Bear Valley Placers

The Bear Valley Placers is a niobium (columbium), uranium, titanium, gold, silver, and ree mine located in Valley county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,250 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: Bear Valley Placers
Secondary: Bear Valley Group
Secondary: Central Bear Valley
Secondary: Lower Bear Valley
Secondary: Porter Placer
Secondary: Gold Eagle Group
Secondary: Golden Eagle
Secondary: Big Meadows Group

Commodity

Primary: Niobium (Columbium)
Primary: Uranium
Primary: Titanium
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Primary: REE
Secondary: Zirconium
Secondary: Garnet
Tertiary: Iron

Location

State: Idaho
County: Valley
District: Bear Valley Area

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: Boise National Forest

Holdings

Type: Patented
Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: Mineral Resources Corp.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1982

Owner Name: Bear Valley Associates
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Texas
Info Year: 1982

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Placer
Mining Method: Dredging
Milling Method: Gravity
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Euxenite
Unknown: Biotite
Unknown: Quartz
Unknown: Plagioclase
Unknown: Monazite
Unknown: Magnetite
Unknown: Ilmenite
Unknown: Hematite
Unknown: Gold
Unknown: Garnet
Unknown: Fergusonite
Unknown: Zircon
Unknown: Sphene
Unknown: Rutile
Unknown: Feldspar
Unknown: Epidote
Unknown: Columbite
Unknown: Hornblende

Comments

Comment (Deposit): ONE OF SIX GROUPS INCLUDED IN MS 3549, CONTAINING 910 ACRES.

Comment (Deposit): THE BEAR VALLEY PLACER SANDS CONSIST OF MATERIAL ERODED FROM GRANITE AND PEGMATITES OF THE IDAHO BATHOLITH AND THEY CONTAIN URANIUM-BEARING EUXENITE, MAGNETITE, ILMENITE, GARNET, SPHENE, QUARTZ, GELOSPAR, HORNBLENDE, ALLANTITE, BIOTITE, EPIDOTE, LIMONITE, HEMATITE, SERICITE, ILMENORVTILE, AND VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONAZITE, COLUMBITE, SPINEL, RUTILE, ZIRCON, OCTAHEDRITE, AND PYRITE.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): PLANNED DREDGING OPERATION IN U.S.(PRODUCED UNTIL 1959). WAS NOT IN WORLD TIO2/ZRO2 STUDY DUE TO GRADES BEING TOO LOW TO MEET STUDY CRITERIA. MINERAL RESOURCES CORP IS OWNER/OPERATOR SALMON STREAM RUNS THROUGH THESE DREDGE TAILS. INDIAN FISHING RIGHTS TREATY INVOLVED. IDAHO FISH & GAME TRYING TO RESTORE SALMON RUN IN BEAR VALLEY. NOT LIKELY TO START UP WITHOUT A MAJOR EMERGENCY SUCH AS WAR.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. THIS IS UPPER BEAR VALLEY MATRIX 2 REPRESENTS BLOCK 2 RESOURCES THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RNAGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. THIS IS UPPER BEAR VALLEY M3C1=M3C2+M3C3+M3C4. MATRIX 3 REPRESENTS BLOCK 3, BLOCK4 AND BLOCK 5 RESOURCES IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY. THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. M3C2=M3C1-M3C3-M3C4 MATRIX 3 COLUMN 2 REPRESENTS THE RESOURCE IN BLOCK 3 IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY. M3C3=M3C1-M3C2-M3C4 MATRIX 3 COLUMN 3 REPRESENTS THE RESOURCES IN BLOCK 4 IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY M3C4=M3C1-M3C2-M3C3 MATRIX 3 COLUMN 4 REPRESENTS THE RESOURCES IN BLOCK 5 IN THE BIG MEADOWS AREA OF UPPER BEAR VALLEY M4C1=M4C2+M4C3+M4C4 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 1 REPRESENTS THE TOTAL RESOURCE OF BLOCKS 1,2, AND 3 IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA. THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT. M4C2=M4C1-M4C3-M4C4 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 2 REPRESENTS BLOCK I RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA M4C3=M4C1-M4C2-M4C4 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 3 REPRESENTS BLOCK II RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA. M4C4=M4C1-M4C2-M4C3 MATRIX 4 COLUMN 4 REPRESENTS BLOCK III RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL BEAR VALLEY AREA. MATRIX 5 COLUMN 1 REPRESENTS THE TOTAL RESOURCES FOR THE LOWER BEAR VALLEY AREA. THE URANIUM PRESENT IS CONTAINED IN THE MINERAL EUXENITE. THE U308 CONTENT WITHIN THE MINERAL RANGES FROM 25 TO 40 PERCENT.

References

Reference (Deposit): HOUK, L.G., MONAZITE SAND, U.S. BUREAU OF MINES IC 7233.

Reference (Deposit): KLINE, M.H., AND STORCH, R.H., GOLD FORK PLACER AREAS, VALLEY COUNTY, IDAHO. PROJECT REPORT NO. BM-SMIB-4602-12, APRIL 15, 1954.

Reference (Deposit): KLINE, M.H., CARLSON, E.J., STORCH, R.H., AND ROBERTSON, A.F., BEAR VALLEY RADIOACTIVE MINERAL PLACERS, VALLEY COUNTY, IDAHO. BUREAU OF MINES REPORT TO THE UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, REPORT NO. RME-3130, OCTOBER 1953.

Reference (Deposit): LOWMAN, J.P., REGIONAL SOLICITORS OPINION, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION 'ON' EFFECTS OF THE CENTRAL IDAHO WILDERNESS ACT OF 1980, ON THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL IN THE UPPER HEADWATERS AREA OF THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE SALMON RIVER, FEBRUARY 26, 1981.

