UNITED STATES 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

HAROLD L. ICKES, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. C. MENDENHALL, Director 

CIRCULAR 9 

GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS 

of the 

ELK CITY, OROGRANDE, 

BUFFALO HUMP, AND TENMILE DISTRICTS, 

IDAHO COUNTY, IDAHO 

By 

f..r \ P. ). SHE ON 

a?~ 

J. C.'REED ~ S" ' 

WASHINGTON 

1934 
Contents 

Abstract , .• 

Introduction . , 

Field work and acknowledgments. 

Bi bliography . .... . 

History and production. 

Geography ...... . 

Location and area covered . 

Transporta tion .• 

Settlements 

Topography • • . 

Climat e and vegeta tion .. 

Geology 

Outline 

QMartz- mica schist. 

QMartzi te . . . . . 

Gne i ss and r elated rocks. 

Gener al fe a t\ues • 

Well-ba!1.ded gne iss . . 

Augen gne i ss . 

Poorl' banded chist ose gneiss ~~d mien schist 

Hornblendite sills . 

Age of the quartz- mica schist , quartzite , 

r elat ed rocks, and h ornb lendite sills 

Granitic rocks . . . . ...... . 

Ande~ ite and dacite ....... . 

Unconsol idated l ake and str eam dep osits 

' or n.inic mn.t erin.l . 

Alluv ium . . . . . 

Stl:"'lctural geology . . . . . . . . . 

Structur e of the )r e-Terti a ry rocks . 

Struct e of the Tertiary r ocks . 

Development of topot;r n.phi c fen. t n·e...-

Or e deposits 

JJode s . 

Fissur e veins. 

Elk City vein ~yste 

Buffalo Rump vein system . 

Other ve ins . . . . . . . 

inera logy of the fissur e 

Age of the fissure veins . 

i 

veins 

gne i ss and 

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Or e deposits--continued. 

Lode s--cont i nued , 

Vein s parallel to bedding . . . Dissemi nated deposits • • • . • . • • • 

Orogrande t ype • • • 

Pet si t e type • . • . . ..• 

Plac ers 

Hi gh- level t ype • • • 

Reconc entra t ed .'J)e • 

Recent- stream t ype 

. . . . . . . . 

8310 3 

Practical a_·plications • 

The mines • • . • • • . . . 

. . . Elk City distri ct 

Lode ~es ..•• 

Alice . • • . 

Allamance (Elue Dragon) •• 

Alt emont •••• 

.knerican Eagle • 

Elte Ri bbon . 

Erown Eear • • • 

Eust er • • • • 

Eri ckson Reef. 

. . . . . . . . . 

Hercules, Pasadena, culd Al ert a , •. 

Hope • • . • . . . • 

adre d 10ro •••.•••• 

.f.ar y K (:S l ack Pi ne ) •••• 

. . 

.. 

.ascot , Del Rio , Go ld Co i n , Bl e Eell , and Rand. 

lineal Zone ( ol . Sellers) •••• 

.tiother Lode ( Gen8ral Grn.."1t) . • • • • 

Ten 'hilli on (Uncle SaJ ) and Frisco ••••• 

Placer mine • • • • 

~ erican (Gol den Rule) •••• 

American Lill. • • • • • • 

Buffalo Hill • • • • • 

Cal- Idnho (Gold Hi l l' •• 

? r ench Gul ch • • • • • • • • • 

Ti crnan Hi ll • 

Other plac e s . • 

OroGr ande district • , . 

Eut t e & Orot:r ande 

Diamond Hitch ••• 

Royal Dixie • • • • • 

Gnome (Inter. ati0nal ) ••••• 

Homest· '<e •• 

o th Hill •••• 

Petsi te (Knob Hi U ) ••••• 

Umat illa • • 

Una • 

Union gr oup , Gold Crown , and Uto])i a 

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The mi nes--continued . 

Buffalo Hump d istrict ..... . 

Alhambr a , San Fr enci sco , Golcl 

Bi g Buffalo . . . . . . . 

Cracke r J <:tck and Wi nslow 

Dewey .... 

J1.1JT1b o . . . . . . . . 

·.1onte Cristo . . . . 

Mother Lode (Concord) 

Spokane and Ti ger 

St . Paul .... 

Ventu r e (Del Ri o ) 

Vesuvius 

Y a r Eagle 

lliseboy 

Tenmile district 

La C. mi nes 

Buffalo-Idnho . 

Center Star . 

Coeu r d 1 Alene 

Gilt E(\ge 

Golc.en Age (:.ieado..,: Cr e ek) . 

.uonc Pine . . . . . . . 

83103 

Crovm , and St . Loui s . 

New Yo~k g roup ( i ncludi ng the I llboi s and the 

Anaconda ) ... 

South Fo k 

Other p ropert i r, . 

Place:- mines 

Bi g Cr eek Basin . 

Bu keye 

Gra v el flat along 

Key s (Blue Eird) 

v oose Creek . . . 

Croo.:ed River . 

wsome Cr e k . . 

.Jewsom"' & Legge tt Creek 

Old fo tana 

P ione er 

Tip i e 

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Illustrn.ti :ms 

Page 

Pl a t e l . Ge0logi c L ar· of' t he Elk City , Orog r ande , 

Buff a lo Hump , ru1d TerrJil e districts, I daho ... . . . ... .. 8 

F igure l. j • •• ap showi nc; , ining d.i strict s i n ancl ad..jacen t t o t he 

Buffalo Emnp Cfu.:lcirangle , I dai.o Cm.mt y , I dabo .. . . . . . . . . 6 

2 . l.!ap s' ·)Wi:'1g loc;:tt i :ms of mi:J.e s a nd ve ins in the El l-: City , 

Oro ~nde , Euffalo ~urn . and e~~ il e distri cts. . . .. .. 25 

3 . I ap O.L thn Euffal o r:u.1p v e in syst er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

4 . Geo l ogi c l~e tch of })D.~·t of the .i ll l eve l of the 

American E~gle nine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

5 . Geol og i c map of the 400- fo o t t unne l of the El ue Ribbon 

mi " e . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

6 . Geolo0 ic map of he <.:try K (Bl ack Pine ) :ni ne . . . . . . . . . . . • 42 

7 . Int e rna tir)l1al t u.rmel of the Gno . e :nine ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

8 . Ge olog ic r n.p of l evel 3 , Homest, .e mine . .... .. .... . .... . 53 

9 . Ore body a t end of long t unne l , Una mine . ....... . ... . . .. 59 

10 . eolos ic map of the Ve t u r e ( Del Rio) mi ne .... . .... ..... 66 

11. Geolog i c m[tp of t he Holm p. nnd Boyce 1 v el s of the Wn.r 

Engle mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 

12 . Geologic map of the \lei f.s tunne l , Cent e r Sta r mi ne ... . . . 73 

13 . Geologic ma1 of t he mc.in leve l of t he Lo e Pine mine , . . . 79 

14 . Sl::etch of v i cini ty of .oo e Creek placer s .. . . r . . . . • . . . . . 85 

iv 
83103 

Geology and or e deposits of the Elk City, Orogrande , 

Buffalo Hump, and nm~le district s, Id~~o 

County, Idab.o 

By P . J . Shenon and J . C. I~eed 

Abstract 

This r eport p r esents the preliminary results of the authors ' field work 

in 1931 and 1932 in the dr ainage basin of the South Fork of the Clearwat er 

River and just sout h of the divide between that str eam and Salrron River. 

The oldest rocks of the ar ea are gne isse s, schists, quartzit es, and 

lime stones and appear to belong to the Belt series. The se old rocks wer e 

intruded and inj ect ed by quartz monzonit e and g r anodiori t e of the Idaho 

bathol ith in or befor e late Cretaceou s time . Remnants of a widespread erosion surfa ce cover parts of the area. Feultiug and warping of the partly diss e ct ed peneplain, possibly in ·iocene time , formed cert a.in basinlike depr essions in which we_e depo sited gr avel, sand, and clay. Only the highe r parts 

of the area, arouud Buf:t'alo Hump , have been glaciated. 

The total production of the area has probably been between $15, 000, 000 

and $25, 000, 000, but records are incomplet e . .ost of the p roduction has come 

from placer mines. 

The gold lode deposits are classified as ve in deposits, including fissure 

veins and bedded ve i n , and disseminated deposits. The placers comprise the 

high-level type , the r econcentrated type , and the ec~nt stream type . 

The lode gold has come mainly from fi sur e veins. The ve ins in the Elk 

City district a r e a rrang d r adially within about 2 miles of a curving contact 

of granodio rit e and gneiss. They dip steeply and stand at near ly right angles 

to a linear schi st sity, or stretching, in the country rocks. ·rhe veins of 

the Buffalo Hump district a re in schist or quartz monzonite at the crest of 

a large isoclinal anticline which has b een invaded by the batholith. They 

appar ently bear no structur al r el ationship to the linear schisto sity in the 

vicinity and in that respect diff er from the El k City veins, although they are 

otherwise similar. The veins in the Tenmile and Orogrande districts in many 

r espects re~ernble those of the Elk City and Buffalo Hump systems. 

Tbe transportation facilities of the districts have been gr eatly improved 

by the completion in the fall of 1932 of a g od highway up the South Fork of 

the Clearwat er River to Elk City. This should be a stimulus to the mining 

activity of the e~ ion . 

About 55 lode mines and prospects and 17 placer p roperties are briefly 

described in this r epo rt. 

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83103 

Int:.:oduction 

Field work and acknowled@nents 

A cooperative survey by the United St at es Gzological Survey and the 

Idaho Bur eau of lines and Ge0logy during t:ne fi eld seasons of 1931 and 1932 

included the Elk City, Or grande , Btlifalo Hump (Robbins) , and Tenmil e (Golden) 

district s. A paper on the gGol ogy of the Elk City dist ·ict , with special 

r eferenc e to the structural setting of the ve ins, has been submitt ed for 

publication, aDd a paper that will i nclude a discussion of the auriferous 

gravel of the Elk and Newsome Cre ek basins is in preparation. The writ ers 

wi sh t acknowledge the able and energetic fi eld ass st~nce of G. D. Emigh 

and Harold Thomas and the courte9us :md helpful aid of the United State" 

Forest Service and of many of the inhabitants of the region, particularly 

Messrs. Reub en .. cGreg r and A. F. and Charles Schultz, all of whom gave fr eely 

of their time on many occasions. 

Bibliography 

The following list includes the principal papers that bear directly on 

the geology and or~ deposits of all or parts of the districts covered: 

Whittle, C. H., The Buffalo Hump mining camp , Idaho : Eng . and in. Jour., 

vol . n8, PP • 215-216 , 1890 . 

Lindgren, Waldemar, A geological r econna issance acr ss the Bitt erroot 

Range and Clearwat er fvountains in fontana and Idaho : U. s. Geol. Survey Prof. 

Pape r 2? , 1904. 

Jellum, S. P., Some central Idaho gold districts, No rthwest in. News, 

publiSher s, 1009 ~ 

Flagg, A. L., Buffalo Hump mining district : 

38, PP • 813-814, 1913. 

in. and Eng . World, vol . 

Flagg , A. L., The Elk City m1n1ng di trict , Idaho County, Idaho : Am. 

Inst . ~in . Eng . Trans., vol . 45, pp . 113-122, 1913. 

Livingston, D. c., and ste •1art , c. A., The geology and ore deposits of 

the Dixi e mining district , Idaho , with metallurg ical notes: Idaho Univ . Bull., 

vol . 0, no . 2, 1914 . 

Thomson, F. A., and Ballard, s . M., Geology and gold r e sources of northcentral Idaho : Idaho Bur. Mine s and G-eology Bull. 7, 1924 . 

Thomson, F. A., Gold veins of sundry ar eas in the Idaho batholith: Eng . 

and Min. Jour.-Press, vol . 118, pp . 533-540 , 1924 . 

2 
83103 

BeCkwith, R. H., Geolog ical settine of the Id&~o ba tholith: Pan.-Am. 

Geolog ist, vol. 45, n-. 5, pp . 359- 376 , J une , 1926. 

Beckwith, R. H., ~tz ve ins of the Buffalo Hump : Pan- Am . Geolog ist, 

vol . 46, no . 2, PP • lll-120, Sept ., 1926. 

Be k~ith, R. H., Or e po iti~n at Buffalo Hump : Pan-Am. Geolog ist, vol . 

48, no . 3, PP • 191 -1 , Oct ., 1~27 . 

Beckwith, R. H., The geology and or e deposits of the Buffalo Hump dist r ict: New Yo rk AcacL Sci . Annal s, vol. 30, pp . 263-296 , Oct ., 1928. 

History and pr oduction 

According to Thomson and Ballardl/ gold was discover ed on Orofino Creek 

by a trappe r named J aCk Lassi e r i n 1857 . The credit for the di scovery of gold 

in the C~ arw r country , howeve r , i s ordinarily g iven to Capt . z. D. 

Pi rc ~/ who with a party of l e ss than 40 men r eturned in the fall of 1860 to 

that r egion, with which he already was f amili ar , and founded Pi er ce City, at 

t ·le mouth of Canal Gulch on Orofino Creek. Pi erce C" ty was the distribution 

po i nt from which in the n ext f ew years many prospe ctors spread over the drainage a r eas of the Uppe r South Fork and even i nto the Salmon River country. 

Pla cer gold was discover ed at Elk City and al ong ewsome Creek i n 18 / and by f all ov er , 000 p e0ple had f l ocked to the new diggi ngs. By 1872 the 

richer and more a ccessible ground was lar gely v:orked ou t , and most of the 

whit e miners had l eft the field to the Chi nese , who came i n gr eat numb er s. 

When the Chinese mi ner s had worked over tho ground left by the Thit e mine r s, 

as well as many of the ld tailings dumps, they t oo l eft t he country . Since 

1900 some of the mo r e ext ensive , low-grade placer deposits have b een wo rked by 

l ar ge- scale mining methods. 

The fir st quartz-ve in location (now the Bust er) was made in the El k City 

district in 1 870 , but very little gold wa s extract ed from quartz ore until 

after the completion of the Ame rican Eagl e mill , in 1902. A stampede i nt o the 

Buffa lo Eump district followed the discov er y of high- gr ade gold ore i n the outcr op of the Big Buff a l o vein i n the fall of 1898. Before the b eg inning of 

1899 and in . pite of deep '"'now and frig id weathe r the b ett er-known ve i ns wer e 

located and dev elopment >o r k was well under way . By the summer of 1899 v:ellhoused comrrrunit i es we r e e stablished at Hurnptown , Concord, and Cal enda r . Aft er 

consider abl e unde r g round development work , mills we r e con struct ed at sever al 

of the larger mi nes and at some entirely undeveloped pr ospe cts. The mill s at 

the l a r ger mines oper at ed from 2 to 15 year s. The Big Buffalo was closed by 

l / Thomson , F . A. , and Ball ard, S. M., p . cit ., PP • 13, 14. 

/ Bancroft , H. H., Hi story of Washington , Idaho , and Montana , 1 845-89 , 

pp . 233- 255 Ban cr~ft s Wo rks, vol . 31 ) , 1890 . 

~ Idem, PP • 240 , 241 . Flagg , A. L., op . ci t ., PP • 115, 116 . 

3 
83103 

1903, th Cr cke r .)a ck oper ate\.. until 1907, and ~1e Jurrbo continued to operate 

i ntermittently m til 1915 . b r e ce· t ~rs only a f ew r.line s such as the Lone 

Pine and the Ne 'I York , · n the Tenmil e di.strict; the Venture , in the :Buffalo 

Hump district ; and the · a r Ea.r:;le , a f ew miles to the south , have been productive , but i nter est was r evivinE, at t...1e time of this survey , in 1932, and many 

mines, such as the Gnome , Co eur d 1 Al ene , Buffa.lo- Jdaho , and. Gilt Edge , e ither 

had started to p roduce or wer e expected to do so in the nea r futur e . 

N'o very satisfactory e stimate can be ade of e i the r t h e placer or the 

l ode produ ct ion , b e cause the ear ly r e co:;:ds a r e i complete and b e cause no one 

wi ll ever know the amount oi gold ~1cen out by Chi nese miner s . 

The followino tale is taken from Thomson and :Ballard1/ and represents 

the ir estimates fo r production from centr al Idaho . It is based. on sever al 

sour ces of information. 

Florence •... .. ..... . .. 

::BL .. City •..... .. .....• 

Pierce Ci ty •...... . ..• 

Ne 'SOme • .. ... . .. . ... • • 

"'2 , 500 , 000 

18, 500, 000 

10 , 000, 000 

2, 000, 000 

Dixie ...... ... ..•• $1 , 500, 000 

Other districts ... ~0 000 

57, 000, 000 

The e figur es are higher than some other est imat es: fo r instance , 

Li ndgrenQ/says that the total production fo r the El k City district up to 1902 

was probably betwe en $5, 000 , 000 and. $10, 000 , OOv • 

. N. Gerry, of the Unit ed Stat es Bur eau of ft ines, hns kindly supplied 

da ta as o he production of the dist r icts h e" e described and the mines ther e:i.! 

for the yea.J.'s 1902- 31. These ata a.J.'e of little value as r egards placer p roduction, be e use so much of it was obt a ir.ed before 1902, and the figur es fo r 

the y ears g iven may b e some "h t incompl et e , particularly the ear lier figures. 

The t n.b l "O elow surr.rna.J.· izGs Ge rry 1 s data by districts: 

Robbins (mainly Buffalo Hump district $520, 452 

Orogron<le . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . G9 , 598 

' ev1so::.e ) (104, 613 

( ( erunil c d.istrict of t h is r epo r t) ( 

~mil ) ( 69, 61 5 

Elk Cit· • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 682 , 989 

$1 , 447 , 267 

Publish d e t imat e s of placer gold procuct ion from the Elk City district 

r ange from $5, 000 , 000 to $1 8, 500, 000, and it i s r po rt ed t h at between 1902 and 

1 'J32 from $726 , 000 to $1 , 000 , 000 w s tal en from about six lode p roperti es. 

The miner; of the Buffalo Hump d.istrict have an estima ted production of about 

$700 , 000 , a lthough this i s considerably hig her t han Gerry 1 s figure . of $520, 452 

Ge rry ' s figure does no t t ake i nto a ccount p rodu ction b efor e 1902 . 

1/ Thomson , F . A., and :Bal lard, s. M., op . cit ., P • 13 . 

Q/ Lindgren , , aldemar, op . cit ., P • 84. 

4 
Geography 

Location and area covered 

AS shown ~n the index insert of figur e 1, the area covered lie s in n~rtheent·r al Idahn east of Grangevill e , the county seat of Idaho County . This 

11.rea has be en somewhat arbitrarily divided into the Buffalo Hump , Orogrande , 

Tenmile, and Elk City di stricts. These include all or parts of the old Dixie • t R bbins, Tenm1le , ewsome, and Elk City mining districts. Most of the area 

li es in the eastern part of the Buffalo Hump quadrangle . 

The Orogrande di strict as here defined include~ part of t he Dixf~ min ing 

district , which centers around t he settlement of Dixie, a short distance east 

of the southeru part ~f the Buffalo Hump quadr angle . The Tenmile district 

includes part of the Newsome mining district , which lie s in the northeastern 

part of the quadrangle . The Elk City district JOlns the quadrangle on the 

east , and the War Eagle mine lies about a mile south of the quadrangle . 

Transpo rtation 

Difficulty nf access has long hampered development ~f this r egion, but · 

in recent years transpo rt at ion facilities have been greatly improved. The 

supply point for the whol e r eg ion is Grangeville , from which all the districts 

may be reached by a new highway , opened in the fall of 1932, up the South Fork 

~f the Clearwat er River. Other roads ar e shown on figure 1 , but they ar e not 

of the same modern con struction as the river highway and are open Pnly during 

the SUII¥ne r months. The War Eagle mine and the mines in the vicinity of 

Buffalo Hump are accessible by. trail nnly . 

Befo r e 1904 tra ils were the nly means of a cce ss into the Elk City district . That year a road as c~mpl ted from Stites, a ~il ro d point on the 

Clearwater River, to Elk City by way of Newsome , a distance of 58 mil e s, and 

a branch road was ext en ' ed to Golden, on the South Fork. Between Stites and 

Elk City this road cro sses t wo divides-- Baldy, at an altitude of €', 280 f eet , 

and Elk, at 5, 700 feet . In 1920 a road was constructed from Grangeville up 

the South Fork as far as Castle Cfeek , a distance of 18 mil e s. By 1929 the 

South F rk ro ad has been compl eted to Golden, where it joined the old branch 

r~ad from Stites. Aft er that travel ers to and from the district went from 

Grangeville to Golden and thence over the old road to Elk City. This route 

voided t he higher gwnmit on the old Stit es road and thereby considerably increased the season during which Elk City was r eadily accessibl e . .Another connection to the old roact was completed f rom Fall Creek t C) Mud Springs by way 

f Moose Creek in 1031 . Late in 1932 tha river highway was fin~ly opened all 

the way to Elk City. This is a water-grade rout e except where the road climbs 

•ut of the South Fork Canyon to Camas Prairie , near Mount Idaho . By this rout e 

Elk City is about 60 mil es from Grangeville and is acce ssible by automobile or 

t ruck during all months of the year. The ultimate compl etion of the highway 

down the Clearwater to Lewiston is contempl at ed . 

A fair road connect s Elk City and Dixi e Meadows ranger station and extends a mile farther south to a transfer station from which a water-grade pack 

tr.i~ l~ads to _ the_ War Eagl e mine , 9 miles away . 

5 
--.r, w- I 

D A H 0 I 

I 

I 

:_ _________ j 

INDEX MAP 

Figure l o- Map showing mining districts in and adjacent to the 

Buffalo Hump quadranele 9 Idaho County Idaho o 

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83103 

The Buffalo Hump di"trict in 193:5 was a.cce ssn le by trail only . The 

best r out e i s by way of Cr ogr?..nde , which i s r eacl ed from the river highway 

nec .. r the mo .. t n of the A:ner i. c a11 Riv e by a 10-r il e stretch of g ood road . 

From Orog r arlde post offic e to Or ogr .:mde Sumrn i t , about 7 miles, the road 

i s i n poor condition and c an be t r a'rel ad oy ca r only a bout 4 months of a 

year . The last 5 or 6 mi l es of the r out e f r om o· og ande Summit to Humptown i s ove r a tra il tha t follo·.vs for t .. 0 ost part an ol r oad , now in 

hopel e ss d i . r epair , wh i ch was construct ed during the ac tive dc:ws of the 

Bi g Buffalo mi ne . A.'1o t h er r o 1te of entr y fr om Gr cmgeville is by way of 

AdCJ11s C 1p and ·!loores r angor ,stati on . A r oa l r eadily passable for c a rs 

during a b out 4 mon t hs of t ne year extends f ron Gromeev ille to Moores 

r anger st a tion, a ~i an e of 40 mi l e s . The remain er of the r oute to 

Hump town , about 13 miles, i s by a tra il tha t fo l l ovs an early- da y r oad 

entire l y im:r:;a. le for ..,_ ca r . It i s said t h a t the For est Se:cvice p lans 

to r epair bo t n t h e Q_ogrand.e and oor es r a nger st a ti on roads t o HlllDptO\·m . 

Se ttl ement 

El k City, vhich :b.as a p opulation b e t ween 100 and 200 , i s the largest 

settlement in t h i s area . a lle cormn'.mities include ~ro ancl , Golden , 

and l<,a ll Creek , and p ost offi ces are maintained a t the first t wo of the se . 

The mushr oom t own s of Ca l e,1da r , -rur;rp town , a d Concord ar e d.esert e d . 

Topogr aphy 

The Bu_ fal o Hump district ( see p l. 1) i s very ngoed , and ye t f r om 

the h igher p oi ts the surf:1c extends awc...y on n.ll ~es a a flat . dissected plat eau. :· it 1in the di. t ... ict t is old r--arfa e lies mostly b e tween 

alt itud~s of 7 , 000 an~ 8,000 fee t , altho1~h a number of high peru-s- - for 

e:-:ample , Buffalo Hw"!ln it"e lf, v:h i ch has an a ltit-ude of 8 , 924 fee t --rise 

abov e the lat eau a monad.11o .. ks or e ... osion e~nna~1t . !ilo2.t of the vall eys 

are v e r y deep \'.i t h e. c esdi ngly st eep v1all , ancl practically a ll the 

large valley lead L1 cirq-c..es , mo.n:,' of which contai n bea'L tiful moun t a in 

lakes. U- shaped vL l.Leys a e ha.:·ac tPri sti c dov n to a n a lti tuC.e of ab out 

5 , 500 fee t and in some pJ.a cs t o 4 ,000 f ee t . :Below t h e e altitudes he 

valleys hc.ve - shaped ere ,, se cti)ns. 

Altitudes in t :1e Tenmile , O:rogranO.e , and Elk City d i stri cts range 

be t ween about 3 , 100 f et a lon t he Sou th Fork b e low Gol den to 7 ,076 fee t 

OYJ. Nipple , oun a i n . I n gener a l , this par- t of the a r ea, except wher e cut 

by the st eep g orge s o:: t he .Red , America.l'l , and Sou th For .c of the Cl ear wat er 

Ri vers, i s a r egi on of rolling hills, s-abdued moun t a i ns, and wide , flat . 

va lleys. The Elk and ewsome Creek basin oc cupy p a rts of the se districts 

and a e the p rincipal t op ographic f eat-ur e ·• The -.urface ri es fron the e 

depr e sions to l ow mo1mt a i n r i dges a few mil es awuy . The basi ns themselv es r of ve ry od ~. e reli e f a.'1d lie a t a general el ti t u de of about 

4 , 000 f ee t . 

7 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

EXPLANATION 

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS 

METAMORPHIC ROCKS 

Gneiss and related rocks 

(Includes well.OOnded yne · • a'Uj}en gn8Us (except in 

Elk City district). poorly banded schistose gnet•s, 

miea schist, and hornhlendite sills) 

~ Quartzite 

(Locally c<mtains simla of muscovite and biotite gneiss and schistl 

Quartz-mica schist 

(Locally contai?ts marblt, gneiss. Mrd beds rO?nposed 

principall y of lime sil•cates) 

IGNEOU S ROCKS 

Porphyritic dacite 

Granitic rocks 

(Includes ([ltartz m<mzon'ite , gra>r odiorite. a>rd :rubordinate peg>natite and aplite) 

F rlt 

'o~· --= trike and dip of .~ddin g or foliation 

Direction and degree 0 pitch of linear stretching 

GEOLOGIC AND TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF THE ELK ITY, ROGRANDE, B 

AND TENMJLE DISTRI T , IDAH 

FF 

Placercd ~roun d 

Placer pit 

L H MP, 

CIRCULAR 9 PLATE 1 

115°20' 

}I 

~ 40' 

Augen gneiss 

(Elk Oity district 

<mly) 

~ 

z 

<( 

i: 

z 

0 

Cl 

..J 

<( 

}! 
83103 

Tl e p rin cipal ream~ of the rart of t:Ce a.rea lying s out h of the 

South Fork of the Cl earwater River head on a high divide b etween the 

So'.lth Fork and. the Salrr.on . .a."1y of tl em r adiate f r om the highlanct area 

around 13u.ffa lo Eunp ; Tenn.ile C:-ee:::: f l ows northward to the South Fork, 

Sheep Creek flo ·:s into t he Salmon Ri v er, and Lake Cr e~c , a fte:: flowing 

north a rd, makes a ho seshoe b c,nd j.nto Croo.:::ed Cre ek, whi ch i n tu rn f lows. 

into ·the Salmon Rive!:' . Big CreEk rist:s nea::.· t .:e Eomcc:t clce mine , e>.bout 3 

mL e s south of Orog rande , and. flows a lmost O..irectly scut h to form the othe r 

principal trib tar.r of Croo1-::ed Cr eek . The Crooke d Rive r is smaller and 

is not to b e confused with Cr ooked ree~;;:. It flows north·vard into the 

South Fork.. The Elk Ci t y district' occupies parts of the d2'-ainage a: eas of 

the .American ancl Red. J.Uve rs, which unite to form the South Fork of the 

Clearwat e r . 

Elk Cre ek has a e;entle gro..ciient and flov;s i n c. wide , flat , e;ra.ve l -

f i lled vall ey . The .Al. erican River fl·ow s arour1d. the nastern a..nd southern 

parts of Elk Cr e ek 13a cin and i s separGted om it by a low rock ridge . 

'Ihe Red River de fines p::t:ct of tl:e ~ou.thern "bouJ'ldary of :.he Elk City 

district . The lowe r cou.r e s of th€: Re d and Arncrice..n Rive r s are in narrow, 

steep - walled canyons cut sever."'.J. hundred f e0 t deep into solid rocks . 

T·his is a.lso ~ of the So1th For.· of the Cl e arwa t er , whose sharp cc:;.nyon 

contrast s stronr;ly wi h the ba3in. of Elk a.nd Ne vsome Cr e eks. 

Newsome Cre ek itself, thr01.1.-"': o-:.J.t most of its CO ' se , is incised in 

solid rock ~bo t 100 f e e t below the fl oor of t he basin . 

Clime.. e 2.11d ve:-e t :1tion 

Grangevil , Y.:ooc-ki a , und kCa.ll are tl:e roi nts nearest the area for 

w!"lich the United St t~~ ·. eath r Bureau h a s publ i sl:ed annual summaries of 

climatic data. T.1.e limat c of mucr. of the a. ca , bec<....usc of its greater 

altit,_de , i ::; p:roba.bl:,' more s ev E'r e th t b t of any of ~he e J?Oints except 

possibly cCall . The annual ec~p tat~on in most ea~s p robabl y excee ds 

25 i nche s tu d in the i~;r.e part , of t h e a.l'ea may r eac-1. 40 inch es . A. 

l a rge p a rt of thi \"\ f ll s a:> snow . The h i ,; he c oun tnr commonly i covered~ 

with 5 to 15 f P.e t of snow fo r 7 ·or 8 months of the y ear . The mean ap.nual 

· t emper'at"l-..re ap::r:roc:.c· e s 4.:2° , a; d ne an monti1ly e pern.tures may r ange fr om 

about ;:x) 0 i n ~Tanuary to a bo1..1.t 60° in July a nd AUGUst . Killing frosts may 

be expected irt any month excep t J 1~ and August end in the high er country 

even during t hose months. 

Most of the area is covered with den e evere;rcen fore; ts, nd parts 

of it with thick underbn sl , so that t r "' v e l a.w[t._V from beaten paths i s 

generally difficult . !uch of the lar.d in the wide , fl a t v alleys has bee~ 

cleared and i s utilize d for the r a isiDG of h1:1.y A.nd e;r .z i ng . The v:egetat1on 

in the high plateau country be t ween 7 , 000 and 8 , 000 f e e t and on the peaks 

is r e l:l.tively scant. Tr ees are sparsely di stribcJ.t · Cl. in the i rmnPdi a te · 

vicinity.of the Buffalo Hump . ines, but eno h t imbe r for mining pciTposes 

is av~ilable nearby . 

9 
83103 

Outline 

The oldest rocks in t h e area comprise a thick series of gne i sse.., , 

sch ists, quartzites, a nd lime stones , w _ich are the metamorphic equival ent s 

of sediments laid dovm fo:r the mo st part in fairl ;v shallow wa ter . These 

rocks appear to belong to t he Be lt series, l i ke t he quartzitic and 

argillaceous formation "' t. at are wide ._,pre a d j_n nortl.e rn Idaho. 

Granociiori te and q1.1ar t z mon..,oni t e of the I f'l.aho ba t h olith are the 

most abundant rock s in the area . Tf e intrusion o ... t he "!.lat holi th had a 

profolL~Q effect on the older , sedimenta ry r ocks, but the intense me tamorphism i n t hem may be partly the result of earlier folding , for granitic 

rocks of the a t holith cut folde d gnei ss e and schists. The foliation 

of the igneous a11d L e t amo·11hic roc ~s in ge1 rc: l tre nds nort!lwest , and 

steep dips p r evail . 

Central I daho 'IO..s deeply erocleC. to a surface of low el:i. e f af er the 

intru sion of the batho it~ , a nd the t~ic. cove r of ~e ~~ or hic rocl~ as 

r emoved to exp ose granitic r ock s ov er large ~r . Ero ion was act ive ly 

r evived by t he up lift of this surfac e , whi ch as g:-eatly dissect e d , but 

p ortions of it r emain , E'.nd in pl a c es t he se sta nd at al titudes of ove r 

8 , 000 feet . In Tertiary time the olurJbia River lava and its int e bedded 

sediments were dep osit e d ove:- t_l low0r parts of th r e<=> ion , which lay 

for the most ~Jc;r t t'J ~1e ·: est of the Buff0.lo Eump q1.1adrangle , and c- i n ce 

t hen , possibly i. p:...r t d1: i l16 tl1e time of l ava ext usj.on , frtul ting and 

probably wa!'!Ji ng f o:::rned ce r t a in basinli1 e der)re s sions su~h as those of 

Elk a nd rewso .te Creeks , which ;ere late r part l y fillel \lith gr avel , sand , 

and cl Y . 

The dra i nage was again r e j uv enated, and eventl:u .. lly the trun k streams 

t apped the encloced basins or eGt abli he d ney; diversi on channels, and 

erosion correspondi 1gly proc ee de headrard along the valleys and remov e d 

a part of the sedimen t s . "Re f or e ·,i sconsi n time the Sa l mon and Cleo.rwater 

Rive rs had cut deep canyon s well bP.l ow the b ase of the Columb i a Rive r 

l ava . In the sc ~s in stage t he higher part ~ of the distri c ts mapp e d 

were extendv oly l a ciated , '::Jut it i s doubtful if t ho South Fo k of the 

Clearwa t e r was ever dammed by co~si!l ice or its deposi ts. 

The South Fork has incised its na.J.' o·.1 , st eep- alled c anyon headward 

to a point a short distance ab ove the confluence of the Re d and .Ame rican 

Rive rs, and strer1m e ros ion is still v e ry active in the reg ion . 

Q;uartz-mica scList 

Con,side ra.ble areas of schist occ 1r i n the r egion be twe en North Pole 

and the valley of Bull Cre ek , b e t ween Oregon a nd Q.uc:>xtz i t e Eut t e s . 

(See pl . 1 . ) Some of the masses nr e too &~all t o be ma~pe d on the scale 

used here ; others , suc1 a t h at urro-~ding Shini~g Butte Lake , cover 

several square miles. 
83103 

The t ypica l schist is dark gr ay or brown a."ld fine.-.grained. It 

consi st s largel y of quartz and biotHe , but the 1. icroscope r evea ls such 

other minerals as mu scovit e , nearly colorle ss amphibol e , pyroxene , 

f eldspar , tourmaline , ep idote , titanite , zircon , garnet , and apat ite. 

The p r opor tions of the diff e r ent mi ne r nls vary Vl ide ly. Some light-color ed 

marble i s i nt e rb edded i n t he r.10r e si l icem1s schists a nd in p l a c es ha s 

been partly or comp l e t e ly r epla c ed oy pyroxene or amphibole , or b oth . 

Some parts of the schist fo r mati on a r e gneissic r a ther t han schi sto se . 

They ordinarily are rel a tive ly l iGht- color ed and siliceous and cont in 

i n many p lace s con si de r able quantities of microcline , an~ -ibole , and 

brovm garnet . Loc·ally t he schist i s cut by pegmatite and apl ite dil.e s , 

some of which show i n trica te crumpling . In adC.i tion to the p lanc.r 

sc -i stosity of t hese rock s , a linear schisto ity or stre tch ing parall e l 

t o the axes of the minor fold s is apparent i n many p lace s . 

The schist appears to b e the olC.est rock in t he area. Its b ase was 

nowher e r ecogniz ed , for it is ev e rywhere underl a in by the gr anodiorite 

of the bat hol ith . The c onta ct with the t h ick q-...lart zi te t hat overlie s 

the schist i s sh a rp and i3 well expose d i n t _e vi cinity of Buffa lo Hump 

and i n t he Shining Butte- Bul l Creek r egion . The t 1 ic ~ess of the exposed 

part of t he schi st i s not lcnown because of its complica t ed close folds 

and be cause it c ont a ins so many di kes and si l ls of odiorit . It is 

certa inly a t least l , 000 fe e t thick and p r obaoly much more . 

l' o st of the schist mass es, even ver y smo.ll ones, are e long2.t ed 

roUf:hly paralle l t o the struct1.Lra l trend of the r e,_, ion , which i s defi ned by 

the foliation and ~ i g i n.::.l b eddi ng of the sch ist in t hese masse.., , but 

many mass e s both large a n SJ, a ll are t er minat ed a c oss the i r ends and 

underneath b y rply di s ordant intrusi ve conta ct . . 

Quart zit e 

The t erm 11 q.1ar tzi te 11 i s here used to include a g roup of r elate d rock s 

that pre sent a con si de rable ang~ of l71iner a log i c and t ext u r al fea t ur es, 

owi ng part ly to ori5 ina.l diffe r e_lc e s i n omp osi tion and partl y to the 

va ry · ng int en si ty of dynamic and i gne ous me t amorphism . All t:,radation s 

be t we en the dif f erent va ieti es are to be found . 

