Morning Star Mine

The Morning Star Mine is a silver and gold mine located in Owyhee county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,375 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

Name: Morning Star Mine  

State:  Idaho

County:  Owyhee

Elevation: 6,375 Feet (1,943 Meters)

Commodity: Silver, Gold

Lat, Long: 43.0225, -116.72690

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Morning Star Mine

Morning Star Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Morning Star Mine


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Tertiary: Copper


Location

State: Idaho
County: Owyhee
District: French District


Land Status

Land ownership: BLM Administrative Area
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

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1865
Discovery Year: 1865
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Intermontane Plateaus
Physiographic Province: Columbia Plateau
Physiographic Section: Payette Section
Physiographic Detail: Owyhee Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR


Structure

Not available


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Diorite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: RATIO OF GOLD TO SILVER IS 1 : 50


Materials

Ore: Silver
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Gold


Comments

Comment (Workings): 5 LEVELS TURNED FROM SHAFT; DRIFTS FOLLOW VEIN FOR 400 FT.

Comment (Production): PRODUCED $200,000 IN 1869, ONLY $3000 IN 1872 BECAUSE OF LEGAL PROBLEMS. TOTAL PRODUCTION $1,000,000 BETWEEN 1864 AND 1897.

Comment (Development): MINE CLOSED IN 1880, WAS REWORKED IN 1897 AND CLOSED IN FALL OF 1897

Comment (Location): ON WAR EAGLE MOUNTAIN

Comment (Commodity): ORE IS MAINLY SILVER WITH LITTLE GOLD; WORTH $70 A TON IN 1870


References

Reference (Deposit): ASHER, R. R., 1968, GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF A PORTION OF THE SILVER CITY REGION, OWYHEE COUNTY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 138, 106 P.

Reference (Deposit): PIPER, A. M., AND LANEY, F. B., 1926, GEOLOGY AND METALLIFEROUS RESOURCES OF THE REGION ABOUT SILVER CITY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULL. 11, 165 P.

Reference (Deposit): LINDGREN, W., 1898, THE GOLD AND SILVER VEINS OF SILVER CITY, DELAMAR, AND OTHER MINING DISTRICTS IN IDAHO: 20TH ANN. REPORT, U.S.G.S., P. 75 -205 (PART 3).

Reference (Deposit): 1898 COMPILE W. LINDGREN 20TH ANN. REPT.

Reference (Deposit): 1926 GEOLMAP IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOL. BULL. 11

Reference (Deposit): 1968 GEOLMAP IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES & GEOL. PAMPHLET 138

Reference (Production): PIPER, A. M., AND LANEY, F. B., 1926 , IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY BULL. 11 , 165 P. RAYMOND, R. W., 1870 - 1873 , 41ST - 42ND CONGRESSES HOUSE OF REP. EX. DOCS.


Idaho Gold

Where to Find Gold in Idaho

"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.