The Big Creek Prospect is a copper mine located in Lemhi county, Idaho at an elevation of 7,999 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
Elevation: 7,999 Feet (2,438 Meters)
Commodity: Copper
Lat, Long: 44.4589, -113.61530
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.
Big Creek Prospect MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Big Creek Prospect
Secondary: Wells Cobalt Prospect
Commodity
Primary: Copper
Tertiary: Silver
Tertiary: Nickel
Tertiary: Gold
Tertiary: Cobalt
Location
State: Idaho
County: Lemhi
Land Status
Land ownership: State
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
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: C. Wells
Home Office: Idaho
Info Year: 1952
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Not available
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Unknown: Chloanthite
Unknown: Erythrite
Unknown: Malachite
Unknown: Smaltite
Unknown: Chalcopyrite
Comments
Comment (Geology): THE COUNTRY ROCK INCLUDES PRECAMBRIAN QUARTZITES, SCHISTS, AND SLATES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVELY FOLDED, SHEARED AND JOINTED. THE COBALT PROSPECT IS IN A TALCOSE SHALE/SLATE. THE SHEAR ZONE LIES ALONG THE BEDDING OF THE SHALE/SLATE
Comment (Geology): THE PRIMARY COBALT MINERAL HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS VERY FINELY DISSEMINATED SMALTITE-CHLOANTHITE THE GANGUE MINERALS ARE PRIMARILY LIMONITE AND QUARTZ. THE COBALT BLOOM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ERYTHRITE. MALACHITE STAINS WERE NOTED ON SOME OF THE TALUS ABOVE AND BELOW THE ADIT. THE ADIT EXPOSED A NARROW SHEAR ZONE ALSO CONTAINING MALACHITE STAIN.
Comment (Ownership): THE PROPERTY CONSISTS OF 8 UNPATENTED CLAIMS.
Comment (Deposit): ONE SAMPLE ASSAYED 0.47 PERCENT COPPER, 0.19 PERCENT NICKEL, THE LIMITATIONS OF THE DEPOSIT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTED DEVELOPMENT WORK.
References
Reference (Deposit): U.S. BUREAU OF MINES OPEN-FILE REPORT MLA 8-88, 1988, APPENDIX B,
Reference (Deposit): NO. 15, P. 45.
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.
