Commonwealth Mine

The Commonwealth Mine is a copper, silver, and gold mine located in Kootenai county, Idaho at an elevation of 2,500 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: Commonwealth Mine
Secondary: Nighthawk
Secondary: Hayden Creek Mines

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Zinc
Tertiary: Lead
Tertiary: Barium-Barite

Location

State: Idaho
County: Kootenai
District: Hayden Lake 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: Coeur d'Alene National Forest

Holdings

Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Commonwealth Silver Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1892
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Coeur D'Alene Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: BUNCHY, LENTICULAR

Structure

Type: R
Structure: Faulted Anticlinal Uplift Of WNW Trend

Type: L
Structure: Brecciation

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Fe - Stain

Rocks

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

Name: Shale
Role: Host
Description: Limy
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: CU AND PB RARELY EXCEEDED 1 % AND 4 % RESPECTIVELY
Analytical Data: ASSAYS OF 0.02 TO 0.04 OZ AU / TON AND 4 TO 50 OZ AG / TON

Materials

Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Barite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Development): 12 Unpatented Claims

Comment (Location): Just Below Mouth Of N Fk

Comment (Commodity): Zn, Up To 32 % Averages 5 %, In Assays. Pb Isotope Composition: Pb206/Pb204 = 19.027 ; Pb207/Pb204 = 15.676 ; Pb208/Pb204 = 39.247

Comment (Geology): Original Structures entry: Local - Brecciation Regional - Broad Much - Faulted Anticlinal Uplift Of Wnw Trend

Comment (Geology): Original alteration entry: Local - Fe - Stain

Comment (Geology): Original ore control entry: Fault - Controlled Fracture

References

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1940 , Geology And Metalliferous Deposits Of Kootenai County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 53 , 67 P.

Reference (Deposit): Zartman, R. E., And Stacey, J. S., 1971 , Lead Isotopes And Mineralization Ages In Belt Supergroup Rocks, Northwestern Montana And Northern Idaho: Econ. Geology, V. 66 , No. 6 , P. 849 - 860

Reference (Deposit): USBM, 1975 , Activity Of Idaho Mining Properties, 1974 , USBM, Boise, Idaho, 61 P.

Reference (Deposit): Western Mining News, 1974 - 1975 Directory Of Mines In Idaho (Coeur D'Alenes) And Washington, P. 37

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.