Homestake Mine

The Homestake Mine is a gold mine located in Idaho county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,099 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: Homestake Mine
Secondary: Twin Circles
Secondary: Badger
Secondary: Pennsylvania Lode

Commodity

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

Location

State: Idaho
County: Idaho
District: Orogrande 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

Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Twin Circles Mining Corp.

Owner Name: James Penman Mines Co. (C. W. Brochman, Mgr.)

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1898
Discovery Year: 1897
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: L
Description: Faults Strike N 35 - 50 Deg E, Dip 65 - 85 Deg Nw, Displace Vein Up To 110 Ft

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Staining

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Oxidation

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Sericitization

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Gouge
Alteration Text: Gouge, Sericitization, Oxidation

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Granite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Dacite
Role: Associated
Description: Porphyritic Dacite
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Andesite
Role: Associated
Description: Dike
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Description: Dike
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ASSAYS ACROSS 30 TO 36 INCHES SHOWED .20 TO 1.44 OZ AU/TON, 0.2 TO 1.9 OZ AG/TON.
Analytical Data: SAMPLE OF QUARTZ VEIN ASSAYED : 6.02 OZ AU, 5.1 OZ AG/TON, 3.2% PB, RACE CU
Analytical Data: DUMP SAMPLE ASSAYED : 2.48 OZ. AU, 1.0 OZ AG/TON.

Materials

Ore: Covellite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Pyromorphite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Location): Near Crest Of High Divide Separating Drainage Basins Of The Salmon And Clearwater Rivers

Comment (Production): A Few Tons Of Au Ore Were Produced In 1898.

Comment (Production): Penman Mine Production Is Combined With The Homestake Mine (See WFOC Production Files).

Comment (Geology): 3 Veins - Most Work On Homestake Vein. Pyrite Main Source Of Gold, Galena Main Source Of Silver

Comment (Location): On Divide Between Crooked River And Big Creek

Comment (Workings): Tunnels, Trenches

Comment (Development): 2 Patented, 7 Unpatented Claims

References

Reference (Deposit): Shenon, P. J., And Ross, J. C., 1934, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Elk City, Orogrande, Buffalo Hump, And Tenmile Districts, Idaho County, Idaho: USGS Circ. 9, 89 P

Reference (Production): Shenon, P. J., And Reed, J. C., 1934, USGS Circ. 9

Reference (Deposit): Thomson, F. A., And Ballard, S. M., 1924, Geology And Gold Resources Of North Central Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Bulletin No. 7, 127 P

Reference (Deposit): Lorain, S. H., And Metzger, D. H., 1938, Reconnaissance Of Placer Mining Districts In Idaho County, Idaho: USBM Inf. Circ. 7023, 93 P.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bureau Of Mines Open-File Report MLA 9-91, 1991, P. 38-39.

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.