Qu.'J.rt zi t e i s wi de ly distr ibut e d , most:!.y in ands vri t h northwest e rly 

t:::-end , par a llel to the rinci ~al str ucture l trends of the r eg ion . It is 

the p r evalent rock ea r ShinL1g ButtG and Q.uartzi t e Ridge , i n the southwest corner of t h e area rna ped t;oolog i cally . Simila r rock i s ab 1.n&nt 

near Gospe l P eck , in t h e we st e rn part of the Buffalo Ihunp quadranolo , 

beyond t he urea now mapped . A broad band th loca l i nterruptiors ext end di agonally f ron Crooked Cre ek, i n th sout!1ea t orner of tLc 

m:.1ppcd a r ea, to the West Fork of Hew.-.ome Cre el near the northwe st corner. 

A narrow but continuous band r eaches from a poi at betwe en Orog r ande and 

ni t Flat to a point orth of the ~ou h of Be a r Creek . ~~ th er mass 

li es a long the east side of t he Crool~ed River , and ~ ver al de t ached b odies 

borde r the Granodiorit e contact e.sst of Elk City . 

ll 
83103 

mhe t y-p ica l quartzite is 2. sP.0';1- w;1it e g C>nul a r rock .:. n '7::-ti h -listeni!lg fl al:e s of white r.ica are visibl e . In he purer ar ie'~ie::; t 1is 

muscovite is the only :nine r a l E-xcept gu:....rtz , but or d.inarily ;ni~or · .ou.>1ts 

of such mi nerals a s p l nc ior.la. e , mi c r o ,li;10 , ortl-oclaGe , to•.rrmaline , 

tita ite , zircon , bi otite , apc..tEe , amphi 1) ol c , ep i dote , anc, a r!wt ( ? ) 

are p r e sent . In p l ace s one o~ t-::o of the ;> e ,:J.inoral s re so ::~.bu.'1dant c:.s 

to justify "UCh t e r ms as 11 tourmaline qu..--:crt;d t e n or 11 wn_ h i hol e quartz i te ll. 

It i s b eli eved from th,"3 nco~rpl3te d-:.ta at ha1 d that 1eh . .<tte i a l wns 

added to t he qnartzi t e in favorc:.hle plf1.c es by e:nan-::tti ons f rom t he Idaho 

batholith . 

Unde r the microscope the tYJ,Jica l qua:rtzite :i.s ~een to b e medi um-

' grai ned and only pa-rtly r ecr ysb.llized, but l oc ally it is comple t ely 

recr rsta llizecl , and the granlla,.. t ext u ·e has b ee n entirel;'_r de ctroycd . 

In t __ e recrystallized rock the q1.1ar t z ... r a :i.ns have coalesced in t o lar e r 

masses th~t show :rronounced llildulatory extinction QTJ.d have ·.vp..vy, l <1.ce liKe 

borders . A fe·u t in s ec tions !Ohov: t h a t l oca l l y oven thi s r ec rystallized 

rock h as been finely c ushb d or pulve rize d . 

Some beds in the qna.rtzi t c seri e a c n ow muscovite schist and contain 

little but mn covi t0 and a minor 8nollilt of q·u.artz . 

Bands of h0rnbl n~ iotite scbist oc ur i n t e qccartzite se ries a t 

several p l a.c e , . 'Ihe text cu·e of the ouartz g r2.ins in the g roundm.as n of 

this rock and the scar c ity of f e ldP ~r crystal i~ icate that these ~rk 

be.nds may b e rec_ys allizc d limy snndsto. c . 

nly the broader f eat 1 ~ of the stratisraphy have b een de termined . 

or e ( ete il ed tu y of the ar ea , ho :~ , mi 6 h t well lea d to defi n ite 

results . If the "ection L i ght side up , tJ.1e l i gl t - colo::e d quart zite 

ove_li es the ver y 1n< cb dar re quartz-:nica schist so com . on iYl the v icinity 

of H11motow!1 , Con .ord. , ::4'10.. Dee r Lake . The cont a c t be t wee n the t wo , where 

expo:;ed , as'nort.1 of Shi."ing :But t e an d ea. t oi Q;ua.tzi t e Ridr;e , i s sharp . 

T_1e uppe r contr.>.ct or t he qJ.art zite , hovevnr , aga i1st on . va ri e ty or another 

of t- e ove rlying band.cd gne iss i s ve ry inde finit e . In f a .t , t he quart zite 

gr a de "' i n to banded gne i ss bo th a cross and along t he st i ke . It al o a rades 

impe rcep tib ly into the quar·tz mol zoni t and gr anodi orite of the batholith , 

b-t.t the rock was mapped as quartzite even where it contains much granitic 

mat e rial i f quartzit e appeared to be t he p rinc i pal constituent of t he hybrid. 

Seve al thousand f e t of qua r tzite is expo se d. i n Q;uartzi t e Ridge , and l:erc 

it p robably is not dc p lica t ed by isoclinal folds . 

Gneiss and r elat d rocks 

General f eatures 

Largt: areas ar e occul; ie0. by gn eiss and by rocks r r ad.a.tiona l b e t ween 

gnei ~s e.nd the g rani tic r.ocks a:1d ~e ·:l een gneiss an the sedime t .:ry r ocl:s, 

e pecially the q-uartzite . The ten ency for the {;nei s!'l and th quartzite 

to rade int o each oth0r , l)oth aero. s und «.long the s trike , i s so ma...ked 

that distinction in rnay>p ing i s nc:cdss·"t:rily somew a t arbitrary . The t wo 

12 
83103 

occur t oget he r in mo st locali t ie s excep t i n t he s outhwest ern part of t:he 

ar ea, west of L.ske Cr eek, where no ei~s '"n.s rnapped . Gne i ss i s especially 

-prevalent i n the nort hern -p""'rt of t h e T(;nmile district 01nd i n th8 Elk 

City di strict . I n the lat.t er area a vari e ty t en1e d 11 aueen g ne i ss 11 

(see p . 14 ) i s di st bguished on the map . SL.nila r rock is p r esent , in 

much le ss abunda nc e , in ot~1er l ocalities, as no rth of the South Fork mi ne , 

but as not b een napp ed se a r a tely . 

The rock s mapped as gne i ss nch e a vari e t y of t YPes r !:\.ng i ng from 

quartz monzonit e a nd g r c;.nodi or·i t e vti th a f ew irregul a r dark bands t h rough 

we ll- banded gneiss , a1..1gen gneiss, and quart z-mica gne i ss t o gne is _.ic 

quartz ite and p oorly bande schistose gne i ss and mica . chist wi th a few 

imperfect lig:':lt- colore d bands, but i n general the rocks i nc l1d.ed he re a r c 

l e s s chistose t.han t .e quart z-mica schist ~ .. t 1.mderlies the q-..w.rt zite . 

Tl1e t erm 11 i njec tion o e i ss 11 i s p 1rpose l y avoided , as its u se i mp l i es the 

m: nner i n i'r~ ic 1 t he banding was Jeve loped . 

Esti mates of thiclmess of t he e;ne i s s formations are even more unreliable and inde finit e t 11.:..::1 those fo r t l e schist and qua r t zit e . Because 

of t h e larger areD.s underlain by gne i ss t here is mor e ch anc e for dup lica tion of strata ':JJ· cloc;e fol .i n?:; , a nd no 1 orizon marke rs :<:e re r c co[;ni zed 

t hat mi ght b e 1.: sed t o e timat e to what ex t ent t h i s factor has operated. 

Relativ ely laT[;e rolu.'Tle of rna t e rial also h ave b e en a.dded t o the gne iss 

and t he section i s t : er e by thickened . Be cau.,e of the 1ay i n which the 

q~1artzit e and gne i c s gr ade i nt o each one~ , it ... llows t hat .:t ection of 

quart zite a t one loca lity may be r epr ese!lt ed ~Y gneLs a t another . The 

gne i s'"' , howev e r , appear ., to r ec-.c!1 a · .o!·i zon p robably sev er2..l thou.sa."ld fe e t 

h i gher i n t 1e se c t i on t han a ny r eac: ed ~- the quartzit e . 

1 ell - bonded gnoi ss 

The ;·:oll- bo!lded 2,"11. i ., i s ma de 1:.p .. ,ostly of oligocla.., e and quartz . 

The oli gocl<Lse i co.nnonly more abundant than quart z , 'ioti t e ii1 p l a ces 

exceed.s rru.s ovi te , a.nd ::1icr ocline , titanit e , a nd apat ite are more abundant 

t han in the sc"1.ist . mhe well- ba:tded g:te i ss "-a- a g -;.'1.uar t ext u ::e . With 

tho exc ep tion of the micas a.'1.d some of the ac essor y mi ne r als, none of the 

g a i s app::oacl cr st<.'.l form . The mi c a .,, particula ·ly b i ot ite , show a 

mo.r k ed. par a ll e lism i n t he direch on of the el ongati on of the p l a te s . I n 

general , t he g r a ins of CJ.uartz and f eldspar have ero s~ ections of less 

t n2..11 1 s'}ua e millime t er , bu t very l a r e microclir.e cryst ::1.l s occ r here 

end t:'c.er e . 

I o st of the we l l - banded gne iss is :;.lmost fr ee f rom alteration . 

Se ricite l as deve loped along frac tur e s i n f e l aspar , and i n places f i neg r a ined ep i do t e ~~d chlori t e r epl - c e biotite . La r g e grains of epidot e in 

some of the rock appear to have formed earlier than t he fine- g r a ined 

vari e ty . Near veins there i s consi de r able hydrotherrno.l a l t e r a tion . 

The well- bD.nded nei s is the most p r cva.l ent vari ety . It i s p a rticularly con., i c 1ous along Lal:e and Crooked Creeks and i s '• e ll exposed a lso 

in ma:ty place s in t he canyon of the Sou th Fork of the Cleo.rwat er . 

13 
83103 

.Augen n c i ss 

. The aU£;en g nqi s. diffP. rs from t he ot~e r v a ri eties princ ipally in 

coJ:.taining ml.'""l c ro· s lart;e c:ry:; t a l s of :-.1ic:!'ocline and x:no tlike l e !1ses of 

aplitic a t e rial . _T o s: arp line c a n b, drAn n b e t ween this .rock a nd wellbanded gne i s!? (;0!1t a i"t ing a few large mi crocli::te crystals, on one hnnd , 

a:1d gneissic rc::.nodiori te o::.· qt.·.artz monzoni t e with l arge phenocrysts of 

microc l ine , o. the ot:S.er fl.?..n d . l.fine ralog ical -y t:te D.Uben gneiss i s 

nonrly the same as t l"_e ''" ll- kmded gneis ju ~t d escribed. . 

The microcl i ne ,,r ystal s :.·enge in length from about 0 . 5 millimeter to 

over 100 millin et e rs b t probabl y do not a e r .s.ge m:o.,..e than 20 o 30 millime t er. . T:ley are not cn:sh d a r ound their border or e l s ewh8 r e , al tho·ugh 

t'w other . inerals surrounrli 1::, t hem a r e f a ct·· e d and dislJla.y pronm.m ed 

undulatory e x tinction . The l a r c.cr crystals of microcline conmo1 J.y con tain 

erains arJ.d f r acoe::1ts of al ter,:d Jl l agiocl:-."e , qr:3.rtz , biotite , anc covi te , 

aJlcl. i n many :t l a c e 0 sr.c lle r c.ryst<tls of microc~ in e surrou.'1d the la~go r 

cryctals. T'o r.icrocli e is 1 teL the a 1gon gnoLs, j u t as it is in 

the ll-b ~::1ded 6 n c iss . 

1

i11e r e t i oti t e is scarce ;:md olig ocla e a nd cp.' .. a~ tz a r e t e p rincipal 

consti t u E: nt mi r e rcls t he roc -:: is l...'11.~lcu· a nd more or l ess even- g rainer'!. , 

~ wLere biotit e is a.l;)-Lllldan t the r ock ; s decidedly r;neissic . B8n s of 

biotit e an other mi ne :ruls bend. a ou ... '1d h e a-aeen , and in tl esc :nlaces the 

bands a:::-e l o rel y spac ed o.nd the 0 l: a:rpe:: .. r s rl c ,id dl., squeeze 

The kno tlike l e:1 es of a. l i tic nat e ria l ra .. o·e L1 thidmess f rom sli6 h t 

swell ... wi th::.n y:ell- dcfined b c.!l.d., t o ve y pron ou: ce r'l e n. e l o , centime t er<- acr es . On an ve r~ _ they a re not a l a ge .::~ s the aut.; en of microcl ine . The len.,es a :cc mccie u:p p .. :incipall.v of olit;oclase , quartz , and 

microclil e . I n gc r..ero.l t_ e mi rocline in the apli tic len "'e s h a s not -,ro\m 

much la.:..·f' e · t hGn tLe other ninc. r .. l., a"' .~oc G. d with it. 

The auge n gne i ss, like the well- b anded gneis , is a l most free f rom 

a.lte tion · but thot wh ich h a t oken p lace i s .imi l a r to t hat in the wcllbCI.llded .;)neiss. 

P oorly bande sc .. 1istose gne iss and mi a schist 

Quart z g r a i n commonly constitute over 50 p e c ent of the poorly b anded 

schi stos8 gne i ss. Olig ocl .se , bi ti te , and muscovit e account for much of 

the t' ema.inder , c-nd microcli:1e is:pre. ent in .o:ne specime nSl. MaGn e tite , 

apatite , ~· nd titanit e a.r '; t1""~ e usu...'l.l a ccessorie s , and silli r.1anit e , tourmaline , ;>..nd gn.rne t are loss conmon . 

· Sev e r al v uri ti e s of scht st occur in the o_re, .. i nterbe c<.cie \., · t h the 

gn e i '>:J . They rc.mge from rocks c )mposed l arc;ely of q<mrtz gr a in with 

little _ cldspar to rocks rich in f ·ldspar . :Both bio-'ci t c a ::1d r.m covi t e 

ct:::- c abund.r.nt in nearly all the schist . In the q 1art:::itic ., ,h ist.> t:1er e is 

a stron"" t endency for t he s e mil'er::..l s to oc ur a long bound.2ri e s of quartz 

gr a ins . fi.icroc l ino i s fairly common in t h . more ldspat~ ic v a ri e ti es 

14 
83103 

imp r egnn.t ed by grani ti.c materi ls . Alrno t a ll the schistose rocks conta in 

apatite and zircon , and .some of them carry ep idot e , silli manite , tourma:-· 

line , magnetite , titanite , and. gFtrYJ.e t . 

Poorly banded schistose gne.:.ss and mica schist are conspicuous i n the 

nortl'.ern p , rt of the TsnroH e district and in the rvest e r n part o the Elk 

City district . 

Ho nolendite sills 

Rornblendit e sills have a wide distribution in the schist and gne iss 

but are noticeably morP. abundant in the gne iss of the Elk City district , 

particularly in the ar ea east of the .Arn e ican Rive r and north of Kirks Fork. 

Hornblencie is the most abun ant :.Iine r a l of t hese si lls, locally 

making up 70 or 80 pe ·c nt of the rock . Lao adori t or anciesine forms 

most of the rest . Commcn ac c essori e s are zirc on , apat ite , magnetite , and 

ti t a.'1ite . 'I'he ill hav e ~'1dersone the in t ense structural de format ion of 

t e rocks i.n •hic h they f.".. e fou...'1d ~nd are no·.v ordinarily s histose . Some 

spe cimens sh oi'! a marked. parall elism of the hornblenc.e rystal s . 

Age o. the q1.la.rtz - micn. schist , qua rtzite , g. e iss and rel a t ed 

oc~s . ~ .d horublendite sills 

mhe q artz- mic chi t , quartzite , · eis and r elat ed rocks, and 

hornblendi te sill~. a e a ll clearly older tLa n the rani ti c rocks of the 

Idaho bathol i th , rhi h in pla e cut tightly compress d. fol ds i n t he 

old'3 r roc.:s . Al thow;h no dire ct evidenc e is avc.ilable for fi i ng the Dge 

of th e rock s , tl.c corresp o d st 1ctura lly and li tholo6 ic.:clly with the 

B<:> lt se i ':" s , vhich i "" ,·.ridesp ad in northc n Idaho . Lith olog ically the 

g_uartz -mica s hi st and u-llD.rtzi t e resc~nble the t vo lowe r units into 7hich 

.Anderson §/ di.vi e s the Pric:1..:1.rd forn1ation , as he defi1 es it, in the region 

about Orofino , and the '-pp er mit o tho Prici:l.a d is not g r eatly different 

from the gneiss n.nd r e l n toC. r ocks of the ::..re ::t covered b;r t :tis r ep ort . 

Tne 1 ornbl encii t i ls inclu ded in the " 0 mc t aJ, orphic rocks c..r e similar 

to t hose de scribed :,y A.~."ld.erson 7J 3.11d r eferr ed. by him to the lat e Algonkian 

bee use of the ir resemb ru1ce to the sill in t he Cranbrook area, B. C. , de -

scribed by Schofi ld. . - Such sills are a lso common in the Belt rocks of 

Sho::;hon a nd :Benewah Counties, Idaho .51/ 

§../ And~rson , A. 1 ., ~e r.;=-ology and miner£J.l re ources of the r ee;ion about 

Orofino , Idaho : I'l.ih.o Bur . lf.ines and Geology P3mphl e t 34 , p . l C, 1930 . · 

?_/ Ide-m, p . 12 .. §./ Scho i cld , S . J . , Geology of Cranbro k ~p area , Bri ti h Columbia: 

Canada Geol. Survey ,,,em . 76 , pp . 68-70 , 1'...15. 

g) Pc....rrlE:e , J . T., Geology and mineralization of the pper St . Joe Riv r 

Basin , Idaho : . S . Geol . Surrey Bul l. 470 , p . 47 , 1 9ll. Calkins, F . C., 

and Jo:1e£., E . L. , Jr., G·e ology of the St . Joe - Clear•fla ter r e[;ion , I daho : 

U. S. Geol. Survey Bul l. 530 , pp . 80- 81 , 1913 . ·mpleby , J . - ., and 

Jones, E . L., Jr ., Geology and or e dcpo ... its of Sho hone Cou...'1ty , Idaho : 

U. S. Geol . Survey B~ll . 732 , p . 9 , 1923 . Anderson , A. L., A geolo ical 

reconnaissance i n the St . aries reg ion , I daho : I dcilio Bur . : ines and 

Geology Pamphlet ~0 , p . 7 , 1928 . 15 
83103 

Gr "'li tic r ocl-:s 

GrMO i ori t e and Li_1.1.art z mon 7.o . · t e of t }1c Id(}...ho ba tholi tt a re t he most 

abu:1dant rock · i n the a~ ea and int n:.de t nc older r ocks th'.lS f ar described . 

The"e "'ranit i c roc!cs a re mo:.e p r evalent sout h of a l L1e bet':;een Nelli e 

· .ount a i:-1 and 3a.ker Gu l ch t h n in t he rest of the area. Pa rt of a c onsider -

able n a ss of g r a.nodiori t e c r ops out i n the e<'.st ern part of the Elk Ci. ty 

dist r i c t , but its t o t al e;:t ent i s n ot known . :Se a~ls8 t he 0 :raniti c r ock s 

c r adC i n to g ne i SS aJl q ;ar t z 'tv P18.11Y Of t he r. ontacts Vl i t.1 t hese rockS a S 

.. apped a r e s omewh at e:rb i trc::ry , a.."'ld many gr ani tic masses i n ot her rocks were 

t oo smal l to diffe r en ti a t e on t he map . 

Qu2 rt3 monzonit e ond g r ru10diori t c cv:;_:.ear t o be about eq1 a lly r epr ese t ed , a l t hough the mon zon ite may b e o;nowhat more .:.tb1..md<:n t . Excep t ner:.r 

contac ts vi th gne i ss and_ schi st the con t ent of dark mi ne_als i s oniina rily 

small . Oligocl ase , quart z , and mi cr o line i n diff eren t proporti on s are 

the p rinc ipal c 0n h t· e!1 t s . Bi otite , the mo t comnon dar k miner al , a nd 

muscov ite are or dL1a rily a bou t equal ly ab1..mdant , b-G. t in the g r .odi ori t e 

of t he EPc City d i t ri ct ._,reel hornbl nde i s t he princ jpal dar.· mi ne r D.l , 

althoug12 biot ite i s p r ese n t locally . ,iost of t he mi crocline appear t o be 

of lat e cryst lliz ti on , r eplaci ng _unrt z and lase , although locally, 

i n some silicified t;ypes, it i s ve i ned - le1t e r <1_uart z , Ap<'..t i t o i s tLe 

pri nc i pal a c ce sory , but zi con , t i t a.ni t _ , go.r ne t , to lrmal i ne , ep i dot e , 

pyrite , and magne tite were r ec o€;ni zed . '.rhe Gr anodi orite a nd quart z lnon zoni te 

ar e or di nari l y qui te fl h exci..--._p t ir. tl:.e v i cinHy of vei 1" , v:h-2re wall- r ock 

al t erat ion has b een e f fsc· i ve . 

Th gr i t i c oc~::s · re t .. p i c:ally coa. se- gr;-J.i11ed and a r e cornrnonl y 

:rol'Il-\Y itic . .a y ou.t'"'rops cl is la~r s.t l c:Etst a r.;ll-:;h t gncis.,i c b a."'l<i i ng , vrhi ch 

is p r onounce n ear c onktc t s wit} older ro c :s . A l i near parc..l lelism of the 

mic.:.ts and t o a ce rta i n xtent of t he p lag ioclase grai ns is c ommon even 

\'/here gneis ic bEt-"'ldi ng i s no t a:pp en t . 

In ome p l aces whcr t he i ntr usive :::- oc.::s have i nv a ed quartzi tic 

sediment an d in a f ew ot ) e.r pla es t :w:-e a o onsi · er able peg!nati tic b orde r 

?.ones ~m d i r e "'"'l.llar ,_ en s that arc mo r e silic o-G.s t ha:1 t he tyPica l r ocks. 

The ro k of t h sc zones is coarse- .c;r a i i cd and on t c..in " p r acti c :..1.lly n o da rk 

n~:,; £'. ls . Consi c'te r ablc .. us ovite is CO!!.":!Onl p resent . I n .orne places t "he 

plagioclase is conside_ably ·c r ici t i zod . 

At least l oca.lly , as f or i n st <m c e near Orog r a.."'lde , t he b or der- zone r ock 

i s c earl y cut by nor e t yy:i. al qua_ tz monzonite . 

The age of the Id~1o ba t h olith has not ye t ~een de fi n i te l y de t c1 . i ned • 

.A t pr esnnt t h ere are tv1o .. i vergent op ini on s . On e g r ou:- h old thc:-.t t he Bo'\J_l - · 

de r bat .ol i th of Mo1 t ana WB.s int r u-.Pd at t he end. of tho Cretaceous or the 

beeirmins of t he Eocene a.-D el tl a t tl1e I daho b.<, t' ol i th ~ s of simi lar age . lO· / 

10 / Clapp , C. H., Geology of a porti on of t e Ro c:i.::y '- ountai ns of :lorthwest ern .Aonta na: -1ont a:.1.a J3ur . Mi nes and _,.eo l ot7 . 4 , Dc c er,lber , 1932 . 

16 
83103 

T'ne other gr oup , fhile r ealizing the for ce of t he evidence da t i ng t h e 

Bo1 lder batl:.oli t h , feel , for a ~rie ty of 1'C'I.sons , tl'at the I .a.ho batheli th i s not nece saril;[ o:. tJ1e B<Y. c a.;;e :.li,d. th t it p r obably b elonGs to 

a gr oup of batholi tbs i n t 'clded ncar t he eild. of the Jurassic or s ome t i n e 

during the Cr e t a c e ous . Ross ll} tas sUJ!'.rnarized the publi ::;h ed ma.te_ i al and 

has discusse d the o.ge of the batholith in s ome de t a il. 

An desi t e and da cite 

.Andesit e di ke s a r e wiC.e ly dist i but ed i n the ar ea . They crop out at 

mune ous places, and. rna 1;;· a r e exposed i n . ine worki ngs . '!'he- cross quar t z 

veins a~d are th fore younoer . Tne dike~ r e&ch 30 f ee t i n wi th , but 

none we r e t rat_; cd. alm.g t_!e strike f0r mor e t han a :~ w .undr ed f ee t . !,1n.ny 

are gr eeni sh f-,!'ay , other liG t vray , dc-:., ~ .:.-ay , and , where intense ly 

altered , white . The fe_dspars a~e t~~ ic lly zoned , the USUk~l r anee b e i ng 

sodic oli goclave to c a lcic 8n es r.e . Some d. ~e con tain lbit e and still 

others l ab r adori t e . The dark mi n8r al i s e ithe r bro ·m hornblende or biotite , 

or both . Q,u.a~ t z i s ord:i.r.ari ly p re sent as an " c ce ssor y Wld i n some d.il::e s i s 

abund n t enough to mruce the rock a d- cite . Some di :ces c oi tain mnygdules of 

pr ehnj_ te . .'any of t hem are consiO.e r a bly al t e ed . CJ:yp i cal a l terr ti on 

products are c a lc ite , seri c ite , chlorite , a nd. ep i dote . · 

Some of the dike s di sp lay distinct flow struc t rre , b11t ordinarily they 

ar e not f oli a t ed . They a r e holocryst alli ne and may be e ithe fine d 

or medium- g r a ined . Lost of th m a r e po:tphyritic . 

A stock of porphyri ti da.ci t e about a q 1' · t e r of a mi le in di ame t er 

i ntrudes gr anoC:iorite o closelr r e lu.ted r or.k a t the Fe t site p roperty, 

about ~ miles outh of O!·oerandc . T:"le d.ac i t e is r:.. eatly a lte r ed to a 

whi t e .,ilicifi ecl O~k vri th m.lT:'l"TOUS quac·tz vJfWl10Cry sts. ':!:'he mi c roscop e 

shows this ro _ to e v ry s ·m:.l01.r to t!1e &.ndc si te di kes just de scribe d . 

Silicification i s t he no"t co . ;O ~/J e of lt0ra.~ o: and i n addi t i on t h e 

f eldspars are a l ter ed to a fi-:c:; c~ :.· :r. ed w .i te s 'J. uri '.;ic p r oduct . Calcite , chlorite , Wld e:r:- i .ote a r c.: less o) YL' cle:.:1t , The g r anodiori t e ~ i n t ensely 

sili cified near t he contac t with t:e p orp.yrit ic dacite . 

The a"'e of t he andesite dikes and tr.e C.a cite stocc i s not knovm . The y 

are certa i nly younge r t han the I ~o oa l oli t h . A sho t dist ance west of 

the a r ea mapped g e olof;icc.lly, i!'l the va lle·' of Sheep Cree-, a t an a.lt i tude 

as low as 4 , 000 f eet , dikes of porphyrit ic dc::.ci t e are l osel y c. , ociated 

with r hyolitic fl ow br e c i n. a nd. tuf: , .:u d all ur e pa t ly cov er 8d by glaci a l 

till. The e rocks appear t o :'lave b een extr uded since t he c tt i ng of the 

She:ep Creek C:myon , ·md thi in turn must ho.v b een later th,;.n the ·:r eat 

outpour ings of t:he Columb i a Rive::: l ava, which a :.ew , i l e s farthe r Me t 

att a i ns a ltitudes co!'lsi der ably g r eat er t an 4 , 000 feet , for ot:O.erwi se t he 

canyon would have b een partly f ill ed wi th the lava. T_ e r efor e , i f the 

Sheep Cr eek r o ks ar e c orrelative wi th the andesite di ke s end the dac i t e 

st ock of the area unde r di ., cussi on , which i no t a t c:.ll c ertai n , t hen the 

l att e r r ocl<s must b e l < ter than Columbi a Rive r lava and earli er than 

gl ac i a l till. Ando i t e d.i !;:os, so far as ob~erved , do no t cu t a Y of ~he 

unconsol ida t ed lake and stream deposi ts. 

lh/ Ross , C. P ., esozoic and Tertia r y gr an i tic rocks i n d~ilio : J our . 

Geology , vol . 36 , pp . 673- 693 , 1928 . 

17 
831 ~ 

Uncon olidated l ake and. streom d e:posi t 

The 1.mcon "olidat ed de})O its t .at conc eal the b edrock ove r part of the 

a ea , parti cul a rly i 1 t he bE!.si ns of Elk a nd Newsome Cr eek , i1 Bi g Cr eek 

.• eadow , r d.l ong Crooked ree~< in t h e vi c i nity of Dixie '/ eadows r anger 

sta tion , c::mc i st p rincipally of gr ave l , sa."'ld , and clay . .:.; i gnite , fe r u.-

ginous ep osi t s, a nd t u . a ce ous beds are p r e sent locally . Ao r e than 100 

f ee t of materi u.l is exposed i n s ome plac er-mine excavation s, e..nd i some 

pb.c e s the dep osits n.ppGar t o be sever a l hundr ed f e et t h ick. The di st r i -

bu tion of the ·u e ds an d the large amount of we ll- bedde d , fii e- g r a i ned 

mn.teri a l , toge t her with geomorphi c evi dr:nc c , d1 o v tl-J.Ll t rnl h of t hi . mat e ria l 

was dep o site d in shallow l ake wat e r s. Locally tl·.esc s edi :nents a r c coarse 

and a."lgular and. con t a in bouldRrs seve r a l fee t in di<:me t e r . o far a s i s 

~own this coa r e , unsor t ed , a ngula r at eria l is f ound l~r just ab ov e 

the ur derlying b edr ock . No rock for e i gn t o the basins we r e fm.md i n t he 

seciiment s. 

The 1.1-"'lc on solida t ed se di ment s wer e p robably dep osi t ed in Tertiary 

time . T e .·ieadow ree~ :aasin, in t h e no th\·e tern part Oi t he Buf falo 

Hump quadr a ng l e , is i milar in many e~)e t to the basins of Elk and 

Nev;some Cr eeks, and i t conta i ns blocks of Columbi a River l ava , s ome ove r 

a mil e long , t hat .:we ·oe en f n.ul ted intrl it p -e e un ably as t he basin wa ., 

fo rmed . o Cohunbi a !{i vo l ave:. wo._ :fou."ld in the a r ea . apped , b·.1t from the 

evidenc e furni sh ed by the ,. eadow Cre ek a . i n it seems p obable that a t 

len.st p r t of t w de orma i on th'l.t fo:;.·mod the catchm0n t badn f or the 

se iment "' occu_ re a :.. ter :-w 8oll.lmb i a ::tiver l a a v:as extr ud.ed in t he 

hocene ( 7) ep och . Fos. il l e9-ros have be.e n r ep or t e d f rom l c Val l ey , bu t 

none of t esc ould b e obt, L r d . A the oa..y ~ lacer , j u st west of t e 

Bnff lo Hurnp qu.<'.drc.nt;l e , f ossi l lea.v c s ,.,e .. e ontai ne 'l from si :ni lar se c.i ment s, 

whJ.ch '-·PI ar n t ly unde r l i e the Col-umbia :'i ve r l ava, at t a t plac e , bu t t he 

collec tion has not ye t "heen ex< .• mi .ed by A pal eobo t an ist. 

~o i mate ria l 

Al l the l ar ne '1.lle;,rs t ha t r a di o.t e f r om the hi 0 hland area culmina ting 

i n Bu.ffalo Hump cont ain d , osi ts of morai n ic nat e ria l l e f t by all ey 

glnci 8rs . The e dep osits extend do most of he va l l eys t o an a l t i tude 

o about 5 , 500 fe e t , but l')c a l ly , in the larger vc.lleys, t hey cont i nue 

to 4,ono fe ot . T11f' ar"'af. o· morai nic mate ric 1 ne c..r the he.:1ds of Q,un.rt z 

and Utop i a Creek s n.r e not -. ~~ r.) .:t en siv.8 ;' .S most of t l1 other , p roba ly 

because t hese ere 'ks r.o no t hc:ld. on such high divide s a s t ho c n e are r 

Bnf:!:'a l o Hump c,nd North Pole . 

lil'o evidence of r:~ ~ e t :1an one g lacia tion was e c ogni zed in t e area . 

Tha t one i s . eferr ed to the Wison si n stage . It culp tured t he hi h l wld 

areas a rm.md Buffalo Hu~ , impo sed t he U- sha:re on the valleys r adi at inf; 

f r om tnat mass, and l of t t he deposits of mora i n i c mat eri a l now found in 

those valleys. 

18 
83103 

AllllVi um 

Some of the str e3rns of the a reo. , such a s the South For,-: of the 

Clearwater , the Crooked , American , and Red Rivers, Uev:some , Elk, Red Horse , 

and Segnl Cre eks , a..n.d , ome of thei:- t:r i butaries, flo for kart of the i r 

course s tlrrot,;·h r a tl:er na.r ror: alluvi .!1l fla-t-.-:: comp·"' sed o.t:' s~~ld g r...,vel 't> - ~ V .!. <-'-' I . n. , 

and silt. -

This alluvial materia l , at least for the roo t part, p o st- Visconsin . 

A par t of it was de:r>o it ed b y strear,s ove rloaded with pl c e r debris, and 

a sdll larger pe..rt :p robal)ly r epresents outwash mate ria l from the glac i a l 

c

1eposi t s. 

Structural g ology 

Structure of the pre- Tertiary rocks 

The s rue ture of the :rre-Terti e.ry rocks i s exceedi ngly complex a..n.d 

as yet only partly 1.mdcrst ood. I nte rp r etati on of the structure i s h i nder ed 

by the lack of known k e y oeds, the cnrci ty of GOOd exposures, except in 

the hi6her country, and the f· ct t hat r.uch of the truc ture in the b e dded 

rocl(s i. obl iterated or obscm·ed ·oy the g a.nitic ro ks of the Idaho batholith. Some e onnaissance \70 _ i:'1dicates t h at oetter opportunity for 

t he study of tru ctu r c exists a short (1·· stance west of the area so far 

map!'e d , in the vicinity of Go>:p e l Peak and ,,ioores ranger station. Here 

gran.i tic materi al i s l e ss c..bu..n.dant , rnd distinctive ho izon have been 

noted . 

In gene ral , the tru t -ral trcn of t e ountry i!:'. no thwcst . Thi s 

is indicated not alone by obse rvation on the foliation of the igneous 

and me t u.morphic r ock but al o by t he co 13)D.l'!:J,tjvely narrov: bu.nds of quartzite and. g:1e iss that tlaverse the country in that directior and b;y the presence of i olated n:a ce of grc::nitic rock in metamorphic rocks and of 

metamorphi rocks in r r,ni tic rocks t:b..at a e characte_ istically much 

elon ated in that dir tlon . In sene al , th' ro ks dip steeply, mostly 

to the \·est , except in the Elk City dist ict d in the northea t e rn part 

of tl e 'J:enr. ile di st ic t , v1here they commonly dip to the east . 

The :napped area i s n · egion of close , in many places p robably i soclinal folcline; . Und.er t e n.ssump tion already made that the e tion in the 

Buff2.lo H1.unp district i right sid.e up- that is, tl1a t the quartzite is 

stratigrapl'licnlly higher than the chist--a mn.jor overtu~ned anticline 

is i. dicated in that ret:ion . Its western limb occupie"' the area between 

Shining Butte and the v:uley of ::9ull C eek , a1 d its ea tern l imb , most 

of vhich has been destroyed by t he batholithic intrusi on , appear just 

south and east of ·oregon :Sutte . The large quartzit e xenolith west of_ 

~,ish Lak e J~ay we l l repre sent a r emnant of the eastern limb . Beckwith.L2/ 

r ecognize d a ~nrge syncline at Buffalo E~J , but this observa tion auld 

not be confilTied . 

12/ ::Beckwith , R. H., Geolog ical settin of I daho bath ol itl~ : Pan- Am .· 

Geologist , vol. 45 , no . 5 , p l. 24 , p . 63 , June 1926 . 

19 
83103 

Folds of metamorphic rock s are tri.lllsgressed by bodies of i gneous 

ma t erial , showins that t hey existe d p rior t o the fi nal consolidati on of the 

intru sive 1 and i n some p arts of t he ar ea , n o t ably i n the vicinity of 

Oro r and.e , t yp ical q1artz monz on i t e de_ init e l y cuts its own border zone . 

I n the districts mapp ed the shap e of the i n t r usive bodi es is in a 

gene al way controlled by the stru ctu re of the wall rocks, but intrusion 

has b een discordant in tha t the horizon r eache d by the graniti c material 

i s not the arne i n diffe r ent ~> arts of the a r ea, and larg e block , .1 easuring 

thousands of fe e t in a ll directions, appea r t o b e c omp l e t ely surrmmded 

by i n trusive ma teria l . 

