Mountain Chief Mine

The Mountain Chief Mine is a gold and silver mine located in Boise county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,001 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

Name: Mountain Chief Mine  

State:  Idaho

County:  Boise

Elevation: 6,001 Feet (1,829 Meters)

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 43.93778, -116.02806

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.


Satelite image of the Mountain Chief Mine

Mountain Chief Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Mountain Chief Mine


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Antimony
Tertiary: Bismuth


Location

State: Idaho
County: Boise
District: Boise Basin


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

Not available


Workings

Type: Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: National Mining And Development Co.


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1870
Discovery Year: 1870
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Boise Ridge


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: BUNCHES, STREAKS, LENSES


Structure

Type: L
Description: Gouge Filling


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidized


Rocks

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Miocene

Name: Rhyolite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Miocene


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: ORE REPORTED TO ASSAY 0.53 OZ AU. ARSENOPYRITE SAMPLE ASSAYED 1.36 OZ AU, 0.70 OZ. AG, 2% BI, 0.3% PB, 0.6% SB


Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Stibnite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Bismuth
Gangue: Calcite


Comments

Comment (Location): HEAD OF CANYON CR. W. OF BELSHAZZAR GROUP

Comment (Development): 11 UNPATENTED CLAIMS. AERIAL TRAM; MILL; 30 - TON AMALGAMATION PLANT

Comment (Workings): 5 ADIT DRIFTS

Comment (Commodity): SEVERAL BUNCHES OF ORE ASSAYED AS MUCH AS $100/TON.

Comment (Production): RECORDED PRODUCTION SLIGHTLY OVER $240,000 AND AN ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED PRODUCTION CLOSE TO $70,000 UNDER A FORMER MANAGEMENT.


References

Reference (Deposit): BALLARD, S. M., 1924, GEOLOGY AND GOLD RESOURCES OF BOISE BASIN, BOISE COUNTY, IDAHO,: ID. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., BULL. NO. 9, P. 61.

Reference (Deposit): ROSS, CLYDE P., 1933, SOME LODE DEPOSITS IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE BOISE BASIN, IDAHO, U.S. GEOL. SUR. BULL. 846 - D, P. 268

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1947 , GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF BOISE BASIN, IDAHO: U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 944-C, P. 274 - 277

Reference (Deposit): 1924 GEOLMAP IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOL. BULL. 9.

Reference (Deposit): 1933 OTHER C. P. ROSS, BULL. 846 - D

Reference (Deposit): 1947 GEOLMAP A. L. ANDERSON, BULL. 944-C.

Reference (Production): BALLARD, S. M., 1924, ID. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., BULL. NO. 9


Idaho Gold

Where to Find Gold in Idaho

"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.