The Polaris Mine is a silver mine located in Shoshone county, Idaho at an elevation of 2,533 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: 2,533 Feet (772 Meters)
Commodity: Silver
Lat, Long: 47.50842, -116.02368
Map: View on Google Maps
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.
Polaris Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Polaris Mine
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Antimony
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Gold
Location
State: Idaho
County: Shoshone
District: Evolution
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: Located Claim
Type: Patented
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Sunshine Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Yakima, Washington
Years: 1944 - 1955
Owner Name: Hecla Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Years: 1958 -
Owner Name: Polaris Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Wallace, Idaho
Years: 1937 - 1958
Owner Name: Polaris Development and Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Wallace, Idaho
Years: 1915 - 1923
Owner Name: The Polaris Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Spokane, Washington
Years: 1893 -
Production
Year: 1957
Time Period: 1916-1957
Mined: 712817.000 mt
Material type: Ore
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: HYDROTHERMAL VEIN AND REPLACEMENT
Plant Type: Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant Subtype: Flotation
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Waste Rock
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1887
Year Last Production: 1957
Discovery Year: 1884
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Polymetallic veins
Orebody
Name: Polaris Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL
Name: Chester Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL
Structure
Type: L
Description: Polaris Fault
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Galena
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Arsenopyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Trace: Proustite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): OWNS A 33.25% INTEREST IN PRODUCTION FROM THIS AREA WHICH IS
Comment (Deposit): OPERATED BY SUNSHINE MINING COMPANY.
Comment (Deposit): 6-75 THE POLARIS IS NOW PART OF THE SUNSHINE UNIT AREA. HE
Comment (Production): Compiled from various sources including Mitchell and Bennett (1983) and Polaris Mining Co. Annual Reports.
Comment (Orebody): Most ore in the Link Zone connecting the Chester and Polaris veins. Polaris vein is part of the Sunshine-Polaris vein system.
Comment (Commodity): Lead-antimony sulfides also present in ore in trace quantities.
References
Reference (Deposit): WILLARD, MAX EMERY, 1938, THE MINERALIZATION AT POLARIS MINE, SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: MOSCOW, UNIVERISTY OF IDAHO, MS THESIS, 30 P.
Reference (Deposit): WILLARD, E.M., 1941, MINERALIZATION AT THE POLARIS MINE: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 36, NO. 5, P. 539-550
Reference (Deposit): JULIHN, C.E., AND HORTON, F.W., 1936, THE SILVER BELT AND THE SUNSHINE MINE OF THE COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES INFORMATION CIRCULAR 6876, P. 14
Reference (Deposit): SORENSON, R.E., 1951, SHALLOW EXPRESSIONS OF SILVER BELT ORE SHOOTS, COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT, IDAHO: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 3, NO. 7, P. 605-611.
Reference (Deposit): SHANNON, E.V., 1926, THE MINERALS OF IDAHO: U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 131, P. 99, 166.
Reference (Deposit): UMPLEBY, J.B. AND JONES, E.L., JR., 1923, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 732, P. 88-89.
Reference (Production): Mitchell, V.E., and Bennett, E.H., 1983, Production statistics for the Coeur d'Alene mining district, Shoshone County, Idaho, 1884-1980: Idaho Geological Survey Technical Report 83-3, 33 p.
Reference (Deposit): Fryklund, V.C., Jr., 1964, Ore deposits of the Coeur d'Alene district, Shoshone County, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 445, 103 p.
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.
