Kirtley Creek Placers

The Kirtley Creek Placers is a gold mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 5,000 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: Kirtley Creek Placers
Secondary: Washington Iron Works
Secondary: Hagel Ranch Ground

Commodity

Primary: Gold

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Kirtley Creek 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: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: Kirtley Creek Gold Dredging Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Placer
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Beaverhead Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: RECOVERY OF 8-10 CENTS/CY AT $20/OZ

Materials

Ore: Gold
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Ilmenite

Comments

Comment (Location): Placers extend 1 1/2 to 6 mi above mouth of Kirtley Creek

Comment (Production): Once largest placer Au producer in Lemhi Co.

Comment (Workings): Mined width varies from 200 to 3000 feet.

Comment (Development): Hydraulic mining 1890 to 1894; Dredged 1911 - 1918. On W. side of creek. Dredge handles 100,000 Cu. yds of gravel/month.

References

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1956, Geology And Mineral Resources Of The Salmon Quadrangle, Lemhi County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 106, 102 P.

Reference (Deposit): Lorain, S. H., And Metzger, O. H., 1939, Reconnaissance Of Placer Mining Districts In Lemhi County, Idaho: U.S. Bureau Of Mines Inf. Circ. 7082, 81 P.

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J. B., 1913, Geology And Ore Deposits Of Lemhi County, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 528, 82 P.

Reference (Deposit): Bell, R. N., 1913, Fourteenth Annual Report Of The Mining Industry Of Idaho For The Year 1912, P. 132.

Reference (Deposit): Stinson, Melvin C., 1950, Mineralogy Of The Heavy Minerals From Some Placers Of Central Idaho: Moscow, Idaho, Univ. Of Idaho, Ms Thesis, 61 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1913 Compile Idaho Mine Inspector's Annual Report For 1912

Reference (Deposit): 1913 Geolmap Umpleby; Bulletin 528

Reference (Deposit): 1939 Recon U.S. Bureau Of Mines Inf. Circ. 7082

Reference (Deposit): 1956 Geolmap Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 106

Reference (Production): D.W. Peters, Salmon National Forest

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.