Gaines Bar

The Gaines Bar is a gold mine located in Idaho county, Idaho at an elevation of 2,300 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

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.

Site Name

Primary: Gaines Bar
Secondary: Rhett Creek Placer
Secondary: Bilbie Placer
Secondary: Billie Placer

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Garnet
Tertiary: Iron
Tertiary: Titanium

Location

State: Idaho
County: Idaho
District: Dixie 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: Nez Perce National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: Mrs Reho Wolf
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1972
Years: 1970 -

Owner Name: Frank Santos
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: California
Info Year: 1972
Years: 1970 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Placer
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

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: PIT SAMPLES AVERAGE 34.5 LB OF BLACK SANDS/CY

Materials

Ore: Zircon
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Rutile
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Apatite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Biotite

Comments

Comment (Geology): Flat - Topped Alluvial Terrace 10 - 20 Ft. Above River

Comment (Development): 2 Mining Claims Cover The Area, Downriver From Rhett Creek Contains 11 Acres And Is The Rhett Creek Placer; The 31 Acre Area Upriver From Rhett Creek Is The Bilbie Placer

Comment (Deposit): Contains 42 Acres.

Comment (Workings): 7 Test Pits Dug; Old Workings Described Above

Comment (Production): Evidence Of Old Placer Mining Consists Of Washed Cuts On A Skim Bar Within The Main River Channel.

Comment (Location): Crossed By Rhett Creek Near Downstream End Land Status Value Calculated 7-94 Using GIS Overlay Analysis With USFS Land Ownership Boundaries, 1:126,720 Scale.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): Gold Values In Cents Per Cubic Yard Range From 0 To 1 Cent Gaines Bar Contains An Unusually Large Quantity Of Black Sands. Samples From The Bar Averaged 34.5 Pounds Black Sand Per Cubic Yard Of Gravel Whereas Samples From The Other Bars Averaged 4.7 Pounds Per Cubic Yard. Gaines Bar Is Estimated To Contain 1.4 Million Cubic Yards Of Gravel, But Owing To Its Remote Location, Its Black Sands Cannot Now Be Economically Mined And Probably Should Not Be Considered To Be A Potential Resource.

Comment (Ownership): The Area Downriver From Rhett Creek Contains 11 Acres And Is The Rhett Creek Placer, Owned By Frank Santos Of Redding Calif The 31-Acre Area Upriver From Rhett Creek Is Covered By The Billie Placer, Owned By Mrs. Reho Wolf Of Lewiston, Idaho.

References

Reference (Deposit): Weis, P. L., Schmitt, L. J., And Tuchek, E. T., 1972, Mineral Resources Of The Salmon River Breaks Primitive Area, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 1353-C, P 55 - 5

Reference (Production): Weis, P. L., Schmitt, L. J., And Tuchek, E. T., 1972, USGS Bulletin 1353-C, P 55 - 57

Reference (Deposit): IBMG Mines And Prospects Of The Elk City Quad., Mitchell, Et Al, 1981.

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.