Black Bull Group Claims

The Black Bull Group Claims is a copper, thorium, and ree mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,001 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: Black Bull Group Claims
Secondary: Black Bull No. 2 and No. 3 and Fraction Claims

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Mcdevitt 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

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Salmon Uranium And Thorium Co., Inc.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1952
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: Beaverhead Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR PATCHES

Structure

Type: L
Description: Brecciation, Schistosity, Slickensides

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Silicified Zone

Rocks

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

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

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Paleocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 1 6 FT SAMPLE OF MOST HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE PART OF VEIN AVG. 1.22% EQUIVALENT THO2
Analytical Data: 0.2 MR/HR, 0.04-0.80% THO2 IN ANALYZED SAMPLES

Materials

Ore: Monazite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Rutile
Ore: Thorite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Apatite
Gangue: Microcline
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Chalcedony
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Siderite

Comments

Comment (Location): ALONG N. SIDE OF AGENCY CREEK AT AND ABOVE ROAD TURNOFF TO COPPER QUEEN MINE

Comment (Commodity): BLACK BULL NO. 2 CU-TH VEIN HAD MAXIMUM 1 MR/HR AND UP TO 0.29% THO2; THIS VEIN IS 1 OF ONLY 2 SUCH VEINS IN THE LEMHI PASS AREA

Comment (Development): 4 CLAIMS IN GROUP

Comment (Deposit): FRACTION CLAIM RADIOACTIVE DEPOSIT DESCRIBED ABOVE; MAJOR CU-TH VEIN ON BLACK BULL NO. 2 CLAIM STRIKES N 70-80 DEG W, DIPS VERTICALLY, IS 2-4 INCHES WIDE, 300 FT LONG; BLACK BULL NO. 3 CLAIM HAS 2 VEINS, 1 IS 20 FT LONG, 1 FT THICK, TRENDS N 77 DEG W, AND DIPS 45 DEG SW, SECOND VEIN IS 15 FT LONG, 0.7 FT THICK, TRENDS N 62 DEG E AND DIPS 53 DEG NW

Comment (Geology): DIKE IS ASSOCIATED WITH SILICIFIED ZONE AND TRENDS N 50-55 DEG E AND DIPS 51 DEG NW

References

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1961, THORIUM MINERALIZATION IN THE LEMHI PASS AREA, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 56, NO. 1, P. 177-197

Reference (Deposit): 1958 RECON IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 115

Reference (Deposit): 1962 RECON SHARP, W. N., AND CAVENDER, W. S., BULL. 1126

Reference (Deposit): 1972 GEOLMAP STAATZ, M. H., BULL. 1351

Reference (Deposit): SHARP, W. N., AND CAVENDAR, W. S., 1962, GEOLOGY AND THORIUM-BEARING DEPOSITS OF THE LEMHI PASS AREA, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO, AND BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA: USGS BULL. 1126, 76 P.

Reference (Deposit): STAATZ, M. H., 1972, GEOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE THORIUM-BEARING VEINS, LEMHI PASS QUADRANGLE, IDAHO AND MONTANA: USGS BULL 1351, 94 P.

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A. L., 1958 URANIUM, THORIUM, COLUMBIUM, AND RARE EARTH DEPOSITS IN THE SALMON REGION, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 115, 81 P.

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.