Because of the wa y in ·hich gnei ss, qu.artzi t e , and granitic r ocks 

grade in to one another , no de finit e structural hori zan ms recogniz ed in 

all the ar ea lying n or t heast of the gne i s band , probably indi cating a . 

fairly de fini t e h or i zon t hat stre tch e s from the he ad of Morgan Creek on 

the northwest to and beyond the va lle y of Crooked Creek , ne ar t h e southeast corn Y of the a r <>a , Su ch f a tures as the arc- shap ed a ea of qu.artz 

monzon i t e in the vicinity of Hut Hill are indicett i v e of the no es of p itchi ng folds bu t are not c onc lusive . The gne iss and quartzit e in the El k 

Ci t y di strict di p under the g r anodiorite to the northeast , but ·1heth er the 

strat a are ov e -rturned or no t in tha t vicin ity is not ::nom1. 

Near Go spel P a_t.;: , t o t he west , t he.e i s some evidenc e t hat the 

granitic r ock s cnme in along t Le t hrust p l 3.11es of major thrust faults, in 

the manner p ostul ate d by Clapp 12/ in west ern Mont a..11a . 

Linea folia ti on i n t h e p r e- Te rtiary rock s 

I n addi t i on t o the p l anar foliat i on or s chi tosi ty exh ibited b y the 

me orphi roc:s and locally a l so b y the qua ·tz mon zonit e and gr anodiorite 

of t he b~tho lit , the ~ e ous and me t amor ph ic r ock s alike di sp ly a l inear 

fol i at ion or t r etchin0 that i s r emar lably cmiform ove r the a-rea . It 

consists o a ~mtuS.: y p a ll c l linear a rra ngement of the p ri sma i c mine r -

als and of n i ne r a l g r ou_. l y in vi t.i l'). any g iven plare of sch i stosity, 

althoug it i s l s o found i n s ome rocks in 1•.h ich planar ch istosity is 

l acki ng . It is paral lel to t he a xe s of the mi nor folds and l i ke them is 

general l y mor e un iforr ove r larger a reas t han the p lnnetr :foliation . 

Appa·· ntl y t e linear · olin.ti on i s just a s well deve loped several miles 

f rom i gne ous c ::mta cts as it is a dj a cent to them. 

In gen r a1 t he tr end of the linear f oliati on differs b·.1t little from 

t hat defi ned by the st ril· e of the plana!' foli a tion , and a s the stre tching 

li0s in t he p lane of the p lana r foli a tion it :allow tha t low dips for the 

stre tching must p r e¥.ail . Dips of mor e than a:>0 are r are , and t hese are 

ordinarily to t h e no thwe st excep t in t h e Elk City district , wher e southea t dips for t he tre tch i ng are the rul e . 

~ Clapp , C. H., per sonal communication . 

20 
83103 

mhe l oos b eory 

Lbear foli· t i on of t:'1 i lcL1c: as long b e en known in foliated rocks, l I I but i n J. ecen t ve a:cs Lan Cl c0 s-=--, .n 1 otl:ie :o. have recognized t:bat it i s 

wi c.espr ec..d i n 1one ous rocks cc:> n2 l l . Ac cording to the Cloos theory the 

linear foliati.)n of i [ !leous ':'oc>::s is duo to o:i .ntatio:1 de ·e l oped duri ng 

flow , and the direction of U1e stretching the::-efore inc.i c ".tes t he dire ction 

of flov1 of t h e intrusive . Tt'.e st::: e tchiag in the va ll r oc::s i c; refe rre d 

to an loe ous cv emen s OCC£1.!:'.io e1 b y the de fo rmation t hey 1mder 5 o at the 

tine of the e rJl<tcemcnt of th e a .. jacent i n.trusi ve ma ss. Accor ing ly the 

stre tchi::1g i n the wall _ oc:-cs and the stretcr.i ng i n the in trusive should 

be c0ncordan t , but t he Wf'l l l rocks s~1oulc. not be s tr e tched u...'lless t he 

i ntrusive came in u...~ de r ~d0quate p r essu e to deform it wall s . 

Bec.:>.use t he stre tc' inb d oes not app ear t o f ade a a y from i g neous 

conta ts, b e c ause of t he comparc:.tivvl y flat str e tch i ng , ordi narily less 

t_ <.ll'l ._,Q 0 , a-'1d for o ther r ec>.sons, the p r esen t writers do no t ·-e t compl e tely 

accep t the t ene ts of he Cl oos school t hat the stre tching in the all rocks 

i ::; ne ce sarily due to the int usion of the mao~a and t:1a t the stretching 

i ,dica t es t he directi on of flo v of t .e intrusive rock s . 

An apn lir. n.t i on of the Cloos theory to or e depo sition is di scus e d on 

pa£es 24--?-6 in. tlw 0.8 s crip tion of t:':l.e Ell: Ci ty vein "'Ystem . 

St 'Cture of t h e ':' e ... t i a r y r ocks 

I gne ous rocks y ou.nger th"tn 1 e at 1ol i th are t ypic lly unfol i a t ed , 

and Ter t i a ry ;1e nt'~.ry ro ck:> a:·e ordinarily ne a rly horiz ont.?.l . 1l'here 

hs '~be , ho'.7CVer , consi.:lera le f a - tin& si nce the emplacement of t he v e ins, 

b"..1t wl ere ex:ro se d i n he mi ne o k i ·l_,, s the di sp l a c e. ents are seldo:n more 

tl1ru1 a nundr e d feet . Fauti "'and w rpino p rior to the de})Ositi on of 

t. e ::;edime n t s in the a i:1s of Elk and Few..,ome Cr ee'!r.s appe a r to have 

C3.used t . e . ornu tion of the ba ~, i s , as \'Jill be di scussed. at8 ~in the 

secti on on the clevelo· ment of t p ogr a.p.dc features . Lind ren l:l/mentions 

expos d faults th t disJJlacc the cdirnent s in some old p lace r p i ts, such 

as A'!!ur ic<:'.n Hill and Eur'f ulo Hi ll . 

14/ Cloos, ha.r:ts , Da"' Ba tholi t he p rob lem: Fortsch ri tte de Ge olog i e u.nd 

Palf.!.eont olot;i e , Heft I , Berlin , <l~~ ; Be.u u.nd Bewe '!lmg der Gebirge 

in lJordameri ':o., Ska..11dina.vien , und Mi tte l eur op a : I dem , Band 7 , Heft 

21 , Berl in, 19;J8 . B['.lk, Robert , Prima>:'y . tructure of gr anite :nassifs: 

Geol . Soc . Jlffiorica Bull ., val . 36 , pp . 679- 696 , 19 5 . 

15/ Li dgren , dem~ , A ge olo ic conn s~ nce a cr0ss the Bitte rroot 

Ranb e and t he Clear wat e r l ounta.ins in Uon t an , and Idn.b.o : U. S. Ge ol. 

Survey Prof . Pape r 27 , pp . 93- 9 h , 1904 . 

21 
83103 

Dev e lopruent of op ~ph c f eatl1r es 

Th e most a..r1ci ent t opog r a:ph i c fe ~:-~ tu es of t h e present J.andscape of 

the area are t he rem1ant s of an ol d penepl a i n or e r osi on urfac e which 

i s wi despr ead in Ida..."lo 8ou.nty and hich may b e p r esen t thr oughout the 

mountai ns of I daho ~1d a~jacent States. Thi s may be t he so- cal led 

11 surmni t 11 or I daho pen eplai :q , whose age and ma.'1ne r of developme nt a re 

slbjec t s of trov ersy l~; 

All t hat can be sa i d about t he age of t h e h i gh surface in t he area 

mapped i s that it is younger than t he Idaho batholith and olde r tha n the 

unconsolida ted sedi ments i n the IJewsome and Elk Creek Basi ns. 

The s 1rfacc was deve l op ed at a time •v:n.en the b a se l ev e l of e r osi on s 

at a co1 si de r abl y h i gher p lace i n the ea_ t h ' s crust t han at p r esent , for 

t he u r fn.c e appears now onl y i n the h i gher p ats of t.h e co mtr y . Altnough 

erosi on -1as re duce d m\.J.Ch o_ the area a lmost to t he -basel evel , some par ts 

st ood out w· th consid.cr::.>,hle r e l i e f abov e the p,eneral en t ly slop i ng- surface . 

These parts nov: r cnain a.:; monadnocks ri. i ng above the r em ant s of t h e 

peneplai n , a nd c:m m g th ~n mc.y be i t ed 3nffalo H"'..lT!lp , 0:::-e gon Butte , Shi ning 

Bu te , in.eral Eill , :o th Pol e , 2nd perhaps <:tl so l~ pplo :·lfou.'"l. t a i n , Pilot 

Knob , j u. t north of the area napp c. , 1d Elk S mmi t . From the higher 

poin t . tne d i s e cted pL:tteau :nay be seen to hav e a c on ide:rable extent and 

ap1Jears, i n gene r a l , to rise ea.st ar d tov:ard the :Bi tt e rroot !vimmtai :1s, 

on tho I daho- on t a...'1a boundary , but i n a0di ti on to thi f;en eral slope the 

surf a e appe a r s t o r i se lo Jally towa rd ertai · monadnocks or groups of 

mo nadnoc~c . The . urfc:..ce is most extcn oiv e ly an d be st preser ve- i n the 

districts mapped in the vic i n i ty of Bu.ffalo Hump , 1·:h ;rep a ctically al l 

of t ho present surfac e lying betveen 7 , 000 Qnd 8 , 000 f e e t i s a p .rt of the 

peneiJlaL . To the east an d north the pei epl uin i s more di sec t ed an d i s 

rior; rep r , "'e1 t ed only by coni; ·ar?..t ivc J na:s:r 6v1 i clge t o;_:>n , v.1iCh , however , 

have gentle lonc i t udi nal profi les . '""xn:npl es a e t he r idge be t ween Terullile 

Hill and Rainy Day ', o1.mta.i n , at the i. ead. of P.ainy Da y Cr eek , p art s of t he 

ridge be t ween Cen e r Str•J.' . ountai n and S :un:ait Flat , the ri dge c onne cti ng 

R'cd 1ount ain and Pilot Knob , ~ r i dbe t h a t cu l mi na es i n Elk unll , and 

Columbi Ri d0 e . 

i'larp i n.c; and f aul tin-, of this partly disse c ted p neplai n "'ppeL'l.r to 

have esul t e d in t he for, at ion of ce t i n basi ns ·sucl1 as t hose of Elk and 

-e ·; orne Cr k , whi h ~~. o two of the mo t p romi ne;:). t t opog r aphic f eat u r es 

of t he al'ea . They are oval g r ave l - filled depression about 8 miles l o-:1g 

Y 3 mil e s v!ide an , [1.lthout;h much smaller t han some , are _ai rly t y: ica l 

of many ~:;u ch depr essions widel y d i st i but ed thro hout the moun t a i ns of 

Id"t..'ho ruHl neighboring St a.te s . A di scussi on of the or i g in of these basi ns 

and the r;edime t. on taL1e d t h e e i n WC\.S )r e sen t e d at t he mee ting of the 

16/ i ansfi eld , G. R., Gc og "cphy, geolo0 y , a nd m. i nerc.l :: esourc es of p a rt 

of ~ou heas ern Ida~ : u.s. Geol . Survey Prof. Paper 152 , pp . 354-

3'9 , 19 27 . Ross, C. P ., <~ sfi eld , G. R., ru1d Ande son , A. L., Erosi on surfa<.;e s in Ida.ho- di.cussi on : J our . GeoloE;y, v ol. 38 , n o. 7 , 

pp . 643- 51 , 1930 . Ki rkham , V. . D., Ol d erosi on surfaces i n s outhwest e rn Idaho : I dem, pp . 652- 663 . 

22 
83103 

soci e ty of Eco1 omi c Geol ogists i n Princetoct, ~: .J ., in J u..l;;r 1933 .

17/ 

Both of the . o·. i us arc S"J.rr ound.ed b;'l bedrock divi c'..es b o.:en only by 

tho ve ry n~r o·:.r , ste ep ~any on of tl:'.e So 1. t~ For'J.: of t:t.e Clec:.. wa t e.. Rive r . 

The basins wit 1 t e ir g:uJet , mea; d.erin0 st ea1 s of low gr <:t<ii e t a r e 

entirely out of ha rmony with the ·outhf ·l can:;ron of the r i ver . Th e sediment s i n them fo rrn rl~ probably c overed a c on si ctcr a ly g r eat e r aren. than 

at present , a is i ndicated by isol ate r atc!tcc:: 0 .. <..,r a': el 011 c c:: t ain i n te 

stream div i dc:;s , b t a n ew cycl e of c rosio:1 that ~cllo·rec tl1e eposition 

of t he sedir,ients has re:-aov ed lar.;e mnc-..mts of t h' materia l and i n some 

pl ac es has cut Je ll i nto t he unde rlyi n be<'~ _ ocl • 

The size and shaJ: e of t.he ns and their loca i on in a r eeion where 

all the rocks off e r ab::mt t he <- JC~e r e:si :..; tll c e t o !" Lm a}I}Jear to . le 

out the possibility tha t t _ ey we.e excav2 t ec. ~r simpl e c:·o;:;ion a t the 

heads of cert a in str ean '1~1il e L.> t ie r dc m the ir co · sc the "~: .. e stYeams 

flowing over rocks o ~ e snme -i nd cut narro·; ""o1ge!;; . ·a thing tlefini t e 

i knovm of the olC. dr a i na.g s;:,rst cm over the u r faco of the enerl a i n in 

this r eg ion , but the asi:1 s ap:pe.1. t o be , in pa.rt at l east , ero ioctal , 

for , if he floors of the basi rs c:.re r eco:J.s r uc.t e d. 'cr oss h e streams 

of the mor e r ecent C,/Cl 8 whicb have dis octc d t em , the;>' a re seeL to ext end 

well up into most of the t_ ibukl".' vall eys C~:l!' tyi t; into the asins. 

Thu it ay b e inferr e d t hat tre oLi peneplain ''!G.s d.i ssect ed by broa d 

va lleys fairly v:ell adj usted. t o bc..:.e l evc l . Fo.ul tin"' and 'larpi nc. of such 

an old e ro sion surfac e di s scct od by ru h broad va lley ; i g;1t v1e ll p~ oduce 

basi ns of the El k and -ew o e Cr ee c "')e . Tha t faul tin<- :1as bee n a factor 

i s i ndi ca t ed by t he stra i g.1t , steep wc-?te.~. n bo dary of tne Hewsome Cr eek 

Basin and by t he J. c t ~1.a t the 6.::posits do not axt end 1.:tp the tributa ry 

valleys on that side . 

The sediments m1 st : a c cc"t.t.ulat c. a t:~ e deforma ti on uen t on: 

othernis e a singl e l .:1.rg0 , 1 p l .ikc ..,t ' ·•'.. -e f illed both asi:> s, for the 

altit ude of the lowe .:; t poL t i!'l the ri: .. of t c C\7some Cre ek a in, with 

t he ex ep t i on of t r e . o e 1· ce nt ~t o F:orgc of t ne r ive r, is . i ghe_ t han 

that of tb e ol divide b e t ·,cen the t ·:o basin . , on which h i gh- 1 v " l g ravel 

still r emains , a nd if both Jasi"!c c o .OJ t i n·J.o .sl y oc pie d by such 

a l ':e ther e V/OUl h[).V C be oil 0 ClppO:!.' t .'-''1 i t · r for t .C fo-:,. t ion Of lign ite 

and bog .:. ron o e as the asi ns were fi lled. 7r. ·, ·.-·ell- ., r a Li ed cl Y bed. 

tha t are p r c.e t in ::1any places, · o·:,re·rc · , i :d.icnt c so:no pondi ng . 

Aft e r the depo siti on of s cd.imen ts in the ba i n j·1.st d.escribe d and 

pe haps also i n o1, e li t.er ones, u c.h a., the va lle y o:, Bi g Cr oek , the 

baselevel wa s lowe r ed ' t ' e strea"!ls b "' an t o i l cioe then selve v i g orously below t ho surroun i n0 country. Tl e So 1th ~o k of the Cl ear .vat er 

and t he Salmon , which fl ows ju., t a f . : 1 · l e .. south o_ tl: i area, cut far 

be low the ba e of the Co~urnb a Ri e r l ava , and mo <· t of t he i ~ a i n t ributaries, such as Ty;entymile , Tenmile , Sl e~"~ , .c1ake , and rool ed Creecs, 

kept pac with them . As the tr nl-: stretuns t apped the enclo sed badns 

erosion correspondingly p roc edcd :r.eadwa r d :- long the ir vall ey·s and r emoved 

part of t he unc on.:.ol idated po~ it . 

U/ Shenon , p . J., and Reed , J' . C., Auri f e rous l~ of Elk and :Jew orne 

Cr eek Basins, I dciho Count y , Idaho ( mpublishcd ma.rrus rip t ) . 

23 
8310 3 

Tne nex t sto.ge i n the dove op-:.wnt of the p resent t op ogr aphic f eat u r e s 

t ook place in fi s consi n time , w· en c lima.t ic conditi on s wer e su h t ha t t he 

high a r ea CIIO<.md 3uffalo i.h.1mp b ecame de eply buri ed wi th sr ow a nd. i c e , 

and l a rge glaci::> rs pL:'.shed cl.o·;m t he valley to al titu des b e t ·" , en 4 , 000 and 

5 , 500 fe e t . C · .L':_r1.:.es were excava t e d. at t he v alley :1eads, u.ni b e low them 

the glac i ers mol ded th e va lleJs to the char act 9r i st ic 1.;- shc:.pe of glacial 

v.:tlleys. The ic 8 deposit e d large quantH:i.es of mo a i nic mate rL .. l a long 

t~: e \'alley fl 0ors, and moder n stre:.u-ns are cutti g int o t his mat 0ri a l r.:n d 

i n plac es have a lready r e·nov ed rru.c'J. of it , 

~e deposits 

Lode s 

Fi ssur e re i n s 

T:'lc fi ssur e vei n s have b een by fa1· t he most p r oduc t i ve of the d iffe r ent 

ki nds o~ l od.es. About 55 v e i ns, n earl y a l l thos e now cc es~ , a r e 

es c1 ib d in this r eport . ~. os t of tl em a re similar in t ype , but they va ry 

mt1r-:r.euly i n size and mineral co-.1te~ t . With some excep t i ons the v e ins are 

close t o cm1tac t of g a.ni t i c r o k s with gne i s or s hist a...'l'l' oc cu_ i 

eit her the i ntrusive or t ho i 1tr u cled r 'Jc __ , Figure 2 hews the l ocations of 

the p rincipal mi ne:s .:.md ve i ns i n t h dist ·icts. 

El~ Ci t y v e in system 

All the v e in i n t:r.e :Slk City di trict exc ept the Alice and p o si b ly 

one or ·ro othe rs ._IJ:p ear to 'be e l a t ed structurally a.."ld ~once to beJ ong t o 

a single vein <·ystem . T"he vein, c 1t a ll the if fe~ ent rock s present 

( oxc cpt t hose of me rtia ry age) , a ltlouE}J.t!ms fa the . ost pro"uctive mines 

ho.ve bc:.;n in 0 neiss. :ro t of the in~ ar e r :-.d.io.ll/ a::-ra .. ged t n a zo">'l e 

l ess than{.; mi les vri de adjacent to the contact of the ranod "orit e , whi ch 

oc cup ies t he n orthea,..,t e:cn a rt of t he c1.istri ct . 

""the re exposed. tl e veL !". i·each a ma,'\.irnun thickness of 20 fe e t and range 

from a feY/ f ct to at leas't 300 · e e t i n le,.g th, and some a.re p r obably much 

longe r . L gene r a l the quart z fo ms a se. ies of sli ghtly cu ve d l enses 

( see fi . ) r a ther t han i n5 l e , c onti nuo s t ubular bodies . 

Tearly all the lenses arc s cparc.1.t 8d f r om the wall rocks by dar :- . .ay 

gouge , vl i ch has fanne d along po tmine.;.c l fc:.u 1 t s ess ent i ally J;ar c.l le l t o 

the ve i n s . Pa rt of tr..e lentic 1.la .LOrm i s v e r y l i kely due to this fault i ng , 

bu t it i s bel i ev ed t O!' i g indly quartz was intro0.uc ed only along t he 

mo r e open parts o the fract es. ot:ner f aults a t wide angl e!=: to the v e i ns 

have offset or e bodies c onsi der able is t~"l.ces i n orn e . incs. At the 

Ame r ican Eat;l e and Blu e Ri bb on mine s , for examp l e , C!'o ss faults hav e c aused 

displace10ents of over 100 f ee t . T!Je f aul t n ovement s h ave p rocluc , d. considerable br c ciation i n both v e i ns a nd wal l oc1cs . 

24 
4d 

45 

30' 

115 30 

8 

~t-IliNE. 

2 XPLACE.R 

LIST OF MINES 

AND PLACERS 

BUFFALO HUMP DISTRICT ELK CITY DISTRICT MINES MINES 

I WISE BOY I MINERAL ZONE 2 W INSLOW 2 M ADRE DORO 

3 CRACKER JACK 3 A LLAM ANCE 

4 . VESUVIUS 4 BUSTER 5. BIG BUFFALO 5 . ALICE 6 MONTE CRISTO 6 M ASCOT 7 FORTUNE 7 M ARY K 

8 MOTHER LODE 8 ALTEM ONT 

9 ST. PAUL 9 M OTHER LOD E 

10 A LHAMBRA 10. HOP E 

II SAN FRA N CISCO II B LUE RIBBON 

12 GOLD CROW N 12 BROWN BEAR 

13 TIGER 13. TEN M ILLION 

14 DEW EY 14 . F R ISCO 

15 ST. LOUIS 15. A MERICAN EA GLE 

16. SPOKANE 16 ALBE R TA 

17 JUM BO 17 H ERCULES 

18 VENTURE 18 P AS ADENA 

19 WAR EAGLE PLACERS 

TENMILE DISTRICT I AMERICAN MINES l . BUFFALO HILL 

I GOLDEN AGE :'\ . C AL·IDAHO 

2 BUFF ALO·IDAHO 4 . AMERICAN H ILL 

3 NEW YORK 5. TIERNAN HILL 

4 . SOUTH FORK G. FRENCH GU L CH 

5 . LON E PINE OROG RANDE DISTRICT 

6 CENTER STAR MINES 7 COEUR D'ALENE 

8 GILT EDGE I NORTH HILL 

PLACERS 2 . GNOME 

3 . UNA 

I. TIPPIE 4 . BUTTE & OROGRANDE 

2. NEW SOM£ & LEGGETT 5 . UMATILLA CREEK 6 . PETSITE 

3 . KEYES 7 . DIAMOND H ITCH 

'1. PIONEER 8 . HOMESTAKE :;. M OOSE CREEK 9 . UTOPIA 

I 0 . GOLD CROWN 

I I . UNION GROUP 

12 . ROYAL DIXIE 

5 Mile s 

Figure 2o- -Map showing locations of mines and veins in the Elk City, 

Orogrande , Buffalo Hump, and Tenmile districtso 

25 
83103 

The veins c;;::::-}eaY to becl" 2. eLLni.tP , nearly r i ht- ancle relation t o 

a J.ineal' sd:is'o::;ity·or strctcl::ing i!"J. tl:.t.. COl~lt_;;.r ro .ks. (Sec -pyJ .20 - 2l . ) 

m1;,; rel.:., tion ·:-·e ·:reer.. Vre v .ins l'..T1 <l ti:-.e ~ t:::-ctd1i1 g ·.:a ·h0 uri il ,.l s·,_:P- "·- · \)1 ~ 

ject cf a :-.e:pt....r::..tc l='.:-~p<L ·..:.f:m~e~ented ~)ef.)re tho k.1eric.a. Insti tutc of 

: .. ~.ning -::.nd ·,;ctallursical n[L1C'!3:c:. in l!'ebruary lC133 . Briefly, tr.e cle-p<J.r - · 

bres f:·o.1 tl:e 90° Pl ation a:_-I,ear to be systemat ic , a:; 1~ost of t:-~G v0 ins 

dlp .... o:: e''hat ·nore stcep{i! 1tha::1 trey wo1J.ld i: they we re exuctl;r noxn-::.1 to 

tr:c st etc.'ling . Cloos 6 an o'~hers rave s::,.o\'m t!1at a right- a.l1bl c r elation 

existJ bet~cen the stretc. ing and a set of cross joint. in cFrt nin i~ncouc 

t' ')C.!C mJ..:-;ses. 'l.'ho ~a1no :r:r:enomenon ha also b een o·o ..;rved in !'1et'1J:io-rphic 

r ocks. Accor:Eng t o Cloos and his assoc i~ tes tho stretching is a .e~nl t 

of nl:"'e '['1 <'rionk.tion c.\G:'ing fl v , anrl the c1·oss j v i t. clevc::!.op at a 

sl.ir;htly l a ter stcgc by tension ::>. t ric::h t .~ es to the rtrc-tchin .. 'E1.C' 

ve in in t1c :ElJ{' Cit;; dist:;,-ict aJ) ec~r 'co o cuny uch cross j oint ., , 'but it 

::;e -:n~. _po:> i ble t:1:..t the st_ e tchL g in the r.ountry rocks Clnci the ~o !1'c s 

r. cry be ...:."L-:.e to t.:b..e ['Ctio~l of ret;ior.al structur.:-1 for Je and not n ecc's-'l.rily 

to mine_al ori e:1t.!'lti0n curing flO\; . ·.ost 0 ... the veins of tho distri t 

stri::e in t'be ~o rthe ...,_s t qundr::::.n t , anC. nca ly c:..ll of then dip steepl , . . 

A L. ,...o-re _ •

v 'r l"v..,--,_ •·c:: co•.. .. ,.-.1 i -.1 rote·lJ.. __ v v ~}--·...,r.e Lc..-..Lt--:> 1·.,.., .1 ... C"t ,.., '1· ·~•• ,., _ r"1'1 ~~ -"'8S , _ 

f'ro"" .a c.. bout • l \T ·~ . 80°T' . 

in t::,.c :!1-0 the:1stern pc..~ t oi tJ:1e eli stri , · to about liT . 4rso:E . in the sout .-

ec. '· t-; r:!1 J a:c· t . 

::i3"nL ·'.lo Hm'1p vein :--yster.1 

':'he :Bu.da::..o ~:um~1 v e in cy ..,ter.1 is rr:ncl c ·o:p of a i_.,rou of n.bout .. -:o nar;ed 

veins o::1ci <>CV'JJ.' l :r:1~.J.loY , ·nnc-rr.ec'l veL1:. i.n ·n .:-.1· ea about 5 mile.., lon'-" a."ld 

hnlf a :>1ile t0 1:} r:iles ·::ide tl:"..t st. etchc s f:·orn t:Gn .ie .. d of L:.,1:o Greek , 

ju.~t ~outh of C·;.lr>:~;:t. .... .:- , to the vicini t:r o:. Dc>d" ::-Jake . Th8 sO ec"l trencl 

o_· t: is ~onC' :>"n of '.ho ve.:.ns ·:it} in it is o.bo,t IJ . 10~ ., hat several of 

tile L i~.id'lal v e ins oo not co:J.for!'.1 ri1;i:'ly to t:b.is t c::d. (Set~ fi,_:; . 3 . ) 

The ( .~"l'' r;u O') ti. sd:ist md quartz ID.)~\::..onite . r ne ZOlJ.C oc ·..:.pit~::; a ]))Sition cLt t1·c :.·L ; t of the la:rge anticli c o-: .. ort. west tr e"ld , L8'1"vi0;1CC. on 

l1 ..... (t: l~ • ::carl;; all the rein~.; i..:. 3.~ ;::...: :le s t_'rc· tc:r than 60° ; those 

in tnc r:c st,~rn J?<lrt 'Jf the zo::1c 'liT o t1:e \'iest , n.nd those i 1:. t l,c 8c>stern 

r:n·t ' ni ~:1 the n0tc..b::.c o..;XCep tion of the C:::-~c :::~~ l' J r .. k , to tl:c cast . 

Unli1~e the Ell;: vi ty v8j.n :-1 tem , the ?·.:t.ffalo H-t.;np ·ysto::~ appear~ to 

lin in a mnjor snc-· zone 1.t the cro~;t of an .J.,."lt:.clin tn:1 t ha~ bc~m invaded 

by qu~·.-rt~ ;:v'r zoni tu ~d to be inde:pe.1de2 t o the ;,t etchi ng in the >:chid 

anc _'13,_ t z ''10l1::;0ni t<:3 . 

lrs/ 

19 _, I 

Sbc"lon , • . J ., :'.Ed Rt.::e . , J . C., 1~e g~ology of the ~lk Gi ty P.'ini:!1g 

ristrlct , Id1.L.o , wi.th speci::l cfe:.~ence to the struct·nra l setting of 

th' vein; ( U.!1>U )l i she•i T!l:lll' scr i};t) . 

Clo').., , Ho.ns, Da., B·:.tholithc::1pro lc:. : Fortschrittc dl' r Gool0gie und 

Po.l.u.contoloB:iP , Ecft 1 , Berlj_n , 1~1':~;::: ; :3au UJ'ld 3crt o ;u .. '10 do~ Gebi go 

ir. lJordE'merika, Ska: dinavien unc 1.ii t tole 1.ropa: Idem , Ba.11c1 ·· , Heft 21 , 

Be rlin , 19 :23 . Balk, Robert , Pri na.:~r s tl··J.ct·1r c of f,r.'ll1ite :n<u~ si· s : 

G ol. Soc . Alilcri~.;aBnll ., vol. ~56 , r1). 67~' G96 , 19?5 . 

26 
83103 

The c i ns r anee in hic~ 1es. f r m t hat of me~e st inger" t o over 60 

f ee t , but rM:lf y of t 1en <>.re be t nerm 5 and 10 f ee t t hie.: . Although exn osures 

i n t his h i ,:h , g lacia E:d co mt:cy re un~~ c~n.lly good , H vm.s 21 ot · os i blc 

to tra c e i ndivia.uo.l ve i !1 for very lon;; nc es ~ Fi gur e 3 ~hovis the 

extent of h e ve ins as a ct l l y exposed . The longest i s :e .., i ,..,or , ab out 

2, 500 f ee t ; t ·.vo othe!·s , the J .. bo a ncl the Alh::'Jnb r a-So.n Fr ."~ cis o , nrc 

t ra.ceable for about 2 , 300 and 2 , 1 0 f eet r eppoctive ly . T·.vo ve i ::: hat 

p oj ec t ~. d each ot he r :nay occupy dii'fereut v rt:.; of .:... continuous f issur e , but thi s i s c ert a inl y no t t:r.le .re ywhe , fo man·· of •. e v ins 

t erminate by ''h orset a iling 11 or spli tti ne; and r e.,IJli t t int; into a r.1n.zc of 

a..Y1astomosi::1g stringer " , v1hl C'h __ r ·,dually thin , di uerge , a..nd dL,appear • 

.. a ssive rihi te g_L:.art z mn....1<es up nost of t he ve i 21s , but i 1 man y l :1ces t he 

qu.c'U't z ·1as a distinc t corb c t uctw· e ,a,.') loca ly is f'.Ornewnat VUi!,._,y . The 

ve ins orc'.i nQrily contain b~di es f , ou21try rocks of variour, siz -:-:~ .• the 

l argest ove::· 100 fe e t long . The fo liati oll in mo t of t :e c b 'J .i s para llels 

that in the walls. Corrn:10nly , the v e in mater i al i s .. epru ·at cd Lor:. the wal ls 

by gouge ev e:ral f eet i n rna>:i mt'lTl thi ckne s s . The vall a11 t~1e vdn;; .. e 

also shear ed and crusl: e d in plc ... ces. The gouge s·rrfaceM b·Jun•:lino L1e reiris 

commonl y si1ow striati on , ·, l ich are early o:dzontul . :h:>st of e v1o k - , 

i nt;s wer e i r:accessib:!.e a.t ~h E.' t i :-:1e of this r-mT ey, ·n 1.t Thomso aTJ.d ~allard~) 

say t hat t h e or e shoots • i thin t.e V8in.:- :ho.vc c· t:;.l rao.,t uniform p i tch t o-

,.,, rd the nor t h . 

Otl:.cr veins 

The othe r fi ssu:re ve ~1s of the area do not b elOJ.:.g to r.uc 1 we ll- de. ined 

vein system<! a s tl ose of Elk City ol

1 Buff.:::tlo 1i\...:np . _i ke t •. e Elk Ci t y 

veins '1.t unli:.Cc those of tl'e Puffalo j:J: p syr-:tem , most of he others cut 

t e fo liation o · the co•mtry r ocks a t ln.c'"" e nn:~les , and most o thern c.i p 

steeply, b-u.t . ot e :1ou-<:::i1 ·:or . s b ae n do! e to ;; 11 ·.v!1etr·e r or no~ t~ey a re 

controlled by D. wll- - fin ~ci ..,y. t om of joi 1t s or ~- ~.{ore of t~e se 

ve::.ns oc c· in gneiss t h· i n -,., r tz :::muonit e or q"LU'rt z it c . In ot he r 

r ccpec t s the e in r c:-e:rnbl t- thos ~ of t/1 . . twv systems describe' a':Jov c . Th e y 

are compa :1bl e in si ze , ha·r display e idence of p o stvcin raul ·il g , both 

parall l to and acro ss the ve i:r . .., , anc: t :C.ey co;1t a.in similar or e . iner l s . 

\hne r etl O""Y of the fis.·.1. e veins 

The min r al og y of the d.eposi t a 1 ot yet · e8n ':Jo ~.ed out in t;r eat 

de t a il , althou.gl in general it i s r ather simple . 

In he fi ssu c veins cruar tz L ordinarily the only gangue :ni ne a l , and 

most of even t .e 0 ood ore co t a i ns l ees th~~ ~perc en t of ore mine r als . 

The usu al u i t e of pri nary ore !riin l s includes J'Y i t e , t e trethe . rite , 

sph lerit e , chalco:ryritc , g9.l ena, nnd nat ive ,r;ol i , w d , l ess commonly , 

r seno yrit e , t ibn ito , molybdeni te , and t elluride £ .. Argentite , r ylva.ni t e , 

scheel i t o , and voh'rami t o hn.ve b ecm mentioned 11y other ob ... erv crs in n. 

fe7 mine s . The common supe gene rn ino als a r c covell it, and soot y cha lcocite. 

. Thomson , F . A., a nd Balla r d , S . J,;., op . cit . , p . 100 . 

27 
Figure o~ Map of the BUffalo Hump vein systemo 

(Veins shown by heavy black lines) 

28 
83103 

bu t the e a r e not pres~nt in a ll t.e n in es. The u, 1.a.l oxidati on products 

are il' Ol1 o:.dd:)s , .. alachite , ::tzuite , ancl ma'l,".e~e oxic',es . 

The incorilplete Clat, .. at p: es mt a \r:-1ilab le L'ldica ") the following 

suc~ession of r:;incrA.l deposi tio"1. in t~c fi%ure veins: First , depoco i tion 

of v0 in quP..r tz follo;.ecl by move::~8nts ti1at fract-o.red an0. c u hed the ~artz 

in cerki:::1 zo11es ; secort c'i. , introduction of yr~ e i nto the qu..".rtz, p rinc i -

pall~- i n the crushed part.::; ; thLd. , furtl:.e cr"G.shing of t he qu artz o.nd the 

u'Tite ' rApeP-.t eCl or continu.ed noverrent s ; four.th , local introd.uction of 

-some fine - gr ':lined qu.::rtz and ser:.cite int') c:cac :s in pyrite .cl e::..rlier 

qll :.. ~tz ; E..Ild fifth , s .:cccs ive i tro·'uctio; of totr ahedr ite , spha.le. ite , 

che:.lcop:•rritc , and B::J.lenc:. , ap_a r ently without int rv enins _ Lriods of shqtt rine; . :c};'.Ch pcrio·l of cioposition p robc.o.bly ove.lapped others. '/ir;ible r;ol d 

i '' rare , even i n microscop i c particles, :tnd its exe.ct ]:-lace :· n the sequence 

·t,__s ~lO t tenn~ n00 . Veinlets of golC.. cut S2Jh&.lc i t e in some of the Ol'E' , 

o.nd ther e is so:ne incicc.tion that m~1ch of the gold i s held L1 ol id solution 

i n other ore minera l s . 

rrnc 0 e !:1inc:: r o.ls t .nd. to concentra te in shoo t s . Sor.10 -.UhlhiC.rs and 

~olcl h.'-1 ·e bee;.1 i ntroduCE; in to a no.rrow zone of l:.ydrotLe !.:ally ~1 t c red 

VI- ll rod: next t o tile ve i ns . T..'lc al t e , ed zone contc_i c considerable 

calcitG , quartz , 0nd se icite alon.g f:cac,ar e:; and e.s irr eguL .. "r p<"tcl,e . 

Supersene c ovelli te and C!l"""lcoci tc are co~ .. mo:'1 n"'ar the slll' face , .. Llt , as 

hown , y the !'re sense of h;y}10t~ene su p~'lid e., ir_ ;J.any o ltc_ops, o:dd.nti0n 

is in gene r a l insomp l ete eve:1 at t:!l.e su f c:>.c e . On t1:e cti'1er han. , ,mdr> r 

spec:.al co! d.itio. s , s lrhides ar(; partly '1: :.~::.zeC. at dept1:s of li~orc than 

200 feet . Fo1· ex(l.rrrple , so:re oxi 'at:.on i s evide:1t .... car tho faul~s on tre 

lov;8 r J.c 1 o;' the .iu:le ica.;. Eagl e min'-' , ··.:\ ·:rho:.Jso and ! c.:.lla.rd'-'1 /re:!:lort 

a narr " :;tre~ of :r.: di~ec. ore ext( .d~n: :from ~he surface to a depth of 

275 . ee l:!1. the B1 .• stcr !. i m : . 

