Upper Owl Creek Placer

The Upper Owl Creek Placer is a gold mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 3,176 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: Upper Owl Creek Placer  

State:  Idaho

County:  Lemhi

Elevation: 3,176 Feet (968 Meters)

Commodity: Gold

Lat, Long: 45.3203, -114.44580

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 Upper Owl Creek Placer

Upper Owl Creek Placer MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Upper Owl Creek Placer


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: REE
Tertiary: Zirconium
Tertiary: Iron


Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Clear Creek - Upper Big Deer Creek Area


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: Salmon National Forest


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Placer
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Salmon River Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Sand and Gravel
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Holocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Zircon


Comments

Comment (Commodity): Gravel Contains Black Sands

Comment (Production): Some Evidence Of Past Mining Activities

Comment (Development): Work Consisted Of Reconnaissance Geologic Mapping & Geochemical Sampling ; Econ.Com: Gold Values Of Samples Of Low-Bench Gravel Averaged $0.38/C.Y.; 118500 Cubic Meters Of Overburden

Comment (Deposit): The Upper Owl Creek Placer Consists Of 4.25 Ha Of Bench Gravel Covered By Alluvial Fans. Volume Of Low Bench Gravel Is About 390,000 Cm, And Is Cover Ed By About 120,000 Cm Of Overburden. Gold Values Of Samples Of The Low Bench Gravel Averaged 0.154g/Cm. A Total Of 268,000 Cm Of Gravel Is Estimated To Be In A High Bench Whose Top Is About 30m Above The Present River Level ; 10.5 Acres; 10.5 Acres

Comment (Workings): Several Pits

Comment (Location): On Side Of Salmon R. Opposite Mouth Of Owl. Cr.


References

Reference (Deposit): Cater, F.W., Pinckney, D.M., and Stotelmeyer, R.B., 1975, Mineral Resources Of The Clear Creek - Upper Big Deer Creek Area, Contiguous To The Idaho Primitive Area, Lemhi County, Idaho: USGS Bulletin 1391-C, P 24-26

Reference (Production): Cater, F.W., Pinckney, D.M., and Stotelmeyer, R.B., 1975, USGS Bulletin 1391-C.


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.