Wonder Mine

The Wonder Mine is a thorium and ree mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,699 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: Wonder Mine
Secondary: Wonder Lodes Nos. 1 To 5 and Buckhorn Claims
Secondary: Wonder and Buckhorn Claims
Secondary: Silver Bell
Secondary: Quinn Prospect
Secondary: Inspiration Group

Commodity

Primary: Thorium
Primary: REE
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Barium-Barite
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Zinc

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Mcdevitt 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

Type: Located Claim

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Nuclear Fuels And Rare Metals, Inc.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Reno, Nev.
Info Year: 1977

Owner Name: Defense Metals, Inc.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Underground
Discovery Year: 1923
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: DISSEMINATIONS, MASSES, SEAMS, STRINGERS

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Slickensides

Type: L
Structure: Cross Faults

Type: L
Structure: Brecciation

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Epidote

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Chlorite

Rocks

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

Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Description: Phyllitic Quartzite
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: IN 150 FT. VEIN (1.75 FT THICK), 0.30% TH OXIDE AND 0.3% RAE.
Analytical Data: IN 100 FT VEIN (2.5 FT THICK), 0.75% THORIUM OXIDE CONTAINED

Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Thorite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Rutile
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Bornite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Specularite
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Allophane
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Barite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): On E Side Of Gulch, Strike Has Changed To N 85 Deg W, Dip To 65 Deg Sw. In Third Cut, Zone Strikes N 55 Deg W, Dips 45 To 50 Deg Ne. In Sixth Cut, The Lode Strikes N 60 Deg W, Dips 55 Deg Ne.

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1923, THORITE IN 1950'S

Comment (Location): In Camp Gulch, Tributary Of Agency Creek Nearly A Mi Above The Copper Queen Mine

Comment (Commodity): Wonder Lode Vein Is 1 Of Only 2 Cu-Th Veins In The Lemhi Pass Area

Comment (Production): At Least 1 Production Year Was 1923 (Staatz, 1972)

Comment (Development): Econ.Com: 1 Adit Sample Had Up To 3.2% Tho2 And 2.8% Cu; 1 Sample Over 1% Zn; Vein Radioactivity As High As 2.0 Mr/Hr; Ag Found 0.2-2.0 Oz/Ton

Comment (Geology): Diorite Dike Strikes E And Dips 58 Deg S To Vertical

Comment (Geology): Original concentration process entry: Hydrothermal

Comment (Geology): Original Structures entry: Local - Brecciation, Minor Cross Faults, Slickensides

Comment (Geology): Original alteration entry: Local - Chlorite, Epidote

Comment (Geology): Original ore control entry: Fracture, Shear Zone

References

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1960, Geology Of Thorite-Rare Earth Deposits In The Lemhi Pass Region, In Study Of Two Idaho Thorite Deposits: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 122, P. 133-139.

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1958, Uranium, Thorium, Columbium, And Rare Earth Deposits In The Salmon Region, Lemhi County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 115, 81 P.

Reference (Deposit): Weis, P. L., And Others, 1958, Reconnaissance For Radioactive Minerals In Washington, Idaho, And Western Montana 1952-1955: USGS Bulletin 1074-B, 48 P.

Reference (Deposit): Sharp, W. N., And Cavender, W. S., 1962, Geology And Thorium-Bearing Deposits Of The Lemhi Pass Area, Lemhi County, Idaho, And Beaverhead County, Montana: USGS Bulletin 1126, 76 P.

Reference (Deposit): Staatz, M. H., 1972, Geology And Description Of The Thorium-Bearing Veins, Lemhi Pass Quadrangle, Idaho And Montana: USGS Bulletin 1351, 94 P.

Reference (Production): Sharp, W. N., And Cavendar, W. S., 1962, USGS Bull 1126

Reference (Deposit): Moen, 1957, Us Atomic Energy Commission Rme-2061, Pt 1

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A. L., 1961, Econonimc Geology, V 56, P 177-197

Reference (Deposit): Staatz, Bunker, and Bush, 1971, USGS Professional Paper 750-C, P 136-140

Reference (Deposit): Trites And Tooker, 1953, USGS Bulletin 988-H, P 157-209

Reference (Deposit): Ross and George, 1966, USBM Resource Report 62.1 Salt Lake City Met Res Cn

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.