Brown Bear Mine

The Brown Bear Mine is a copper and cobalt mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 7,799 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: Brown Bear Mine
Secondary: Blackbird Mine

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Primary: Cobalt
Secondary: Gold
Tertiary: Silver
Tertiary: Nickel
Tertiary: Bismuth

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Blackbird 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: Hanna Mining Co.

Owner Name: Howe Sound Mining Co.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1951
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: Salmon River Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR PODS

Structure

Type: L
Description: Reverse Faults, Folds, Schistosity. Zone On Anticlinal Structure Plunging 40 Deg N; Brown Bear Fault Striking N 55-70 Deg W And Dipping 55 Deg Ne Offsets Ore 80 Ft

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Eocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: GENERAL RATIO CO TO CU IS 1:0.95
Analytical Data: 2% CU, 0.7% CO, 0.04 OZ AU/TON, (DUMP SAMPLE)
Analytical Data: .8 % NI

Materials

Ore: Cobaltite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Bismuth
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Magnetite

Comments

Comment (Location): 1 MI. UP MEADOW CREEK. N.W. OF UNCLE SAM MINE

Comment (Development): BROWN BEAR MINE NOW INCLUDED IN BLACKBIRD MINE, SEE NO. 363 ; ECON.COM: CO HAS EXTRACTION PROBLEMS

Comment (Workings): MINED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHICAGO LODE.

Comment (Geology): ORE LOCATED ALONG EXTENSIVE REVERSE FAULTS; SHEAR ZONE TRENDS N

References

Reference (Deposit): UMPLEBY, J.B., 1913, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: USGS BULL. 528, 182 P.

Reference (Deposit): ANDERSON, A.L., 1943, PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE COBALT DEPOSITS IN THE BLACKBIRD DISTRICT, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY PAMPHLET 61, 34 P.

Reference (Deposit): CANNEY, F.C., 1953, PRELIMINARY REPORT OF GEOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE BLACKBIRD DISTRICT, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: USGS OPEN-FILE REPT.

Reference (Deposit): 1943 RECON IDA. BUREAU OF MINES & GEOL. PAMPHLET 61.

Reference (Deposit): 1947 DIREXPL USBM, R.I. 4012

Reference (Deposit): 1953 GEOCHEM CANNEY, F.C., OPEN-FILE REPT

Reference (Production): BALDWIN, J.A., OCTOBER 8, 1976, PERSONAL COMMUNICATION.

Reference (Deposit): REED, G.C., AND HERDLICK, J.A., 1947, BLACKBIRD COBALT DEPOSITS, LEMHI COUNTY, IDAHO: USBM REPT. INV. 4012, P. 5

Reference (Deposit): 6) TREXLER, B.D., JR., 1974, UNPUBLISHED BLACKBIRD REPORT

Reference (Deposit): 1913 GEOLMAP UMPLEBY, J. B., BULL. 528

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.