Empire Veins Mine

The Empire Veins Mine is a gold and silver mine located in Owyhee county, Idaho at an elevation of 7,598 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: Empire Veins Mine  

State:  Idaho

County:  Owyhee

Elevation: 7,598 Feet (2,316 Meters)

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 43.0039, -116.70810

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 Empire Veins Mine

Empire Veins Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Empire Veins Mine
Secondary: San Juan
Secondary: Liberty
Secondary: Idle Wilde
Secondary: Dernier Resort


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Copper


Location

State: Idaho
County: Owyhee
District: French District


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

Not available


Workings

Type: Underground


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1872
Discovery Year: 1872
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Payette Section
Physiographic Detail: Owyhee Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: THE IDLEWILD ON S. EXTENSION OF EMPIRE VEIN HAS AU:AG RATIO OF 1:85.


Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Development): IN 1874 A SMELTER WAS BUILT AND PUT INTO OPERATION, BUT CLOSED IN 1875 DUE TO PANIC CAUSED BY FAILURE OF BANK OF CALIFORNIA

Comment (Production): IN 1872 $45,000 WORTH OF AU AND AG WAS PRODUCED. DURING YEARS 1872 - 1885, $300,000 OF AU, AG WAS PRODUCED

Comment (Location): ON WAR EAGLE MOUNTAIN (ON WESTERN SLOPE)


References

Reference (Production): LINDGREN, W., 1898 , USGS 20TH ANN. REPT. PT. 3 , P. 75 . RAYMOND, R. W., 1872 - 1874 , 42ND - 43RD CONGRESSES, HOUSE OF REP. EX. DOCS.

Reference (Deposit): LINDGREN, WALDEMAR, 1898 THE GOLD AND SILVER VEINS OF SILVER CITY, DELAMAR, AND OTHER MINING DISTRICTS IN IDAHO: USGS, 20TH ANN. REPT., PT. 3, P. 75-205.

Reference (Deposit): ASHER, R. R., 1968, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF A PORTION OF THE SILVER CITY REGION, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 138, 106 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1898 COMPILE W. LINDGREN 20TH ANN REPT


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.