Bear Valley Placers

The Bear Valley Placers is a niobium (columbium), tantalum, ree, and uranium mine located in Valley county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,499 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: Bear Valley Placers

Commodity

Primary: Niobium (Columbium)
Primary: Tantalum
Primary: REE
Primary: Uranium
Tertiary: Titanium
Tertiary: Radium
Tertiary: Thorium

Location

State: Idaho
County: Valley
District: Unorganized District; Bear Valley Area

Land Status

Land ownership: National Forest
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.
Administrative Organization: Boise National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Not available

Ownership

Owner Name: Porter Brothers Corp.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1955
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: Sawtooth Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

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

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

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SAMPLES FOUND EUXENITE AVE 1.0 LB / C. Y., COLUMBITE AVE 0.2 LB / C.Y., MONAZITE 0.5 LB/C.Y.
Analytical Data: FROM EUXENITE: CB2O5 23.29%, TA2O 1.5 - 3%, TIO2 22-26%, 2 - 16% U3O8, 2.5 - 5% THO2
Analytical Data: GRAVEL: 20-130 LB BLACK SAND/CY. { OTHER SAMPLES FOUND 0.05 LB ZIRCON/CY, 13 LB. GARNET/CY., 28 LB ILMENITE/C.Y., 7 LB MAGNETITE/C.Y.

Materials

Ore: Ilmenite
Ore: Tantalite
Ore: Zircon
Ore: Garnet
Ore: Columbite
Ore: Monazite
Ore: Magnetite
Ore: Euxenite

Comments

Comment (Production): 1955 - 99 % OF DOMESTIC SUPPLY OF COLUMBIUM AND TANTALUM PRODUCED FROM BEAR VALLEY PLACERS.

Comment (Development): 200 TON MILL AT LOWMAN

Comment (Workings): DREDGING; DUG 7000-8000 YARDS GRAVEL/DAY.

References

Reference (Deposit): MINING WORLD, JANUARY, 1958.

Reference (Deposit): SAVAGE, C. N., 1961, METAL FROM BLACKSANDS: SELECTED TECHNOLOGIC AND ECONOMIC DATA: IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF. CIRC. 10, 34 P.

Reference (Deposit): 1961 OTHER IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF. CIRC. 1

Reference (Deposit): ENG. MINING JOURNAL, MARCH, 1958.

Reference (Deposit): DAYTON, S. H., 1958, RADIOACTIVE BLACK SAND IS YIELDING COLUMBITE CONCENTRATE AT IDAHO MILL: MINING WORLD, MAY, 1958.

Reference (Production): SAVAGE, C. N., 1961, IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY INF CIRC. 10, P. 18.

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.