American Mine

The American Mine is a gold mine located in Idaho county, Idaho at an elevation of 5,627 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: American Mine
Secondary: American Gold
Secondary: Standard

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Idaho
County: Idaho
District: Dixie Mining 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: Nez Perce National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Betty Wiles

Owner Name: American Gold Mining Corp.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Year First Production: 1897
Discovery Year: 1893
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Clearwater Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: LENTICULAR, PINCH AND SWELL

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Brecciation
Description: Brecciation

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Silicification

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Limonite

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Oxidation

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Sericitization
Alteration Text: Sericitization, Oxidation, Limonite, Silicification

Rocks

Name: Lamprophyre
Role: Host
Description: Dike
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Location): On Elk City Road About 1/2 Mile N. Of Dixie

Comment (Production): Intermittent Production. 30 Tons Tailings Cyanided With $25 Au/Ton Recovery (1931).

Comment (Development): 2 - Stamp Mill, 3 Claims ; Econ.Com: Cosper (1938) Says Ore Bodies Not Sufficiently Large Enough To Allow Mining And Milling On A Large - Tonnage Basis

Comment (Workings): Open Cuts, Adits

Comment (Geology): Lamprophyre Dike 12 Ft Wide

References

Reference (Deposit): Capps, S. R., And Roberts, R. J., 1939, The Dixie Placer District, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 48, 35 P.

Reference (Deposit): Roberts, R. J., 1938, The Petrography And Ore Deposits Of The Dixie District, Idaho: Seattle, Washington, Univ. Of Washington, M.S. Thesis, 61 P.

Reference (Deposit): Cosper, D. L., 1938, The American Gold Mine, Dixie, Idaho: Seattle, Washington, Univ. Of Washington, B. S. Thesis, 47 P.

Reference (Production): Capps, S. R., And Roberts, R. J., 1939, Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 48

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.