Hermes Mine (includes Fern Mine)

The Hermes Mine (includes Fern Mine) is a mercury mine located in Valley county, Idaho.

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: Hermes Mine (includes Fern Mine)
Secondary: Hermes Mine
Secondary: Cinnabar
Secondary: Bonanza
Secondary: Cinnabar Group
Secondary: Hermes Quicksilver
Secondary: Hermes Claim
Secondary: Yellow Pine Cinnabar-Mining District
Secondary: Pretty Maid, Hermes, Annie Sell, Golden Gate No. 4, Vermillion Extension No. 1, and Vermillion Claims
Secondary: Fern Group

Commodity

Primary: Mercury
Tertiary: Arsenic
Tertiary: Antimony

Location

State: Idaho
County: Valley
District: Yellow Pine District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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: Patented

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Bonanza Mines
Percent: 100.0
Info Year: 1943

Owner Name: United Mercury Mines Co.
Info Year: 1926
Years: 1921 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1918
Discovery Year: 1902
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Salmon River Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Hot-spring Hg

Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Argillic Alteration, Silicification, Sericitization

Rocks

Name: Dacite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Permian

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE RAN 3 TO 20 LB HG PER TON

Materials

Ore: Orpiment
Ore: Cinnabar
Ore: Stibnite
Ore: Realgar
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Reserve-Resource): ITEM 1 FROM LG LOW GRADE DEPOSIT WHICH INCLUDES FERN QUICKsilver GROUP AND VERMILLION GROUP.

Comment (Production): HERMES MINE HAS PRODUCED NEARLY ONE-HALF THE STATES TOTAL HG PRODUCTION. Production figures from USBM data.

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: FAULTED PENDANT OF PALEOZOIC LIMESTONE AND SHALE IN IDAHO BATHOLITH. TERTIARY (?) DACITE

Comment (Development): TWO 75-TON ROTARIES

Comment (Location): Cinnabar Group is located approximately 1 mi. NNW of Fern Mine. (from deleted record 10193229)

Comment (Deposit): Bradley, Worthen, 1943, The Hermes Quicksilver Mines--Part I: Mining Congress Journal, v. 29, no. 11, p. 32-34.

References

Reference (Deposit): Schrader, F.C., and Ross, C.P., 1926, antimony and quicksilve rdeposits in the Yellow Pine district, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 780-D, p. 137-164, pl. XVIII.
Pages: p. 156-163, pl. XVIII.

Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E.H., USGS, PERSONAL FILES

Reference (Deposit): BAILEY, E. H., 1964 , MINERAL RESOURCE - MERCURY IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, SPEC. REPT. NO. 1 , P. 119 - 123

Reference (Deposit): Larsen, E.S., and Livingston, D.C., 1920, Geology of the Yellow Pine Cinnabar-mining district, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 715-E, p. 73-83.
Pages: p. 73-83.

Reference (Deposit): Leonard, B.F., Mercury-bearing antimony deposit between Big Creek and Yellow Pine, central Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 525-B, p. B23-B28.
Pages: p. B.24.

Reference (Deposit): Bradley, Worthen, 1943, The Hermes Quicksilver Mines--Part I: Mining Congress Journal, v. 29, no. 11, p. 32-34.
Pages: p. 32-34.

Reference (Deposit): IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 43, P. 26.

Reference (Deposit): IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOLOGY BULLETIN 2, VOL. XIV, P. 63.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 969-F, P. 151-197.

Reference (Deposit): Bradley, Worthen, 1943, The Hermes Quicksilver Mines--Part II, The present operation: Mining Congress Journal, v. 29, no. 12, p. 40-44.
Pages: p. 40-44.

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.