Age of the fissure 'Cins 

The Q(:;e 9,f t1e fis,mr e - vGin d e·,osits is not efinit _ly own . Thorn on 

a.lld Il;:_lla_ d ~77loint out ,i~At tht:Y are r latccl to the Idaho ha oli th . c.ny 

of the ·e in s ,u-t tb' rocl-s of the batholi t!: , .:-.n i n the ZJ.k ity district 

so. e of then o_·_·e cove 0 d bv u.ncon::oli _e:.t ed Te rtiary s ec.i mcnt .:: . Th3 v e ins 

vc.rc ther e for e formed afte~ tfte ;.olidific-" ..tio. of Le 'bat1:oE th nd be fore 

he 0.cp osi hon of tlte s cdi'·:e ,1 ts. 

T • ore . in<'rc..l s 8.11::1 ::."inl~ .~ incd ouartz w;-ore introd.uced into the 

v i'ns a: te _ t ho older v in ou.artz was co.n i a ably shattered, '0-,.t the time 

tt at eb.p~~ed bet .. , ,en the fo~:na tion of the ol er quartz and t:b.e in t od lcti on 

of tl:e o e min0 als i s not k ... ov:n . The cono structure and Vl.l£>: Y na .. tur., of 

!1 1c:1 of the ClUc. .. rtz , :r- ar".:.i ularly in the 3uff:.Uo Hump rli !?trict , are no t 

hu. .1.c eristic of de:posit fo ned n.t ..:-reat dept.1. r:i.'he YP-ins ar near the 

21/ 

2'J/ 

Thomson , F . A., ond :a, llar d , s. Thor.:...,on , F . A., and BalL:.rd, S . 

. , op . .it . , 'f • G2 . 

i.l. , op . cit . , p . 50 . 
83103 

top of the bat' oli th , a nd a t t'1e time its oute r nart solidified it must 

c.,ve been cov ered by a c Jnsid(L able thi cknc ss of sedimen h.ry :rocks. .. -llch 

of tl1is cover v~c. s :removed b:- t l:.e e_o, ion CJclc t l1at dc-velo-red t:1o :O.i h 

penepl a in . Po ·-;sibly the i c:;neous c.;.c'·:i.vity extended over a •e y long pc iod 

a..>ld much of t he batholithi c cove·· <n.s e l' oi cc' before the de:rosi tion of the 

fi " ure ve i ns, or a t le~. t hc:o~e ~c ir ncrul z~tion . 

Vein"' p.::.r a.J.lel to O('dding 

Only three examples of ve ins p ar['.llel to the b edd i ng were r e cognized--

the Iron Crown , the J ev1 York , and t!1e Sm.:th Fork--a.11 of these only the 

ew York wav acce si ble . Al t:10u,_;h consi der able arsenopyrite is p re sent in 

the ore fr or.1 t he 1~ew Yorl-: l!line , t:.e r.1 i nerali zf'.tion of the se doposi t s is 

otherwise similar to tha t of the :£'issur e v e ins, and both t yPes of dep osit 

p .. obably b elong to t he so.me p e c: iod of ine~ a liza tion . Thomson and 

Ballar~/r port arsc]1opyrit e ~o from the Sm:th Fork mi ne . 

Disseminate d deposits 

Oro"" r ande type 

The Butte & Orogr an<ie and Alic e P- opc rtier a e locnt e . a t Orog ando 

an ncar the e;t» t orn edt;e oi tho EH: Ci t;r di -tri c t , es~e ctiv ly . They 

arc on '.vhat [l.:!J'?OaTs to b r; a l ar£;e ""h~.> ar zone ext endiEg th'Y'OU6h tl e a r ea 

b a nor the as t e rly dir ec ion . I n Jll.::> ces t h i s zone is a s much as r..alf a 

mile wi de . It r>'as not r e cocni zecl south of Oro nd , but north·;ard f om 

thr.t place it i s oA.-pO"e d along tho Croot:ed Ri ver a "' art d.ist"'.nce below 

the mout_ of Rcl i f reek, along the t a il bet e~n Dead\70od Gul ch a.ncl. Center 

Stc..r liou.:n t a i n "1ear the divide bet ~een Dee..dwo od Gul ch and t he Crooked River , 

and at the l ice mi:nc . A similar zone is exposed , neo .. ly on the roj e~ d 

ri'-:c of th one just cs c~ i·ocd , at Erickr.on Reef, about a :nile north of 

the ::i!!lk City di.stric b't.:.t whether o~ n::Jt thi s is a co:nti:nuz.ti:m of t!lc 

other is not 2:10\'ffi . 

~he rock of the shear zone in most TJl('J.ces i s a .sc'l-list r:hi ch conta i ns 

much po_,mc.ti ti c mate ... ial a:.1d l oca lly i" inte]1s ly silicifi ed . The rock 

i s chear ed , n.nd both .. chist .::~nd p-::g:J.;:,titc ~'.. re f r actur e C. • ..11Cl brecci ated . 

Pyrite i s disseminateC. throug:i1 h~.:. rock end L.rough nu."ae rous qua tz 

strint;e c; t hat cut it. At the s 1rface the pyr i t e i s comp l e t e ly o:x:idiz .d 

and t he out ro:p "' are or1inaJ.'il- ::;tc::.ine r ed or brown , b--t only a f ew f ee t 

below t ho s· · 1 ace t he y ri te i ,. almost fre0 f om a l t or at i01 • At t he Butte 

& Orog r anc'e property p yr:i. t c was the onl ~r sulphiU.e r e cog::-t ized . 

The.,e clcposits are lmovm locally as 11 d.ikc or r eef depo sits , 11 and they 

are very ext ensive , b lt b e cause of the low gr aclc of the nat eri a l it i no t 

known r1he ther or no t the" can be mined p rofitably . T'ni po int i "' di sc·,lsscd 

fu:·ther on page 33 . 

23/ Thomson , F . A. , u.nd Ballard , S . !L , op . cit ., p . 92 . 

30 
83103 

Pot sit e type 

Another t ' e of dissewin8.te"l_ deposit i~ fom1d a t the Pek,i te p roperty , 

~ r. il e s so·u.theast of Orog:-ande , where a small stoc · of p orphyritic dacite 

(seep . 17) i ntrudes granodior i t e . . oth 6 ra.nod.iori t e and dacite a r e 

:i, nt ensely silicifled, and b ot h are cu t by small , vur_;gy CJ.l.l.Etr tz ve ins and 

stri ngers which c a r ry f i r.ely d i ssemi nated ore minernl <>-ld some coar e r ore 

mi ner 1 . The mineral i za ti on at t he Pe tsite p r operty i s clearly r elat e d to 

the dacite ., t ock , which m" y be Terti a ry c::.:1d rii.1tch certai nly i :; consider ably 

younger than L.e ~ t hol i th . The or e mine _ a l ., of this dopo si t also a re 

notably differ en t f r om thoso of t .. e Oroc,ra"'lde t yPe . Py rit e , chal copyrite , 

and 0 al ena we r e defi ni t ely ::-ecogni zed . rad~ 1n i te .:md molybdenite we.re 

i dentified oy tl e vrr i t e r s i n spe c ime::1s colle cted by F ank Pe ck , the owner . 

Free gold i s a . so iated with the t e tre.dymi t o . · Tl omson pnd Balla:::-d W 

r epor t g old t elluride , -, olfr ¥n it e , a..11.d scheeli te . · a l:t hi vC , p:[rolusi tc , 

hematite , and o her iron oxides are the rwr e common cxida tion p oducts. 

Placer s 

High- level type 

As soon as the s , r uc t 'J.I'al mo' ements that r esulted in the format ion of 

such basins as those of J!; l k an :iiiewsome Cr eeks b ega.'1 , the g r adi ents of 

c" r tain parts of the str eam course. we e c_lansed. , c..~1d aggr a dat i on began to 

take place . The siz e , shcpe , a.'1d a'110u:lt of mate ial b ci .,. clepo it ecl d·uring 

a e;ivon t i me i nte:::-val dep e'1ded on man.)' fnctors, sucl a s gr ~ 'ien t of t he 

stream across 'vhe pa· ·t affe t ed oy the n ovene n t , t~ e di nt above tha t 

part , the are of t he drc.:.i. , ge ba. , L , tr..e cli!i ..... t e , 3.11d the r a te a t thich 

t he ::wv cme2 t too~c lace . ll.;:"y or n. 1 o . t{le£·c fc:;.~ to.- s a.'1d ot~er<' chc:.noed 

from ti: e to tine , o th".t th8 eepeni"li,; b.: .. i ac, .1.l a ted ods of coar ce 

angular r av e l , woll- s o te0. g r o.v c l , clay , send , Md oa_- fo ni ne;, mate r i al . 

Because n.ll the etri t C' l m< .. t~ ri -- 1 CDJilC f:-om a t errD.ne i n which tho e 

¥or e m ny nuri fcrous quo._ tz ve in.., , som-:; g old nn en. ri cd into the bnsin s 

and depo, i ted alon[; v:i t h the r est of t e r, a ttl!'ial . Loca.lly, i n favorable 

pl .ce., , it w s conc entr t ed , bu t a:pparm tly it n owh ere accumulatPd in 

r elative atundnnc e g.l eat c:10u.::;h to fo .n p l a c er : po:;;i t t ·; 1e.t can be worke d 

profitably except on a fairly lal· _, e , le or nb er c local conditions make 

smal l - cale p l acer mini ne unu · ally inexp n i ve . Gold. i s Tre s ent , howev er, 

i n srnall e:no· ts tbrou,ghout ve~·y lar.;e volumes of t~e sedi ments . 

Examples of his high- leve l typ e are the .. ~ontana. , Buf a lo Tiill, C 

Idaho , }J[ooso Cree::c (in part) , and Buc:ceyc placers. 

24/ T om s on , F . A., and Ba.lla:: d , s. L , op . it ., P · 38 . 

31 
83103 

Reconc entr a ted tY?e 

rring erosion cycles t:"l.?t folJ.owe ci t he a ccum .la io n of the sediment s 

in the basins , the stre .ms c .t into tht; deposits, in many places even below 

tJ"",eir iJc- ses i n to thA o edrock floor s of t he basin " . ,ruch of the ole. g rav el 

was t :1ere f or e wa:--Jle, do vn t he slope s into t!lfl tr'3ams , a further conc e.:ltraion o the go ld was t :-,creby effec'~ , b oth on the hillsides a11d in the 

strc n beds, and t he rich reconce tr a.t ed 11 sk im11 anc . gu.lc __ d .posits ,·,e r e 

forme d . ~ r e:1cr: G llch, ;ewsomc Cre ek , the lo -rc r worki:ilgs of Pi onee r Hill, 

and hli:,~. t Creek are e x n:nlo s of thi s t Y:!Je , v:hich 1 a s 1 een ·oy J.e>.r the most 

produc ti v c •

1 

?. "' c ent - st r eam typ e 

Sr:lall g_ av c l dcposi t " have ac cum1llat.:: d <1long the co""J.rscs of the str D.IDS 

above the old oasias <:L'1d a l ong new stream c, 1lche v1hose dr a inae;e arcag 

ir..clude none or l it -7-,l e of the olci g r avel , and t1 e se deposits are locally 

aurife rous enoug~ t o be worked c omnercia2.ly on a small scale . T:"'le g old comes 

from the ve i ns :u d l'OCk of the i mme diat e drc.i nage basi ::J. and is or di narily 

of lowe r f i n eness tha'1 he bold of the high- leve l or reconccnt a t c d ... "PC 1 

showi nc::; t 1c.t it probably ha . ., _ ot travele as far . The gold of t h o hit;h-level 

and r econcentratPd. '~Cs r ' · s f om 0 . 8C0 to over 0 . 900 fine , ':1l e r 0a tha t 

found i n this gr ou,-p or ~. rily nms arm.nd 0 . 700 f i ne . 'l'he Si rnr~ on s plac e r , 

on !1. d Horse Cr e(jk , and the ·L1ppcr ::: eg_"'..l C eel< p l ace r s b elong in t his g roup . 

Pra ctica l applica tioM; 

.~any p rope ti e ::: nr-> t too fo.:!:' fr om u · oa d , vl ich were unabl e to operate 

profitably i n the pD.st , may l;)e ::-.·ol e to O?en i n the near future bece.us of 

be tter tncns?} O c:~ tion facilities. Al o i ,;l ould b e possible t o handle 

lower- grade ore in mine s 'vYhere forme l · only hi h- grade or e could be mined .• 

The Buffalo -•ump d i strict, however , i s stLl :::-elo.tively i solat:d· 

It i s auparent fro . he descript.:.on s of the deposits tha.t nearly all 

a r c v e r y simila mi nor ;..lot:;ic: ... lly . This ·.varrant s considera t i on of the possiili ty of trea ting or e f om sever a l vein'" i n one plant . I t should also be 

po i nt e out t hat modern methods of ore treat :ne.:1t m o ive v ery h i gh recove Y 

va.lue s e.t fairly l ow co st . low mi::J. s can no doubt p r ofit by t_ e eA'"P e rie nc e 

of rn in<Js n ow t r yin.; certc:.:!..n ~.> roc esses . It i s r eliably claimed tha t at t he 

Gnome mine a r ecov .. ~y af 'J5 to 99 p e :·cent is c.t t" i ned by ~traight cya.nidation . Emic;h , 2f:../w 1o wor1.wd. on Cen t e r Sta r ore , r e_, orts that he obtained a 

recove ry of 9 8 percent on a t est nm by u:;i nc straight flot a tion and only 

30 to 55 erccnt by &malgamation alone . _I e .,-,as .ible to get 90 t o 95 pe cen t 

by combin.cd amal a tirm ;:,nd cyanidati on . 

25/ Emigh , G. D ., I dnl1o School of Ainns a nd Geolo :.> y , pers onc:l communicati on. 

32 
83103 

v~ or. :1.:~s :L::-1 ::;;:;·r::. ··~ 1 n' ~t-e; .:i::r:- , :0n::?t.r1:1 t. e that fra cturing c o'1 tinue -! 

beyolld tb3 ':.-o••:·.ir,_tio ·:s o~· .;.'C::. i~:; oi' .:)_'...:tr·:~z , e:u1,1 e-: en vli thi n the l en gth 

of sor.iu mine '01·

1:in::,!; the:re 'ti'e "Liicl'e'1 8-::.r t~}·es b etween uart.z l ence" . 

It ~as ~o bnen po~~t~d 0ut that i n ~er~l the 0 old ~i tf in a ve i n lie s 

i :l sl-.oots . I t foll.)VTS thD,t '- ~)Ot b:J.i'TC:1 c,f c_·,1.;u t z in o.n ot. e ,ri sl- v a l u -

Ue vein o r a lec>::l s _. ot i:" Cl. q_LL<Y'C.~ o'vl:r si'.o·,.;.l-1. not fl.isr:ou --:-age p osp c. ting 

for a ::-eason:=:tbl3 C.i. t::.nce c-lor.g ':;1 e st~·ii-:.: , C?p::c.:i:- •. l :t i ::' t1 e vein structure ( fi ssuro ) i s ·.vell C..c:f :;. ~cC: . 

I t is .sp.oc:;;:..L~y '~if.:ic·a t to a:r·ci•,' 8 <., t tl e avc_r:{;c golc content for 

ct.issLn"..·.att.d ·e}."J.)Si'c~. df vhc Oro I'D)''dt-J o:t Potsitc t~,.-pe . Ser:lpl i;1g cleposi t s 

0f ti,i., .l"Je is d.if.d.·::.-~l t ::nd .::tt best civcs uncort ::-,in l'C~ml . P-;oduc tion 

i'ig-c res wl!.Cr-3 lart,c tJ .. r~arx r • Lav,· been mi ned , -p:..·ov id J.::.. t;~e 1'igurc are 

cerefully r e orJ.P.d , e !J:-'Ob,..,:t l;r tl1e best i ncij ~at vn of ere c:v..:::r~C' mr->tal 

co:-~tcnt o:f sue-::-, ~-oc~:s . I : t:':'.e prciuctio:1 f i cr.· r t::s ac cpo;:-teC. for he :But t e 

& Oro r.:~'1ric rni'!'l.e an: correct , t~.c a e:.. e>t;·~ v all]._a of t.1.e 4·.~ , ~9 ..... tons of rock 

tre.r,tec1 is $1.4-0 e. t.D!l on t~ l. basi:.; of gold <:'.t I ::;Q . 6o n.n uunce . As sho"m 

in ':;he 8)...1)o:::;.;cl ._.,~1ll2. yf ~:r.c ~'" lord · hol0 , ;, co .. si'~e .:;.blc -p.:.t.rt of ... his 'nateri a l 

liltu:;'c buve be0n _pf'€;:.<'titc, ~c.1:~ so _.';,r n.~: >::rtO''lll ti.,e 1·oc:: W<..:.s !lOt ~o~ te i. 

According to ~.rtr.nr E.o-:;8...'1. J!:.C of 7-}Je cr ...... _,::.· :; , t:: -pcg.!:<'..ti e co. tai. c only 

6C to 'IC cen t s a to1 L .. :;.J~ l , w •. c ~ c:.s t~:..:: s.J·ist c~nt<>.,incd · l. 8C a t o! . 

er? lalF;C t0llll'\__:( s o: rod-: ;;j_~li.1::-tl ' irl apT8D .. r ·:~o co tLet ex:p o ::;c d in the 

·:,.aE" of he gl-Jry hole :·<;r.nu: ur:·,b.ed . ..::. :"ho·.·n by ";he :p ociu~t on figures, 

the mate>Yi0.l i s V.'i tho t clot..-ot or l0\1 ";l'ci'k , I u'G t:n e f:. .. ct rc;.1a i ns that in 

so::~u -ple.ccs--for ox.:--: o!.c , at 'v:O.o Alas~:~; r-.mc<.:;.: r.-:~.'10 i 1 Al "s.::.:' - - la1"{"8 dcposi t o 

Of d i ssf':ni:r..atci [;Oll~ ore o'!: vc:·~ lowec· G~ <. .:~e ;~·. ~cr.. t:-.r,t incicat e (l oJr the 

rroduction f ' f.,u'!.' O <; of '\;he ?'J.'~te 8c ro .. ~rr .. lr'.o i!0 ~e:r:._.; ~~UCCCS!:f•lll:V WOrked . 

T> .. om~on a.'1i JlLJ"d ..__f>/:: .:vc e~:-cn·r::;:.; d tl~.c be-:.ic: t~ :pt er :ic":rnE~t ha " 

}tb.ycd en .:'ll- i..1:!'0'!.' cl..lt ['' ':. :.n (i.ir;sc .in~"-:i.:!,; :;old ~,nc_ s.:.lv t, thr) .g:1out 

tre rocl:: ::"~s., oi t •. C' o:·:idi··,1" zone a:: .. t·.,.·,t tr8 e:~':. .~1.t o:;.' depos:; i of this 

so~t .nu::t te C:ec::.de( i: cc....c1 ra~ticul_::' loc ~tJ.i '..~,', ·b<:t t~nt conc3.:!.tion., 

\'t},ic-h "!ill. anc" .. ...,_ .st ·-'f1 fi'1 '-' t~ ::..o·.-:. 1. • ·d s 0f cnr::.c:::r'1cr.t exi "'t an(1

. must b e 

recogn:!.zc< . lj_'hi::; 'b0li'T. c::::.boncit .. er --; .,.::ovd 1 r t~ is:"lro'.red ·1i th tLe de.t o. 

,_ .... dlal;lc . SCJ",) o:~i '.J.t un :.:ts ccrt;~in:'...J t.~'..:~m .1-lac:c• .:.;lO>G to ·::~le s . fo.ce , 

<.'..!1:1 it i s t".KC!l ... o ; .. ·nt<-6. t~~'l.t ·x:t'. oxi.::.; ti c :-t g0J..f \'t."'s l i ber ated . If the 

condi 'L ion!'; t.tore ::i.o;l:t , r.o :1c :ol ~ ':1t-Y :C.c.wa £;0fle ir..to .:;ol·;_tion a.'1d J c-ve b een 

ca.:-.,..ied dov,nv·~. cl te> 8'1~· cl. t:,e .. w , _ L..l )rlo';: . t:o\'/CVf':::' , it r.:ust ·be :!_J') i nted 

out t:n-.. t fre sh >Y- ite occnrs c.... fe'i'r: e"'t :~0ne"'tl t he ~~u-fD.c~ . .1~r~ove. , a 

co:t'uint;: of i on oxid :; nhic:1 .:;tve .·!i[;r< t•'C f ::on above h;: r; r ::Jr.::~ co. on tne 

onpu"'"'d.. "'l'c'''~ 0 ' t '" -lo'' " -J.., .. le ,;nee the '•)c·o;t'r · .. ;,.; clos (l_ t so t~--~t a t '. ~-- -..) ...... .:::::. ... • J \ l: 4 "' t.. - .... ... ... .!: J,_- v 

the r- eccnt ti .~e , .".l.t ic.:~.!'1t , >ol·lti:)n :u-d. t "lLS:)ort:.ttio1 of r;ome o.c tnc mi n -

t . ' oralt: ".!'e iYl T,ro,,rc...,r . Su f""r L, :::no·:m , se::_;a:::-·1.~e nYoC' .. uc c Xl c on s were 

not ke"D o: '~ ''l~.ttc_i::LL fro:-1. the o;:,;:id :-oc~ ~one < d f m tre :3 lJ2'.ic'·., .:one , 

SO tha:t t:le ( _ _,r:·c .t of r,olr_1 Ct:'icl:rJC!~t b·r !"Ol'.'ti'1!lS ~Li0"in,- d·T:;n·;rur·l. Gh:CO'J.bh 

tl·,..., roc!·:s j_s ;-ot nri~~.tt:.cl. ir.r tr.c r cords. _,.s,~v.., of a fc-:J ;:: .. 'l_;lc~l , e ven 

if t}~c ;,:vr,ple .. \I<TO c,.'·c..:·:2.l~ · c1tt "Jit:-t t11i., -r_,ro·lcm i11 ::~i~1l , vtOi:.Lt L.:~.vc 

c'.oul-:Jtf,ll v~.hl.C . F't•Jm ':..~e ::1a'c' aila"l~ , }·,o·.;;::·,r r , tf'.,~ writ0cs fo~.-l tl..,at t hC' 

onric.;l-r-'lGnt of the· 3oli by :.·oct, :os ot: t • tl:cr rc.!lova l or ::Jtl-.. er mircr.::.l 

has beJn cvio~sly ove r otrcsred. 

?.G j Thom,...on , F . A., i..l.~d 3all• d. , S . :.L , or. c i t ., }/}) · 84- 85 . 

33 
83103 

Large vol umes of aurife:co 1s ,edi mePts remain in the bB.sins of EL: and 

Newsome Cr "'eks anct 't other places RUCh as Bi C!'88.': l. ead. ·;s I bu t to Ylhat 

extent the e de o.its ·.av e beP.n samrlerl vith a v i e•r to l::trge - scale , lowgr ade deve lopments is not knO\m . i. odern method and better mi nin0 fe. i lities might justify rather e:x:tE:nsi ve d illing or t est - p it srunpling in favore 

localities. The r ich 11 skim11 Ci ~gi::l.gs and r e co::1centr'?t.tcd t.,-u.lch deposits 

are probably about exhausted, al thoug::1 possibly ::;omo · o;; still e discoveredf 

The mi nes 

Elk City distri c t 

.w ode mines 

Alice 

The Ali ce roperty li es a _ittl e more t h<?.n 2 mi l e s dir e ctl' west of 

Elk City, on the di 'I ide vr est of :Du::'faJ.o C eek . It i acre si ble b~· a poor 

road . The p rop e ·ty is developed by several tt:.nnels a:1cl mune ... ous prosl) ... ct 

pits. Fi ve tunne l s \7e r e vi i ted . _ ere .vas no activity a t the r: r operty a t 

the time of thi survey. 

The Alice dep o sit seens to be of the Orocr M de O.isseni "teit t:rr>e . 

The schistose count y :·oc::: is silicified. , in ·. laces in ensely , nnd co;;.t a ins 

disseminct..::d pyrite , lo a l y in co:1!'ider·-ble ~.;nou.."lt ·. ~'lc r o k also contai: 

veinlets of quart z . Sulpn:.des a. e p r e ·ent u.lmo'it .t ':.he c-urf2...ce , L'.lld .o-p c i -

mens we r e colle ted 50 feet from t ho portal OI one ~. dit , bu t the rock is 

partly oxi ized as :nu h a s 300 feet from ~h e o t a:i..f. of 30:ne tunnels. Auch 

iron hydroxide (::!'e(OH 3) ~ for ei L'l cbandoned tUJ'lnels . 

Con!"iC.e able v e in <:_ua:ctz ~:·1. t co: ':.a ins }_')~v rite : i os o:1 '1e d !lllp of a 

caved n.di t <'b ou t a n ci<-;Ltl of a :·.ile "0 th of ti:e • · ice ca-r.:!) b il d. i ngs. 

AlL~m~nc e (3h:.e ~ rn;on) 

The .:.~l::n,:an e , fo~·me:.. Jy the l11e Dr:J.;on , lie o.lo!lg the Ar.l"ri an River 

a lit le. ore t~8.11 1+- ,nil es nortr.eas or· t~: Luster . ':l'hr ee r:ell- dcfi ncd 

vein occu on ti1c u:·ouort·· , cut on~.J T;: lJ.O.S boen od.u~t ve . -cording 

to Thom,on ·nd }hll:J.:.·d·? .. 7{thc AJ. :.a.lcnc~. ve·:l is 4 t o 5 ::eot thlc~~ . It is 

sn.id t nat ., shoot in t:te Jula.rn ncl~ v cL1 1,roda e d ·. li ttlc v e Y r i ch oro i n 

the ea ly ~ y 3 of tho camp . rqw tot c.l r-:cocuction i s r cp o:te d to o about 

$30 , 000 . 

Zl./ Thomson , F . A., a nd :Bc:..llard, S . l ., op . cit . , 'P · 63 . 

34 
83103 

T\'lo near ly p.:1r o.ll cl ve i n s c op out ~ short distG.nce s o .. th of the p oduc tive ve in . ~1oy st· ike ea st ~nd di~ 85° S . Bec~use they · e more resi t ar t t o e r odo thu the enclo sing VIall rocks . t'lcy s ·:u r. slightly ahove 

the su r f ace . The se vei::-1s .ve:·agc about 3 fe :': t in ·.vid.th and ar e expos e d 

along the strilce for "' -.er :..'.. l ~mn'red. fee t . They consist of ·1hite; quartz 

charc>.cte r i zed by mar -ed como truc t ure . Irr c{;'.lL::.rl; d.i stributed cavities 

i ndicate t~e former pr e se nce of sulp hides. 

Alt emon t 

The Altemont prospe ct of r . Foss , o: Elk Cit y , i s a t the end of t he 

road alon the d i.vi d e sout e'l.st of :R d EOi: :> e Creek e.bo t ?.-~n il s b e yond 

the Blu e Ribbon :nine . It i s <b out 7 Diles fro .. Elk City, "he r e a le two 

tlmnc ls on t~ o property , of ;·:J:.ich one i s acce-..sible for about 200 fe e t . 

The country rocc is gn e i ssic g r <l11o diorite . The vein strEces N. 48° E . and 

dips 80° SE . It ran e s in thick:.f'le ss a s c:;:po se d betvJecn 4 .. nd 14 inche" . 

An al t e r cd porphyritic dil-::e forns tl1e L<mging wall in place . The v e il 

carries about 4 i nches of gouge on the footv.,rall and l incr. on the hanging 

wall . Ho sulphides we:-e seen . 

.A..me :::-ica n Eagle 

Lf'le American Ea6le mine icon e~a l Cr ee_ a bou 8 miles so1thea t by 

r oad from Elk City. The property inclu.ce . 26 patented and 2 unpatent ed 

claims, a 10- t amp mi ll, and e v e l buildin ,~ now in o. sta t e of disr epair. 

The depoe.:. t wo. disco e r ed in 189 7 1J~r E . J3ro m and. La'.'lrence Pa interJlW 

In 898 ~, 9 a 9C- foot chc.ft ;· _ sun)- in o:· ' by Otto Abling , and in 1900 

R. 1 . hcr:nan r an a tunnel from a point ::1ec::.r the shc:.ft for .-:5 f e et alone. 

the vein . This hm:1.el ~.,a., i n irl~r 0 00 d ore t hroJ.chout its len . In 

1901 the .Ar:le ico..'l Eoclc Con olid~ ted 1.1ini :tg & S. e l ting Co . took ove tr..e 

propc ty under the s11p e rvinion of A . W. :Boyd . A mill ·r "' compl e t ed i n 

Jn.nua y 1903 , ~.nd du:ri!lg the rest of ti:'..Dt ye::;.r c:-.nd in 1904 9 , 00 tons of 

ore wo.s tre ate d . From 1904 to 19 10 e. production of 55 tons we:_ r opo ted. 

The mi n e was idle i 1 1919 , and. that ye~r t h e omestat<e Gol '.fining Co . 

bought the rrope ty . This company drov8 o. cr cs ~cut tunne l a out 1 , 150 fe e t 

long t~ t. is _mo"lffi as the mill level. 'he urouerty vras shut down i n 11?23 

and has since een id.le . .:ost of the wor :i~ -~ s.._ are .·-.C Jes i'bl e 2.Ild in fa i rly 

good rep ~ .. ir. 'lhe tota l r e.l:" o:-ted production is o.bout $110 . 000 , mo t of 

'.vhich cn.>ne fr m one ore s oot . United t ates :Bureau of r·ines prod"J.ction 

r e co!'ds 8 the basi for the followi ng t le : 

~ Eistorica l dat a furnishe d lo.rg€ly by A. W. Boyd and E . W. Condit . 
83103 

Reported p r oduction fr om ..A.meri ca n Eagl e mine , 

Elk vity district , I dru1o 

----r---

. Or e I Gold l (tons) l ( fine ounces) 

1·-9-00-... --------:--;-, 20~- ---- -200 . 00 

Year 

1904- --- 1 2 , ooo . 570 . 83 

1907--- - I 175 166 . 88 

1908---- 11 10 . 00 

1909- --- I 40 54 .44 

1910---- 330 1 161 . 60 

9.~3 ---- I 100 I 43 . 61 

1927 - --- I 75 I 15 76 1- -------i . 

i 9 , 931 5 , 223 . 12 

Si lver 

(fine ounc e s) 

1 , 575 

109 

3 

60 

51 

24 

8 

1 , 830 

Three l eve l s ov er 1 , 500 f ee t i n t ) t a l lenb th and a 196- foot shaft 

have been opened on W1 or e bocly , lm ovm .3.S the ortheast ore body, a short 

distcmc e U!J Segal Cr eek L· om the mill , end five levels i n luding over 2 , 000 

f ee t of drifts and crosscuts and a 90- foot sh<4ft hn.ve been opened on the 

ore body near the mi ll . 

The country rod:: i n the vi cinity of the .AJneric.:m Eag le mine i s augen 

gneiss that str i kes northwest i n ge le -al .:md d i ps 30° 50° NE . The northeast wo lings a r e noi.. a ccessi le , but on the r.1 ill level the lead consists 

of a crushed and bre cciated zone f:;:-om 2 to 5 :fee t trick w.-ich carri es vein 

quartz , in places almost to the full 'lidth of the zone . :i: n other places 

t e zone consi st s en t i ely of crns~wO. c o ntry rock cilld g01.1€e. The vein 

i1as been offset at least t wice stro:->.g faults , which stri:.Ce N . 70° 

80° E . and di~ about 65° SE . (Se e fig . 4 . ) 

Tho stri}::e of the ve in a ver .t;eo:o. about N. 55° E . , end the dip is 65° -

80° SE . No drift was driven on the vei n rJJ:e r e it wa s f i r st encounte r ed in 

the lon crosscut , but it \'l<'-S followed nher e i t was n ext crosse d , about 35 

fe et farther in . Tv10 rc.:.i se s conne ct this dri ft •1 i th an inte r n ediate level 

54 f ee t above , a.11d considerable stopi ng has -been done bet· een thes.e level s . 

A 100- foot raise , a 44- foot crosscut t o the south , ~~d a 50- foot r a i se con" 

nect the mill level vrith level 3 above . The ve in i s again intersected 55 

f ee t farther along t he cro sscu t , but it i s thinner lte e , although it has 

been st ope d also alo g a drift t crrned bo t 1 ways f r om t he cro ss cut a t t his 

plac e . Near the soutb.west f a ce of this drift a p orphyritic ande site di ke 

clea!"ly cuts the ve i n . The same di ke is encoun t er e by the crosscut . The 

quartz is crushed , and pyrite and gal ena were obse rved i n it . It ca rries 

fragments of al t ered wal l rock and i s partly oxidized . 

36 
0 

EXPLANATION 

~ Vein Andesite ~ dike 

70)--

Fault Strike and dip 

Width or vein drawn to 

approximate scale 

N 

100 Feet 

Figure --Geologic sketch of part of the mill level of the American 

Eagle mineo 

Caved-..,._ 

N 0 

r 

EXPLANATION 

Gne is s Dike r ock Quartz 

~-- Fault,showing 

dip 

50 

430° 

Strike and dip 

of rocks 

100 Feet 

Surveyetl,.. Ort e- 193Z 

Figure 5. --Geologic map of the 400-foot tunnel of the Blue Ribbon mineo 
83103 

Blue Ribbon 

The Blue Ribbon mine i s c8 . snle oy road. It is about 4-f; miles 

fron Elk Cit anc1. l. ,., miles froM t hc:J Elk Cit;{-:Cix.i e road, at the :1ead of 

a smccl tributary t hat join<> Segal Cr ee]r fr om ti10 n ortr:nest . The r. ev e lon -

mc t s consist of two tunne l s , o. e ~7 i t~i a litt l e r:1or c· t ... a.n 400 f ·"'O t of wo;k 

:1.nd the other nbont 150 fo e t l me.: , tr.o •·.n:--.11 silf',~ , n ·,·, :1:~• ... i n c; ·.ch tcm:~-:; , 

and seve r a l prospect pits. 0:1ly the l •:mgc r tun:1el ''as :.c ssib le . 

(See 'is . 5 . ) 

The location wa s mnde by J . E . BroY.n , in 189 7 , a.YJ.d i1c took in . a l te!' 

Coo .. , Harry Pc..yne e r , a...YJ.d I3ob 3 rovn ell ar :nart::1e r s . J3 rown bO'l.ght Cook ' s 

nd P<O,'fncer ' s i nterer:.ts, and Dr . Bo~r , of - n:: Ci ty, ob "v ail ed. an i n t e r e" t 

in 1903 . In 1c 17 Fr.:-:nl;: Sticlc1er bo-ugh':. E:co r..1ell 1 q1.1.al·t e:.. int o.~.e .t , cmd 

the following y ear tl ,i . passe ' t o h i s d.uu:::;ht cr , in.nc e s '3t!r t . '.i.'he rer>en t 

Ol7ne::-s <..r e Dr . ~yd , 1!.:::- . Brorn , <~ nc1. ~r . :3est . Tl10 four o i {:'; in•:tl }:'lc:.rt:lers 

did u ost of e 1e development I' orl:, but :~ 1902 Patsy Cl r sLm.tC a 60- foo t 

winze and drifted alont; t:1e vein . 

The p rinci .!11 cm..1. try roc1:: i s .;neis" (fig . 5 ) . T .. .:.. ocn'ii g i ·1 this 

v·· cin i t y s ::· il:::e . ab'Jut T . ~oo ~·! . D.nt.: di~ s EJ.b ·Jut 40° 1:-E . At tl e ,·:inze there 

i s a little g r nxliori te . A..! 1:.. fclie.teC.. , p or,{t.y _iti c f..L-::'3 rock is p rominent 

in t he nine , 1.t its relati011 to t :Je v ein is 1~ ot e ... in::.t e , a::.th;:,ttg:1 it i s 

probo.bly .YO ill c . T~:e [_;e::J.cral strL:e ':ll t':.e vein i s 7:J. 8U0 - 85° E ., ftn d its 

dip !15°- 75° N. About l GO feet f::.·o1: t ho ort:.1 o. f ::.ult ff ~ot s t}:e vein 

a~ out Ir)(J fee t to th e :1ortxtv'!Cst . ...J: ~ :.'.~ lt J..i p s 4,5°- 5(1° j{t:; . The t unn8l in 

the foo tnall of the fault c"G.ts a 14-b ~ v e in of sh<.ttere ,_ ::.artz about 28 

f eet befor e it agc.i n r eqc· es t'.e · ai: v0in . Lt the fa.~e t wo veins are 

0Jq-Os d , separLte b~r a :.·a· lt p'-"· oll8l 'v·J tl:c veirs o.nJ.. b y G . ee t of al t e rec 

gne i ss. i.lE:r o fir·. t e c ouate::.· ed t1:~ v0in is 1 feet thick , and ::1 t its 

.li nnest e::-..""Posure it is r'Jo,.t ~f re t t· dcl~ . ':1" .0 ·ein i s or.:ilarily shat"• 

t er el a:1d i s orn.'TI.onl:r cl' ::-tr~· ted r~In !J. ~,.'"' ~~ne i ':=ls -:1a.ll ,.. cv r al i!lc~ es of 

g ugo . GO'llg i s n ot p ascnt b t ween t!l.:: dike r ocks .::m _ t 11e v e in . Tho ore 

i s almo::;t comple t .ly ox.icli -~ed. ; :11·e l:r a lit 1c lp~: de ~~~y be observed . 

