California Mine

The California Mine is a lead, zinc, and silver mine located in Shoshone county, Idaho at an elevation of 3,173 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: California Mine
Secondary: Tamarack and Chesapeake
Secondary: California Consolidated

Commodity

Primary: Lead
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Silver
Tertiary: Copper

Location

State: Idaho
County: Shoshone
District: Coeur D'Alene 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: Day Mines ?

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1885
Discovery Year: 1884
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: Coeur D'Alene Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: STRINGERS, IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: L
Description: Mine In Hanging Wall Block Of Dobson Pass Fault. Fault Gouge.

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Ankerite

Comments

Comment (Location): ON NE SIDE OF BLACKCLOUD CREEK, .75 MI ABOVE ITS JUNCTION WITH NINEMILE CREEK.

Comment (Production): TOTAL PRODUCTION $200,000 BETWEEN 1886 - 1906 . ITEMS 8 - 10 ABOVE INCLUDE BLACKCLOUD PRODUCTION.

Comment (Deposit): DEPTHS TO TOP, BOTTOM, EXPRESSED IN ELEVATION. IN SUCCESS - DAYROCK MINERAL SUBBELT.

Comment (Workings): 4 TUNNELS

Comment (Geology): CALIFORNIA ORE SIMILAR TO DAYROCK ORE

References

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

Reference (Deposit): 1908 GEOLMAP RANSOME AND CALKINS, PROF. PAPER 62

Reference (Deposit): 1923 GEOLMAP UMPLEBY AND JONES, BULL. 732

Reference (Deposit): 1952 GEOLMAP A. B. GRIGGS, OPEN-FILE REPT. { 1964 OTHER V. C. FRYKLUND, PROF. PAPER 445

Reference (Production): RANSOME, F. L., AND CALKINS, F. C., 1908 , USGS PROF. PAPER 62 , 203 P. GRIGGS, A. B., 1952 , USGS OPENFILE 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.