The Wonder Mine is a thorium and ree mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,699 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: 6,699 Feet (2,042 Meters)
Commodity: Thorium, REE
Lat, Long: 44.95806, -113.46972
Map: View on Google Maps
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Wonder Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Wonder Mine
Secondary: Wonder Lodes Nos. 1 To 5 and Buckhorn Claims
Secondary: Wonder and Buckhorn Claims
Secondary: Silver Bell
Secondary: Quinn Prospect
Secondary: Inspiration Group
Commodity
Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Barium-Barite
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Zinc
Location
State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Mcdevitt District
Land Status
Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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.
Holdings
Type: Located Claim
Workings
Type: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Nuclear Fuels And Rare Metals, Inc.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Reno, Nev.
Info Year: 1977
Owner Name: Defense Metals, Inc.
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1923
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: DISSEMINATIONS, MASSES, SEAMS, STRINGERS
Structure
Type: L
Structure: Slickensides
Type: L
Structure: Cross Faults
Type: L
Structure: Brecciation
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Epidote
Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Chlorite
Rocks
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Description: Phyllitic Quartzite
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Description: Phyllitic Quartzite
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: IN 150 FT. VEIN (1.75 FT THICK), 0.30% TH OXIDE AND 0.3% RAE.
Analytical Data: IN 100 FT VEIN (2.5 FT THICK), 0.75% THORIUM OXIDE CONTAINED
Materials
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Rutile
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Bornite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Specularite
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Allophane
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Barite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): On E Side Of Gulch, Strike Has Changed To N 85 Deg W, Dip To 65 Deg Sw. In Third Cut, Zone Strikes N 55 Deg W, Dips 45 To 50 Deg Ne. In Sixth Cut, The Lode Strikes N 60 Deg W, Dips 55 Deg Ne.
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1923, THORITE IN 1950'S
Comment (Location): In Camp Gulch, Tributary Of Agency Creek Nearly A Mi Above The Copper Queen Mine
Comment (Commodity): Wonder Lode Vein Is 1 Of Only 2 Cu-Th Veins In The Lemhi Pass Area
Comment (Production): At Least 1 Production Year Was 1923 (Staatz, 1972)
Comment (Development): Econ.Com: 1 Adit Sample Had Up To 3.2% Tho2 And 2.8% Cu; 1 Sample Over 1% Zn; Vein Radioactivity As High As 2.0 Mr/Hr; Ag Found 0.2-2.0 Oz/Ton
Comment (Geology): Diorite Dike Strikes E And Dips 58 Deg S To Vertical
Comment (Geology): Original concentration process entry: Hydrothermal
Comment (Geology): Original Structures entry: Local - Brecciation, Minor Cross Faults, Slickensides
Comment (Geology): Original alteration entry: Local - Chlorite, Epidote
Comment (Geology): Original ore control entry: Fracture, Shear Zone
References
Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1960, Geology Of Thorite-Rare Earth Deposits In The Lemhi Pass Region, In Study Of Two Idaho Thorite Deposits: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 122, P. 133-139.
Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1958, Uranium, Thorium, Columbium, And Rare Earth Deposits In The Salmon Region, Lemhi County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 115, 81 P.
Reference (Deposit): Weis, P. L., And Others, 1958, Reconnaissance For Radioactive Minerals In Washington, Idaho, And Western Montana 1952-1955: USGS Bulletin 1074-B, 48 P.
Reference (Deposit): Sharp, W. N., And Cavender, W. S., 1962, Geology And Thorium-Bearing Deposits Of The Lemhi Pass Area, Lemhi County, Idaho, And Beaverhead County, Montana: USGS Bulletin 1126, 76 P.
Reference (Deposit): Staatz, M. H., 1972, Geology And Description Of The Thorium-Bearing Veins, Lemhi Pass Quadrangle, Idaho And Montana: USGS Bulletin 1351, 94 P.
Reference (Production): Sharp, W. N., And Cavendar, W. S., 1962, USGS Bull 1126
Reference (Deposit): Moen, 1957, Us Atomic Energy Commission Rme-2061, Pt 1
Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1961, Econonimc Geology, V 56, P 177-197
Reference (Deposit): Staatz, Bunker, and Bush, 1971, USGS Professional Paper 750-C, P 136-140
Reference (Deposit): Trites And Tooker, 1953, USGS Bulletin 988-H, P 157-209
Reference (Deposit): Ross and George, 1966, USBM Resource Report 62.1 Salt Lake City Met Res Cn
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.