Brown :Bear 

The B ow. Bear r:1 ine or Fr.-n k SilueJ:~cJ e.. c.>nci the :S . C. S1-:o l ar e state L 

on t:1e Red River about .., , 000 fe e t 1 p "'t ec..rn from the k .il c i:lCC of the CalI ~.h o placer p it . T:<e ~ roperty is develo:?ec. b ·r fou: t un:, ols, t•.v o on a ch 

side of e ive r . 

The upp .r tunnel on the v.,re st side ~f t1 e rive r is r:.bo·. t 110 f ee t above 

t e water . It follov.r s a ve in tha t m<=~ c s e wec n

0

? and 3 fee t in thic:::nes,.,. 

st:r·ikes N. soo E . to J. 800 'f{ ., a "ld di ~ s abou t 60 S. The v e in follow the 

con act bo t ·1e en a hengi ng .-mll of a .. en gnei s and a foot·.'l;-u l forme d by a 

porphyry dH::e . T!le v e i n i s ondderably b ecciat ed .::md i s e:par '1.ted from 

the VID.l1 s by soft e:; oue- e . Striae on the .-:; out!;e .,u.r:: ace indicate vertical 

mov e:nent . The lov10 r tunrcel on the v1e t ide i s 180 · eet long <:'Jld is about 

38 
83103 

50 f ee t a ov a t~o ::-ivo.,.. . The .e;e '1 g'wi ss juc·t ab ove the port a l stril;:es 

'L l CP .'! • .:::.11cl ' .i.;) s 45'.11iE . w v oL t L..!r.U , L ·o fnllm.s t he con t a ct b e t\reen 

al en gne i ss c.nd. pOiJ)hJry . I i::; st";:r·a n., t e (l .L - O!n the w.:-.lL, by sev e r al inches 

of t:, O ,e , anrl t he qua.rt z i s b r ecci a t ed cu:. d. c :t y -mJbe seam s . TJ.1e v e L 

e r e stri l':Bs ab :m t N. 75° '.:·. <.nd ·j:9 s C0 ° S . At t .1e fac e t :ne q1.a tz con t a ins 

r:1uc fiYJ.ely d i vid.ed pyrit e a 'ld no. e m::ts :.. v e n;,;r i t c . 

The lo.r e r b.ll.J.nc l on t he e:.1~ t . i c o:' t · .e r i v er , <.'..bo -:.t 50 :fee t ab o 1e i t , 

i. caved, but a 40 - i'o•)t tun·:.el 108 f eet •.. b o·,c t .e r iv "'r i. <.... CC ~~ s:;.ble . Th~. 

Cl r . I' L 1 • r" t; 1· s 1 ° l' 1. .

·1~'he \,; . _ ·> · t'· J· . c'-__ , s"rl.t '· · · S ,-.t .. r,5° ( ·· , .. , 3. 1' d G.-l· }'S 60 ° S . I... v may b e 

t l e .. ar. c · ·in as tl c o e on the ot:c:. si re . T:le . an;;i ns v;o.ll i s tt"Ll.gcm 

e;neiss, and t ~ foo t·:1all . ud: de c or,:po sed p Ol'Jlhyry . :Che ]1 0 hyr y dike i 

a out 2 : ee t t l ie::-: . Tl:.e y_uqrtz 0 1. rie s abcll.1C.3.11 t p;J-ri t e . 

3uster 

. The

2

g u,s t c, wo.s ina .... es<c le a t tJ.1e t :'.r..<?. of t h i s ::;nrve y . 

Camp ocll-1 t he p ::cmc rt;r ::.. mr O''fi e·'l. b v :..· . ; . ?.adl ev . m1:te 

des cr i p t i on is <.uot~d. f ror C::.'Lcmson aad. ~)c l' ad .• : 2;' . 

Accor i n"" t o 

fol lov1i no 

"The 3ust e '-· mine , m. e- half mile n or h of El~c Ci ':, · , i s one o: the p rincipal mi nes of t 'h ') locc;li t y . It r:rc.s ("!lut clo~VC'l anc. i!.e.ccesa 5.ble a t t h e tb1e 

i t aas v isi te d , b·l t Y:c.D3 , :.1il::. s:·v:ets, r.r.d ot '-:e . ci.s.tc... :-tre av·d.13.. le . :Lt 

has c en deve l opei b j a::.i t unnel:-. ;.md "'""o.:':t to ·.1 G J)1 t'1. of ~'t::.i fed . The 

ve ·n st . l~ 0. · 80° r•.~ . an d f i ot: 70° s.; it v ::;.:-:'.e::; i. •., .:. ... · t :l f or. ~ to 20 

f ee t . On the r O- foot lev e 2. ~: e u.v .>l'D30 "t:Lclt:i'l ·:Tas lf ic..e t fo~ a le. O't.1 of 

over 500 fee t . L e o::.· .::: c o-•.. ist of y;~-.itc , :.:~r~ z r:i t!'. f:o:n lJ t o 30 pel.·ce nt 

of py it(' . !hll r e cord, 1'~ .. · a"1 or:.,.;·~ -. ·.l'cle in go _d ,; "1{:; L ·oll $10 to 

$20 nE. ton . S v .::r -;.::. :"lat - c'ii)I'L1f i.?.uJ.. t s ,-:ern e:J.co·~mt3 erl_ i"1 t :'-1.'' · prer 

le •els, ut o none of thc,,e .r; s the difnlc. r:::eYJ.~ s e· :!. o1:cs . . t the 370 - foot 

level , _,o-..v0vcr , :-..no l:.e:~ f lat- '

1 i pnL (: fa it, a.::coLipn:iie CJ much r: r e ccia , was 

e. CO'\.'cntere;:'.. ; oe loi' tLi s , the •rei:'1 h .:'.S no teen . 0 n:

1 

. • 

11 wrn ual ·Xru:Jplo ~ o::i d(;. i on , in' t!s i'1g ~'-:";L<.se o. i ts _onfir.e -

ment t o u n::...r c••~· ~0' <:- · d :·" t ...... r e~:,~ept :. onc:l d. p'.;h :o this ~ egior'- , i s 

r cpo"' t e • .b. str c; ·- of o::i c.i.:..Nl 01·e ::. s .-~ ic' .. to e:~ e. c. L<.lo;1g the footnall 

frorn h..: s·c...r face to ". d.0p t :"J of' 27._. fu0t ~, '.d ·rc to c:.·o s ~!0 j.~ , l most 

hori zontcl.i.,. to trc J' e>llCi 1:_~ -.rll, ·:hie .. it f ollo·;'c c'.c;.-;m·;:--.:-d. to t:·e · i., 

fc.ul t :1t the · 75 :l:o o~ h ve~ . P::t;;' o:.:" p in..: .. :ccl o -:.t at A- le ol rm.~: ,J.y ·,c scribed 

ac; several f ee t r.b o rc- t •. i ~ 37S- f vet f-xu.!. t ; t~le t im'1C'di ..,te~.;;-- a'bove :he fa".ll t 

vari ed i n 1.e be t wce:1. ;;;2 c1d. $-± '='le r to . Ev i ent::.y '~ :.e zo:l? .Jf .,C' ondary 

enri h!nr'nt rraM u+ ·'""~c-'~ 'l. "' .,r , ·r"-y o a '.'T"'..G on_c.rr,ud , fl. s>o .• :t .:.d.s'c<:o nc e 'O..J ,::, u v •• ;.,.t , ._ .. , ... c.... .. .... ab ove t he i 0 

f a".ll t . Jn ~he ~SO fo0t ... E. v el tl1i , oxic .:.:,;Pd c_ e ;~tc 1c~e- e .. bout 

3'0f t ~ . . t , • )..' ~ .. ...,,...,., . ,., ,. ,1"f 0 ee eart a ild 1')0 !Let 'ivect ::': ::.·o~ ~c ~~a~ , \ .' l v!'l J.:: ..... ''-'~ · L>~;:; • ... ~v· v 

15 : eet . !Au.ll,' sncciLE''l !; .. ,,.1::1.:-.. !'H).::; _ t~c Oi.' \' o:..nP , :: .. d on l. e c,u:-:1. !.O"Ied 

t c typical! c1; 1 i:ll··;:;·' <>'v::-, :' ... C:

1j_y tl'.-3 o:' ·' iz<.:i on.: ·:n:. • s~oc . :'he c-u l -

phi dc , such a .... v ~~ un~:roi \ ·11: ·J:r o:::cn (lo,•F , \' i..t.S :left in, t :1c ~t }J "' 2.s f i.Ll . 

r ep ort o th "inL.g indust y 

cit ., p . 61- 63 . 

.
Tho gross :p roduct i on of the J3u t or mj_ne '.7n.s close to $300 , 000 . 

11 The mil l on the p roperty conc i t ed of one 15- inch :Bla.."ke cr 1.shcr , 

tvlo 5-stc:mp batt eri es, GI!l ga:CJa ting plat es, and si x vanne rs. Cye.ni.dation 

-.vas attempte d on a sna.ll sca l e but wa s ev ine11 tly abc.ndoned . The r ec ords 

of opern.t i ons b e t v1een ovember 25 , 1907 , and Oct be~· 31 , 1909 ( 70 6 days ) , 

show the t ot a l amount mi lled to be 25 , 705 ton _, , vi L1 .;ross v u.l uo avern§.':ing 

$14 . 78 l>er ton . 

"Re covery was as fol l ows: By arnal gc:ma tion 48 percent , by cyani dation 

lO pe rcent , and by conc en t r<' tion 15 _,er ent , m~<:ing the t ot a l recov e r y 

prac ically 73 percent . The cost of mi ninG and mill i n; w~.s $7 . 25 per ton , 

and the f r eight ch u.r gos on the cor:c entn:.t e f r o the mi ne to Stites we r e 

from $40 to $45 per t on . 

11 T'no e<lsti:ard m:te;:'lsion of tho Eustor e in i s .G1ow:1 as the Congr cs:- . 11 

Erin"k on Reef 

Erick son Ree f i s al on6 the r oad t hu.t le d fro Elk ity to the head 

of t he Enst Fork of O' Har a Creek , about 6 mile n orth of El k City. It i s 

a short istance north of the Elk City dis .r ict but wa .l.UTiodly visite d 

to confirm r ep rts t e t it be longed to .ho O ... o r ande di s emina t ed t ype . 

The 11 r eef 11 i s orened, y half a doz en or mor e t J.n:-lel s and :!!any prospe t p its . 

The country oc consist s of gne i ss and .. chis , wl1 ich tave been i nt ensely s!·1ee.r e c'. . 'lhc 11 r eef 11 i s _ eport e d t o be hal f :2. mil e wi de and to 

tre:1d about N. 20° E . Attitudes of .chistose structu r e wer e ob e rved 

v1hich r ange d from a strike of . 45° E . 'V i t' a dip of 50 ° SE . to a strike 

of -. 35° Y. wi tt. a dip of "'5° lJE . The gne i ss and schist arc inj ected with 

pegmati t e and locally are greatly silLifi d . Some d i sseJinD.ted pyrite 

r1as seen , and the shcar "d rod: i . cow:-:-ton ly cleep ly sta i ned bro\f:n or r ed with 

hydr oxides of iron . 

He rcul e s , Past·dena, D!ld Alberta 

The Hercul es mine is about 17 miles by road s ou h ea t of Elk City. 

From t he American Ea"'le mL e th road ascends a t ecp h ill t o an al tit 1.de 

of 5 , 500 fe e t , a rise of 1 , 100 c~ t in 4 mile s . Fo1.rr miles from the mine 

the oad b r ancl es; on rorlc l ead s to BL;.ck Ra k Lool':out , .:;,nd the other to 

the, i ne . T'b..is l a. t 4 mile s i s almo st impa ss.:--.bl c fo r :~uto obil es . A road 

could b e built from the Red Rive r Hot Sp rings road , about a mil e from the 

mine and 700 f e t b e low it . Thi s p oint on t he Red Rive · :ot Sprin s road 

i s about 18 miles fr om Elk Ci ty . 

'l'he p r operty con.ists of 8 cla i ms bel or,si ng to E . J . Comly , who locat eo 

them in 1903 , but according to r eports s ome 1vork was done before 1870 . 

Althougl1 the re has be en no producti on , the p roper t y ha been wo. ked by 

Comly exc ep t in 1916 and 1917 , when the He r cules Mining Co . d i d conside r able 

deve lopment work and according t o Comly spent ab out $25 , 000 , part of wh ich 

went t o the co·1struction of the g ood camp huil ings now on the p r operty . 

40 
83103 

Tho workings, i n et<lcli t i on t o ;._ ·: e . ous }W•)s:.o e ct p its, consist of three 

adi t 3 t hat are noc·1 n, ~ .ce ib,_e . r. :::~~ l one · tun 'l l is repurt e d to be made 

up of a 400 - foo t cr o::; cut .- l 1 , 000 fee t of drifts together with 60 fee t 

of se . The uppe r t Ulme l , 170 f eet abov e t1e lower , has 400 f ee t of 

drifts. The i n t ermeili-'lte t nnel i nclud.e s r.. 100- foot cros ..,cut aYJ.d a 100-

foot drift . 

The comt:!:'y roc.: in t 1 lis v i ~: it y is d<.:._·k - 0l ·,rccl. n ica sc!· i . t whicl 

has an a ·,cerr.:ge strike of nearly e<1st and. dip c:.bout ....,0° xJ . ]c :::inns over 

sr.all p rcsp e ct :pi~s in ~ica te tha t t:L1e ve in tre nd s D.oo t -. 75° 1: ., but this 

i s no t ce rt a in . Corn:L y r eports th,; t the ve i n in tl' e lo·.ver tunnel L 5 fee t 

:-t ic :: . Pyrit e , sph .lerit e , cha l copy::-ite , gal ena , a."ld cove llit e v1e e r e cognized in qu artz on t he dulTI}'l . Oxia.ati on of the sulp' ides i s sli ght , as 

t:O.ey uppe ar in ab' YJ. dr.t.D c e on the dump of the upper t mne l a nd must · ave come 

fr om only a l ittle -. ,.,_,y b e low t he surf a c e . 

E. W. Cond it ~mO. Gl en L;:unb own the fiv e cla irns of t he p . adcr.o. g oup , 

which l i e j u st 0ut hnest of the !Icr .ule s . Pro pect p i t s cupose "'e·.r e ~.1 

q_uart z v e ins . T"!tere a - e a 3J - fo ·Jt s aft . · l se·.rera l pi t s on the nort heast 

end of the Pasadena p r oi? e t y , and a t l east cne ... av ed t mne l 7est of the 

creek. 

The Albert a mi ne , a little ove_ a .1He nort. e<.st of the He:rc-rtle s , has 

long bee n oa;.1c.lone d . 1e l,ca<lL ~ e is still st 1di 1 , but t" te ·haJ. t i s 

f ull of water . I ope 

The Hop e claim of Sch1: l e:::- Si mmo:1s i s a l ittle more tr~c\..Yl ~ mL e, by 

road from Elk Ci ty , ne the divide southeD." t of Rer:. Hor ~o e ~:: . Ac cording 

to Simm ns h e o~s od and e~ &bout 115 t ons of orG i a Pi er e ~Jal

r:;amato c:n r ec over ee. about $?00 . ':::he co'1Ce::1'Grat es \er e not sav ed . A 

tu...·mel , \7:':-lich from the si ze o f t:: d.'.::.r.J nn , t b e sever a l h1..mdr ed f ee t long , 

i s caved about 40 f eL. t in _, t e oscs u:tb:ult t. <:tt s riles N. 25° E. a."ld 

dips 50° s"" . A 70- fo ot i:1c l ine a n e. 110- f oo t drift f ollo a ve i n , as rrmch 

as 2 fee t ·hi ck , t hat .,tril:es E. 550 ::; . a d. stc n s ve _ tic . Tile m!.ll rock 

i s auge1 g: e i ss. 'Ew ore 5.s oxi c

1 j zed, 'b t l ocally so:ne sulphides a r e 

v isibl e . 'ille q_u; :rtz i" f u ll of v ;:_, s . 

. adr e cl 1 Cro 

The . adr e d l Qro )..:'OSl)ec t i s on th0 east side o the Ameri an . ivcr - J about half a. ·mile east of he / i Der a l '3 o. e . The t h r ee rate .t ed cL i lJ"' 

:1r owned. by s. · . . r, · ·chfi e ld . T.he clevelo me .. t s co i st of about 1,100 

.l oe t of tunnel a n d some p ~ect . it ,, Ab ou t 800 f Get of t'he un~w l i s 

cros,cut . The!'G ha . been no p roc:uction . 

Tho country rocrs are 

h ornblendit e sill . So e of 

nated pyrit e . An e a st-west 

dist nnc e by t he clrift . 

nc i "s a d schi st , .:u1d the t ruel cat s C' l ::t go 

the sch:.st i s s ilicifi ed a.'1d ce .. :. jec cci. s emiv e in t hat iips 80° rL is f ollowed for a short 
~ 

N 

EXPLANATION 

~ 

~ Quartz 

Faull 

3~ 

Stroke and dop 

Stnke ~ of ver-t1ca l fau lt 

~ 

Shaft 

CZl 

Ra1se 

ll!l 

Winze 

Surveyed, June 19.32 

25 o 100 Feet 

Figure 6o-= Geologic map of the a:ry K (Black Pine) . mineo 

42 

Cll llt<f 

Continverl obovfl 
83103 

Aary K (Black Pbe ) 

The Mary K mine , fonnerly the 3lack Pine , of Richard Kleesattle is 

1. 8 miles southeast of Elk City on the Elk City- Dixie road . The proper.ty 

is supposed to ·have been worked f irst by J a ck illiams, ·:1ho about 1916 

leased it to the Black Pine .Lining Co . At the end of about 3 years the 

lease r an out and the property reverted to Williams, who sold it to the 

present owner . The mine is inactive now·, but Kleesattle repo rts that he 

has milled about 400 tons of ore in the 5-st mnp mill. 

The prope_ ty i ncludes 17 claim., end is developed on fiv e l evels by 

about 2, 400 feet of accessible wor k i ngs. (See fig . 6 . ) Pa rts of the 

mine , i ncluding one ·whole level , are at present inacc essible . The first and 

f01.u-th levels a r e adits, but the port al of the first l evel i s now caved . 

Aost of the work has been on the main or f ourth l evel , about l , 750 feet of 

which is now open . A raise has been driven from the fourtl: to the first 

level from a point about 1 , 060 fe e t from the portal of t he fourth. The 

station at the top of the r e.i se i s caved, so t hat the first level is completely ina ccessible . The second and third l evels are turned from this 

raise . About 1 , 200 feet from the port'll of t he fourth level a 20-foot 

winze has been sunk, and from this is turned the fifth level , which consists 

of about 130 f ee t of drift . 

Ther e has been so~e old work on the property , and one old shaft is 

r ep orted to conne ct with the present f irst leve l . Thee are also about a 

dozen pr ospec t p its and trenches on the surface along what appears to be 

the outcrop of the vein. 

The Black Pine mine is in mica gne iss, of wh ich two distinct typo-o 

rr.ay be r ecognized . The first 380 fe et of the adi t passes througllu1otite 

augen gneiss, the 11 eyes 11 of which range from less than half an inch to 

2 inches in length. A length of half an inch may approach the average . 

The 11 eyes 11 appear to be of feld"par chiefly , but some may be aplite or 

pegmatite . The r est of the mine i s in qun.rtz-bioti t e gr1e i-::~c .that locally 

is much crumpled . I n some places, not ably in the inclusion~ of gnei ss 

in the vein and i n the w,.ll rock near the end of the accesslble part of 

the main tunnel , the gneiss appears to be partly epl~ced by pegmatite . 

'Ihe gne iss strikes northwest--N. 30° W. may be an average-- and dips 

18°- 75° NE . The gneiss i s cut by a f ault t hat strikes about J. 75° E . and 

dips 45°-70° NW . This fault is in part occupi ed _by the vein . 

The ve in i s f i r st exposed about 800 feet fr om the portal of the main 

adit and continues t h rougl out the accessible wo r ki ngs. pparent~y the . first 

BOO fe et of the adit vas driven along the fissure where it contalned llttle 

vein material . The mnximum observed thickness of the re in was about 6 feet , 

and it seems to thin ;ost consoicuously at places where its strike changes. 

As the ubiquitous gouge on both sides of the ve in and striati ons and 

43 
83103 

ll plucki ng pits 11 on the surf:-ces bet·.1een the gouge and t1 e ve in proper 

furni sh ab-Qndant evidenc e of p ostve i r. faultin , in gen eral roughly par all e l 

to the strike of tl e veh , it ser;ms u· ~e y t hat t1 e len sing P.Jay b e due 

partly t o t 2is faulting . 

In s ome places t h e v e in at eria l is _petpnat it e , but in 1:1 o st p laces it 

iS quartz , and to tell w:b..e r e one beg ins and t!1e other ends is difficult . 

The or e mi ne'"als obse r ve d were sph· lerit e , 0 a.lena , pyrit e , and native 

g ol d . Acco::::-ding to the owner , and in l~.:ee-;; g wi th obse r vations throughout 

the district , the g old appear s mo st closely ~~ oci t d with the f irst two , 

particularly t he gal ena. 

lAa scot , Del Rio , Gold. Coin , Blue Be ll, n..'1d Rru1d 

Jo n .1nssnm ' s property a.long t:':'le Ame rica.n River and Kirks Fork 

includes 18 cla ims comprising t he !.a.~ cot , De l Ri o , Gold Coin , Bl ue Bell , 

and Rand groups . The clf'. im s we r e locat e d by .vl:assa.m in 1905 , and since then 

over 6 , 000 f ee t of unde r g r ocmd work ha.s b een dono . An ama.l ga.mn ti c mill, 

with a j aw crushe r and a Huntiu ton b <1.ll mi ll, was e r ecte d on Kirks Fork 

i n 1912 . Accordi ng to Aa ssam 15 , 000 tons of ,fD.sco t or e p l a.t e d $14 a ton , 

a.nd the concentr ates r a..n a bou t $100 t o the t on . Six tons of De l Ri o or e 

p l a t e nearly $18 . 80 a ton . 

Gn e i ss and schi st are the cou_ntry rocks of the vi i n ity . Locally the 

foli a t ed rocy are considerably c:-umpled , but in gener<.ll the striker ges 

f r om north to N. 30° W. East ward cUps prev<.il . The stre t ch i ng is to t he 

southeast a t a·b out 20 ? 

The hascot worki ng s a re no-v lo ~ed , but .. L s am r eports thc::.t the vein 

wa. toped to a depth of 80 fe e t fo a len6th of c:•.bout 2C fee t . In the 

v i cinity of the sho ot i t ra.ngecl i n hic~ess ·oe t we en 5 and 8 eet . The 

quartz contains open V1J6. and drusy co.vi ties and carri e£ su.l p'!-2ide s . The 

or e i s partl y oxidi zed a t 80 reet , but sone sulph i des a r e f ound a t the 

surfac . The ca ved s ope i .dica t e s that ~e stri 1 e of the v e i n is east , 

and Aassam says it dips 5~ 0 N. A 5- foot v ein , suppo.ed to b e the main 

Aascot v in , i s eA~ se d in a small cut near the Ca l -Idaho ditch. A t unnel 

a t the blacksmith ·sho1

) on t!le west side of the river ex,poses a vein f rom 

8 to 12 inches hick that Et.s s~ b eli eves i s tne lt:ascot v ln . It strike s 

80° E ., dips 65° N., 8lld a:- ri ~ ab out 3 inche ., of gouge on the · ootwalJ. 

A 50- foot turu el on one of t he Gold Coin claims exp o se s a 20- inch 

quart z v e in t ha.t stri1'::es N. 80° E . .:md dips 70° l-T • . This v e in is a con ide r • 

able distanc north of t he l1a scot v e i n . A tunnel 650 f ee t lon on one of 

t he Rand cl a ims show another - inch v e in t hat strikes . 85° E . and dips 

70° N. 
83103 

Uinernl Zone (Colone l Se ll er s ) 

T'ne Mineral Zon e or Colonel Sel ler'- 1n ine i s now mmed by t!le G. L. 

Baskett est?.t e . The rr: ine i comple t el y inacc essible , end t he following 

i nformo.t i on i s t &l:en o.i:rec tly f r om Tho;.~ son 2.nu 3 a ll8-rd : 31/ 

11 Yne · i ner c::.l Zone r-1 ine lies ~ il e~ north of Elk City and i s typical 

of the so- c nlled 1 ~::e deposits 1 • HoHever , stop i ng a s h ere been confined 

to t he nu.rro·,,er q"l18.rtz- i mpreg!lette ~ u ·e zone . , in p r ef erence to mining 

the ent i r e zone oi secmtda17 enri cr.nen t . A 200- foo t i !!cl ine sha.ft with 

drifts ond crosscut s therefrom o.t tho 100- foot and 150- f oot l evels, a ll 

i n t he oxidiz ect. zone , exposE-s or e which would e of commerc i CJ.l g r a de under 

f avor:->bl e v1orking c onditio:1 s . 1:.e sul nhide s b<:.g i n t o s:b.ow rather -p l entifully on t h e 1 50- f oot lev el , ::md va lue-s we r e not such as t o justify further 

si 1ki :1g an oev lo:pment wi th the p r e s ent eC"]_ui pme n t and oper a tin0 c ost s. 

"The miner ali zed zon e i s ,_.bout 175 fe e t wide and ext end s east an 

west , para llel to one of the ·=tp lite cti.{8 S of the c ou.n t r . The zone of 

fi ssurin ; occu.:::-s vti t l1in the dii':e and ext ends lo.ter ally e. short distP.nce 

on either side t herefrom i nto the enclo si ng sch i st and gneiss. Bathe r 

promi nc:tt mar g inal fi"-su.rin{.-; dcfin0s t h i s mine ralized zone . The 100-

f oo t levu l is a t a horizon ;,_ea the contact be t ween t :O.e gne i ss a nd schi st . 

Granite wes obse r ved to occur in a f ew plas es, possibly a s i :ttrusion s i nt o 

the gne i ss . The c r osscuts show t :e aplite to be the predomi a ting r ock , 

altho cgh numer ous sma ll pegmat it e l ens2 s a nd ci.i ke s occur irregularly i n 

the v i cinity of t he q11artz veins . The latt er we re obse r ed t o eut a cross 

the pegmatite and enclosing gneis. in a few places on the 100- foo t leve l . 

11 __ long the sout h wal l of the di :~e ar e t vo cl ear- cut q'J.artz veins, 

from 6 to 12 inches nide , which n. . co-a y \V ll in g olc.'l.. A·oo 1t 50 fe e t north 

of these , i n the clike , is anothe quartz ve in, fror.1 1 to 3 fe e t v1i de 1 but 

of lowe r gr:..de than the other two . R'.lllnin ; thro tgh the dike 1 wi th no 

appa.rent u.'1i forrnity, a r e mmcrous q"Llartz ve inl e t s 1 f rom l to 4 inches 

wi de . ; _My of t hese stringers ca rr:r g old, but owing to their size and 

i ·regularity ini nr !J.a been confined. to the main fi sur e s and vein . • 

11 The entire zone has bee:1 :ctensively fr a ctur ed and. sheared , and the 

rock i s 1 [~hl y L 1 tered a.ncl decom:n osed ; much of it i s w1:.a.t would be de s cribed 

by the ::1.in0r D." 'pick i ng t;,rO\l...'1d . I Ye t , fo r all this, light timb eri ng has 

proved . 1f icicmt f o:-:- uJl<le . ;_;r ound s'lJ.po rt. Everywhe r e t hroughout the 

wor k i ngs of t he 100- foot l evel a re to be found ab-undant deposits of iron 

ancl , to a l esse r de;;ree , of mDJ1ganese · xide s . SaJli?les t a1mn indica t e that 

h ere i n the oxidize d ?.one the veins ara the p i ncipal sourc e s of gol d . 

DissernL'1ation of gold in tlle a lt e:: ed gnoisc; a..'1d schist wo.s prov e6. t o exist , 

but n ot suf f icient ly to c onsti tutc ore <~. t" the present time . 

31/ Than son , F . A. , and :Ballar d , S . ,, , , op . cit . 1 pp . 64 and 65 · 

45 
8~:il03 

11 T:1e r e l a ti 011 to t"::e p r esrmt v;o :c l'~ Ll;· s of a prominent nort .and sout h 

qua:rtz ve j.1 , <1: fe e t \'li de , t ha t o:J.tc.:op. s e e .. nl h"tmO.ree. fee t e::..s t of the 

s!"..aft , v1<:. s n o t asce rt ained . It is thm. <:·h t t i:u.t i ts junction with t he 

er n d e scribe d e <1.st and we st ve i n syst er may a ffo d int e resting possibilitie s . 

11 ;1u ch the same n eti:wd of t ea t ment ·Nas used wit:, the Hinera:'.. Zone ores 

as wi t .1 tho se of the Bu st e r ine . 'l' : e 1c ntr tes we r e shipped . 11 

It other Locle ( Gcn e rr..:.l Gn·:.:1 t) 

The !.{o the r Lode :pr ope:c ty , forme rly the Gene r a l Grc;.nt, belong s to 

Gt..: orge :Brovm ..... nd consi:.;ts of four cla i ms r.~.bo 1t 2 mil e s sou the2.st o Elk 

City an t h e EL : City-Dixi e ro"'_(L It i s one of the old p:::-op ertie s of t he 

distri ct ancl i s sup-p o s ed. t o ' ave b een loc ec"~ by Henry furner . It wa s 

' bough t by J3 rown in 1906 . About 240 fe e t of ac. i t W<-'.S accessi b l e at tile 

time of thi s survey , but the r e st of the wor king . cou lo. no t be n t e r e d . 

An old stop e c..bou t 115 f eet long and thr oe ol C.. sha fts s:b on on t he , '.ll'fn c e . 

Acco::.·din5 to Brmm , t:r.e ve in assa:rs from $10 ~o $ 20 ·-. t on , and h e milled 

300 tons a t P erry & T,.;tler 1 s custo, mill in Elk City . 

The country r ock i s ,..,Uf;en gn e iss. ':.'ne v e i n strLw s abou t N. 30 ° E . and 

dips 80° S. The v e in as e x,, ::>sed. r ang e s in thic::J1e s s f r oro l to 4: f ee t . 

Loca lly t.1c v1 a l l s are i nt er.··cly silicifhJd f or ev er a l f ee t . 

Ten !~illion (Uncle S::un) and. Fr isco 

1c old Un cl e Swn , n : J.cno;·m a s t ·1e ·: en . . illi on , i s on t h e so .th siC.e 

of Seg:::tl Cre ek ab out 1{ mil ~s above t '1e P .!e rica."1 n.g . The p r operty 

i s now o med oy Dan Olson . t;r:te countr;{ r a ck is foli a t ed granit e t_1at 

"t r i ke.., . 15° \l . and d i1 s 0 ~ .:!J . An 9- f oot qu a rtz vein sa id to run $12 a 

t on striku J. 45° .J:J . and st cmds ertica l . A v e rticol andesite ciDce exp o. e d 

in a SJ a ll t un 1el stril:e s :'T. 50° E . 

T1o Frisc o r r op c;::t;y w~~ . i nac c cs i olu in J 32 . The mine i "' c:.bou t 2 mile: 

a lmost duo ca st of tho .&."D.c_· i cnn E3.gl c . TLe countr y roC::.c is granodi orite . 

From t he size of the cl'I.J.IT!P the vror kin..:;f; m·o .. t ag .. ; rega t e several hundred f e e t 

a t least . Unfoliat e d p orp·1.u -ritic c.c site wa s conspi cuous on the dump . 

Pl"-ce r mi !J.es 

.Amer ican (Golden ?.ul ) 

The .America;.< or Go l d en ::tul e place r i s ab out -~ .:1il e, b y roa d. north 

an a littl e we, t of Elk City . It is j u s t north of t e Elk Townshi p line 

on the we :::;t side of the .American S.iv er . Cha:cle s Ti edema11 l oco.t ecl t he p rope rty i n 1906 n.ncl wo ~e el it fo J. 5 or 6 yea r . The t ot a l ·0rocluction i s 

r eporte d. to be about it> 6 , 000 , Acc ord. in,"' to T.- edema11 t ' e ···ol d oc curre d i n 

f\pot c , th" gulches '/er r:: the best ·, and :~e basal sediments w -re . ot v e Y ich.. 

The p it is <:!.bout 700 f e et long and. 200 to 300 fee t vlid.e . 

46 
8310;) 

At the lower end of the cut the altitude of the gneiss bedrock is 

4,360 feet~ The banks in the pits are composed largely bf gravel , but 

there are some layers of sandstone. Most of the boulders are less than 

6 i nches in diameter , but some exce ~d 2 feet, The boulders and pebbles 

are well rounded and are co~ osed principally of quartz and quartzite , 

although some ar e of gneiss and gra.riitic rocks. A few clay beds in the 

section indicate horizontal bedding~ One thin calcareous stratum was 

noted. near tho top of the bank. 

American Hill 

The old American Hi ll placer is on the north side of the American 

rtiver about a mile south of Elk City. The placer has not been active 

for many years. The bedrock floor of the pit is irregular but in general lies at an altitude of about 4,050 feet, just a few feet above the 

pr esent river a few hundred feet to the south. The banks are about 100 

feet high on the north side , and the strata exposed consist of gravel , 

sand, and considerable clay. The bedding is nearly horizontal. The bedrock is gneiss. According to Lindgren '@ the top stratum, consisting of 

10 feet of gravel and clay, was rich and was worked in the early days 

as 11 skim11 diggings. The basal strahun, consisting of 15 to 20 feet of 

bluish clay, contains most of the gold, which is fairly coarse. 

Buffalo Hill 

The abandoned Buffalo Hill placer is about It miles west of Elk 

City , just north of the American River . The pit covers about 15 acres, 

and the sedimentary section is made up of sand with some gravel and 

thick- bedded clay containing much coaly material. The altitude of the 

gneiss bedrock is about 4 , 000 feet, and in pl ace s the ba~9 are 100 

feet hi gh , although 50 feet may be an average . Lindgren ~ mentions 

"a noll-defined perpendicular fault line" s eparating the clays from the 

gneisses on the northwest . 

Cal-Idaho (Gold Hill) 

The Gold Hill placer is now being operated by the Cal-Idaho Mining 

Co ., and Thomas Berry is the manager. The placer i s about a mile south 

of the Buffalo Hill pl acer , on the point between the Red and American 

Riv ers. 

A rock cut lowers the tailrace several feet to allow lower ground 

to be work ed, and undercurrents ar e used in addition to sluices. Water 

is led by an mile ditch from Kirks Fork of the American River , and 

a head of 165 fe et is deve loped. The alti ~ude of the augen-gneiss bedrock is about 4 ,100 feet , but this bedrock surfac;e is very irregular. 

The gravel banks of the pit ar e in ce s nGarly 100 feet high. The 

section is made up largely of bluish ay but cont ains sandstone , 

~ Lindgren , Waldema1·, A geoloe:ica l e; co ~na ::.ssance across the Bi tterroot 

Rt;nge and Clearwater Mountains in .iontana and Idaho: U. S. Geol . 

Survey Prof. Paper 27 , p. 93 , 1904 . 

'§2J Lindgren, Waldemar, op . cit., p . 95 . 

47 
8010 3 

con lom~ te; well - :co1 ..mded e;r ave l , and , a t t 10 base , a co:1glomera te 

composed }j rin r~a lly of angular gr ·'.n iti c boulde r s sepa r c..t ed by rounde d 

quartz pebb l e s . 

:B'rench Gulch 

Fr ench Gulch , a s:nall tribut 2.ry to the :rte d ::.hver <e.t t he no th enCl. 

of Red :::u v e r ~ eadow s and the first stream north of Segal Creek , i, a 

littl e mor e t ha n 5 ;nile s by roa d from El ':: City. This gulch is r epor t e d 

t o have been v e ry ri ch i n th old placer days . The g r ave l in the gulch 

has be en vvasheCI. a ll the way U}) t l.e str e;:un , b·J.t g r [cVGl depo sits a t 

slightly h i gher l ev e l s on each si de hc..vo no t bee n ·v- or ked , thus i ndica ting 

t hat the rich deposi t s we r e r econcentra t e d . In 1932 l r . ro n was 

oper a ting a p l acer p i t in French Gulch a t an altitude of · , 400 fee t . 

