Watson Claim

The Watson Claim is a gold mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 5,000 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: Watson Claim

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Silver

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Gibbonsville 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: Salmon National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Watson, H. S.

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: LENSES

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Joints

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Slate
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Slate
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Bornite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Goethite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): On The Hillside N. Of Hughes Cr.

Comment (Workings): 2 Adits

Comment (Geology): Original Structures entry: Local - Joints

Comment (Geology): Original ore control entry: Faults

References

Reference (Deposit): Trite, A. F., Jr., And Tooker, F. W., 1953, Uranium And Thorium Deposits In East Central Idaho, Southwestern Montana: USGS Bulletin 988-H, P. 157-209

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.