Copper Basin Mine

The Copper Basin Mine is a copper mine located in Custer county, Idaho at an elevation of 8,100 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: Copper Basin Mine
Secondary: Reed and Davidson Property
Secondary: Mackay Standard

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Silver

Location

State: Idaho
County: Custer
District: Copper Basin 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

Owner Name: Virgil L. Hartvigsen
Years: 1957 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1888
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: White Knob Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: TABULAR, STRINGERS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation, Leaching

Rocks

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Early Permian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Diopside
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Development): 9 Unpatented Claims.

Comment (Geology): Host Rock Is Aged Mississippian By Sweeney (1957) Ordovician By Ross (1930), and Paleozoic By Umpleby (1917); Ross Puts Age of Mineralization At Late Miocene Or Pliocene, Umpleby Calls It Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary, and Sweeney Calls It Post-Mississippian and Pre-Oligocene-Miocene

Comment (Location): SE part of Copper Basin

Comment (Production): A small amount of Cu ore was produced in 1938.

References

Reference (Deposit): 1968 Geolmap Nelson, W. H. And Ross, C. P., Bull. 1252-A

Reference (Production): Ross, C. P., 1930, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Seafoam, Alder Creek, Little Smoky, And Willow Creek Mining Districts, Custer And Camas Counties, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 33, 26 P; Item 1, USBM, 1939, Mineral Yearbook For 1938

Reference (Deposit): Sweeney, G. T., 1957, Geology Of Copper Basin, Custer County, Idaho: Moscow, Idaho, Univ. Of Idaho, M. S. Thesis, 66 P.

Reference (Deposit): Ross, C. P., 1930, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Seafoam, Alder Creek, Little Smoky And Willow Creek Mining Districts, Custer And Camas Counties, Idaho: Idaho Bur. Mines And Geology Pamph. 33, 26 P.

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J. B., 1917, Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Mackay Region, Idaho: USGS Prof. Paper 97, 129 P.

Reference (Deposit): Nelson, W. H., And Ross, C. P., 1968, Geology Of Part Of The Alder Creek Mining District, Custer County, Idaho: USGS Bull. 1252-A, 30 P.

Reference (Deposit): Bell, R. N., 1918, Nineteenth Annual Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho For The Year 1917

Reference (Deposit): USBM, 1939, Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, And Zinc In Idaho: USBM Mineral Yearbook For 1938, P. 335-358

Reference (Deposit): 1917 Geolmap Umpleby, J. B., Prof. Paper 97

Reference (Deposit): 1918 Compile State Mine Inspector's Report For 1917

Reference (Deposit): 1930 Geolmap Idaho Bur. Mines And Geology Pamph 33

Reference (Deposit): 1939 Compile USBM Mineral Yearbook For 1938

Reference (Deposit): U.S. Bur. Mines Open-File Report MLA 6-91, 1991, Table A-4, No. 595, P. 243.

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.