The uncons olid2.t e d ma teri a l i n t he p it consi sts of :poorly s orte d b oulder s 

in a cla ' ma t rix . The bedrock i s augen gYle iss. 

Tiernan Hill 

At the old Ti ern[;U""l Hill di gg ings, on the di ide a t the head of Gla ss 

Creek , just northwest of :rted Hors e Creek a nc about · :niles so ,1theast of 

Elk City , ov er 100 f ee t of unconsolid£:.t E: d e iimen t s lie on gne i ss be drock . Tl e a ltitude i s h i gher tha n tha t of r.ost of the bi g p its , b e ing 

betwe en _, 400 and 4 , 500 f eet . The sedimen t s comprise int e rb edded sand, 

clay , and 2:r ave l . 1.ch of the ground a long Glass Cr eel:: t o the .Am erican 

Rive r h as b een washed a s 11 skirn11 r:;round . 

Other place rs 

Pl ace r s have been wor ked loc a ll;,r on many of the st renms of the 

district . For the mos t pa.rt r econcentr;;-..t cl deposits fOE tho h i s h - level 

gr ave l have at trac t ed a tt eYl ti on . Some of t he streams whe:ce work has 

been done are Little Ellc C_eek , :!3uffalo Creek, Segal Creek , and Red 

Hor se Cre ek . On :ted horse Cr eek Schuyl er Si,nn1ons hRs t a..;;:en out s ome 

g old for many years. 

0roe r ande district 

Butte & Orogr ~.nde 

The Butte & Orogrande l.1inin5 & Mil lL · Co . 1 s property is a t Orog r n.nde , 

The mi ne con si sts essentia lly of a g lory h ol e 250 f ee t in di wne t er a t 

the surfa c e a nd 100 f e e t deep and a f ew short t i.mnel s . A 20 - stc.U'Tp mill 

was built in 190 2 , and a c;Jrani de plant t o tre at the product of the mill 

was added several y ears l a ter . The mill was operat ed by we.t e r p owe r . 

The property wa s a ctive from 19G2 to 190 9 , exc ep t i n 1906 , ~nd again 

from 1914 to 1920 , exc ep t i n 1915 and 1916 . The t ot a l repo rt ed p roduc tio:n 

f rom 1902 to 1909 W'3.s 29 , 847 tons , which contained 2 , 530 . 40 ounces of 

g old and 170 o"Lmces of silv er . I n 1907 , l , 089 p ounds of copper was 

r eported . 34/ 

34/ Product ion figur es f urni shed by C. :H. Ge rry , of t l1e U. S . Bureau of 

Mine s . 4-B 
83103 

The ave:;:·age g old co:'l t ent of the Oi' e by /B<.l.rs va.ried from 80 c ent s to 

$4: . 80 a ·on .J.nd tLe averabo gol d conte t for the entire I>eri od 190 2-9 

wa s 0 .085 om c e t o tl:e t on . Tl e aver a;;e e of t he g old , on the 

basis of $20 a,."'l ounce , I'Tn,!'; ther e for e .,1 . 70 a to for t h is period . For 

t he period 1914 to 1920 , : '• , 644 ton was :-epo:::-t e d as hav i ng bee n mined. 

The gold content r a nge d froc 35 c ent s to $10 . 28 a ton for d ifferent 

years and averaged for the period 0 O~)l ounc e or 64 cents a ton. 1 ost 

of t he prod1et i on for this perio v1as made i :n 191 8 , v1hen 9 , 566 tons, 

with a gold cm1tent of 167.46 o1.mce ·· , w~.:.s r eported. ':i:he tota l r eport ed 

output of ore f r om t l e r. ine is 42 , 491 tons ·lith a: e tal content of 

2, 927 . 93 oun es OJ. old and 309 or ces of silver. The averu.e;e gold 

content of t he tok.l ore produc ecl i t h erGfor c 0 .0 7 OUll .e or $1 . 40 a 

ton . m110 va lue of t>-:,e tot a l :::- eportGd out put is about $60 , 000 . 

The deposi t u.t the Bu t te & Oro5ranJ.e mi ne be longs to tl.1e g r oD:p 

classed as di ssem n.:~.t d dep osits. I n the glo:ry hole dnrk g r ny i sh- ,:?;r eon 

schist is i ntruc."ced by grani tic rock with a c.ec ided per:,.: a ti ti c t extu r e . 

The schist is inte n e ly silicifiec\ a nd uvon d ose t o t he surfa co cont a in 

considerable fresh p~cri te along s .all strL ge ··s and c.i sseminateC. . The. 

l)Cgmatit e contc...inc l es_, visible py~ ite and. i s le s i nten ely silici i ed . 

Both pe{91lat i t e and schi st h av b een int ense l y fr<=tct,,r ed and brecciated , 

and a ccording to Arthur Eoga.11 both roclc s contdn g old . The sul:pl:.icl.es 

r is.,h t at t r..e .,urfflc e h:.1.ve u nde r boi e almost t ot a l oxidat i on , but y- i t e 

a few f ee t b e;1cath t he sm·:ace i s aln ost . r ee from a l ter .:~. tion . 

Di amond Ei t ch 

Tne Diamond Hitch p ro spect i s on Q' rtz Creek a out -~ miles southea t 

of ro_:.·~~ de and is ree.ched OJ a good l)n .c t c-. .il. The wo l'ki ngs, now 

i naccessible , comp rise evcra l s}:.ort t unne l . A fer tons of or e lies on 

t he dumps . 

The W"tll rock a t th . ~) rospec i s et granitic bioti t e gneiss in which 

the structure stri k es i n , : e'·al T. 10° .. . and d i p s 80° E . The ve in is 

fairly well exposed in c. cut l"..bove e uppe r t u nnel , w ·1ere it st_ Lm s 

east and dips 80° s. A c onsicte 2..ble &.lOunt of :1 dD.r.-- g r eenish- g r ay finegraine d ancle ite di l-e ock appears on t ho dump . The ;nic osc ope shows it 

to be mn,de up incipe.lly of lig .. tly alt e r ed lnth-shaped oligoclase 

f el d sp3. , r:i th an aver:1ge len th of .:::.bout 0 .08 millimeter , and _ _,r ecn 

hornblende . The or e consi st s mainly of quartz \'ith an es tim.:~. ed conte n t 

of 2 to r.:: percent o ... su l p::,ides, hiefl"r pyrite , chal opyrite , and ; al ena , 

vi th l ittle tetrahe 'rite . An unde t ermL1ed purpli h-g r ay ani otrop ic 

miner l occurs as -ve y sm, .ll , i r r egu.lf.tr pat lies . The sulphides l'..ave 

been i ntr ocluccd i n to f c t· .... e s i 1 t he ve i n quartz . Supe: ene covellite 

occurs, long · r ae 1.1.r .s in t he sulph:Ld.es , particula ly in hal op yrit e . 

Although t he;>r a r e pc.1. tly oxidized , the sulp. ide i noral s crop ou t '"" t the 

s a ce . 

RoyaJ, Dixi e 

I n a tr~ct sense the Roya l Dixi e mine does not be lon i n the Orog r ande 

di strict but in the Di ri e di trict , wh ich lies a little f a rthe r east . It 

is i ncluded here , ho;ever , because .it lies within the a r ea mapped . It is 

49 
83103 

on Crooked Creek about half a mile north of Dixi e l·Aca.dows ranger station. 

According t o r ep orts it is onned by a nan nw.ed Fb.ge nnd vras opera ted 

by H. E . Carpenter about 1326 or 192? . Some of the worki ngs are inaccessibl e , h•J.t t·w tu..."lile ls w0re examined , one on the east ide of Crooked 

c .. ee about 50 f ee t long a.nc one en the west side about 300 :feet long . 

A 160- foot drift i s turned fro .. the we st t unnel. 

The cotuntry rocl:s ure qu~·t~ monzonite , augen gne i ss, and qclartzite . 

The vein on the east si e of the cree:c i s from l to 4 fe e t thick and . 

strikes bout H. 45° W. Its dip is not conste.nt but may aver age about 

50° S . The hru1ging wall carries as much a s l foot of gouge , and the ve i n 

i broken by fe.ult i1g . The q:tartz i s massive a nd millc- TI'hit e , and .,orne 

st ined cavitie s i ndicate tha t sparse sul phi des ha ve been l e a ched out . 

The v e in on the west side of t'i1e creek cuts quCU'tz monzGni t e , pegmat i te , and quartzite . At one face of the drift the quartzite strikes 

20° W. and dips 50° SVl . The vein stri kes -. 45° W. and dips 50° :NE . 

The qua1·tz r anges in t hic:icness from 1 to 3 feet and. is bounded on both 

v1alls by heavy gouge . The vein is di splaced by cross faults that strike 

r. 8° E. and dip 50° W. 

Gno~e ( I nternational ) 

The property of the Gnome Gold ftinin · Co . i s on t:ne Crooked River 3 

miles north of Orogrande and 10 niles south of Elk City. Pri or to 1931 

the Inter~ tional Gold Co . had driven a drift ab§~lt 350 f ee t long a nd 

had d:ug numerous su face cuts on the Gnome vein . _!2_ In 1931 the property 

was t nken ov e r by he Gnqme !fining Co . By October 1932 thi s company , 

in a ( dition to ext ndh ~ the Internationa l drift 225 f ee t (fig. 7) , had 

construc t ed. C<:Jmp buildings adeq·u.(].tc fo 25 or 30 men a.i1d :-;.ad nee. rly 

co~leted a 25- ton c r ··Hi..<'le mill . Mining '!'ruth of February 6 , 1932 , ste.t es 

at the Gnor:1e Gold J,:i ning Co . had shi · e bu.llion VJorth $26 , 000 and 

woul d probably st art si!"~dng in :arch to keep ore developed ahead of the 

mill . 

The wall rock a t the Gnome mine is p incip lly thin- bedde d <!Uartzi te 

.whi h contai ns consi erable feldspar . ... ext to the vein the stril e of the 

bedding range s from ab out X. 70o ;V . to bout due north . In general the 

dip r an ,es from 10 ° to 200 i'f . In places eno h f e ldspar and b iotite 

have been introd~1ced into the q 1a.rtzi t e to :na.ke it distinctly gnei sic . 

Granitic rocks occur parc.l lel to the bed.ding of t he qu.o.r tzit e and in p laces 

cut it. Two i regul .r ~oJies of dark ·'"" rayi h - green p orphyritic dacite 

have bee n e~~ os d in the I nternati ona l t unnel . The granitic rocks are 

clea rly older t han the vein quartz , but the p orphy ·itic dac ite appears 

to cut the quartz . 

35/ ining Truth , vol . 17, no . 24 , p . 3 , 193~ . 

50 
IO'quartz in back 

but widens to 18 " 

at 3' up ra is e !7" 

V.//!1•17, 

EXPLANATION 

Quartz

r.;::(.jJjJJ]jl 

~ 

ite and 

gneis s 

Fault 

Porphyritic 

dacite 

zo"ty 

Strike and dip 

B 

Quartz 

---<>-

Strike of 

vertical fault 

\ 

0 IOOFeet 

Surveyed, Octobt~r 1932 

Figure 7o-- International tunnel of .the Gnome mine o 

51 
83103 

The quartz n t the Gnome mine occi.U's alone a well- c ef '.ned v0in as 

good- si zed lenses bo· m led in ;;:o::; t •. laces h;r sE·;eral i nche c; of da r k- gr ay 

go"U6e · Striae on slicken s:'.. . ec'. w:- 11" alone t . e ve i::-1 a>:e a~l y 1 orizontal . 

The ve in stri .ce s in sene .. n.l atou t I . ?5° ~.v . Dlld di p s f ro!U 80° Si!l . t.o 90 ° . 

P"-rite j_s tre nost alru'1.<J.a::1t ore Y:1ineral , c;C?.l e:rs. j_ next , an:l chnlc: opyrite 

i s visib l e in s o;:1e pla~es . S"..1pergene covellite occ '.r s alon5 frr.ct''!.res, 

a.nd fr ee gold v1as s een in s ome OJ e r.pz~ nen . ':'he sulphid.e" a~:e a lmost 

entirely ox idized t o a p oi:1t i t h i 1 about 150 f ee t of t h e face of the I nternational tunne l , and ev en <:-:.t :he face thej' a. e na:ctly oxiC.ized . According 

to J <'mes 0 1Br icn , pre ident of the Gno11lk Co ., t l1e ore expose d along the 

Inte rnati onal tu."lnel has a ve:cage va lue of $25 a ton i n gold .. 

Honestc.Ae 

The Home s t ake mine is about 4 o il s southeo.st of Orog rande near the 

cre st of a h i gh divide se:!?ai".lting t l e dra ina6e basi n s of the Sa l mon a nd 

Cl ear wat er Ri ve r s . The mine is re9.c .ed b y a c- t eep though se vi~ eab le 

moun tain r oad t hat c li.nbs from an altitude of 4 , 645 f ee t a t Orog r a."lde to 

about 5 , 000 fee t t the mi ne cam~ . 

S&l Silverman lo ~.; ated the propc rt;I i n t he late nineties and sunk 

the Ea~er sh<tft to a dep th of 170 fee t i n 139 8 . J:{e hauled a f w J::unc1.red 

t ons of ore t ) a mi ll 5 miles distant , 'r-11t becuuse the mill t ests wer e 

not succ e s sful he b ecame discou.r re i d le t the p r opert y g o b y defaul t . 

James er~rna n rel catcd i t in 1905 ~nd 1- ter svld it to h e Homest C..:ce 

lining Co . In 1930 the pro. e:: t y ,.-aq t ?.ken o· e r by the James Pen,""lan Hne s 

Co . un er t he manng'3ment of C. W. B. oc ~.I"la , of Yc:ikima , ~a h . This com;? anY 

wn.s sti ll operating the rope.·ty in J.93?. . The onl y knov;n p r o ·uction is 

t hat from t e ore milled by Silver:nan :i.n 1898 . 

In addi ti n t o -h e Bad.ge :r- ~h:ll , wh ici i s near t he c:c est of the 

divide , sev eral othe:c shallow sh::.fts n cut s hav e been excavat e c'. , c.nd 

over l , 700 feet o:f drift and c r o_,sc 1ts hC:~. c been driven . Mo s t of t he 

t mnel •t ork has 'Jcen co 1fi ned to h e de re l opmcnt of the Ho e st2ke v e in, 

ncar t he -·out:1. c d of the p ro. erty. Fo- drifts have be :n/ ive n on the 

ve in a t n.ltit ·des of 1~7 , 6 , 192, 6 , 93 , a nd 6 , 464 f ee t . _§_ The upper or 

no . 1 drift h as a l eng th of 30 f ee t ; no . 2 , 150 f ee t ; no . 3 , 1 , 150 fee t ; 

and the 1owe:r or no . 4 drift , ~50 f ee t . ?ro.ct ic, ll:r a ll of the re c ent 

work has been c onfine d to lev el 3 , sho-m1 i:-1 figu e 8 . 

The p r evailing a ll rock at the HoJ estake mine i s a hybrid t;yp e of 

granitic rock tha t i s p robably b est t rmt. d 11 gr anodiorite . 11 Q<.mr tzite 

and quartzi tic schi sJ~ and ,ne i ss crop out a f evr hu ndr ed f ee t ea st of the 

mine . The e;ranod.iorite i s p r evaili ngly coa r se - g r a i ned , and much of it 

has a pegmatitic t extu r e . P eg:na t i t e and andesite d i kes cut it at the 

mine , a."ld a we1l- eX'posed dike of p orphy i ti c dacit e cuts the g r anodiorit e 

along t he r oad a cllort dist ance n orth est of the mine . I nclu sions of 

quurtz ite a.."ld uart zitic schist a r e ll'n1e:!:ous in the g r a nodiorit e , a nd many 

of them < r e exp ose d in t he unde r , :rou...nd. wo rkings. 

~/ Altitudes fr om survey by S . E . Richa rdson a nd R. R. Brat t an . 

5 2 
EXPLANATION 

~ B 

Dike rock Quartz 

Fault 

4o" >y 

Strike and dip 

-<>-

Strike of vertical 

fault 

25 0 IOOFeet 

Surveyed_ August 1932 

Figure So-- Geologic map of level 3, Homestake mine ~ 

53 

Continued below 

N 
83l(t3 

The :S"dger ve i n l i es about BOJ feet ncr th of t"te I~omcscr-ke vein , 

b tit is rot well oxp.)r;ed beca<1.ne the sh,., ft t21 ov:. ~~L:i 1: it w.:.s 

c:le ·elo:?ed i no·.v inaccess::.cle . }r.e 'So ... esf;ako vc i 1 l~as br>on fcllo·:;e 

undm:gr w d for o e '11)0 fP ·a t a:1f l10.s 1l8·:::·: p-'.rt y exp')sed by t·l'u:als 

for mo.e than 300 feet v e•:t.:.cc...ll;r . OrLr t:ce 700 f 0e.t of ho:rj.zont 1 

e:A"J)Osure t .e qua"'tz along th9 vGin rRnf::es in thicknes.., f.c on r.~,.'lt •)f snall 

stri1~gers to abo,_:t :1 f eet . In sone plac'3s along the fis!:lW'e it iG abs nt 

entirely . 

T.le quartz is <clmo st everywl:e e l:.ned i th da:::- ;r~· fau.l t g u[;e 

formed by mover.:ents sse;· ially pc .. alle:l to the veiL Ccbe!· fa~llts a t 

igh ailf ler:; to t.1e ,rei··1 i:·.ve - roke:1 it i:J.to se~ent'~ , whi e":'l .:cc::.n.:-;r:. in 

length fron 10 t:> 10(1 :eet. These fc::.l~.t" st:'i~;:e • . ~s 5C ., ro~ably 

averagi. g Ii . 4""JE ., c:nd d.i.p G5,) ~. :,rJ~Ffl , T':ey C.isplace Jer e vein for 

dic:tances of a ferr i1.:::l1C"' to llO f8ot . L1 g0n9~e.l the. e f['llts c::re 

!':'lCJ.rked by thin 38C:..TIS Of go-..; 8 1 OUt ::_n !".O!ll2 plE'CCs- - fo. 6:\:i~ffi}) l€ , .s.long 

the fault zono a~') GUt c50 feet fr on' t:be pc~· al o" u~:.nel 3 - -the :ro lcs 

are con side ra"lly 'r:Jke':'! a'1ci rmd1 [')uge is feveloped . :Bro2:en blocK:s of 

drag quartz aL o oc 'l,_ in thi ~ ou l t zone . 

D::~.rk fine- grc:.ined. <:ndesi te c i1:e s simile.~ to t:hor;e at the Gno'Tic an 

o her mines of t!1e di.;trict occur in c~ro.:-o. l plo.~e.., jaJer.t to the vein . 

Thei rela i on to the ~i:1 w~s not det~r~inoa with e_to i~ty at t~c 

Ho: estalce nine , but it ic notewort:':ly th;-.t the~' :-tppoc.r r eL.ti,:ely fresh 

and , even •;:· ere they oJcur in f'-l.ult zone::s , they sh0\'1 ve ry littlo f ac t n ring , 

w1 e eas the gn.,nodiori to VC'.ll r ocks a. c int e'1."c ly fra Lur ed . 

Pyrite , r.u.lena , halc.opyrito , " ;,o.le:itc , tetrP.hedrits, a11d covellite 

occur in coar se - Gra.;_nc:'l. vc:..n q,~rtz <:>n0. t ·J come extent in se ri .... :. tize wall 

roc. i . ediatcly , dj<•c.:nt to tl:.J q·J.art:3 . L o.'l o:ddrs c:;..·e t:h , mo t co~::.rr:on 

oxidati.on :pro~uctr; . !1 £. 2.a...:!'i~e occ ': ;n plc.:.cec: , ncl ');;ror:.or:phi te rt s 

id.entifi<>d along fract u.re s ir t .<> o:::ic.i zcc' ::e 01 tr"e CtP'Tip ox t~ e :B~dge r 

shaft . The sul,:>hidcs are est:.~:1ated t') co:u::titute lee::; t:1.~n 2 perv~n t 

0 ! the averfe.oe or • ~rr i t(:: i s t:.o vl0.0st sulrhide . It IVi'..S tntroduced 

alone; f acturos in the co':'l.r ... 8- t;rai·1eC q~_a;:tz , wherer-s eLanc l te , 

s:pha.leri te , ch21C0p.{I'i te , n.nl g, .~.e.1n ·.vc e i nt:..·o1-;;.ce<... alont; fractcu·cs that 

cut py-rite , aprarently jn the o:cr.e ... ncM(.d t;:b')l:.gh probauly wi tr ~o'Tie ove rlappin~ . i3le·or o:f c1'.::tlCoTJ:Ti te :.. r nn !(! ous in the '':?!,c le i tc , .::-nd in 

the sc.v tions st-:1d ... ed t hey c....re e ~peciv l:::.y ·11'm .! r0-.13 in tho sr~1n.l0ri te a lon.g 

cont,,ctn wit:O. qu"l.rtz , .. ,l.e ea.s they a re er~r s~ar:.;e :ln t:te s.phal e rite along 

tr.trnhe .rite contc.cts. Tiny ve::..nlet s of cJvellite ccc·.lr :.1 rr:uc!'l o:: the 

s·l:nL.idc o:ce . ;L-ee gold. m.s not seen in tLc:>. JJolishod sec~io:-.s . T~1om.,on 

<'U d Balle.ru ~ report the recul ts of :1 sGgro(,;"'.tion test c:;.s foL.o',7s! 

37/ 'Ihon-.s011 , F . A., and Ballad., S. !.1. , op cit ., p . 90 . 

5 4 
83103 

Results of se.;ret:_-;c,t i or. te st 'vo prove a. :.Jc~ . .:..tion of gol d 

tu:!.d :~ il ve!· i·~h >:J>: i t.e £:1..::. :=;:-tlet n 

,.---------··----- -··-----·--·---·-·T --~~-ole~ Silver 

---p-~~~; te ~-~~--- . -- ~---. -ro~"~~~-) -l-(o:::sl 

1 I 

- ·· Gc>.~o~~ ----· ---- --- -- -~-J----~~·; ·2 ___ L ____ 3'~ ~-----. i_re·:;,' li~tlc i::.; "::t s:: to· t t~.e on·v- ~•-l t;' , ,::.dtL , o:c :.:etal content 

of the :Sal!;;e>r ·:ein . ':'ne _ 0:·.1e s'cc> -ce v.;in , e::cept for s:~.~.11 fault d.j_spla.cer. e"!.ts , is continuous ~cor::.zo;, ally :o~- e. co~1. iJ.era.ble c'istance . ':L'r.e 

expo 1. e" i :1 ~m:?J.els ove a TGrticc.::l ranee of c:-.DO'lt ::;oo feet - lso in 'ic<:.tc consider able vertical ex" r..t . The last 2CO feet of t-~nnel 3 v·1. 

not driven on the •ein . Tne (11'..artz terr1j.n.n.t-.i a t cc fn.ul t Hi th o. r.-.:.~·i ke 

of N. :::.5° E . a nl a -.=ip of GS -~r:r . I n ~'G;,itude this fc:-.ult co resnonC:s \7i th 

tne otl-:e s tL,:..t £1n.n: :JfL::et t~1e v€'i:?J. t o the J'..'.):rtho2..s: , so tr.at it ~ec :n 

q_J.i t e li':cl;r t'l.<...t t; .... e c o:: ti::: .2.. ~io:1 o:f t:.c ·; (• i::1 lie..- to t1:e nort:.e:.st . 

T:1c f:1.ult does 11ot c-:)_~ c· .. r tu ·be o~e c:r:· l< r ;;;c d2 sp lacrYr.ent , a it i~ r.o.r. ed 

only by :1 sc orn of (;Oil{?;e f~ ,1.:1 1 to ~ :nc: , s ::i .e , \'lbich co:::~ esJ. oncls ''lith 

tLJ.t of other f2.ultc of ~n!~ll di I'l<: -: eme; t else·:.rhcre on lev el 3 . 

It is notev:ort y tnc.t Uw s',-;:Lcc. o: t~·.e nost easterly exposure of 

quartz on le -E.. l 3 is co::J.si .'l,. l-~'.'uly .11ore :o t:1e so,_t' rz~1 the ave < ..ge "trike 

r.ectr e r ~ .. c portc l. Acco:-C:.Lls to '. rr.cc.._ - / :rtic:il.:-~rd~on c>.n~ I'·1·u.ttP..n , this 

shows tha t the quartz is c: f1_)roxi:"r:;:..tel;y- in t :-.e }J!'OfG r p osition on level 3 

to ro~ ect to t:r~e outcrop <' t level 1 . ':'be s-..-:.l:t= icie ~ c. (..; consice c.bly 

l(~a ched on tLe ''-ppcr level., . Or e f om n p')iY!t o.bout 6 0 f t: e t c~t. .. t of the 

11ort,3.l o .. le', el 3 cm1taincd so ... e <'c':p- rgu:le .ovclli te . lJo .icroscopic 

';ii ~"lce beal·ing on t:1c· pro~.;~ss o:f s 1.re.·r;enc gold en~ ic::rr. e:1t c~ s obtained. 

Eo·.:cv , a ::;<.:vs u. e ~.vuil ::...'J ~o tl.c,t . ..., ' t:.ro,·: sc:no lic;ht on th9 p:-OC'= s. 

Jco_,ay~ :·~om m£:.1Js o:f ~<e Pt· .an Co . sho;•: the :follo·,li:?J.::_:; g old and :o ilv r 

co~'l cnt s : 

ssa~rs of or . iror.1 Eomcstc.:ce mine 

.. e .. ~ ~~£,CP o:f t uncl 2 

Ass~- w~cth Gold Silver 

( i "lches) 

~a 

3u 

30 

( O'l.YlG OS to ·:-e to ) (oUl!.c e s to tl:.P- ton) 

--· ·- -----·-----------, ----------------- ~ 1 o.5 

. 20 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

. 2 

. 2 

--------------~-------- -------

____ . ___ __L... ___ ____ --- ---.------- --- .... -J 
,.-0 --0-- !Distance from 

I 

I 

portal (i'ee t) 

Tunnel 3 --,----- -- - - ---·-

1 Ass· v 7icith 

(inches) ' 

·--+-----

78 38 

87 39 

97 40 

600+ (end of r 1 8 

old work) lj 18 

I 

I I I 30 I 0 \..0 

83103 

- - - --------, 

Gold 

0 

I 

(ounc es to the~ 

0 .4 

,4 

1.12 

1. 44 

. 24 

. 64 

----- -- - + 

Silver I (o~nces ~ 

1.9 

. 2 

. 4 

'-

The vari ation in the g old content in these assays i s no greate 

tha..."'l \'tould norrno1ly ~ expected. t o r esult from hYPogene deposi tio:!'l of 

gold along fractur e s in qnartz v e i ns. 

No:cth Hill 

l'he property of t he lJorth Hill oin i ng Co . i s a.t Surmnit Flat , about 

5 miles n0rth of Q_ ogrande Wld 6 miles sou theast of Old Golden , f::-om both 

of \'ihich i t l,;an be re o_ chad y For est Se rvic e tru.ils o1ly . The propert y i s 

developer! by a l , OSO-... oot eros cut t unnel from v:hich two lOO-foot drifts 

ha"Te bee n urned , t·uo crnall shafts 70 feet n.p::- ,...t, which vr ere i na.ceessible 

at the time of this urvcy, c...n' severa l p ro pe :;t pits. The North Hill 

gr o'p now CO:!'lsi st s of seven unpa t ent ed clr-d.ns . 

George Wa.l ter a and J . L Huston locat ed the p roperty in the late 

nineties , C~nd p roducti on i nce then i s r eported to have amount e d to several 

thousand dollars, $1, 000 of v:hich , as obt a ined by treating ·orth Hill 

ore in an an:a tre on Fivemil e Creek . 

The country ock is gr a .>'l.iti c , but a f ew bodi e . of gne iss, p robably 

xenoliths, are expo ed i l t ne ad i t . The adit clits two ve i ns at 700 and 

1 ,050 fee t from the nor t al . Both veir..s are ve ti cal and strike ab out 

N. 85° W. ThE:.;:' 1.~')y fault plo.nes, .:tnd the quartz in each of them p inche s 

nnd so.vells from c:, v er:v t'l-tin se!:ll to n v e in abou t l ff feet thick. The ore 

is wh ite qua tz cont a ini:!'lg bands of blu ish quart z . ~e olor appears to 

be due to fLle- l.,rc:lined sulphides, although pyrit e is the only sul:>hL,e 

in large cnoue;h crysta ls to be identifi ed l'ii th the a id of a hand len s . 

Pctsit e ( Knob Hill) 

The P e t site property lies about ~ miles southeast of Orogr ande , a t 

the porphyritic da it e stock lr c~dy ~scr ib d (p .l7) at an altitude of 

56 
83103 

n.bout 5 , 700 feet . It is o·:med by Fran::: Peck , of Orog rande . ·:Kumerous 

sh:·.llOW su rf ~· ce cuts h1.ve • ee:1 d.U[: , C'nd SO rerr·.l tc..nnel~ , now caved , have 

been driveCJ. . So far as k:1ovm the p eduction co r-i ts of a fevr sacks of 

high-grade ore . The C.eposi t has been 1. cntioned on page 31 . 

!(inc maps show that nm1e:cous s;unples have been taLen . They vary 

greatly in gold con t ent . Geo:cge J. :Bancroft , mining engineer , has recorded 

a . says of rein quartz as lov• i..I.S $1.34 and as J;igh a:> $76 a ton . Accorc.i~ 

to his nap the mine al iz ed whit':! rhyolite (porp:n:rritic dacite) assn.ys from 

$1. 82 to $3 a ton . Oti1.er mining en ,inccrs have obtc.irLd ·considera"tly 

lo1 er r e turns. Very little prospecting has beeCJ. done on the prop~rty , and 

so far as kl'..own s;rstomiltic sampling has not been atie:nnt e d . Some of the 

qu£<... z veins clearly co. t .1.in shoots of high- graie ore .- The vein" have 

not been s·,u'fic i ently pro S})OC ted to determine their vro:rt:h , but the work 

done by the o·:me1 s apparently va"' not suffic i ently cncour<C.gi n :or them 

to continue prospecting . In c~::rt in areas, -particuln.:rly at the north end 

of the stod:, .e po_·ph~rri tic daci to i s g eetly silicifi ed Vld contc..ins 

sorr.e disfemi nated or e ine:·als. Ea.'lcroft 1 s map shows t:hn.t the er.tire area 

of the r·.yolite (por ·hylitic llacite) is 5 . 8 acres and that about an acre 

o:- the n inerali z9d r:1yoli te :-uns ab01.-:..t ::~ 5 t o the ton , \7hereas about :half 

of the area out side of t"ti s acre prol:ably ·rill run $2 . 50 . He states that 

a.se.eral sc:>mple of .yolite spalls ru_'"ls $1 . 30 . 

matilla 

:By tr:.l.il t:be t::-:~at lln. r.:iCJ.e ir- about ~~ nile ... flest Qf Orogrande , at an 

altitude o: n.bout 5 , 00 f ee t . T!:o -princinal Ylorkin0 s con~ist of a crosscut 

tunnel 7;;0 feet long from ··rhic1 900 .. feet of clrifts have ·been drive . In 

addition to tr.coo ,·:or>:ings the:cc is 'l :;:~af t 65 fe e t deep and 240 fe e t 

-,erticaJ.ly abo·re the crosscut tu.'"l.nel a:."l.C\. CJ.ume rous s rrf,'.CC c-...1ts . 

The w:J.ll rock at tne · , J.till:-. rnii e is a coo.:::-se - g r o.incd quu..:rtz monzonite 

or r elated oc:'< whi~,;!l in e1e ·icir.i ty o: the cine inc.lud.e s some la::-ge 

bloc>::s o TJ.ar~zi e . The quartz :.:o•1zonite near t"te miae i~ cut by perni tent f.::.ults that stri:;:e n.bo·.::.t .. . 50° 1' . a.'1d dip 75°-80° l'!E . Smaller faults 

strike more nearly nortl1. The large fau.l ts are from 2 to 6 feet wide and 

are defined. by dar:!:::- 5 r ,-,y gO"I:ge and sl ickensidnd :all . The first drift 

ofr' the lo::1g crossc-,lt t rr .. .nel has follo·wd one of tl c..,e fa-...llt • 

Surface pits L1:-i..icn.te the p esence of at leart two veins on tl1e Umatilla 

property . :Si t"~1er two s ;pa:::-otc vcin:; or· t '.V O fau.l ted scgT.lents of one v ein 

a e :::posed in the lont; crosscut level. A qw'lrtz vein l:as been CA'})Osecl 

in the 11.0rthwes+ end of the cros sc"'.l t . It ras not bP-en foJ.l owed , c?.ncl be -

caus'-3 i t is poorly expo~ed the 1i.y. alld strike co·ud not bo dc ter.lined with 

cert a inty . Th8 un.rtz n.t tl.is place co 1t~ins c.o ·1r. ider ~blc disseminated 

pyri t • v,, __ t apnoarn to be still an·)ther quart?. vf'in hat: oeep follo' ed 

for 240 feot i ~ • ?0° E . direction . T~1is vein, vrLich dips goo ITF: ., is 

mrtde up 1-'rincip lly of massive quo..rtz with very l ittle visible sulphide 

mineral 1'1:e ~vein has s·Dli t into t\'.'O branches, each abo t 2 feet wide , 

at a point 30 feet from the fJ.ce of the d ift . This vein appears to ""be of 

57 
8310 3 

low _,r ade , but if assr:.;is show t hat it conk-ins S'Uf:i.ci ent gold to ~e 

mina:,lc , further drifting to t:te soutneast along ono of n,e branches may 

di?~lose othe:.: t; ood- sized lenses. The qu::~.rtz e:>..-pos~:-d. in t he crosscut 

i n t~ne nor thwest en d of the love l ap:pe :tr s to offe t:r_ ·~ b0st i:nmeG.b.t e 

pr ospect , beca<:se it con t a i ns co;1 i cle rable c:u.10~X.l s 0f s·u.l}"ltide minerals . 

Ho1ever , the advisab i lity of any fUl·ther p r osrecti -on t h i. level should 

be gove:..·ned b~r t he as..,ay r eC'ul t s of s ome car eful ly cut seJ p le s . 

Una 

The Una i s on SL:mr:lit :i!lat al> u ta . i le s outr.east of the North Hill , 

at an altitude of about 5 , 801) fee t . By t r a i l t he p ope t~r is about 4 

miles nort:l\ est of Orogr a :1de a.'ld <:.bout 7 miles sou.t :-,e::t.st of Old Gol den . 

The Una g:coup c omp rise s six clc\l m1 · Tho j _:r t l oca tion v:e> .. , :n::tco by 

Posey Li t chell in the late n i net i es . 08; .J'"'ck Hinto:1 , H. D. Poyner , :111d 

Ral ston McCai g a t time s held i nt e rest s i:1 ti1e p roperty . At present it i s 

owned by t he TJna i i ne Co . w d i s managed by I' cCaig. Ac cor d i ng t o h i m 

th total product i on !:as been u.bout $3 , GOO , wl:..ich was l a r gely extracted 

hom floa.t by an a.rrastre on Five:ni le Cree __ , 

The princi pal work a t t he :-a consists of a tunne l about 1 , 350 fe e t 

lon fr om d1ich several ~ho rt d:::-ifts and cro.;. cuts 11 a ve been driven . I n 

arl.di tion to t he long t·mnel ~le _ e are n ,:n~rou shal lo·.v su_ face openin6s. 

For about 300 fe e t fr om a 11oi nt ,q_ out 4 80 feet from the -portc...l the long 

tunne l follows for tre r10 -t p2It a vein k:-:~o·m as the Aughy vdn . Another 

vein was fol l ov1ed for about 150 f ee t b:' a drift at the e::J.d of the long 

tm·, e l. 

The ore c.t t1 e n.::t mine i s ccj:moseC. of ,·t.i t e: quartz , nhich in p l ce 

coni.. ui 1s cons:i.cl :::-able disse;nin.at d -,,_u~~~-- d.es . The quartz i s enclosed in 

gra.'lodio ite or a rAla t ed :co _: tl-'.:1t co:ltain nu.--:1erou n~.Lu::;io s of 

quartzi t e . The boy of qu.::::.rtz a t t:-_e end of 'r.e long tu:.me l has been best 

ex osed . I is lens- c,":al)Od o.nd i·12 s a. :1a.xi m1'n wid ~1 of abou t 5 roe t near 

he middle of tlc len . . (See f i G. 9 . ) The han. ing vall of the qu.c~r z 

is bounC. d by s everal inc!1 · s of soft t; ay [;01.. ge , which co tin e"' as a 

gou~e illecl Iis., 8 beyor1d t he lini ·s of tr.e q, artz . The q'·artz {.;rade 

into silicifi c. anodiori te O!l the h,::.;-:C.> i::..i;- wall sit':.e . Pyrit e and some 

galena a"e r a ther sn.:.:.rscly disse?"l inat e,· t :: ,.·ow;h t he C:.'l<.~.rtz . In Sentember 

F'~2 Ed . Cornl~ had ju. t founrl a "body 01, nun. tz ont -inin,~, consi A.e rable 

d:!.sscmi::J.ate d pyr · te o.nd ~~ '" le::J.a i n a "':1allo.v 1J.t th ~ t mr.y e e cnt t he 

s' fn.ce expos-u.re of tho cpart z e:>..-posed in the tt:.--:nel <..lo·:~ . At the t i me 

of this survey this body of quartz v .., not s·.lfi'ice::J.tly exposed to deto mi ne 

its a ttit-..ldc . It ap1-.ea r c d to be or e of ~. ry good brc..de . 

