Blackbird Mine

The Blackbird Mine is a cobalt and copper mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 6,890 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

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Site Name

Primary: Blackbird Mine
Secondary: Brown Bear
Secondary: Uncle Sam
Secondary: Calera Mine
Secondary: Dandy
Secondary: Idaho
Secondary: Chicago
Secondary: Howe Sound Adit
Secondary: Katherine
Secondary: Anaconda
Secondary: Sunshine
Secondary: Dewey
Secondary: Copper Queen
Secondary: Hawkeye
Secondary: St. Joe
Secondary: Bohannon
Secondary: Patty B
Secondary: Ludwig
Secondary: Tinkers Pride
Secondary: Blacktail
Secondary: Chelan No 15
Secondary: Horseshoe-Old Gold

Commodity

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

Location

State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
District: Blackbird Mining 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

Type: Patented

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Idaho Mining Co. (Subsidiary Of Hanna Min. Co.)
Percent: 12.00
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1984

Owner Name: Noranda Exploration, Inc.
Percent: 88.00
Home Office: Colorado
Info Year: 1984

Owner Name: Noranda Mining And Exploration Inc.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Colorado
Info Year: 1996

Production

Year: 1955
Mined: 161050.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 792399 Kilograms
Year: 1956
Mined: 248300.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 1067 Metric Tons
Year: 1957
Mined: 243635.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 1216 Metric Tons
Year: 1958
Mined: 268392.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 1388 Metric Tons
Year: 1959
Mined: 343432.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 476209 Kilograms
Year: 1959
Time Period: 1957-1959
Mined: 709060.000 mt
Material type: Isabell Construction Company open pit (probably from Blacktail open pit). However, DMEA records for the period 2/1/1955-October 1958 only list 207,077 short tons at 0.816% Co and2.827% Cu. This includ
Description: Ore Shipped(Isabell Const. Co) 1957-1959 709060 Metric Tons, 0.42% Co, 1.61% Cu
Year: 1960
Mined: 67065.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) No Cobalt Reported
Year: 1966
Time Period: 1963-1966
Mined: 130780.000 mt
Material type: Machinery Center, Inc.
Description: Ore Shipped(Machinery Center,Inc)1963-66 130780 Metric Tons,0.60% Co, 2.68% Cu
Year: 1967
Mined: 55163.000 mt
Material type: Idaho Mining Company
Description: Ore Shipped (Idaho Min. Co) 55163 Metric Tons
Year: 1968
Mined: 28209.000 mt
Material type: Idaho Mining Company
Description: Ore Shipped (Idaho Min Co) 28209 Metric Tons
Year: 1968
Time Period: 1939-1968
Mined: 2574000.000 mt
Material type: Uncle Sam Mining and Milling company, Calera Mining Company, Isabell construction Company, Machinery Center Inc. and Idaho Mining Company data combined
Description: Total Ore Shipped-1939-1968 2574000 Metric Tons
Year: 1954
Mined: 146392.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 694469 Kilograms
Year: 1953
Mined: 58677.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min Co.) 273620 Kilograms
Year: 1952
Mined: 90615.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Conentrates (Calera Min Co.) 55000 Grams
Year: 1951
Mined: 20110.000 mt
Material type: Calera Mining Company production
Description: Cobalt Recovered From Concentrates (Calera Min. Co.) 25415 Kilograms
Year: 1941
Time Period: 1939-1941
Mined: 3222.000 mt
Material type: Uncle Sam Mining and Milling Company shipped 563 short tons of ore and concentrate (16.81% Cu, .665 oz Au, 0.51 oz Ag, 1.7% Co) to a smelter. No payment made for cobalt.
Description: Copper Recovered (1939-1941) From Concentrates (Usmc) 80858 Kilograms

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement Vein
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Mining Method: Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Tailings
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1915
Discovery Year: 1893
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Blackbird Co-Cu

Orebody

Form: TABULAR , IRREGULAR, LENS, PIPE-LIKE

Structure

Type: L
Structure: Reverse Faults

Type: L
Structure: NW Trending Shear Zones

Type: L
Structure: Slickensides

Type: L
Structure: Brecciation

Type: L
Structure: Gouge

Type: L
Structure: Secondary Schistosity

Type: L
Structure: Anticline

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Tourmalinization

Alteration Type: L
Alteration: Silicification

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 2.7% CU, 1.10% CO, 0.02 OZ/TON AU, 0.6 OZ/TON AG
Analytical Data: CO TO CU RATIO: IN BLACKTAIL ZONE IS 1:2.13 IN DANDY ZONE RATIO IS 1:6 IN IDAHO ZONE RATIO IS 1:5 IN HORSESHOE-OLD GOLD RATIO IS 1:0.7

