Clayton Silver Mine

Site Name

Primary: Clayton Silver Mine
Secondary: Camp Bird Claim Group
Secondary: Clark Mine
Secondary: Custer Mine

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Commodity

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

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Location

State: Idaho
County: Custer
District: Bayhorse Mining District

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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.

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Holdings

Type: Located Claim
Type: Patented

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Workings

Type: Underground

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Ownership

Owner Name: Southern Star Consolidated Corp.
Home Office: Massachusetts
Info Year: 1997
Years: 1992 -

Owner Name: Clayton Silver Mines, Inc. Clayton, Id
Company ID: 1000142
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1997

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Production

Year: 1969
Mined: 89838.340 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 81500 Short Tons
Year: 1970
Mined: 99097.750 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 89900 Short Tons
Year: 1971
Mined: 90719.090 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 82299 Short Tons
Year: 1972
Mined: 99868.270 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 90599 Short Tons
Year: 1973
Mined: 89176.950 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 80900 Short Tons
Year: 1974
Mined: 92152.090 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 83599 Short Tons
Year: 1975
Mined: 87963.310 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 79799 Short Tons
Year: 1976
Mined: 100375.330 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 91059 Short Tons
Year: 1977
Mined: 84612.290 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 76759 Short Tons
Year: 1978
Mined: 81692.260 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 74110 Short Tons
Year: 1979
Mined: 57209.940 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 51900 Short Tons
Year: 1980
Mined: 57209.940 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 51900 Short Tons
Year: 1981
Mined: 72752.520 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 66000 Short Tons
Year: 1982
Mined: 26102.720 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 23680 Short Tons
Year: 1983
Mined: 58290.200 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 52880 Short Tons
Year: 1984
Mined: 83896.890 mt
Material type: Ore
Description: Dry Tons Ore 76110 Short Tons

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Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Shrinkage Methods
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1934
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S

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Physiography

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

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic replacement

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Orebody

Form: TABULAR

Not available

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Structure

Type: L
Structure: N-S Shear Zone, Steep Easterly Dip

Type: R
Structure: Assymetrical Anticline; N - S Trend

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Alterations

Not available

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Rocks

Name: Dolomite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Middle Ordovician

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Middle Ordovician

Name: Dolomite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Middle Ordovician

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Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 1.7 OZ AG/TON, 1.0% PB, 0.7% ZN, IS APPROXIMATE AVERAGE OF ORE MINED IN 1974

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Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Polybasite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Gangue: Marcasite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Siderite

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Comments

Comment (Geology): ROCKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CLAYTON SILVER MINE HAVE BEEN FOLDED INTO A SERIES OF NORTH-WEST TRENDING ANTICLINES AND SYNCLINES. THE CLAYTON ANTICLINE, LOCATED BETWEEN KINNIKINC AND SQUAW CREEKS, IS THE MAJOR STRUCTURE IN THE AREA. THE CLAYTON SILVER MINE IS LOCATED ON THE EAST LIMB OF THE ANTICLINE. THE CLAYTON ANTICLINE HAS BEEN THRUST UPON THE WEST FLANK OF A REGIONAL ANTICLINE. FAULTING HAS ELIMINATED THE SYNCLINE THAT SHOULD LIE BETWEEN THE TWO ANTICLINES CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO IS COMPOSED OF PRECAMBRICAN GNEISSES AND SCHISTS OVERLAIN BY PALEZOIC SEDIMENTS, WHICH IN TURN ARE OVERLAIN BY TERTIARY VOLCANICS. THE ENTIRE PILE HAS BEEN INTRUDED BY CRETACEOUS TO TERTIARY PLUTONS OF THE IDAHO BATHOLITH.

Comment (Geology): INTENSE FAULTING THROUGHOUT THE AREA HAS CAUSED BEDDING PLANE ADJUSTMENTS, DRAG FOLDING, BEDDING PLANE SHEAR AND BRECCIA ZONES; ESPECIALLY IN THE ELLA DOLOMITE. THE ORE ZONES WERE FORMED BY REPLACEMENT(DUE TO HYDROTHERMAL SOLUTIONS) OF THE DOLOMITE IN AREAS OF INTENSE FRACTURING. THE ORE BODIES AT THE MINE HAVE BEEN FOUND ALONG A SHEAR ZONE THAT STRIKES N50E AT THE SOUTH END OF THE MINE AND N20W AT THE NORTH END OF THE MINE. AT PRESENT ONLY THE NORTH ORE BODY IS BEING MINED, THE OTHER BODIES WERE MINED OUT ABOVE THE 800 LEVEL. THE NORTH ORE BODY STRIKES N15W AND DIPS 70 NE AND RAKES 50 NORTH. THIS BODY IS ABOUT 140M LONG, AND 2-24M WIDE(AVERAGE 10M). FROM THE 800 TO 2100 LEVEL IT IS 400M DOWNDIP.