38/ Hbtorico.l do t ::.. furr.isr.ed by B. . .lston ~cCa . 
N 

Granodiorite 

sheared dr"ld altered 

EXP LANATION 

r:·4 E2J 

Quartz Quarlz1te 

r----:--1 

j 4 0 ' 

Fault showing Stnke andd1p str1ke and dip of rocks 

Granod iorite 1 

I I 

70° 

//I 

1 ,3"soft 

40.~/gouge 

10oFeet ':-'-'-...LL--'-L...LLL__ __ _J 

Survf!Yed, Septetnber !932 

0 50 

Figure 9o-- Ore body at end of long tunnel, Una mine o 

59 
83103 

Un i on bro .._., , G·vl ~ c·co·.m, D.- '. l.i'topi ..,_ 

The l:l1ion 'J p o:.. t :·w R .... e rt Pr.el .. c ., t:'.t c i s J_l Big Creek ,just 

nbove ti'te mouth of !:entD..ll Creek . I t is uiJ cdt 3-h r-:-i.le s oy t a il Lorn 

Dixie }. eCJ.dows r a::1ge r statL.m ·o1.1.t onl~r about a mil e r ron the eild of the 

r o d f r om Oroc;r c:.n de , vhi c:1 l ead.s p ast t e Eomestc:ke mine ove2· tl"te d j.vide 

and fol ::. ows down J3ig Cree·c t o a point just p9..st the mou.th of .. cG1Jire 

Creek . The workings, vrl1.ic!: a re on 1Jot:.1 sides of t:1e cree , v: e~ e almost 

entirely i na.cce ssiole -out ~Ols is·~ of neve ::..· e.l small tu;1aels and pro r>ec t 

pit s. 'J:he cmm try rock., are r.,L~J ·tz mm:>.onite ann qua:·t ,.ite . A 4..0-,.oot 

hL''l:lel ~ tree E-a2 t f,iAe of t'. e G:.:ce c c..lcll g t ne tncil to Di::ie .. en.c.o·.n 

f ol ov; a '1- foo t qum·t z v a 5.n in .c; ~:a. li t:i.c rock t l-J.n t st! i)'~e 1 • 56° ·.7 . and . "'-0 0 -:nr. n , . . b d ':, - 1ps ~ l' "" • .ule ve 1n 1s O'I.L'1 er::. ~' seve:cal incnes of g0uge on each v;a.ll . 

T'ne Puel z estate a, ~.' orms the Gold .rovm , which lie s abou t l } miles 

nort-nest of the Un.'on g1 -P · It is i n r: ite quartzit e , but the <J.nartz ite 

in t:re vicini ty c a r ::.· ies consid.e _ ab le grc.ni tic mat er: al . ein qu<- tz •:t , s 

seen on t l1e d-Jlnp , but t:ie \'/Or::hlgs 1:/ec·e i nacc ess:\.ol e . 

Several other , ::-p sp ect s, Llch~ Ginr,; t he Uto,;:d.a , lie i n t he Big Creek 

drainat;e basi 1 , b'llt one of t~ r. : -3.ve lJrod1.1.c eo , C'l nd ::.1 were inaccessible . 

Aln nmor :t, Sa:1 :s'rancisc o , Gold Cr own , a nd St . Louis 

Lit t le v;ork has bee n done on the Al:'ln.mbra , San Francis o , and Gold 

rmm cl a ims, but at the St . Louis t!'el· is a 120- foot crosscut ancl a 

95- foot c~ _ ift .s.lono o. str.Jng ,-ein . T'r1ese fo·u.r vc: i~.- :n&y "e lo~g one 

E_,sure , -s e ;:.cn rro ie cts tor1<-'rd tne ne xt . Ti_e AL,[JI!10ra a..'ld Sar_ Frc..nc.:. co 

c::'-n be de:..· ni tely tr "' ed into each ot '!le r , but a gap sepan. tes the San 

?rn:nc i ::;c o f ror the Gold C_ o·:m , and a l a r =>e r 5e.p sep:_rates t11e Gold Crovrn 

fro ,1 t he St . Lou:·.s . f11he cone ·al ~"cr ke L. about -. 20° E ., a nd the dip s 

rcmse be t '. ·een 50° a·HJ. 80 ° E . The Alh3I!l r n i s owned by the b - oup hat 

o ·:ns t he t . ... au~ ; t e San F,_ D.-11.C3.. s o b~r :!f . A. R ney , of lf.odest 'J , Cc-J. i f. ; 

the Gold C:.:own b;. A. F . s hu::. tz , of 01· o,_,r1. nde ; and the St . Loui ..,. b;y- the 

Galen L . Stone estate . T~:e v i ns :c <...n::;e i;1 L.ic~rne P from a few inche ., 

to nore t i1an 10 fee:t . u.:1.r tz mon·>o .i te is t he prL1cijlal v1a ll rock, out 

locall schi st is p r esent . ~J'., .... r t ho po ~<:.1 o., r,he St . LouL, t un el the 

chist st i es :L 25° E . and dip s 30° ~:ji' . The wall rod.o::s and tr_e ve in 

mat e r i al show e vide;,1c e of cousi i .r . ble s:tearinc, . I n.:. laces the quar t z 

contains drusy vugs. Th C"Uar'c z or. t] o ch ~p c.t the Gold C 0\'m cont.s.i ns 

dissemina ted pyrite , chnlco-;:>Y ·ito , r,::lc n:;. , and cov ellite . Su.lpr"id c s a re 

abundan t in the c.;:uartz e:. se d L the St . l..o ;j _ s (:rift • 

Ilig Buf:ralo 

The Ili g Buffalo mi ne , now o;med b;ir the Swee ney I nvestment Co ., of 

Portla:1d , Oret:. ., is at Hu.--np town , a. t;hort di stance Bouther.st of Buffalo 

Rump . Th mine is n t irely i naccessi ble no v, bu t acc ording to ·eports the 

60 
83i 03 

wor1dngs consisted of a two- conpa.,..tmcmt .. b :tft o.bout 210 f ee t deep f om 

\'!hi c:1 two levels we r e tu.:."ned at 65 a::1d l 80 fe e t . About 190 f ee t of 

drifting r;as do;1e Oil '..,re fi :;:~ t level , ru1c. 260 :fe:; t on t "l-J.c ~ cond. Sev e ral 

short cross u ts rn re llrivc::1 frorr. e :.ch l uvel , XHi con .. idcr n."Jl e ground \rn.s 

st-:>ped . 

1he J2 i g :Bu::falo was the or g::.na ~ discove./ 01 the district and ,.as 

. ,ar1. in the fall o:f 1 898 . A .cordi ng to eport s t e ore nas fL st hauled 

to Calendar c:.ni. was mil l ed there , bu'G ln.te r '" 10- sto.r:lp mill was set up a t 

the r.Jine . In 1903 b0tl: mi?J.e anc. nill we r e clo s d , and t r ... e·,-e has been no 

production sinc e . 'Thomson >,nd :Ball arC. ~0 / s::.y th8.t t h e :Big :Bu::':.'alo :;hoo t 

i s r epor te d to :tav c yielded $250 , 000 s ro ss , v:hich , ·lith the c.n1.de milli:1g 

mettods then in vog-~J.e , P- obabl~r r enres :: ts le£;s t han 75 ercon-'c o: the 

full value . Some vcr:;y- r:i. h or e is- sa id to have c nme fro~1 the lo"/O r l evel. 

The mont~ly r ep ort s frorn J une 1902 to February 1903 sh'lw t h.:1t the ore 

milled L1 t 1R t interv;~ l ave c-.ge d. $l4 . SO a ton , of d lich $8 . 52 v1a s aug~ 1t 

on the plat es, n. recove ry of 57 percent . 

The v e in apparently is mostly i!1 the schist . The strike of the 

schi stos".. ty <..:. t the mi e avere.ges about "L 45° E ., n.nfl. it dips ~5° 'The 

vein is as r!lnch as 10 f ee t tLic_: , ; n cl tne wa l l ro .k on ~ot:h sides is 

o:dinarily bre .... c i akd ar d silicifi e .. At tl1e shaft this crushed we.ll rock 

has b een min ro. £'or n.brmt 18 r'er t -;1 the l1angi '15 - "lul l side . The v8i 1 st.,.. Lees 

r.bout 1T . ll'J E. nne. i:ps 3!) 0 W. It -.-.\ r trace-. dcr' it el~" on t he ;,urfn.co 

for about 5()0 f<Je t , a:1d floa t i?:ld:'..c :~. , s t l.:· .. ,t it mry 8xt end n..bou t :300 fe0t 

fa,..ther . la~ , t~ e line of stl'ike to the nort~l and sepn.r o t ed l.Jy a r,ap of 

ab-:Jut 400 f eet a simil a r vein l <-.. S follo\red for 200 feet , n..'1d bey::md a 6ap 

of 600 f ee t to the sO'lth anoth~-- w~~.s traGeti. l ,roo fee t . 

'lhe v e in i::; ::.c.1s~ed lo al::..y , n.nd '" 6rne s e vond- c;enerat i on qua tz is 

apnar ent . It c ont a i'ls mo.ny inclusio 1f of al t c r e. d v;:lll ro c. J, uci~ of the 

qu.J.rtz sltows CO!:lb stru ct e , n.ne. in one f,})ec imen the orr mine:.uls C::!pea_ 

t o ltave /o ~::ec'. in a long tr"e: comb struct E"C . Pyri :.e , sp:•::'..l c ri t e , tetr2..hedrite , ch a l co:pyrite , gold, g:'tle::1a , n.nd c•wellite we re r ecos.1iz8d .• 

Cracke r Jack Wld. Wi:1slow 

Tlle old Cr £'..ckc r ~T · ck mine i 8 ncar the 1-:ead of Lake Crc8k , south of 

Calendar and about 1 , 000 fee t .::.bove it . The own'Jr is reported to be J · H • 

Ho 1ard , of JJong ~ach , Cul if. The :propo:·ty is dovE loped ~~~ , eve r c.l tunnel r. , 

and t here h:1s been considerable stopir.f; , but a la1·ge pa:rt of the ol d workng~ is i nacc ..,si ble 8.t the p r enmt t ime . ':'he 20- :; t unp Cr -~ ker .T aC1

< mill 

is a t Calrndc. r and wa~ r,m by 'ator :!'owor from Cr;{sku :,c.1...lco . The lovJe 

level , 60C' f ee t abcv e the r.L.ll , i s partly open . A 1 , 000- f vot cross--ut 

interse cts the vein , v.nd o.bout 800 f GC t of drifts c::tn still be e nt ered . 

United Stc.tc: :3 :BurP au uf i•linc r; r e cords shor; a p roduc tion of 3 , 401 . 86 ::'inc 

ounce:.; of t;old from 131 tons of ru e or o in the interval 1902- 10 , b1.1t 

it is not known t h 8.t this r ecord i s COl!!i>lctc . No prod.u tion i s report e d 

for 10ns or 1909 . 

39/ Thomson , F . A., and :Ballard , s. A. , op . ci t ., P:P · 10 8- 110 . 

Gl 
83103 

The country rock i s pr incipn11J quartz r:1onzonite , but many large 

xenoliths of schist are also pr esent . Two veins crop out on the surface . 

The larger one could be traced for several hundred feet and a~ges in 

thiclme ss from 18 inches to 8 feet . Some of it has been stoped to the 

surface . An average trend of the vein may approach N. 18° E. , with a dip 

of 80° NW ., but the attitude differ s somewhat at different places. In 

the lower tunnel the exposed part of the vein is betv1een l and 25 fe et 

thick . The wall rocks, mostly alter ed and sili cifi ed quart z monzonite , 

are separated from the vein by gouge and by brecciated wall rocks and 

quartz . 

The inslow prospect of Ed . Hei ghtsman, of Ont ario , Oreg ., lies along 

Lake Creek about 1 , 500 f eet upst ream from Calendar, belo 7 the Cracker J ack 

mine . About 9 feet of quartz is exposed in a prospect pit . Thi s vein 

strikes • 23° E. and di ps sao SE. 

Dewey 

The Dewey vein of Reuben cGrego r , of El k City, crops out i n the 

Creek bottom about a mil e ~outh of Concord . The country r ock i s quartz 

monzonit e . The vein is about 5 f ee t thick and it strikes N. 20° E. and 

dips 80° SE . The vein passes beneath moraini c material to the south . 

.Turnbo 

The JlLmbo mine is at the head of Jumbo Canyon , on the north side of 

the creek. /The underground workings ar e now inaccessible. According to 

Campbell 40 the property is now owned by R. J . cConnell, of Grangeville . 

The property vas located in the fall of 1898 . After a little development 

a 2--stamp mill was installed, which ran only 30 days befor e 2 mor e stamps 

were added . The 4 stamps in a little over a year crushed ore that yielded 

over $40, 000 . Table concentrates were saved . In 1902 a 24- stamp mill was 

installed , and it ran about 2 years. Ore was t aken out intermittently by 

lessee s u_~til about 1915 . United Sta t es Bureau of ines records for 

1903-15 show a gold produc tion of 18 , 179.43 fine ounces . 

The following des cription of the workings W is taken from Thomson 

and Ballard' s report : 

11The Jumbo mine i s lo cated on the usual t ype of quartz vein common 

to the country . The out crop , up and down a st eep gr anite exposure , afforded 

easy development by means of tunnels. Of t~ese , there are four aggregati ng 

over 2, 700 f eet of work . The ore occurs in hoots and has been stoped 

out between levels. These stapes are now inaccossi ble . 

Campbe1l , Stewart , Thirty- fourth annual report of 

of I daho , fo r the year 1932, p . 158 , 1933 . 

Thomson, F . A. , and Ballard , S. M. , op . cit· , PP . 

62 

the mining industry 

105-106 . 
83103 

11 :No . l (upper ) t unnel was less th&n 200 feet in lengt h and attained 

a depth sligi1tly less than 200 fee t . Consi derable ore came from t h i s 

tnmel. It is nov1 inaccessible . 

11 o . 2 tunnel , 80 fe e t below no . l , :1as run 510 feet long , and the 

ore 1·1as stop ed out to the upner leve l . As thi s tllimel i s b.::tdly c a.ve d , 

iO dat a are ob t ainable there from . Record s show a considerable tonnage 

from this p lace . 

11 JXo . 3 tunnel , 230 f ee t below no . 2 , was 850 feet long . Two distinct 

ore shoots are exposed on this l evel. The first was encountereC!. 150 

feet from the portal and. was 335 feet in l ength alone the cour.:;e of the 

t <nnel , varying i n r:idth bet··?een 4 and 14 f e et . At 690 feet from the 

portal a second shoot ';ras encountered that extended for 175 feet alon the 

tunYJ.e l and had a wi dth of 12 feet . Lessee s di scover ed this shoot and 

GOuged out ore t h a t ~t ed $b ,OOO , leavi ng the low grade . I t averaged 

bebeen $11 .:.md $12 per ton . The f ace is about 850 f ee t f r om the portal , 

and the vein VIas not exp oo ed by crosscuts at this p oint , for r easons not 

apparent . 

11 No . 4 tunnel , 330 f ee t below no . 3 tunne l , i s dri ven on the hangingwall side of the ledge for 1 , 255 f eet . The footwall is not expo ed except 

in a fc r crosscuts. Ore >as c count e r ed at 350 feet from the portJ.l , 

but for 180 feet farther vas conddered too low g r ade to handle . At 530 

feet from the portal a stope 'Ia st a r ted on the h a ne:;ing- wc.ll ... treak hut 

\'las carri ed up only a f ew sets. No crosscut wa" un to the footvl'a ll t.ere . 

At 600 feet no . 2 sto, e was st. rted and continued for about 100 fee t up 

and 100 f"ct along th~ vein . o crosscu t wa!" r un to the footr1all at thi 

place . At 7GO feet a cro~scut to t he ~ootwall exuosed 4 feet of good ore . 

). 000 f eet a cross ut to the fookrall f."..iled to find ore . At 1 , l "'0 f ee t 

another shoo t var; en count e r ed a,..'"ld stoped GO feet higl1 for a length of 60 

feet alon. the tunnel. Three crosscuts e tween the l , l CO· point and tho f a ce 

n.t 1 , 2;-;G fee t wer e ru ... '"l to the footvml l b',J.t exposed only J.ov,r- g r ade ore such 

as could • ot be handled . A g o ,~e or E:lv<.ge from 2 i:ncho to 3 f ee t thick 

follows the hanb inc'; ·1all throughout the lsn~th of no . 4 tunnel. Ann. roYI 

ba ic dike cuts cliar?:O· o.lly aero s the v ein in a shoot st o:red out 'be t ;·Je n 

no . ~ and r..o . 4 l evels. '~he relation o this dike to the shoot coulCl. no t 

be a.sc rtn.ine d. 11 

The countr~' rock of tr.e J:..1mbo vein i quartz monzonite which co!ltain 

oc o.sional x cnoli th~ of mi e n. s hi st . 'Ihe vein cut., thro·ugh the g::can itic 

ro k in -~ dire c t ion a few O.et>r ePs east of north and. dips 50° - 70 ° Z . The 

ma:~imun '.'lid t h of the vein is rep orted to be about 20 fee t . T:le out rop was 

traced for about 1 , 300 f ee t , but t'wre W<.L!> no qu.artz fer part of t}:i s 

dictance , n.l thm.cgh the shearina :.p:pD.rently c~ntinu . The fissu.rs may 

ex t end still fa_ thor north , as p:::ospec t pi ts sh ow CiUa~· tz di::ec'.;ly on he 

line of strilce , e1.bout 500 and 1,000 feet a1·:ay, in tha t d.iroct:i.on . It is 

quite li:c ly that t he Ven 7-ur o mn.y be the continuati on of the Jurr.bo to the 

south . 

63 
·.an t e Cr i sto 

The .1ont e Cri s"'co ljes a.long t he r0<J3 

It i s opened oy a c r0ssrut ad:'. t ~boc'.t J.:o 

5 ... oTt dr i ft tott. r~rs on t"11e h2..:v~ .n; w<1: l. 

caved . 

83103 

"Lcti.C8ll F:.:o_,to·• ... anc l'i:':np to7m . 

fee t l onG t o the vPi n .:'-id. a 

A 50- f oot hQ t on the ve in i s 

T'.:1e c ount ry ro k is ra ~ e r c oarse E,:r tlined quartz F.ton:.; on i t e . I n tT. nc r al 

t he ve i n s~ ri~~es abo1.t . 15° E . a...'1d di 1, C5° E ., l:n.:.t \"/here exposed i n t h e 

nng..; t he \lvllf'; <.Xe r.ot parallel. ~r ... e e~.n is 12 feet t }lic:c \ .. 1er e cu t 

"by he cr0sscu t -but L:ts :1·croned. t o 4 2 i n-...:1-'.es L1 t l e .1orth f<ce 0 3() 

inc~es i n t he south fo.~(. . Se- e r a l ::. nc!.es of -:--.l~hc-~ q'-oart- z c.nd gonge a r e 

pr esent 011 be . '7a l l . '1' c vc i :1 i s £'.1:1Jf 0sed t0 re en i;.hc ::m1t r:.ua~ :1 of 

the St . PD.nl \·e i n , but t h::'·e i s a c::;.:1p of fJ.Carly 2 , 0CO f eut between the tm 

without exposur es o v.;i n matter . 

Lo her LoC.e (Co ord) 

Con c ord is t he si te of tl ... e 1/ othe Lode or Concord :ni ne , '<!h i ch wa s 

di sc ove2·ed s o on aft e r ~he :B i £3 BTff c;,lo , i:.1 t ile f;.ll of l8g8 , by P . J . 

Turner , who sol d i t L:at sc-:ne vr 11te~ . sup:;oscd.l :r f'?r 0.b 0'1t ;lO'J , CQC• , to 

Galen 1 . to!l.c , \ihose ec- t atz ill .-·:mr: tl:e r r 0:)e ty. T::: ... e .. lin e \',"-'!> en ti el y 

i nac cec;si ble a t the t ine of thi s s U'V<~;,- , but T' vms .. m and P-':l.ll a rc 1 s r 8p ort 

car :ri et: 8. s·:cc tc:l of t~1c , j !i.G 1...:2/ rl!'"<i c·"1 ~:1o -:-s a _. - curr:)<t.r tncnt shrft extendi ng 

to the ·b ottom o tho Jn::.no a..'1d n.:1ot:·,er s·L~rle co:npa ~~ent s:h....,_ft t o t :he fL. st 

l eve l. T·nc mi n e ha:·: lc-v o:'.s ... ·.t 77 , 1 77 , <..<.nd 277 f cnt , v·h i c1J. have ab uut 250 , 

375 , and 235 fe8 t of ddf".,i'lb o:~1ccti ej_~· . F:c:)m t h e se·: e rD.l dri::t "' 25 

cro :;sc,.1.t s ag ~re3a :l.ng < .•b::rD t ?20 feet o:· '".'Cr· c h.qxe :~ee:1 t·.:rne;d . l.bch of the 

ore ~i~e d i s sa d to ~~"~- ~lC to ~~3 ~ ton i n ~o . 

The mine i s i n scl'is"'c BJ\iacent t '} a 0U:t t ·: mon:..;onite or.. t n.ct . 

( S':)e pl. l. ) rr:n · chir.t conti· L.~ co'lr;t0c·~b:!.e hod.ic::; of tne i n tr 1.si re rock , 

and bJtL 1'1<'-~~ uu t"'L \·n.ll 0cl-s 0f :··:t, vL-~.n . i'}:e sc!1 ' st i s c r:!Inpled i n 

thi~ v:!.c i ;1i t :r b· ... t ".J"lP':li'..!' c:. i:1 t:,.Jnc_;.:l to t ... i ::e u lit tle oast o.:. !l.ort:l a nd 

t o di"p no thnest . 

T'nc stri ~e of "che v , i n ra.'1gcs f r orn ~. 18° E . a t t l:.o mi c to ::-~bo 1.t 

north a t tr.o rortu..l'l<- r onu t.;, :;_ , 800 .t co'~ f <1r t! cr no::: t h . I t J.ip 3 st ·'eply 

t o the wc~ . I ts kl;~s~ i s not tho .,·J1c f t clirfc cn t plc.co:· : e-m in h 

or no to lO fee~ rr.~, '! 1)e the a:.1ge , altl:-.Juc;h its ~,..,}_arun t th::.c:ces.: i rrr•J.C'h 

gre<:..te_ in ulaces e .··.;~1s0 of b:..ec;ci::;.t ed '111d sili cifi AC.. V/[ .. 11 r ock . T1te ve i n 

i s commonly . bomced ou oath ··alls by ~'eavy gmlCE' , nhich co.'lt i :1ucs f or .,hort 

di st a'1ces e·.ren vib..erc t l:ere i " n o qo.::.ar t z . T:-:e vPL co, l d. bt:! tr:>c.::Jr .. on l y a 

f e·:, f ee t sout r. of tr"e nat n s}_af "L , 1.JC C<J.1JSO o ... a s\'l&lp t~13.t c ov c. ·s i.ts outcrop, 

hut i t rna~ · n ot ext cn d mu ,h f a rthe_ , ~s it seems t o be r~-e:r f; ou t nea. 

the ed[;e of the swamp , ::1.'!.1d :1 S(.. t u:f c::~.s r, ard tr ndi ne ~1. rtz qt ringe1·s cross 

t he trend of t ho vein t he re . 

42/ 'l"homr;on , F . A., and Balla:::-d , s. It. , op. it., f i t; . 1 2 , p . lf), . 

64 
83103 

'The seq1. nc~ of minel·c l' zn.tion aprea::s to be qua tz , pyrite , tetranedrit e , h.J. lc :};,-~·lt :J , .::tnd tc.l en_ . ~re CJ. .la :::tz i s corn:nonl:v of t1c comb variety, allC't ti ·e vein C''.!'Ti e s rn<;l:r,;y· f r ar:r:,ents o:f s d. lici fier_ ·. <.ll rocks. 

Spokane t:.nd Ti 5 e 

The Spo\::a:;e ve i of A. J;' . Sc:C.'t1l t z a :ld Pe t e Klinld>.am..rner liAs on the 

south si de o:.. R: by .(e . It is clevelorecl b • t 1t:ree l e e l s , ":h i ch expose 

a ve in t h<it i s a t le:.. :s t 30 f ee t i n T:1axi m.11u t ·. ::ne~ , trends a few degrees 

eost of north , a.'1d C.ips 60°- 65° SE . 

Tnt:: Ti _ el· v ir~ of Lou .Ai.1c'i erso· l ie s o. the north si tie of Rl_b :y La...'k:e 

n li.ttl e ':le s t of t he p roj e ction o f the po~cane 'rein . T'.ne Ti,se :- ve in spli ts 

and f eathe: rs o t so 1thw.::.: rl about 500 f c e t ab ove t hG sl:or c of the lal~c . 

I t can 'b e ·. r a c e d to t.n0 n0r t h ov e r t h e divide bL.t ecn Ruby a nd Bear Lakes 

a.nd nea rly to th() s .or e o: :Bear Laku . T'. Tiger ve i.:1 .:: t .Ande r son t s t'Uilncl 

i s abo 1t 10 f e e t t .h -:. ck . 

Both v e i ns a r e in qJ.nrt z :--:wn zoni t o and both , how he!"..vy g ouge locally 

on both v1all s . 

St. Pn.ul 

The St . P o.ul v e in li e s j u s t ~'.. t of Concord.. IJ:'h i s :01'0JlOrty M d the 

Aln::untra ::.r c mmod o;r Vl . D. Vi n e en t , of Sp ok:t.rlt.: , 7 illinm l'i chol s , Frank 

Culbe rts on , a:1cl o-:;hor ,; . Tl 0 ve in a.s c:;.:.p osocl in cuts tr c1·1<:1.s a bout N. 20° 

E. <:mi. r'U. ~ 5~ 30°E . 'l~r'Jc s out:-n end "r)C;n s t o ..; ~ly due cast . The vein 

was traced on the s1rfa c e io-r a.bou t 1 , ri00 f ee t . T:i1e Wc?l ll rock is p rincipr..lly schL,t , and b:->th !'.c.li st u 1d v e i 1 .ateri o.l c.hov; ev i dl nc e of T!Tl ch 

shear i ng . The v e in l"'la t eric.l .:.s loca ll:; v· ·~ gy anct C·Jn t a i ns inc l usi ons 

of the wall rocks. 

Ventur e (De l Rio ) 

Tho Ven t ure mine , forMe ly the De l Rio , of A. F . ~d C. A. Schultz, is 

at t he he3.d of J uobo Canyon o:!". t .e south . ide of the creek . The prop erty 

consi sts of a t un :1ol r.:.b out 1 , 100 f e , t lonr; , a g ood caoin, e.nd a small 

2- st :mrp mill run by wa t e r 1)ov:er . T. _(' 1;r·o1)ert;;r was being a cti vcly oper<!.t e d 

at t, le tine o:' Plis sl.L v ey . A. F . Sc!>ul tz r eports that since t he pro:perty 

was v i cit ed. some hi;;h - g n : .. d.c ore he>.s t.:; en . truck in u. now C.rift on ::t higher 

l.::ve l . 

The country :coc,~ .ts p :-incil!t.LllJ u.. z :nonzo£J.i te , bu t l a:-ge x enoliths 

of blnck ·chir;t n.. r~; also ur c s•:nt . The :!:'iss,.::o strik<: s be t ween north and 

25° E . alld d~:ps nbout ?o0 .l!i . It t'1'\! iJ a colltiml8.tion of the J1lffiDO vein . 

Fi€Uro 10 illuf'\t;.nt ... :s tho l enticula r sh:"..po of t : (_'\:to.rtz bodies cmd the 

f c.c t th.:..t only p.:'.-rt of a :fi<" surc :·:r ... · occup i ed by qu.::·.rtz . Th e metallic 

minerals r e co ,niz e cl inc ~udc p •·ri te , gul e na, chc,lc "p;)':-i te , covelli t e , and 

mol yb denite • 

65 
,-..:_·, North ~---------

uartz _ ......... 70. 

[Z] 

Quartz. Black schist 

_ ,J--- A 7o() 

Fault, showing dip Strike and dip of rock 

, 

Vertical fa., It 

bO 0 so L50feet Survllj'ed,Ju!y 1932 

Figure l Oo-- Geologic map of the Venture (Del Rio) mine o 

66 
83103 

Ve suvi u s 

The Ve suvius ve in crop s ou t near t h e 1.ead of Like Creek, ab ou t half 

a mil e above, encl .a : The v1or k i ngs are i nac c essi ble no·; , but a c cording 

t o r eports t ne shaft l S 200 fee t deep . The ve in i s supp ose d t o .ave been 

di scover e d in t he f a ll of 1898 by J ohn Sch i ssle r , J oh n J\adi son , and iiTat ha.l 

Petti bon e . Th e se t h r ee sold out t o Charl e s Svteeney , of t he Sweeney I nv est -

ment Co . The or e was milled at t he Cra cker J ;: .. cJc mill al ,::_ i s r eported to 

have run ab ou t $9 a ton . The v e i n st r i kes ab out . 30° E. and i ps 65° SE , 

la r Eagl e 

The llar Eagle mi ne is on Fit z Cr e ek, a tri but ary t o Crooked Cr eek, 

about 13 mil es s out h of Di xi e and about a mi le sout h o: the Buffal o Hump 

~uadran le . A s e rvic eabl e r oad extends f r om Di xi e to a t ran sfer station 

a mi le sout h of Dix i e . eadovrs r anger st at i on . From this p oi n t t he mi ne 

i s r eached by a g ood pack t r a il about 9 miles l ong . The mi ne camp i s 

a t an alt i t ude of a b out 3 , 300 fe e t . 

'"illiaro Boyc e l ocat ed t he War Engle mi ne i n 1898 .

43/ Tho di scove r y 

was made Oil t he Blue Bell c laim . In 1912 he loca t ed a boulder of highgr e.de float ne [~ r t he sit e of the mou t.h of the Boyce t unnel and. sh ortly 

ther ea f t er f ound t he Boyc e or e s .oot , ·1hi ch had no v i si bl e sur fac e out c r op . 

Boyce sold t he p ropert y to Ge orge J . Bo.ncro f t a nd •.r. illiern H. Day , who 

wer e the own er s in 1932 , although ::1.t thc.t t ime t he p roperty a bein 

opera t ed by t. e Centrc::.l I daho Gold i n i ng & .tilling Co . under a bond and 

l eas e agr eemen t . Al l of the p r o due t ion from tho p r ope t y as C Oi from 

the Boyce or e b ody si nc e 1931 . _ ccordi n to 1 a l tcr Cr aft , t rust ee vnd 

ma.nage r for t he Cen t r a l I du.ho Gold I. ini ng & illin~ Co ., the p roduction 

has been about 1 , 500 tons of or e . Sine 19 ,(3 t he lessees , i n addit i on 

to t l1e \70r l:: they hav e done unde g r ound , ha e built a mill and power hou e 

and. o. comfort able camp . ?he po':JFJ r p l ant is a t t .e juncti on of Fit z Creek 

and C ooked Cr eek, abou t t h r e e Oi.-a t ers of an i l e be lon the mi ne . The 

mill i,.. a flotation p l ant vlit h ~ o.pacity of about 25 tons daily. mhe 

concentra t i ng rati o a~ s f r om 30 : 1 to 100 : 1 , dependi n on the gr ade 

of the ore . 

ost of the work h as been done on the Bo, ce and Blue Bello e bodies. 

he Boyc e or e body hn.s been proved. and part ly mi ned fo a v e t i cal di stance 

of 21'1 f ee t and a horizont 1.l distance of l JO f e et . The deve lop;nont s on 

it comp rise the Boyc e ~ upper l eve l , abo· t 340 f ee t long , ~1d the Holm s 

l evel , c onsist i ng of a ;nai n cro s "cut 225 fe e t lont; and ov e r 1 , 000 fe e t 

of drift and sho t c r osscut s . The Holme s l evel i s 140 f ee t e low the 

Boyc e and i s connec t ed vi th i t by a r a i .,e . The Blue Be ll workin s , i n 

addi t i on t o a numberof shaTI.ow sur face cu t s, consi s t of a tunne l about 300 

f eet l ong and seve r a l short crosse 1t s . 

The or e u~s in a hyb r id 6 ani t ic roc c that i. probably best clas e d 

as gr a nodi ori t e . It i s medi um- gr ?.ine d and li crht- colored and co:1t a i ns 

spar sely dist r i but ed f l akes of bioti te and musc ov ite , A specimen f om the 

f a ce of the Hol mes l ev el c onsi sts of about 60 t o 65 p erc ent of olig oclase 

43/ History from a p r i va t e r ep ort b y Geor ge J . B~~ ro . 

67 
..sao.L-' , 

C'~ ...... 

" <<!-L-.....;: ~<, " ,, \\ ", 

\\ "-<;; <' /// " 

' \. / <' ; i:aved 

Country r ock, ' '-/ '- granodiorite and ''-

Country rock, 

granodiorite and 

related rocks 

related rocks eo• ' 

','~, ' \ ~ ·:: 

ave'l!-~~\-

-----+Z 

Country rock, granodiorite and related ·rocks 

Country rock,~ranodiorite apd rdii.ted r ocks 

EXPLANATION 

Quartz , show-

•ng th ckne~s 

Fault 

~ zone 

Fau It 

· 

Strike and dip 

Vertical -fault 

plane 

Ill Rai~e 

181 Manway 

25 0 IOOFeet 

Surv<'yed, July 1932 

;rlny quartz stringer 

Figure llo- Geologic map of the Holmes and Boyce levels of the War Eagle mine 

68 
8~H0 3 

witb. :J.!l ti.Vl!?. .. £~5 ~ cor;r .:; .:~::_ ~ ~. of ~t\cr: t Or~ · T:"'·.is n1 i 11e :rt ... l is ~o , and i i1 

t ' t' . <··. :nos· '•.L a.e, .:_e ElYLe: ..: o:1e" a' e I;n:·tl; :.~lt c:;c~ to s~.; :r ci e MC 1 cL .y 

:n i nere.l . E: _r e c: n c

1

. t . . ::·e L ;.e oli~o ! . .::-. e :!:lP.r.; 'X-~ tly renlD.cec:. b iotite and 

:nusc ovi tc alon,; co~ t: cts o-f' '"" typ e co:i1JO ""~ly :;or;iled 11 r e sor·nti on bo1mda ies. 11 

.. :yr.. old tic inter:;ro ·rt:1 s of q li.J..,.' t!: a: e common in the oligo.·.la e . ctuartz 

makes up about 25 })erc en t o.-. te ::oc ~-: s' u d.:.e(i. . It is <.~~1Ul<"'-::.' .<-..nd exhi b its 

str a in extinction id e:1 tic.:- l wi tl1. t! .:"t of t1:e i :}lj_ te c-t13.::.·tzi t o ;,_ 1 o~ t 

dist<mc e nJrt lw:e:- t o · t_le mine , ·.1·1 L.e 3n:~ :- o :=·llm~'J · g_"'J..s.nr ,...:t l. . Glwst 

out] ines i n(lj_ ~·. e co r o:.Lla:· _c;o:,v· 1t of t: c gr c:-.i n s . T.' .. ny silli::· oni t o 

nr.ed.l es ,c,re 'l il~' c ous in ::;O.lG of t he ~:.:: :·. i ·.s, £1, r: in I'lnces ~l8 cro.lu.rt2 i s cut 

by ve inl r.> ts COi.l t ·ti n .. :l<: se:•:i i'ce . . f.ic:::ocline ma:ces ;J.p ,_ bout 10 }l c.;_ ccn t 

O:t t 18 :_o :: . It i s c.i stL ctly L:.ter t hc:m olic;oclo.se , O"'..U.'..::tz , c:nc0

_ •• 1i CD.1 

f or i t c'·.ts Sl.rTply .c: oss t}~ese nc_ E·. ~s . Tl.e r. icJ·ocli n .J i consicle ,tbly 

less <c lt c~. ~~ :.:~.n tile; oli gocl.::.se . :B ioti t 8 c:t.i'1ct mus ovitc £, aJ::e up f~-Dou t 

5 p ercent of t>.e _od:, ~:nd. the biotite is tl:.e r:1or e <~.b~"lc>.,:li"l . Some of the 

bioti t e :c L:ili:es -~ e o.l t e:..·ed a.ro1.L'1d tLe i:c ed.,,es to chlo ite <:.~.nd so1r. }_; a tcl\es 

o:' e:,? i do t e . The l' o.;:::: con t a in a little ::1<.'.f,:J.et5.te , o.:t:O.ocl -3-Se , a:J< t} , 

~:ud zi rcon . ~Jear t:w ore boc.ies t~e felcls:pars are i ntensely se_ i ticized . 

