Smokey Canyon Mine

Site Name

Primary: Smokey Canyon Mine
Secondary: Area A, Crow Creek Ne
Secondary: Area D, 35 Thru 48b, Stewart Flat
Secondary: Smoky Canyon Mine
Secondary: Pole Canyon

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Commodity

Primary: Phosphorus-Phosphates
Tertiary: REE
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Vanadium

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Location

State: Idaho
County: Caribou
District: Crow Creek District

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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: Caribou National Forest

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Holdings

Type: Private Lease
Type: Federal Lease

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Workings

Type: Surface

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Ownership

Owner Name: J. R. Simplot Co.
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1980

Owner Name: U.S. Forest Service
Info Year: 1975

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Production

Year: 1985
Description: Phosphate Rock 35.4% P2o5 1453000 Mt Ore
Year: 1986
Description: Phosphate Rock 28.2% P2o5 1075000 Mt Ore

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Deposit

Record Type: Deposit
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Bedded - Phosphate
Operation Type: Surface
Mining Method: Open Pit
Milling Method: Washing
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y

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Physiography

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

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Phosphate, upwelling type

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Orebody

Not available

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Structure

Not available

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Alterations

Not available

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Rocks

Not available

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Unknown: Limonite
Unknown: Feldspar
Unknown: Dolomite
Unknown: Collophane
Unknown: Chalcedony
Unknown: Calcite
Unknown: Sericite
Unknown: Quartz
Unknown: Pyrite
Unknown: Orthoclase
Unknown: Montmorillonite
Unknown: Limonite
Unknown: Kaolinite

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Comments

Comment (Deposit): STRIKE & DIP OF MATRIX 2 (WEST LIMB OF ANTICLINE) AT 50 PERCENT LEVEL EQUALS N00W AND 20 DEGREES WEST. STRIKE & DIP OF MATRIX 3 (EAST LIMB OF ANTICLINE) AT 50 PERCENT LEVEL EQUALS N30W AND 45 DEGREES EAST. AVERAGE WIDTH OF MINERALIZATION (G-AWM) FOR MATRIX 1 COL 1 IS ESTIMATED AND NOT FROM COMPANY PROPOSED PIT DIMENSIONS. AVERAGE THICKNESS OF MINERALIZED ZONE (G-AWM) IS A CUMULA- TIVE FIGURE REPRESENTING MINABLE PHOSPHATE STRATA AND DOES NOT INCLUDE INTERVENING STRATA OF WASTE. IN MATRICES 2 AND 3 COLUMNS 1,2, AND 3, G-AWM WAS LEFT BLANK. G-AWM IS VARIABLE IN THESE COLUMNS AS ONE GOES FROM P-50 TO P-10 PERCENT QUANTITY LEVELS. P-50 QUANTITY LEVEL REPRESENTS THE SITUATION OF THE MINERALIZED STRATA CONTINUING TO A DOWNDIP DEPTH OF 250 M AT THE AVERAGE SURFACE DIP ANGLE. P-25 PERCENT QUANTITY LEVEL DEPICTS THE RESOURCE POSSIBLE IF THE STRATA WERE HORIZONTAL TO THE LEASE BOUNDARY. P-10 PERCENT QUANTITY LEVEL DEPICTS THE RESOURCE POSSIBIL- ITY IF THE STRATA ATTITUDE WAS 45 DEGREES IN DIP EXTEND- ING TO THE LEASE BOUNDARY. THE BOULDER CREEK ANTICLINE TRANSVERSES THE LEASE AREA. PHOSPHATE RESOURCES OCCUR ON BOTH LIMBS OF THE ANTICLINE AND WITHIN LEASE BOUNDARY.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): NEWLY DEVELOPED MINE WHICH REPLACED CONDA MINE. 30 YEAR MINE LIFE REPORTED IN RANDOL 93/94. PRODUCING 1,100,000 ST/YR AS OF 3-93. ESTIMATED MINE LIFE 12 YEARS PER BLM PHOSPHATE SPECIALIST AS OF 3-93. TRYING TO ADD RESERVES.

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References

Reference (Geology): MARTIN, G. W., 1958, MINERALOGY OF PHOSPHATE OOLITES: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 53, NO. 8, DECEMBER, P. 1046-1048.

Reference (Deposit): SERVICE, A. L., AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS), 3. IDAHO, BUMINES RI 6801, 1979, 201 PP.

Reference (Deposit): STECKLEY, R. C. AND J. F. LEMONS, A METHOD FOR EVALUATING COST ESTIMATES FOR THE MINERAL AVALIABILITY SYSTEM, BUMINES MAS FILE REPORT, 1976, 41 PP.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, RASMUSSEN RIDGE MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN, 1982, 22 PP.

Reference (Deposit): MCKELVEY, V. E., THE PHOSPHORIA, PARK CITY, AND SHEDHORN FORMATIONS IN THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD, U.S. GEOL. SURV. PROF. PAPER 313-A, 1959. 47 PP.