Materials

Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Cobaltite
Ore: Copper
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Cuprite
Ore: Erythrite
Ore: Azurite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Safflorite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Chalcocite
Ore: Electrum
Ore: Heterogenite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Enargite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Muscovite
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Vivianite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Jarosite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Nontronite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Hornblende
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Goethite
Gangue: Bismuth
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Apatite
Gangue: Ankerite
Unknown: Arsenopyrite

Comments

Comment (General): The Blackbird Mine includes several related mineralized zones mined by different companies over the years. Many of them have been connected by tunnels originating on adjoining claims. Records of several individual zones (e.g. Chicago, Uncle Sam, Idaho) have been consolidated in this record.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): UNDERGROUND RESERVES (HANNA MIN. CO. 1975) HANNA MIN. CO., 1975 OPEN PIT RESERVES (HANNA MIN. CO., 1975) OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND RESERVES (HANNA MIN. CO., 1975)

Comment (Production): Production reported here is from U.S. Bureau of Mines records. The data was incomplete. There is amount of ore shipped for all years from 1939-1968. Production was intermittent during this period with no production during WWII and later (1941-1950). Percent cobalt and copper was reported for many, but not all years. Metal recovered from the concentrate was not reported after 1960 and grades were not reported for 1939-1941, 1960, and 1967-8. The some of the reported recovered cobalt is low 25-35%, but most is from 62-75%. Some of the recovered copper is values are suspicious with many recovery percentages in the 90's (as high as 96%). Calculation of totals using mill grade x tonnage ore shipped gives 13,733.806 Mt Co and 42,585.522 Mt Cu. Only recovered copper is used for 1939-41 and 1969. No cobalt is reported for 1939-1941, 1960, 1967-68.

Comment (Development): 33 PATENTED AND LARGE NUMBER UNPATENTED CLAIMS; 75-TON DIESEL POWERED FLOTATION CONCENTRATOR ; ECON.COM: HIGH TRANSPORTATION COST MADE ALL OPERATIONS MARGINAL (PRIOR TO 1939); CO EXTRACTION PROBLEMS (PRESENT)

Comment (Location): ON BLACKBIRD CREEK ABOUT 6 MILES UPSTREAM FROM ITS MOUTH

Comment (Workings): DEVELOPED BY 13 TUNNELS, THE PRINCIPAL ORE IS 7,820 FT. LONG. DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF 50,704 FT. TUNNELS, CROSSCUTS, AND DRIFTS; 24, 862 FT. RAISES, 1,180 FT. SHAFTS.

Comment (Deposit): BLACKTAIL ZONE IS 1200 FT LONG, AVE 10-35 FT WIDE; DANDY ZONE TRENDS N 10 DEG E, DIPS 80 DEG W, AVE 10-15 FT WIDE, AND IS 500 FT LONG; IDAHO ZONE TRENDS N 30 DEG W AND DIPS 75 DEG NE TO VERTICAL; HORSESHOE ZONE TRENDS N 27 DEG W, DIPS 54 DEG NE, AND IS 1200 FT LONG

Comment (Workings): THE MAIN HAULAGE WAY (6850 LEVEL) IS SEALED TO PREVENT ACIDIC AND METAL LADEN MINE EFFLUENT FROM ENTERING SURFACE WATERS. THE WORKINGS BELOW THE 6850 LEVEL ARE FLOODED.

Comment (Production): IN 1981-82 SURFACE FACILITES (MINE & MILL) WERE REFURBISHED AND A WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WAS CONSTRUCTED. AN EXPLORATION ADIT WAS DRIVEN NORTHWESTWARD TO THE SUNSHINE BLOCK IN 1981-82; IT IS NOT KNOWN IF ANY ADDITIONAL RESERVES WERE DELINEATED. THE MINE AND MILL OPERATED BETWEEN FEB AND NOV 1981 AT THE RATE OF 27.2 T/D TO SUPPLY CONCENTRATES FOR THE METALLURGICAL PILOT PROGRAM. ALL MINE EQUIPMENT SOLD TO CLAYTON SILVER INC. IN 1981-82.

