The Bear Valley Placers is a niobium (columbium), tantalum, ree, and uranium mine located in Valley county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,499 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: 6,499 Feet (1,981 Meters)
Commodity: Niobium (Columbium), Tantalum, REE, Uranium
Lat, Long: 44.37083, -115.40083
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.
Bear Valley Placers MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Bear Valley Placers
Commodity
Primary: Niobium (Columbium)
Primary: Tantalum
Primary: REE
Primary: Uranium
Tertiary: Titanium
Tertiary: Radium
Tertiary: Thorium
Location
State: Idaho
County: Valley
District: Unorganized District; Bear Valley 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
Owner Name: Porter Brothers Corp.
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1955
Discovery Method: Unknown
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
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
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
Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: SAMPLES FOUND EUXENITE AVE 1.0 LB / C. Y., COLUMBITE AVE 0.2 LB / C.Y., MONAZITE 0.5 LB/C.Y.
Analytical Data: FROM EUXENITE: CB2O5 23.29%, TA2O 1.5 - 3%, TIO2 22-26%, 2 - 16% U3O8, 2.5 - 5% THO2
Analytical Data: GRAVEL: 20-130 LB BLACK SAND/CY. { OTHER SAMPLES FOUND 0.05 LB ZIRCON/CY, 13 LB. GARNET/CY., 28 LB ILMENITE/C.Y., 7 LB MAGNETITE/C.Y.
Materials
Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Tantalite
Ore: Zircon
Ore: Garnet
Ore: Columbite
Ore: Monazite
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Euxenite
Comments
Comment (Production): 1955 - 99 % OF DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF COLUMBIUM AND TANTALUM PRODUCED FROM BEAR VALLEY PLACERS.
Comment (Development): 200 TON MILL AT LOWMAN
Comment (Workings): DREDGING; DUG 7000-8000 YARDS GRAVEL/DAY.
References
Reference (Deposit): MINING WORLD, JANUARY, 1958.
Reference (Deposit): SAVAGE, C. N., 1961, METAL FROM BLACKSANDS: SELECTED TECHNOLOGIC AND ECONOMIC DATA: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF. CIRC. 10, 34 P.
Reference (Deposit): 1961 OTHER IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF. CIRC. 1
Reference (Deposit): ENG. MINING JOURNAL, MARCH, 1958.
Reference (Deposit): DAYTON, S. H., 1958, RADIOACTIVE BLACK SAND IS YIELDING COLUMBITE CONCENTRATE AT IDAHO MILL: MINING WORLD, MAY, 1958.
Reference (Production): SAVAGE, C. N., 1961, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF CIRC. 10, P. 18.
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.
