Big Step Prospect

The Big Step Prospect is a gold, zinc, lead, and silver mine located in Bonner county, Idaho at an elevation of 2,300 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: Big Step Prospect

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Molybdenum

Location

State: Idaho
County: Bonner
District: Priest Lake District

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: Kaniksu National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Phelps Dodge Corp.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1950
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral Not In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Selkirk Range

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: MASSES AND STRINGERS

Structure

Type: L
Description: Complex Faulting; Ore Shoot Sheared And Disturbed; Gouge Zones; Both Pre - And Post - Mineral Movement.

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Saussuritization? Pyritization Silicification, Kaolinization, Sericitization, Bleaching By Hydrothermal Alteration

Rocks

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 0.3 TO 5% ZN AND PB 0.01 TO 0.04 OZ/TON AU. SOME CU
Analytical Data: ASSAYS OF GRAB SAMPLES ACROSS MAIN SHOOT AVERAGED 48 OZ/TON AG

Materials

Ore: Argentite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): SOME OF AG MAY BE SUPERGENE IN ORIGIN.

Comment (Location): LOCATION OF ORIGINAL STRIKE AT CHIPMUNK RAPIDS.

Comment (Commodity): SILICEOUS AG ORE; ORIGINAL PIT AVERAGED 20 OZ AG/TON. LOCALLY, ASSAYS RANGED 1 TO 172 OZ/TON AG.

Comment (Development): CLAIMS INCLUDE 1140 ACRES OF STATE - OWNED LEASED LAND ON E SIDE OF RIVER - SEVERAL CLAIMS ON W. SIDE OF RIVER (FED'L. LAND) INCLUDING ONE AT MISSION FALLS. 3 DDH'S TO 60 FT, 100 FT, AND 85 FT.

Comment (Workings): BULLDOZER, COBRA DRILL AND DYNAMITE BY W. LINDSTROM AND MURRAYS. PHELPS DODGE'S WORK: GRAVITY, RESISTIVITY, I. P., CORE DRILLING DRILL HOLES TO 60 FT, 170 FT, AND 85 FT.

Comment (Geology): COOLIN FAULT ZONE STRIKES N 30 DEG E AND DIPS 48 DEG SE; SECONDARY FAULTS STRIKE N 30 TO 35 DEG E AND DIP 53 DEG NW.

References

Reference (Deposit): SAVAGE, C. N., 1967, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL DEPOSITS OF BONNER COUNTY: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY COUNTY REPORT, NO. 6, 131 P.

Reference (Deposit): SAVAGE, C. N., 1962, BIG STEP SILVER PROSPECT: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY OPEN - FILE REPORT.

Reference (Deposit): 1963 DIREXPL PHELPS DODGE CORP.

Reference (Deposit): 1963 GEOPHYS PHELPS DODGE CORP.

Reference (Deposit): 1967 GEOLMAP IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOL. CO. REPT. 6

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.