Comment (Geology): GABBRO DIKE IS 60 FT. WIDE; BELT SUPERGROUP TRENDS WNW AND DIPS STEEPLY NE; SCHISTOSITY TRENDS N 20 DEG E, DIPS 60-85 DEG NW; MINERALIZATION STRONGEST AMONG FOLD CRESTS AND NOSES OF FOLDS; HYDROTHERMAL REPLACEMENT DEPOSITS OF COPPER-COBALT MINERALS OCCUR ALONG THREE PRINCIPAL SETS OF SHEAR ZONES STRIKING NW, N AND NE

Comment (Deposit): COMMENTS BETWEEN ASTERISKS RELATE TO 1984 UPDATE. * MINE AND MILL IN "CARE AND MAINTENANCE MODE" (NORANDA, MAY 9, 1984) FINAL E.I.S. APPROVED BY FOREST SERVICE IN 1982. NORANDA OPTED NOT TO PUT PROPERTY IN PRODUCTION DUE TO DEPRESSED COBALT MARKET. THE E.I.S. APPROVAL WAS FOR 272 T/D OPERATION TO SUPPLY CONCENTRATES FOR METALLURGICAL TESTING. PLANS CALLED FOR EVENTUAL EXPANSION TO 907-1088 T/D. HIGH ARSENIC VALVES OF HE BLACKBIRD CONCENTRATES WILL REQUIRE CONSTRUCTION OF A REFINERY IN PROXIMITY TO THE MINE TO CIRCUMVENT HIGH TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO JAPAN, FRANCE OR BELGIUM. CERCLA (SUPERFUND) SITE PROPOSED FOR LISTING ON NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL), MAY 10, 1993. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS INCLUDE (1) ACID MINE DRAINAGE CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS, AND (2) MINE DUMPS AND MILL TAILINGS CONTAINING HEAVY METALS. DOI/USBM ALLEGED TO BE A PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBLE PARTY (PRP). DMEA (3143) (5020) OME (6285) (6286)

References

Reference (Deposit): Umpleby, J.B. Geology And Ore Deposits Of Lemhi County, Idaho. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bulletin 528, 1913, Pp. 71-73, 159-165.

Reference (Deposit): Canney, F.C., 1953, Preliminary Report Of Geochemical Investigations In The Blackbird District, Lemhi County, Idaho: USGS Open-File Rept.

Reference (Deposit): Silverman, A., Strategic And Critical Mineral Position Of The United States With Respect To Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, And Platinum. Draft Final Report, 1983, (In Press).

Reference (Deposit): Vhay, J.S. Cobalt-Copper Deposits Of The Blackbid Mining District, Lemhi County, Idaho. U.S. Geol. Surv. Strategic Min. Inves., Prelim. Rept. 3-219, 1958, 24 P.

Reference (Deposit): Scheuring, J. (General Superintendent, Blackbird Mine), 1982, Pers. Comm.: Interview, Septermber 24, 1982. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1980.

Reference (Deposit): Walker. D.D., H.B. Nickelson, And D.C. Alvord, Final Rept, Blackbird Mine. Dmea-3143, 1958, 24 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Shelton, F.K., J.C. Stahl, And R.E. Churchward. Electro-Winning Of Cobalt From Cobaltite Concentrates. Bumines Ri 4172, 1948, Pp. 1-2, 90-98.

Reference (Deposit): Schack, C.H., Evaluation Of Proposal By Machinery Center Inc., To Increase Copper Production From The Blackbird Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho. Part Ii In Metall. Processing. Bumines, Salt Lake City, Utah, Confidential Ept, June, 1966.

Reference (Deposit): Ridge, J.D. Ore Deposits Of The United States 1933-1967, Aime, New York, V. 11, 1968, P. 1369.

Reference (Deposit): Rule, A.R. Summary Report Of Beneficiation Study On Blackbird Mill Tailings. Memo. To R.N. Appling, Jr., Chief, WFOC, 1975.

Reference (Deposit): Reed, G.C., And Herdlick, J.A., 1947, Blackbird Cobalt Deposits, Lemhi County, Idaho: USBM Rept. Inv. 4012, P.5, Figs. 4-26, 14 Pp

Reference (Deposit): Pierce, R. V. Application For Copper Subsidy, Machinery Center, Inc., Blackbird Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho. May 1966, 16pp

Reference (Deposit): Pierce, P.A. Blackbird Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho, Bumines Property Eval. File Rept (Cobalt), Unpub.