Reference (Deposit): HALE, W.N., PROPOSED EXPLORATORY DRILLING FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WITHDRAWAL, BEAR VALLEY CREEK AND VALLEY CREEK, VALLEY COUNTY, IDAHO. U.S. BUMINES UNPUBLISHED REPORT

Reference (Deposit): MACKIN, J.H., AND SCHMIDT, D.L., URANIUM AND THORIUM BEARING MINERALS IN PLACER DEPOSITS IN IDAHO. IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, MINERAL RESOURCES REPORT NO. 7, JUNE 1957.

Reference (Deposit): CLARK, L.C., DREDGING COSTS PROVIDED BY THE YUBA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, WRITTEN COMMUN., APRIL 9, 1964.

Reference (Deposit): DAYTON, S.H., IDAHO PLACER IS SOURCE OF 99 PERCENT OF U.S. COLUMBIUM-TANTALUM OUTPUT, MINING WORLD, JANUARY 1958, P.38-43.

Reference (Deposit): DAYTON, S.H., RADIOACTIVE BLACK SAND IS YIELDING COLUMBITE CONCENTRATE AT IDAHO MILL, MINING WORLD, MAY 1958, P. 38-43.

Reference (Deposit): MALEY, T.S., SUMMERY OF MINERAL LAW. T.S. MALEY AND ASSOCIATES, P.O. BOX 1186, BOISE IDAHO, 83701. COPYRIGHT 1978.

Reference (Deposit): ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT AND PROPOSED LAND USE PLAN, BEAR VALLEY PLANNING UNIT, BOISE NATIONAL FOREST AND CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST, U.S. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, AUGUST 1974.

Reference (Deposit): FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FOR THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE WITHDRAWAL OF BEAR VALLEY, MARSH, AND ELK CREEKS, JULY 9, 1979.

Reference (Deposit): GRAY, E., IDAHO PROPERTY REALTY COMPANY., BOISE IDAHO, ORAL COMMUNICATION, AUGUST 1981.

Reference (Deposit): GARFIELD, E., ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, SPOKANE WASH., ORAL COMMUNICATION, JANUARY 1982.

Reference (Deposit): STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS STOCKPILING ACT, 53 STAT., 811, AS AMENDED, (50 U.S.C., 98-984)

Reference (Deposit): TINSLEY, R.C., GOLD DREDGING PROJECT FINANCE CASE STUDY, PRESENTED ON FEBRUARY 22, 1981 TO: PROJECT FINANCING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES. SOCIETY OF MINING ENGINEERS, A.I.M.E., SHORT COURSE, CHICAGO ILL.

Reference (Deposit): TRUESDELL, D., WEGRZYN, R., AND DIXON, M., PROVIDENCE OF OF RADIOACTIVE PLACERS, BIG MEADOWS AREA, VALLEY AND BOISE COUNTIES, IDAHO. BENDIX FIELD ENGINEERING CORP FOR U.S. ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANMINISTRATION. CONTRACT NO. E(05-1)-1664, APRIL 1977.

Reference (Deposit): MILLER, R.N., ARCO-ANACONDA COMPANY, DENVER COLORADO, ORAL COMMUNICATION, JANUARY 1982, WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, 1971.

Reference (Deposit): CORK, J., OREGON METALLURGICAL CORPORATION (OREMET), ALBANY OREGON, ORAL COMMUNICATION, SEPTEMBER, 1981.

Reference (Deposit): MINERAL COMMODITY SUMMARIES, 1981, U.S. BUMINES. ILMENITE, P70, RARE EARTHS, P. 124, GARNET, P. 54, COLUMBIUM, P.26, ZIRCONIUM, P. 165, URANIUM,P. 158.

Reference (Deposit): NAFZIGER, R.H., JORDAN, R.R., AND HUNTER, W.L., ELECTRIC-ARC FURNACE PROCESSING OF DOMESTIC TITANIFEROUS MATERIALS, U.S. BUMINES R.I. 8511.

Reference (Deposit): STORCH, R.H., AND HOLT, D.C., TITANIUM PLACER DEPOSITS OF IDAHO, U.S. BUMINES RI 6319.

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A.L., AND SAVAGE, C.N., THROIUM AND THE RARE EARTHS:IN MINERAL AND WATER RESOURCES OF IDAHO. SPECIAL REPORT NO.1, NOVEMBER, 1964.

Reference (Deposit): ARGALL, G.O.JR., NEW DREDGING TECHNIQUES RECOVER IDAHO MONAZITE, MINING WORLD, FEBRUARY 1954, P.26-30.

Reference (Deposit): BARTON, W.R., COLUMBIUM AND TANTALUM, A MATERIALS SURVEY, U.S. BUMINES IC 8120.

Reference (Deposit): CHANEY, E., PROPOSED MINERAL WITHDRAWAL, BEAR VALLEY AND MARSH CREEK DRAINAGES, TRIBUTARIES TO MIDDLE FORK SALMON RIVER - IDAHO. U.S. DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORT, MARCH 1981, REGION I.

Reference (Deposit): NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER EPA FORM 7550-23A (7-73).

Reference (Deposit): PERSSE, F.H., LOCKARD, D.W., AND LINDQUIST, A.E., COAL SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION COSTS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. U.S. BUMINES IC 8737.

Reference (Deposit): ROMANOWITZ, C.M., BENNETT, H.J., AND DARE, W.L., GOLD PLACER MINING, PLACER EVALUATION AND DREDGE SELECTION, U.S. BUMINES IC 8462.

Reference (Deposit): SODERBERG, R.L., AND BUSCH, R.A., DESIGN GUIDE FOR METAL AND NONMETAL TAILINGS DISPOSAL. U.S. BUMINES IC 8755.

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.