Mine

The Bovill Clay-Sand Mine is a kaolin mine located in Latah county, Idaho at an elevation of 3,051 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

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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: Bovill Clay-Sand Mine
Secondary: Kilbourne
Secondary: Simplot
Secondary: Balsa

Commodity

Primary: Kaolin
Secondary: Silica

Location

State: Idaho
County: Latah
District: Bovill 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: Clearwater National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: J. R. Simplot Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1943
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Clearwater Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: LENSES

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Kaolinization

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 20.0 TO 21.8% AVG AL2O3
Analytical Data: 4% AVG FE2O3 IN CLAY. WASHED SAND YIELDED 96 AND 99% SIO2.

Materials

Ore: Halloysite

Comments

Comment (Location): E PART LATAH CO. W OF W FK POTLATCH RIVER. DEPOSIT IS ALSO IN SECS. 35, 36, T41N, R1W.

Comment (Development): 10 HOLES DRILLED BY US BUR MINES ; ECON.COM: UP TO 20 FT OVERBURDEN. RATIO OF OVERBURDEN TO HIGH-ALUMINA CLAY IS ABOUT 0.6:1

Comment (Workings): 1550 ACRES

Comment (Geology): DEPOSIT IS IN NE CORNER OF THE HELMER EMBAYMENT

References

Reference (Deposit): 5) BAINS, T.S., 1961, A STUDY OF NON-CLAY MINERALS IN BOVILL CLAY DEPOSITS: MOSCOW, IDAHO, UNIV. OF IDAHO, MS THESIS, 45 P.

Reference (Deposit): 6) MINOBRAS (PUB.), 1975, IDAHO INDUSTRIAL MINERALS, P. 42.

Reference (Deposit): 7) CARTER, W. D., 1964, SILICA, IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SPEC. REPT. 1, P. 176-178.

Reference (Deposit): 1957 OTHER IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY CO. REPT. 2

Reference (Production): HUBBARD, C. R., 1956, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. PAMPHLET 109, 36 P.

Reference (Deposit): 8) KELLY, H. J., AND OTHERS, 1963, BOVILL CLAY AND SAND DEPOSIT, LATAH COUNTY, IDAHO: US BUR MINES REPT. INV. 6330, 56 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1943 DIREXPL US BUR MINES, INF. CIRC, 8112

Reference (Deposit): 1944 GEOLMAP J. W. HOSTERMAN AND OTHERS, BULL. 1091

Reference (Deposit): 1956 COMPILE IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 109

Reference (Deposit): 1956 DIREXPL J. R. SIMPLOT CO. AND US BUR MINES, REPT. INV. 6330

Reference (Deposit): CARTER, G. J., KELLY, H. J., AND PARSONS, E. W., 1962, INDUSTRIAL SILICA DEPOSITS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: US BUR MINES INF. CIRC. 8112, 57 P.

Reference (Deposit): HUBBARD, C. R., 1956, CLAY DEPOSITS OF NORTH IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 109, 36 P.

Reference (Deposit): HUBBARD, C. R., 1957, MINERAL RESOURCES OF LATAH COUNTY: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY COUNTY REPT. 2, 29 P.

Reference (Deposit): HOSTERMAN, J. W., AND OTHERS, 1960, INVESTIGATIONS OF SOME CLAY DEPOSITS IN WASHINGTON AND IDAHO: USGS BULL. 1091, 147 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.