Comment (Deposit): THE CLAIMS ARE LOCATED IN T11N R17E SECTIONS 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25. SHUT DOWN MAY 24, 1986. APPARENTLY OUT OF RESERVES. NOTE: SHOWN AS ACTIVE IN 1991. MINING & MINERALS IN IDAHO, 1990 (DRAFT). IDAHO GEOL. SURV., 1991, P5. 1.5 MI. NORTH OF CLAYTON, IDAHO, VIA KINNIKINICK RD . PROPERTY NOT IN PRODUCTION, JULY-DEC, 1982 DUE TO LOW SILVER PRICES. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE COMPANY COMPLETED AN EXTENSIVE REHABILITATION OF BOTH MINE AND MILL IN WHICH BOTH WERE RE-WIRED, A USED 227T/D BALL MILL ($55,000) INSTALLED, AND A GEOLOGIC EVALUATION AND DIAMOND DRILLING PROGRAM STARTED. MINE CLOSED OCT 1983 DUE TO FLOODING AS RESULT OF 6.9 (RICHTER SCALE) EARTHQUAKE IN VICINITY. MINE WAS FLOODED 45 M ABOVE 1100 LEVEL (PRODUCTION LEVEL); LARGER PUMPS WERE INSTALLED AND MINE DE-WATERED. PRODUCTION RESUMED IN FEB 1984. DURING CLOSURE NEW 1,000 KW AUX GENERATOR, A LARGER PUMPING SYSTEM AND NEW COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WERE INSTALLED. THE MINE DRY BUILDING WAS EXPANDED, NEW SURFACE ORE BINS CONSTRUCTED, A MINE ASSAY BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED, AND VENTILATION SYSTEM UPGRADED.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): RESERVE DATA WERE PROVIDED BY JIM COLSON (1981) AND BOB HILLMAN, (1983) OF CLAYTON SILVER MINES. ALL RESERVES ARE IN THE NORTH ORE SHOOT BETWEEN THE 800 AND 1100 LEVELS TOTAL MINE RESERVES AS OF OCT 1983 ARE 308.4 T (90%) THIS TOTAL RESERVE FIGURE IS VERY CONSERVATIVE. THE NORTH ORE SHOOT HAS BEEN MINED CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE 100 LEVEL TO THE 1100 LEVEL. AT THE 100 LEVEL THE NORTH ORE BODY WAS 46M LONG (ALONG STRIKE), AT THE 1100 LEVEL IT IS 137M LONG ALONG STRIKE. MR. COLSON IS VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE ORE DOWNDIP IS JUST AS STRONG AS IT IS AT THE 100 LEVEL. HE SUGGESTS THAT A GOOD ESTIMATE FOR ORE RESERVES IN THE NORTH ORE SHOOT IS 1360MT PER VERTICAL FOOT. BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUITY OF THE NORTH ORE SHOOT THIS AUTHOR FEELS THAT PROJECTING THE ORE BODY DOWNDIP BELOW THE 1100 LEVEL IS VALID. TAKING HALF OF THE DISTANCE FROM THE 100 LEVEL TO THE 1100 LEVEL(500 FEET), THE ORE RESERVES BETWEEN THE 1100 AND 1600 LEVELS IS ESTIMATED AT 680000MT. TAKING THE DISTANCE FROM THE 100 LEVEL TO THE 1100 LEVEL THE ORE RESERVES BETWEEN THE 1100 AND 2100 LEVELS IS ESTIMATED AT 1360000 MT. Q90: 308,400T Q75: 308,400+680,000=988,400T. Q50: 308,000 + 1,360,000=1,668,400T. M9C4 MODIFIED TO REFLECT 1983 RESERVES.

Comment (Deposit): MINE IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE JULY 1935.

Comment (Development): 29 PATENTED, 7 UNPATENTED CLAIMS, 2 PATENTED MILLSITES ; ECON.COM: ALL ORE CONCENTRATED IN MILL AT THE MINE. RECOVERIES ARE 90% OF THE PB, 90% OF THE AG, AND 80% OF THE ZN.

Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY AN ADIT, AN 800-FT 2-COMPARTMENT SHAFT, AND 5 WORKING LEVELS. DRILLING INDICATES ORE EXTENDS 600 FT BELOW 800 LEVEL.

Comment (Production): MILL PRODUCES A PB CONCENTRATE CONTAINING AG, AU, PB, ZN, CU BUT SMELTER ONLY PAYS FOR AG, AU, PB AND CU. ZN IS NOT PAID FOR.