Reference (Deposit): LOWE, N. T., D. A. BENJAMIN, T. W. CAMM, B. B. GOSLING, AND G. D. GALE, WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD-SOUTHERN IDAHO PROPOSED MINES, BUMINES MAS FILE REPORT, 1980, 238 PP.

Reference (Deposit): HOVLAND, D., PERSONAL COMMUNICATION-GENERAL PHOSPHATE INFORMATION, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, 1984.

Reference (Deposit): KIMBALL, R., PERSONAL COMMUNICATION-PROJECT MANAGER, SMOKY CANYON MINE, GENERAL MINE INFORMATION, 1984.

Reference (Deposit): HAGIUS, F., PERSONAL COMMUNICATION-GENERAL PHOSPHATE RESOURCE AND ROYALTY INFORMATION, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, 1984.

Reference (Geology): EMIGH, G. D., 1958, PETROGRAPHY, MINERALOGY AND ORIGIN OF PHOSPHATE PELLETS IN THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, PAMPLET NO. 114, 60 P.

Reference (Geology): SHELDON, R. P., WARNER, M. A., THOMPSON, M. E., AND PIERCE, H. W., 1953, STRATIGRAPHIC SECTIONS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION IN IDAHO, 1949, PT. 1: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 304

Reference (Deposit): SERVICE, A. L., 1966, AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS), 3. IDAHO: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 6801, 201 P.

Reference (Deposit): RULE, A. R., D. E. KIRBY, AND D. C. DAHLIN, 1978, RECENT ADVANCES IN BENEFICIATION OF WESTERN PHOSPHATES: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 30, NO. 1, P. 37-40.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/DEVELOPMENT OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO (FOUR V.), 1978.

Reference (Deposit): POWELL, J. D., 1974, EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEAST IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, INFORMATION CIRCULAR NO. 25, 33 P.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE, 1978, FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT / DEVELOPMENT OF PHOSPHATE RESOURCES IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO, FOUR VOLUMES.

Reference (Deposit): MC DIVITT, J. F., 1956, ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF PHOSPHATE AND OTHER MINERALS IN SOUTHERN IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, PAMPLET NO. 111, 48 P.

Reference (Deposit): LI, TA M., 1978, SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO PHOSPHATE MINING: HOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DISTORTS GROWTH PLANS: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 30, NO. 1, P. 25-28.

Reference (Deposit): DAY, R. L., 1973, TRENDS IN THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY OF IDAHO AND THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, PAMPHLET 155, 63 P.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): GARRAND, L. J., 1975, PHOSPHATE STUDY SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO, FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CARIBOU NATIONAL FOREST, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONTRACT NO. 50-820: GARRAND CORP.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): JOB SERVICE, 1980, POCATELLA EMPLOYMENT, VOL. 14, NO. 5, P.2

Reference (Deposit): CARTER, RUSSELL A., 1978, AN INTEGRATED INDUSTRY - PHOSPHATE MINING AND MILLING IN IDAHO: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 30, NO. 1, P. 29-36.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): U.S. FOREST SERVICE, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND THE J. R. SIMPLOT COMPANY, 1980, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FACT SHEET - SCOPE OF WORK, SMOKY CANYON MINE, IDAHO MINE PLAN.

Reference (Deposit): SERVICE, A. L. AND POPOFF, C. C., 1964, AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS), 1. INTRODUCTORY REVIEW: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 6485, 86 P.

Reference (Deposit): GOSLING, B.B. WESTERN PHOSPHATE FIELD-SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO ACTIVE MINES, BUREAU OF MINES, MINERALS AVAILABILITY REPORT, 1980, 150 PP.

Reference (Deposit): SERVICE, A. L., AND PETERSEN, N. S., 1967, AN EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY AND ITS RESOURCES (IN FIVE PARTS) TRENDS AND OUTLOOK: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 6935, 131 P.

Reference (Deposit): THOMPSON, M. E., 1954, FURTHER STUDIES OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1009-D, P. 107-122

Reference (Deposit): GARRAND, L., PHOSPHATE STUDY SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO, DEPARTMENT AGRICULTURE, CARIBOU NATIONAL FOREST (CONTRACT NO. 50-820) GARRAND CORPORATION, 1975.

Reference (Deposit): THOMPSON, M. E., 1953, DISTRIBUTION OF URANIUM IN RICH PHOSPHATE BEDS OF THE PHOSPHORIA FORMATION: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 988-D, P. 45-65

Reference (Geology): MONTGOMERY, K. M., AND CHENEY, T. M., 1967, GEOLOGY OF THESTEWART FLAT QUADRANGLE CARIBOU COUNTY, IDAHO: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1217.

Reference (Geology): MANSFIELD, G. R., 1927, GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 152

Reference (Deposit): MINING MAGAZINE, JANUARY 1989, P. 45

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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.