Reference (Deposit): West, B. Noranda Exploration, Denver, Co. Pers Comm. May 9, 1984 With R.G. Raney, WFOC.

Reference (Reserve-Resource): Bennett, E.H., Reconnaissance Geology And Geochemistry Of The Blackbird Mountain-Panther Creek Region. Lemhi County, Idaho. Idaho Bumines And Geol. Pamp. No. 167.

Reference (Deposit): Wallace, R. U.S.F.S Boise, Idaho, Pers, Comm. May 9, 1984 With R.G. Raney, WFOC.

Reference (Deposit): Wells, H.R. Concentration Of Copper-Cobalt Ores From The Blackbird District, Lemhi County, Idaho. Bumines Ri 4279, 1948, 21 Pp.

Reference (Production): Schack, C.H., Evaluation Of Proposal By Machinery Center, Inc., To Increase Copper Production From The Blackbird Mine,Lemhi County, Idaho. Part Ii In Metall. Processing Bumines, Salt Lake City, Utah, Confidential Rept, June, 1966

Reference (Deposit): Anderson, A.L., 1943, A Preliminary Report On The Cobalt Deposits In The Blackbird District, Lemhi County, Idaho: Idaho Bureau Of Mines And Geology Pamphlet 61, 34 P.

Reference (Production): Coleman, R.L. And K.V. Konigsmann. Blackbird Project Metallurgical Treatment. Noranda Mines, Ltd,. Unpub. Report, 1978, 10 Pp.

Reference (Production): Blackbird Mill Tailings. Memorandum To R. N. Appling, Jr.,

Reference (Deposit): Bilbrey, J.H., 1962, Ic 1803, P.140

Reference (Deposit): U.S.D.A General Technical Report Int-67, 1979 In Silverman A., Strategic And Critical Mineral Position Of The United States With Respect To Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt, Maganese, And Platinum. Draft Final Report, 1983, (In Press).

Reference (Deposit): Noranda Exploration, Inc., Personal Comm. And Unpub. Repts, 1978 In Pierce, P.A. Blackbird Mine, Lemhi County, Idaho. Bumines Property Eval. File Rept (Cobalt), Unpub. (Confidential), 1979, 51 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Mcwilliams, J.R. Hydraulic Emplacement Of Stope Fill As Practiced At The Blackbird Mine, Cobalt, Idaho. Memo. To Wing G. Agnew, Chief, Spokane Field Office, Region I, 1956.

Reference (Deposit): War Minerals Report 78

Reference (Deposit): War Minerals Report 131

Reference (Deposit): Pamp. No. 111, 1956, Pp. 31-36.

Reference (Deposit): Western Field Operation Center Bumines Mineral Prop.File N

Reference (Deposit): Ri No. 4279

Reference (Deposit): USBM Ri No. 4012 February 1947

Reference (Deposit): Platts, W.S., S.B. Martin, And E.R.J. Primbs. Water Quality In An Idaho Stream Degraded B Acid Mine Waters.

Reference (Deposit): Ri No. 4172

Reference (Deposit): Farmer, E.E. Revegetation Of Acid Mining Wastes In Central Idaho. U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Forest Service Research Paper Int. 178, 1976, 17 P.

Reference (Deposit): Trexler, B.D., Jr., 1974, Unpublished Blackbird Report

Reference (Deposit): Materials Survey Series Ms-5 Bumines And USGS Feb.1952

Reference (Deposit): Mcdivitt, James F. 1956 Ida. Bur.Mines And Geol. Pamphlet 111. Pp 3

Reference (Deposit): 1944 Direxpl Howe Sound Mining Co., USBM Rept. Inv. 4012

Reference (Deposit): Climatic Summary Of U.S.1964 Sup.1951-1960, Wash.D.C.

Reference (Deposit): Hawkes, H.E. 1952, Gsa Bulletin Vol. 63. P.1260

Reference (Deposit): Buchta, T.(Mineral Specialist, Cobalt Ranger Dist.) Pers. Comm. In Silverman, A., Strategic And Critical Mineral Position Of The United States With Respect To Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt, Managanese And Platinum. Draft Final Report, 1983, (In Press).

Reference (Deposit): Agreement 12-11-204-11 U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Forest Service 1978, 232 Pp.

Reference (Deposit): Baldwin, J.A. Water Resource Problems Related To Mining In The Blackbird Mining District, Idaho. Univ. Ida. (Moscow)

Idaho Gold

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