Polaris Mine

The Polaris Mine is a silver mine located in Shoshone county, Idaho at an elevation of 2,533 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

Name: Polaris Mine  

State:  Idaho

County:  Shoshone

Elevation: 2,533 Feet (772 Meters)

Commodity: Silver

Lat, Long: 47.50842, -116.02368

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.


Satelite image of the Polaris Mine

Polaris Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Polaris Mine


Commodity

Primary: Silver
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Antimony
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Gold


Location

State: Idaho
County: Shoshone
District: Evolution


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: Located Claim
Type: Patented


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Owner Name: Sunshine Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Yakima, Washington
Years: 1944 - 1955

Owner Name: Hecla Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Years: 1958 -

Owner Name: Polaris Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Wallace, Idaho
Years: 1937 - 1958

Owner Name: Polaris Development and Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Wallace, Idaho
Years: 1915 - 1923

Owner Name: The Polaris Mining Co.
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Spokane, Washington
Years: 1893 -


Production

Year: 1957
Time Period: 1916-1957
Mined: 712817.000 mt
Material type: Ore


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: HYDROTHERMAL VEIN AND REPLACEMENT
Plant Type: Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant Subtype: Flotation
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Filled Stopes - Horiz Cut and Fill W/Waste Rock
Milling Method: Flotation
Year First Production: 1887
Year Last Production: 1957
Discovery Year: 1884
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y


Physiography

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


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Name: Polaris Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL

Name: Chester Vein
Form: PINCH AND SWELL


Structure

Type: L
Description: Polaris Fault


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

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

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


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Arsenopyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Trace: Proustite


Comments

Comment (Deposit): OWNS A 33.25% INTEREST IN PRODUCTION FROM THIS AREA WHICH IS

Comment (Deposit): OPERATED BY SUNSHINE MINING COMPANY.

Comment (Deposit): 6-75 THE POLARIS IS NOW PART OF THE SUNSHINE UNIT AREA. HE

Comment (Production): Compiled from various sources including Mitchell and Bennett (1983) and Polaris Mining Co. Annual Reports.

Comment (Orebody): Most ore in the Link Zone connecting the Chester and Polaris veins. Polaris vein is part of the Sunshine-Polaris vein system.

Comment (Commodity): Lead-antimony sulfides also present in ore in trace quantities.


References

Reference (Deposit): WILLARD, MAX EMERY, 1938, THE MINERALIZATION AT POLARIS MINE, SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: MOSCOW, UNIVERISTY OF IDAHO, MS THESIS, 30 P.

Reference (Deposit): WILLARD, E.M., 1941, MINERALIZATION AT THE POLARIS MINE: ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, V. 36, NO. 5, P. 539-550

Reference (Deposit): JULIHN, C.E., AND HORTON, F.W., 1936, THE SILVER BELT AND THE SUNSHINE MINE OF THE COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES INFORMATION CIRCULAR 6876, P. 14

Reference (Deposit): SORENSON, R.E., 1951, SHALLOW EXPRESSIONS OF SILVER BELT ORE SHOOTS, COEUR D'ALENE DISTRICT, IDAHO: MINING ENGINEERING, V. 3, NO. 7, P. 605-611.

Reference (Deposit): SHANNON, E.V., 1926, THE MINERALS OF IDAHO: U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 131, P. 99, 166.

Reference (Deposit): UMPLEBY, J.B. AND JONES, E.L., JR., 1923, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF SHOSHONE COUNTY, IDAHO: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 732, P. 88-89.

Reference (Production): Mitchell, V.E., and Bennett, E.H., 1983, Production statistics for the Coeur d'Alene mining district, Shoshone County, Idaho, 1884-1980: Idaho Geological Survey Technical Report 83-3, 33 p.

Reference (Deposit): Fryklund, V.C., Jr., 1964, Ore deposits of the Coeur d'Alene district, Shoshone County, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 445, 103 p.


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