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References

Reference (Deposit): HAYS, W.H., 1978, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE LONE PINE PEAK QUAD, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO: U.S.G.S. OPEN FILE REPORT 78-1060

Reference (Deposit): HOBBS, S.W., 1975, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE CLAYTON QUAD, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO: U.S.G.S. OPEN FILE MAP 75-76

Reference (Deposit): HOBBS, S.W., 1968, THE KINNIKINIC QUARTZITE OF CENTRAL IDAHO REDEFINITION AND SUBDIVISION, U.S.G.S. BULL. 1254-5

Reference (Deposit): JONES, ROBERT, 1959, CLAYTON SILVER MINES; SUMMARY REPORT OF EXAMINATION OF MINE OR MINERAL DEPOSIT, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY (UNPUBLISHED)

Reference (Reserve-Resource): CLAYTON SILVER MINES, ANNUAL REPORTS 1978-80.

Reference (Deposit): NEWHOUSE, W.H., 1943, GEOLOGY OF CLAYTON SILVER MINE, CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO, U.S.G.S.(UNPUBLISHED)

Reference (Reserve-Resource): CLAYTON SILVER MINES, 1982 ANNUAL REPORT

Reference (Reserve-Resource): CLAYTON SILVER MINES, INC., 1984 ANNUAL REPORT

Reference (Deposit): B.L.M., 1980, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED 230 KV POWERLINE AND RELATED FACILITIES; MOORE, IDAHO TO CHALLIS, IDAHO AND SQUAW CREEK, IDAHO, BLM SALMON DISTRICT, SALMON, IDAHO

Reference (Deposit): B.L.M., 1981, MASTER TITLE PLATS

Reference (Deposit): COLSON, JIM, 1981, MINING ENGINEER, CLAYTON SILVER MINES, PERSONAL COMMUNICATION.

Reference (Deposit): DERKEY, P.D., 1978, U.S.B.M., MINERALS AVAILABILTIES SYSTEM DEPOSIT SUMMARY REPORT, CLAYTON SILVER MINE (UNPUBLISHED)

Reference (Deposit): Case study of the environmental signature of a recently abandoned, carbonate-hosted replacement deposit: The Clayton Mine, Idaho; Hammarstrom, Jane et al., USGS OFR-02-10.

Reference (Deposit): REMBER, W.C., 1979, GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE CHALLIS QUAD, IDAHO, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, GEOLOGIC MAP SERIES, C.2.

Reference (Deposit): ROSS, C.P., 1937, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BAYHORSE REGION, CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO, U.S.G.S. BULL. 877.

Reference (Deposit): SETTLES, DICK, 1981, MINE MANAGER, CLAYTON SILVER MINES, PERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Reference (Deposit): SMITH, NORM, 1981, CHAIRMAN, CLAYTON SILVER MINES, PERSONAL COMMUNICATION.

Reference (Deposit): TAILLEUR, IRVIN, 1948, ABSTRACT OF ORE DEPOSITS OF THE CLAYTON AREA, CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO, M.S. THESIS, CORNELL UNIV

Reference (Deposit): UMPLEBY, J.B., 1913, SOME ORE DEPOSITS IN NORTH-WESTERN CUSTER COUNTY IDAHO, U.S.G.S., BULL 539.

Reference (Deposit): EXAMINATION OF CLAYTON SILVER MINES (UNPUBLISHED)

Reference (Deposit): U.S.B.M., 1942, CLAYTON SILVER MINES, WAR MINERALS REPORT (CLASS C), NOVEMBER 1942.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. FOREST SERVICE, 1980, FINAL E.I.S. THOMPSON CREEK MOLYBDENUM PROJECT, CUSTER COUNTY, IDAHO, CYPRUS MINES CORP.

Reference (Deposit): U.S.G.S., 1964, MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF IDAHO, ID BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, SPECIAL REPORT NO. 1.

Reference (Deposit): MSHA RPTS SEPT 1982 THRU MAY 1983

Reference (Deposit): U.S.G.S., 1964, O.M.E. REPORT(SILVER), DOCKET NO. 6324, CLAYTON SILVER MINES, UNPUBLISHED

Reference (Production): SPOKANE CHRONICLE, JAN. 29, 1974; AP. 4, 1973; MAR. 17, 1972; MAR. 20, 1970; SEPT. 15, 1969; MAR. 13, 1967; MAR. 31, 1975; WESTERN MINING NEWS, MAR. 26, 1971.

Reference (Deposit): CLAYTON SILVER MINES ANNUAL REPT. FOR 1974, FORM 10-K, SEC.

Reference (Deposit): WESTERN MINING NEWS, 1974-75 DIRECTORY OF MINES IN IDAHO (COEUR D'ALENES) AND WASHINGTON, P. 32.

Reference (Deposit): SPOKANE CHRONICLE, JAN. 29, 1974; AP. 4, 1973; AP. 3, 1970; SEPT. 15, 1969.

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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.