Hercules Mine

The Hercules Mine is a zinc, silver, and lead mine located in Shoshone 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: Hercules Mine

Commodity

Primary: Zinc
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Nickel
Tertiary: Gold

Location

State: Idaho
County: Shoshone
District: Lelande

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: Hecla Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Years: 1981 -

Owner Name: Day Mines Inc.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Wallace, Idaho
Years: 1947 - 1981

Owner Name: Hercules Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Wallace, Idaho
Years: 1889 - 1947

Production

Year: 1983
Time Period: 1901-1965
Mined: 3192921.000 mt
Material type: Ore mined

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: REPLACEMENT VEIN
Plant Type: Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant Subtype: Flotation
Operation Type: Underground
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1901
Discovery Year: 1889
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: L

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Name: Mountain View Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL

Name: Hercules Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL

Name: Hummingbird Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL

Structure

Type: R
Description: West Limb of Burke Anticline

Type: R
Description: Hercules-Mercury Fault a shear zone cutting west limb of Burke Anticline. Fault steepens and splays at depth. This fault is complementary to a set of NS faults that join the Osburn and Thompson Pass faults.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Cerussite
Gangue: Grunerite
Gangue: Adularia
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Actinolite
Gangue: Marcasite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Chlorite
Gangue: Andradite
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Arsenopyrite
Trace: Bournonite
Trace: Niccolite
Trace: Silver
Trace: Anglesite
Trace: Pyromorphite
Trace: Silver
Trace: Plattnerite
Trace: Jamesonite

Comments

Comment (Location): AT HEAD OF GORGE GULCH, N OF BURKE

Comment (Development): 136 PATENTED CLAIMS

Comment (Deposit): THE CARLISLE-HERCULES MINERAL BELT IS ABOUT 28,000 FT LONG. RAMBLER ORE SHOOT STRIKES W TO S 45 DEG W, DIPS 60 - 80 DEG S, IS ABOUT 400 FT LONG. DEPTHS TO TOP, BOTTOM ARE IN ELEVATION.

Comment (Workings): LENGTH OF WORKINGS A 1961 FIGURE.

Comment (Orebody): The main Hercules oreshoot, mine through 1925, passed abruptly at depth into a 200 foot thick (vertical) zone of pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization, then passed into a pyrite only zone.

Comment (Production): Production data from Mitchell and Bennett (1983) using production data reported to the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Grade data from Long (1998).

References

Reference (Production): Mitchell, V.E., and Bennett, E.H., 1983, Production statistics for the Coeur d'Alene mining district, Shoshone County, Idaho, 1884-1980: Idaho Geological Survey Technical Report 83-3, 33 p.

Reference (Production): Long, 1998

Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F. L., AND CALKINS, F. C., 1908 , THE GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT, IDAHO: USGS PROF. PAPER 62 , 203 P.

Reference (Deposit): RANSOME, F. L., 1905 , ORE DEPOSITS OF THE COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT, IDAHO: USGS BULL. 260 , P. 274 - 303 .

Reference (Deposit): UMPLEBY, J. B., AND JONES, E. L., JR., 1923 , GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: USGS BULL. 732 , 156 P.

Reference (Deposit): FRYKLUND, V. C., JR., 1964 , ORE DEPOSITS OF THE COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT, SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: USGS PROF. PAPER 445 , 103 P.

Reference (Deposit): GRIGGS, A. B., 1952 , GEOLOGY AND NOTES ON ORE DEPOSITS OF CANYON - NINE MILE CREEKS AREA, SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: USGS OPEN-FILE REPT., 108 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.