The :Bo~· e ore bod~r i s i n t!:e .1<.t <; ;~ w~ .l l of a fau lt so:1e b1own as 

t he ·'Jar Eagl e fault , T:.:.e o:.·e ho ::J.~r i s :nc"::.e u :.; of l ense 40 to 50 fee t 

lo. g <ll1Q 6 t o 8 f ee t t h icl'::: (seE' H e . ll) t' a.t t1ave ;m D.ven:.ge tri~:C Of 

abo1t L 35° E . ::tnd di1. 60 ° - 71) 0 :m . Lenses i.1::we b een found D..S nuc~ as 

250 feet awr::..y · ron t}"..c fault , a.'1~. nB.rr oH <:. w.rt?. stringe rs ext end al most to 

it. The c ont i :J.J.Oi.1S c.line ont of the l en_es L ica t es t!:.~:\.t t hey were de -

posited ng r:ell - ~ ef ir~e d fi ss1.1.r es or fr~,_ ct-.lro s, D. ltLo~h p robe:>.bly not 

o.s on e contin ous t : .b l a r b0dy , in suite of t:".o fo.ct t;·,;:;.t p ost:ninera l 

r~ul tin; hns e k .in.ly a cccnt UD..t ed ti~e le sli!-:e foiTI of t! e £-~:t . 

The Blue Fell o~ e bo : i se.id t o 7 00 f ee t lo::.tg a.cl::; f ee t wi de . 

Tbe ':' ar E<..

0 le f ault i ,; a zone of i ntense ::us~: n'-': , ~nc i nly ·be t we en 

walls fran 5 t o 10 : ee t wp 8. t . r:'he f ault striJ:-:v s nor-:;h and a.i~ s 70° - 80°7. 

S rin.ti m s or:. the l'.~rdo Wc'l.lls wi thin tl·e f c-.ul t ne :p it ch 25°Y. Seve r<.l 

sin<:.ll oclies of q1.1.D.::-·tz \'l e:.. e not ed rii tl..i n t :ne zone . The m:t.in (lrift on the 

Holmes level lJD.r(lllc.~s L .e f c.ult fo:· "J() fe et , und t:1.r ee crosscut r e ·o.ch 

it, so t hQ.t i .ts cO'\.l:i.' sc i .. ;e ll cl ef CJ. e(~ on t · "'"t level . mhe f au lt i s no t 

visi ble on the royc e love t t m::;,J· ;c.J.l be c ·JncealecL by the t2.ght lagg ing 

near the p ort:1.l . 

The relation of tiLe 1!/ c.-.r Ea,:;le f a,1lt to t }.e or e · o i e s i s L"!lportant and 

ho.s not ·boon de fini t ol:v settled, Tho succe s of future cievelopm.ent c-.t t he 

mine vri ll d epend l.:..r l~e ly on the co ... rect i nt rp r e t a tion of ; r elation . 

Ir ~1o ore h c:.s cen G. cnosi t ed in :fi ss1J::c . fon ed b J tl:.e faul ti:1g , it mu st 

have be n i n tro _nced i ·;1 to h<..;."lging- we.ll fr:::.c t·._c r e s of t h o m in faul t <1-"ld 

probably does not xt ncl f " r from the m:.l.in f , ul t zone . On the basis of 

trli s · n t c r n r et;.tion or e bod · c s could. be expect c:c. in other 1:.r:J.1f,i nt-,- wall 

fr a c t u r oc , -more or lo. s paralle l t o t h e lmown c.c-p osits, a.'lc:. t he -round 

could. be prospec t 0cl 'oy drivin a drift }X?·. ll ~ wi h tllc f~ ul t ~:1 d 25 to 

50 f ee t i n the ha~ g i ng Vi['.ll . p r osp ecting i.n t~1e m1ne :a.s been l n p a rt 

guided by t r.i s in t orprek,t i on . 

. 69 
83103 

If t he f r-.ul t i s ln.t er Vc.: :n tt.e ore r.;nd :.,.c~1 c di sp l ac c s it, t!1c likelihood i s great er t hat t :1e fi s ::>ur e e .. lo~ ,; w:1 ich t he o e occur s ·i s n orc continuous to t h e sont _lwe st . Co si c~e n. ti m S:h ;:mld. also be _ _, iven t o the -p ossibility of loc c.~ L b the f a.ul tee. segment ~ t h e or e- bearing f i ssure on .. t he east 

si C.e of t!1e f au lt zone . 

The re l a tion of the f aul t to t he or e canno t lle see n on t.he oyce 

level be ca 1..se of timbe ring . On the lmes l eYel a 3-il ch stl'i!lge_· of 

cpartz a l o g the ore- b e c>.ring fissure p :i.nc:1es out j'l t before i t r eaches 

the f ault , &'1d t he f!; OUf; · ~ the ore- b eu.ring f i ssur e j.)ins t!le ".7<11' Eagle 

f ault i n u c!l a wc.y as to make t1: e r el c.ti ons o'bscnr e . About 25 feet 

n0rth of thi s p l a ce se v er :1l small :oi eces of c~a z conta ining sul _ !1idc s 

·tcre noted i n t i:e g uge of the "ilar Eable f ault . About 180 f e t far t he r 

nor t h m;_o ther sma ll b ody of quartz abo lt 6 i nche s r1ide occu: in the short 

c osscut east o f t he f ault , a nd e.bol'.t .. ,~ fe e t still f.:1:rt ~1e r no t h a smo.ll 

}'1 i ece of r;uartz shows be;ne1:::.t h t he l a0 .:;inf' on the w<- . t "'ide of tne 0ri ft . 

It i s no t eworthy t hat t he a t t i t'1des of t hese bodies of quart ::: diffe r 

con siderably . L.::.r t;(~ y ·because of tl ese p i ece s of .._Uttrtz :i.n the fault zone , 

wh ich are ~ e t ed as b e i :-1 :; p i ece s of clr ag or e , the '.; c.r Ea l e fault 

i s bcl i ved by ~e vrit e rs t o be in e a l . 

Prospec ting sou th •c tward OlJ. tr.e Holue"' leve l along t h e ore- bearing 

fissu r o b eyond the;; end of t :1e Boyc e oro b o y ecf:l.s v e ll j n tifi cd . Th is 

op1n1on i ba.ed par t ly on t he int tion j uct g iven r e fding t ho 

f ul t D.n d p art ly on t ho fact t ha'c ~e l en"' of q-.w.:rtz G:X.'JlO"e d near the 

f <:.ce of tho Boyce lcve :i. vo1.1~d projC;; ct abo .t 50 :fel; t west of tho r i'..i se 

near t h o en of -;;:_e E')lme s l eve l and h ence i s ncnrly in l i n e with tho s outhr;ar d p roj ection on th o Ho l mes l evel of t h ore- earing fi. sure . 

The :1ypoge1 e o e ineral s ·.n c l ·u.d galena , pyrite , chalcopyrit e , 

sphaleri t , t e trc h e d i t e , e..nd .; old, name ~ t } e :) _ de r of abundw1 c e . 

olmM2/ st a t e. t h.:c.t :: unlmown t ell ide anc. ar 5enti t e are also p r sent 

i n tl:e o o . Co!1sid.e_ a 1 supe ge .c co ·elJ. i t P. o cu rs along fractu e s or 

as ilTef,u.l a· patches i n ~ e other su l pr.ide s . '£ .e sul}Jhi des arc for t!le 

11 ost :)art in coar c- _, :!.' a i.1ed v e in quartz bu t a re found als o in si l i c i f i ed 

1·:all rocl~ ne x t to t he e ins. Tho oar se - [..:rai ned (]_ua rtz i . t he olde st of 

C1e vein ~. ls . p y_ i t wc . s i n t od,_c d i nt o it . I n ~na y p l a ces t h8 

py_·itc cut i nd ividi.'-".1 g ::.i n s or has .1orned e.long r;r ain bour1da r i es of 

q_uartz . -n.lEma , hc~ opyrit , s1 hal erit c , c:nd t e t r alle.rit e o cur a long 

fr acture s L'l l)Y ito . Totr ol!cd ito appears t o b - older t·1a..YJ. chalcopyr it e . 

TinJ"· voi · l e t s cont a i nin chalcopyr ite an0_ ga l ena cro ss spha l e i t e , and 

i n turn e i nJ.e t c· cor ai ng r;<.l cna cut bo th c1 a l copyri t o a nd spha l e rit e . 

There is, .• oweve r , no vidence of a definite -pe rio of s'h tte i ng 

s par a ti:'l{': the d.ep o si tion of t 1e se mi neral s . ·_,lobw.n p oin ts out L1at gold 

j_ s no t ad ily mn.d.e v~. i b l e 'r;y pe .. nning or b t he microscope but st a t e s 

·na t i t i s m< .. de ev i dent b y :1cati n[;, polishe d s e tions o:f the ore a t or 

near t he r,elti ng point of galena , Md. t :1erefore , :he st a t es, it i s appar ently 

i n solid soluti on wit: t i.'le sulphi des . 

44. / Tolm~:<n , C. ]'., pri va t e r eport. 

70 
83103 

The p resence of some super gene covelli t e sho·ns t':. t enrici1ment n.s 

taken plac e to some exte;1t , hnt the f acts t :v:.t r;: old was not noted in 

associ at i ol wi th the c ov elli t and. , as p..;~_r.tcd out ty rl'ojJ11a:'1 , tl'£> t f;O ld 

i s i ntimat ely a s<>o ci[· t ec,_ ~_ th :byn.J.~ene sul:)h:.de::; s eem t o i ndic·>. t c tha t 

cnric ~e nt ~as no t ~reatl y i1 cr ec:..se' the cold cont en t of ~e o e , a t 

least on the lowe r level . 

T~e g~l d co e;~t /o:f t he or e Vc}.rie_s c onsj_derc:..bly ron pL .. c e to lc:t 0. 

Accordll g vO Cr::. ft , .J?. the Bo~rce oro shoot ave r 'lge $57 . ~ n. to: . I n 

1931 48 tons of ore w:-w conc e:1 trc::t cd. vr_,ich p:·o(lnced 17? ouJlces of ,old, 

77 ounce of sil vo r , a:1d J~G p mmd s of c or;r;cr .'-67 

i'li so boy 

Tho iseo oy lies o_ t:te :>outh slope of north Pol e , nepr the i. c a d of 

•iseboy Creek . The extent. of ti:.c v or~-::ing"' i s n0 t gr ::~. . .An c cessible 

level consi st s of ::-.bout 3>V : e t of crossc"Jt <md 110 fee t of drift . The 

property i s owned b·r t he E . r. Ol ive r estate , of G £•ngev ill e . The mi ne 

operated b e t r1een 1900 and 1902 , b:~ t t::Cere \\·as little prod1.: tion . 

T o mine i s in cuartz monzo .. i te wi tl many :.::e noli tlts of schi ~ The 

stri: e of t l:e foliation o:-' the inc h<.sion ra.'l ,e s betwe en N. 10 ° 11. and 

N. 60° 1i . , and. the cU1) b0t reen 65° \' . 2J11.'i. 65° E. 'i:l1e cb: ift menti oned 

al1ove follows a fault-· tre. d i nt: l' . 10° 'iT . and cilJPLlb G0° E . 1 o qa<'.rtz 

w"'-s seen undergr ound , but a l ittle P.ppea~ s on t·1e d1::mp . 

TeP.mile d.i tric t 

Lode r~ cs 

:Buffalo- I 0 o 

The Buffalo-Idnbo . i nA liE: ".:.out t n r ee c;.uart ers of a mile nort h;·Iest 

of th rew York rr.in <:J , on the ~all c~ ee'-:: side of the d.i v i e be tli'een Li t l e 

~egge tt and Fall Cr eeks. Tne ~rop e ty is eached b y road f~ore Fall 

Cr ek , pn.- t of th "c.y over the olrl F.-.:.1 1 C el:"--1Je orne stDge r oad and tne 

r est on the mine ro ,.d tbB. t r uns past ":-he :Hew -~o ~:m ine . The di~t an e from 

Fall Cr eek i ab out 4 .ilcs. I- adi tio to c- o ins and a 4- ~Jp stra i ght 

ar.i al gam<..~. tion mi ll , t:te p r o:lel'ty is r' evc lone·l by four adi t t,mnel G <.~gr;~ egati ng ab u t 1 , 100 feet , a r:: :.s - foot 'V i nze .i n the mill- l vel t unnel , and 

sever a l stapes ~~d cr o sscuts. 

According to r eports the loca tion -ras mu .e C'bo·c.t J 9?C by _" eore:;e . 

Mackay , and t he ~)e r~y rras called t:1e ,1l::>..Ck8Y or Gold K1ng rone untll 

1927 , ."lh en it wa s ..;"'~e n over by the Buff alo-I d&"Lo l·. inir,o Co ., of wh i c11 

J . A. Fi elds i s the manr8er . 

'1.§../ Cra ft , ·rn.ltor , orc.l communica tion . 

46/ Da t a fur n i shed by c . :H . Gerry , of t l1e U. s. Bureo.u of 1ine"' . 

71 
83103 

'rho to t .:tl } .. Lod-c:.ct i on :.::.. ::r:1e:1.rs to ~ . .:tve been ov.:.. r $10 ,000 , ·. d mo st of 

t·

L,.; '' C' .._ , '"' '''0'1 "' " ' C '' l P ')<' ' c- d ' t F ' 1' . .s "" ·J ~t .•• · • " • _, ___ ~ ·"'·' · h v o_ L ·-" o 1 0 c.s :,~ .c ::>r c pL . tocl b e t '/Cen 

$ c-..nd $23 to t h e ton and ave rage d a.co nd $15 . 

r e country rock i n and al'Owld the B c-.;- , - l ' :.. ... a ... o- H uno i s r.ne isl> , ~-:"c h L> 

irnnre t,;nat e d wi th much g ranitic . a te ria l , <.nr. J.oca ll,y 'l.u~:::-t?. Lll.)nz o.::i. t e . 

The attitude of the gne iss is not con st n.::J.t , but it hn.s ;c i'.ort ~ - s o tL'i t end 

e.nd dip s in '··e n e r a l alHm t 55° 'l . The roclcs ~' .r · cut by two pa:all e l ·..r e i:J.s 

t:,at tri :e r:.b out . 85° i . and dip 60° S'.'i . The northerly ~e in , f ron vihich 

the produ ct i on of t he mine has cor.1 e , is :vel l exposed on t he lowe r o mi ll 

l e ·el . I t :1as a maxi r:mm vti dth of ove 2 f ee t . The hane;i ne w;l..ll generally 

cc. ri es 3e eral i nct.es of go·c·..ge am~ in p l a c es n early a foot of crusl e d 

<:.• d alte r e0. vall ro ck besi des. I n most p l ace s t h e foot:va ll i s slic~~c d d 

a l so . I n this ~dit t he v e i n is offset t o t~e ri ~t t J at le st thr e e 

cross f aults, ·hich stri:\:e £..bout n0rth and •lip t,bout 70° :7 . J:.e Ct. ~ l n 

rent on one of these r···:ults is 6 r e et c..:.IJ.C'. on another 10 :feet . 

Tvo of the tunnels open the more sou t hern vein . 3oth of these are 

d. iv en i n the footv;all and not a lo1g the l e ad , Two e r os £. u t s from n.ch 

tu..r1. e l expose the lead. , M d :i.n on;:) of t::.e .. t ::-.e,·e is abou t 3 fe e t of uartz 

anet 6 f ee t of a lte red v a ll rock . In the ot he r nothi ng bu t h e avy g ouge and 

alter ed w:::.ll roc ... : .1: ows . 

At t:l:..e f a c e i ::1 the mill- l evel a d.i t t h e or e i al nost comp l e t e ly oxidi zed , but .t othe r p lac e s sul ,hi dA s a_e r es ~t . 

Cente r Stn.r 

The Cent e r St a.r n i n e liGs ab o" t ;:, mile s outh of and 1 , 000 f ee t ab ov 

1·1e So t h Fo.l· of tl e Clen:-·:1c: t e :c Ri·..re r ·1.'uo :..t rw.l f wr.y be t r;ee" \Jol en and 

E12~ Ci t;/ . It is , b ou- 10 1.1:\.le s to e i tLe r ·1l.::.ce b? ro;:·.O. _ro::J t r.e end. of 

t 1e Cen t er Sto tra il. mho ~'l Ll e L a c es~;- e .Jnly b;,· t rail o.t t he p r e "ent 

t he , a l t't ugh in 19 3<:.. a r oa ·'. {~ . c o. s· c- 1ct eci _k.rt T:;{ f r or1 th<J mine t orrard 

tte ive r ,lgh7aJ. 

T::.e :prL1ci:pal dev .. lopne t :i. ~; em tl'.e "'e:..;;s t·u..'ll'.e lev e l ( f i g . 12) , 

~h ch c onsi"' t s of a :3-10- :f::>ot c.D s:;cut f ro<.1 t'.i.:e sm ·fac e t ,; t:le :f.irst vein 

and an aC.di tional l , lS · f e t or d.:·i.ft :...n :'J. cro~ cut . :l:e D.":' i: ~~ sts 

sank a vri n ze l o fee t :r-_ .)m a point in drift "" on t:ae ·;.ie i s "' :;,eve l nc. t u.:r: ne d 

a level t 1 50 e'~ , c', t heJ .s.:.:e r ep ort ed t o hav e .one · a· t '.{00 feet _o: 

vror.: on t.· is lo·:re r l e 1. 'i:he vi 1 ze v7:, , full o: w:. t 0:::· :-• t the tL.e of t n i 

sur· ey . A r a i r;c g oes up at out ~-0 :; 'pe t fr om '"·1C 1,';e L ,:, lev e l j ust u.bove t h 

Vl i n;::e . "'wo oth er c.d its h i glw r on the prov~ rt· , t i1e .1 r ph tun'1el and t he 

Pota to tun!'1.el , av;rce;a t e o.b o !lt 400 fe e t r:wro . 

Tl'C Cent e r St ... · dep osit s d;i.sco ed ab out 190 7 by !m r pl1;;, D P ?cke t 

hunt e r I \ ho fou."ld flo i.lt i n the c- lc:l:.. belov t. 0 mine . He r mclll Brown [l]l Ci. 

l a t ur Ch o..;.·le i e dcmi.lll each obk.ine1 a.."l i 1 t e;:-.:: .., t .:.:1 ~c o:o rt ~r , nd t hose 

t17o men Ytith -Uke Froeh a c e !~a p r e s ent ovmo s . H. L . D···.;y- an a co i .:t t e s 

hr.d the p rop e rty undr:: l e:'.. "'8 :i.n 1930- 31 , mt tltG Y :fi :J..:t_l~ gave it up , o;.nd 

i1 1932 , o:rl:: ;a ~ Clone only by Ti edeman . 

72 
POTATO TUNNEL 

45" 

EXPLANAT ION 

Quartz ~ Quartz monzonite 

_!rf1--

Fault,showlng dip 

to"!Y 

Strike and dip of fol iation 

Surveye0 September 1932 

-----

M URPH Y 

TUNNEL 

25 o 100 Feet 

Figure 12o- - Geulogic map of t he Weiss tunnel , Center St ar mineo 

73 
8010 3 

The r:1 ii.1t. hc.s :. ;cl no :.< ,_ •. Y:.c '., i Ji\ r .• : ::n t :;:':ron .J. ,. - ton t 8 s t nm made by 

Ti eC.e::J.<JJl in :;_ Qlf5 •:rith a l- : uiiJ.> :n.:. ll. •i:L , which ccu 1e l a.r g l y f r om 

t he i:'·u.rph: twL1el , i3 r epo.cted t ,l h:cve :pl ate .. 50 t o t he ton . According 

to '_i edeman the t a i l i ng., as.,aycd $G:) . 

The 1, ri ~ci. ·a.l ca-c;,nt:: y ::uc l: at tne Center Star is ¥el1 - b 2.nded ouartzbioti :e (;ne i ss. I n ~)lece , it c onte b s di:.:·~ s an .:lls of gr ari ti; oc]~ . 

Pe(;mnti t c c.!ld ::1pli te ,_,:e b'Jtr. p r ese!1 t . The co, _n t!:'y roc.!.: nas be e n grea.tly 

d.l i c::.fi ect. loc:.J.lly, particularl;y :lJ: j :.>.ce .. t t ) :;.'iss:..:.re s ':.d uo -r tz bo,'ies. "'>r e "t' +i -'--,de o· t ··, e :-rne · · ' ' f ... t .r.o ~ t - J._ .. c .... · _w ..... ..,;._ G~ .~. J. ~s l. G so tl' ~ ~: ... v · t:..l.L:Ler en pl a.c -~~, , evo:1 t~t 

.. 8ii)··.bo:·L<g :occ:..:.liti 3:-;, th t no gJ::-~e ·~ .:J.l attituci.e for the Ctli. J1 t r y rock cM 

b e {; ive:1 cx ~o:-:'t t' J.::.t the reb io:.1.:'l t_ ,;nd. i s about no"'th- scuth, c r. may be 

::: ec::t on the ,sc ologic mo.p (u _ . 1 

Tt.e count.1.L' r ock is cut b:r e £;e ri es of faul t s c'.c1d bre ,c i::>t e d ~ones , 

hich in sp ite of :-:1:-tJl " loc2l d.Lfe ence ~ have 2.. dei'hito g ne 2·a l reid 

of c..bott i.L 70° E . '· vst of these ::a·..1l s C.io 40 ° o:· nor e t the southeast . 

T\e co.bh,ed. v i cith of tho zone i n ·:/hich t 1e .. .:t:;_ s o..nd · ::- e c cieted zmH~ 

ar e p r ev ::.tle 1t , .9.s e:.::_o oseu i n ti1e .ni.ne , _~,.J.£8n frol1"J a.'bo t 7!.3 fe ,_; t on the 

east t o 1<:•.0 fee t on t l':e ·.·c:; t . 1e ~~o: c :"Fne: a :> t o tc maci.e ur of t. (~e 

pa.1·ts- - a fairly d.efin-'. t ·-n l t ~~ la-. lg w: .. ··1 drift l i s clri\•3· , .::1.11 int e:-mediat e so t co. >Osed e sscntial ly o:;.' ~·::o :!:'2.1.11 ts vrl~ic h .ll' ~:; pa!·tly followec by 

<ir :ft Z, b.nd a. 1.10r e i nc1e:Zir..i te :o;1o e~s.::- osod '::y the Tiedenan ancl no . 3 

d.rL ts. A fr:- ct' ·e zo~--.e '"' l: _r-, ,l ~ to b:rc.n-::h :fro. t l1 T~. ed ma!1 d:tift a t 

its bend und co .. mect to t Le int c 'rn oci ir .. te s e t of f ·J.Ul ts o. short di.~tanc e E~ 

of the ninze . '''hese fract· .. , ::- e lin os ai) e ar t o :J:lave cont_ olled in a genernl 

:1 2.y t ho t'lcp osi ti on of the c_:ua rt z , .1.o·c- it is :ound in rudely t .1:D"LU'L1' !lasses 

lo nc.:~. d pa.:'< llel t o ti-12.;, . I n r:o ·· t r) l accs t "" 0· ·:r t z i G · our..•l e cJ by faul · 

und the :'-3 bcdiies D.~) ~onr like t .• 10 q :_:~·';; z v oi r:. ; in ot.1e r y:l· ... cc . the qUD..rtz 

m ss es clea lv r ep csen t tJ,e co .. . lJ·;,:- ·e ~ ne:. t of 6 718i!:' , a..11 the 

f;ne i ssj_c b · · cl"nr:. is vrel l -:. --e s r-: ~d . '.'!i.u.: :·e the wc:ll rock ; s no t ep~ ::- d 

:fr·om t :lC r:tua tz by : r ul t c;- it f, · C:.e s fl· om non1a l bn iss ti. ::'O'\.J.Gh ili c i : i e d 

c neis:' and cilid.fied. 1;ne iss witr Jo r e e<.nd 1no1e vuL :ets of q' a rtz i nto 

0 11 t 7. almw . 'L'..i s i s tr .:.IJ bot1 long and a.d'O ss the s rike . Some of the 

f<'..ult c~,: l:!Ol· e t :1an 2 ::.:..: ,t of .: o'..lg o or b_ c cc i ?. t ' d ·.va.ll r ock, Md t e 

f{L~L t z i t::;olf k 3 i 1 .llsi )11 ~ of ~;il ici fie(' ':!a:!. l :-od:: . Ordinarily the uar~ 

s"!" ows m-..:.: l eg s bro cio.ti )11 t h,'\:1 the silicified wr '.l r oc:: . The::-e i s , ho-- -

. ve:::- , abcmdc:·:1t ev·i denc of p ostQ·,_ar t z rwveraent in tl1e f aults, vhich p,::tss 

t h oYLg.l t!1c qu art z and c.o. :::- •:rhi t e couge , a..11:i locally the quo.rtz i s greatl:, 

shat ·e c d alan'-~ frrtc tur es. 

C'ulp h ic'e oc u ::- bot "b i n the vein q_y•,.ar tz <:>.nd in ilicifieC. wa ll rock . 

ln ch of it f ills . .-.1 1 :"'ra r E" s in the q rtz , c;..nl the r ec: t o . cu r s c:.s 

i rregular po.tci .es o d di ssewi ni t·i.o, :1 . Pyr:'. te e.nd ci~a.lc ::> y:- i te c:.ppe...-.. r to 

b t he mvst ab mdc:u1 t sulp. .oe s. 1":1homs'Jn ar.d Ballard=-'Z lt on "'- l1~~ 1c'J an t a sc:1opyrit o . Cove ll.:.t e nn<t oo t y chal cocite are ~lO t ncom'"Uon , and -<::.l ena 

and s::•h ttleri t e .:1 s \ell a s native gol d wC're observ d . Sul ides ext end 

cleE>.r to the sur f .1.ce , bu t ::;orne oxidati on is o1) s e · able in many pla e s on 

t,.c iVo i os l evel. Leachi.,.,,e is _o,_ . .. , cowe1 on ··r::.ere the q_w:.rtz i " tt . 

17/ r.ln...Oy!1 SOn li' A "nd T.nll,.,.d s ' . ' OJ) . cit .' p_-n . 94- . 5 . . Ll .. I .: • , I <L• --'<" C;..J. J • _ I . 

74 
83103 

Thomson 4 ?../ h n.d p ick ed s2mples of covelli t e , chalcopyrite , and 1)yri te 

c.nalyzed f or :;ol d :1d silver with the fcllowir results, in ounces to 

t he ton : 

I

C._ ______ ---- - ~-=-~d--

Covelli te ( 27 g rams) .. . . . .. . .... . \ 30 . 00 

- - - I 

Silver 1 

-- -------1 

25 . 5 

i I 

Chal copyrite (17 gr ems) ..... .. . . . 55 . 8 J 56 . 1 

I 

1 Pyri te (75 gr c.1n s) •. ... . . . . .. .. .. L 

23 .04 20 .0 

Err::!.gh 49 /ob t ai:led a r ecove ry of 98 pe rcent on D. t e . t n m of Cent er 

Sta r o e by 1: sing flot a tion cJ.lone and only '70 t o r::5 percent ·oy · a l ,mna tiam 

alone . He wa abl e to ge t b e t ween 90 and 9"'i pe rc ent by r:ombined amalgamat i on and cyaniC.at i o 1. 

Co eur d 1 Alene 

The Co eur d ' Al ene mi ne i s about 3 IT1 il e s by r oai sout b.east of ~al l 

Creek , ne ... r t he divide be t ween Srnt j_a;·. and uc:::norn Crc e_o;:s . It m.'J.y be 

.. eached Bither by vn~~r of the roa ' J.~ :g-., _c 1orn Cree~( thrmJ.gn Old Golden 

or by the ro2.d up Sw:. ti a'Tl C:· eck . .~.! e San tiarr c_ ce:~ road. fords he South 

For~ of .the Cl e a wa ~ a t the mout h of the creek; the Old Golden r oad 

bridt:'es t1 e S u t h Fork a t Fall Cr eek . 

Two ad.its on t he p r o1) erty a{"g:regat e about 1 , 900 fee t of dr ift, 1 , 630 

f ee t in ~ c lo 7e r and 270 fe0 t i n the - pper ctdi t . The last 400 feet of 

the lo•·:e r t u.'Ulc l v1·::~.s not a c ce csible a t the time of the survey . T e 

ve tical clietance betVTeen the t .•Jo tunne ls is about 180 f ee t . Several short 

crosscuts ".re t ne d to the n o th , t ovrard the footwa ll, from the l owe r 

t -u.'1ne l . 

Ac cordi ng to r ep orts t11e p rope:. t y was first locate d by J oe !Aitd1ell 

i n 1893 . In 1906 a m.:-m named Scl .. ofie ld r e loca t e d it and Pete r Pro-ux 

bo14_;ht a n int er est . Af t e Prow~ ' s death th e prope rty pas ced t.o his widow, 

now .rs. Goer ,e ::Drai g . Some wo:rk -.,o.s done ·.mder l ease in 1932 by the 

Acsociat od Gold l ines, I nc . 

Ab out 50 tons of oro is po~t d to r..avc b een put tbrough a s.:1a ll mill 

on the p r operty , anct 2 t ons f h i g:h- gr de is s~id to have bee n sh_ipp ed by 

parc el p ost . Ti1c United St a t r, s B t.OO:'- of ~li ne s r e co_ds s!1ow o. p r oducti on 

of 10 . 51 ounce s of old and 3 o1.mcv s of silver from 9 tons of ore in 19 27 . 

The "trike of the ve in is lJ. 60°- 70°W. and t h e dip 80°S . to ve r tical. 

The ve in is e>ep<.lr a t ed from the ,ne i ss and quC~.r i t e O.L the hans ing wa ll by 

l t o 4 i nches of gouge , bu t H grades, ordi narily with i n 15 f eet , i nto 

the alt e red qUEJ. tz mon zonite foo ~C' ll . The t y; ica l ore i s massive wh ite 

48/ rhomscn . F . A. ., and Balla!'d, s. 1.1 . , op . cit ., PP · 95- 9 6 . 

49 / Emi gh , G. D., I daho School of Mi nes and Geology , p er onal corrummica tion . 

75 
83103 

quartz . E . .w . J one s , Jr., in 1-~ is ·.mpu.b li <'l. n 0t es ment5.on s 2 t o 3 feet 

;f a fine - g r a ined bro'.'ffii sh '3.!1C ·ol1e qU£'.rt:: ne ar t he end of the lo ver t unne l 

(inacces-..ibl e a t t.1e b me of ·:1.is "\.:rv:ey) , i L which 1e scs1 free gold 

a.ssJcia ted wi th su ~h C • Sul:r'l-.i de s in tl1e ·1hi t e ma ss ive qua_ tz are no t 

ab1mdan t , but galena , chal c opyrite , soo t y c:.c lc oci te , a n d. yri te y1c r e 

r eadily recognize d rli t "- a ha.J d lens. 

Gilt Edge 

The Gilt Edge p r ope rty l ie s ab out 3 iles sou th of F"ll Cr eeK ancl just 

so!lth of the .ivide a t the huad of Buckh 'Jrn Cr eek . It is oHne d by the Gilt 

Eclge .!ines Corporatiol\ , whosl.) ma.Yl:Jt;e r a t the mine i s . R. Crosby , of Golden. 

It .is a t tl e e. d of the 02.d t hu.t climbs st eeply up out of the So lth :B'ork 

Can~ n to Old Golde n n.nd t be. e splits, on e fork le~ding oust t o t .1e Coe r 

diAlene and the o t . er south to t h e Gilt Ed:;e . 

The under g rounC. dev e lo nent s con::;i st of a 110-foot ve rti ca.l ~;r.a.f , 

about 200 f eet of drif t , b o short crosscuts, e.nd so ne stopes. One of the 

crosscrtt s is an adit on t he mill or 35-foo t lev el. Grindi ne; is a. comp lished 

by r:1ea.ns of a j a'v breo.ke r a::1d a ball mill , and t~e r ecove r y i s eff e cte d 

entirely by arnal arnati on . The maaagement .J: lans t he i lstc:;;.lla ti on of a 40-

ton 6- cell fl ota i on UJl it wh:!.ch will handle amal g3I!lator t ailings. Several 

:ood log cab i : s c.r e g r ouped near t l:.e ;, i ne . 

Ac co .. di ng t o _L S . J o:b..n on , of Golden , the Gilt Edge was ori i n.::tll y 

located by Dc.n :Jennett . Tr.e no t es r.1n.de by E . IJ . Jone ::; , Jr., when he vi"ited 

the pr operty in 1916 for the Unit ed St a t e s Geolog ica l Slrv ey shov that the 

s' 'lit WE'.s do·:m to 100 fe e t a t t }:ut time . The Sta te mine ~spector 1 s r eport 

for 1923 notes .. 2-t the r opert y r:as then owned by F c>.nJ:: Osg ood, of Seattle , 

a h.. I n 1913 the property ~us c.cq_uir d by the present owner s , a nd t:r ... e only 

r eported p roductio:n i~ 38 .93 ounc es of gold and 20 ounce s of silv-...r for 

that year , alt h.)lgh t he nin8 V/:J.s a lso p roclucing i1 the SUJI!.'1lt:lr of 1932 , nhen 

8 men v1ere empl o'·ed . 

~artz mon ?.on it e forras the country I ock at the Gilt ~e , but it is 

poo ly expose d exc ep t in the mi. e itself. The vein strike s a bout N. BOOW · 

c:nd dips abou t 75o.L The footwall i s i ndefini te , and the vein appears to 

gr aC.e into the g r 3.ai tic w8l l roc~>: in 1 ?.t di!·ection, but. the v e in is ~epa

rated from t 1e hanging wall _ y ~· av y g ouge . A 2-inch goug e laye r lies 

wi thi n t _ e ve in abo-u.t 4 feet fr .;m t he hnnr:i:. -rall, but t he materia l unde r 

this .;ouge i s mostly quartz f o about " f ee·c . The ve in mat .er is brecciated 

to RUCh an e:ctent t h.::.t t e or e c2.n b e p icke d dov n in the stope , and most of 

it Ra,~ncs t he "~· -i ch ri ?.zl~r a t the head of t Le mill . A nc h zone ?f 

blu:csn- g r a y qua_ tz in the ve in is supr ost=:d to b e of much h J.gh er grade t nan 

the r est , nn<J. n. hand. pecimen .)f tr.is quart?. f r om the breast r eveal ed s ev e r -

al spe ck of g ::>l d . The ore in the p r esent •:I ork inc s i.s f a irly well l eached , 

but s:nctll spec~cs of g;::l ena nnd p y ite wore ob se rv ed vith t ile u id of ahand 

le:1s . Th , manngor eT' ort ~; P! r e c over y of ~5 percent f rom hi ... o cst nma l gnrnators nnd s y 3 t :1 n.t mo3 t of he lo ..,s is duo to an iron oxide coa t i ng on "'Orne 

of the g old. 

76 
83103 

Golden Age ( .1CD.dow Creel-::) 

The Golden .Age pror erty A~ L t h e valley of the ve st fork of 

Newsoms Cree_c along the r o<:.d l:·e t r.ee:1 F2.ll Cree' , and wsome . 13y road it 

i s .:tbo-u.t S miles f:corr. Fall C · e c. !.:arlo-..·; , Hol der & ·::olson ar e r eported 

to be the O\ ne rs,, and the prope!'ty \';a s b e ing cl.evelo_ eel ii1 19'71 by the 

Clear er Go l d Mi ning Co . 

The developr;1ents con sist of a 100- foo t ·1e rticcl chaft .. r om e bottor.1 

of 7h ich is t urne d a H O- f oot drift , an Lacce ssible oot d~ ift on the 

30-foot lovel , a 15- fo ot d:..-i T t on tLe 15-:::oot l ev e l , und r:. 130 - fo ot ac1.i t 

•hose p ort2.l i s near t he s!1oi't coll<U· . T1u re h ..:..s been no p roduction . 

The ve rtical v e in stri k es eD.st :..nc1 c .-..t s the country- rod: gnei sR and 

schist , whi ch ,· '1.l tb.o1. h s omeHhat cn ::.mT) l ed , hr..ve El1l -. e stril:e o..bout 

N.- 45°W . .:tnd a dip of about ?0° NE . On t:i"..C 100- foot l eve l t:1e north \'lr'..ll 

is lD.r:;ely pe{'JTia ti te . Faulting e sscntL,lly p a r .::U lel to t:r.e rein C!t.USC's it 

to thicken and thin , so t hat in pLm. vi e·i it a:;:!f ears ,_ s c. ser i e s of lenses~ 

r.lhe maxi m'l.lf.: obse rverl ·-: idt:1. WO. f'l G feet , ncar t be shaft colla-r . l o sulphi'les 

were se en on the surface e>-po s'.l. e s of t he v e:n, but f!' ee g ol <i , py::i te , 

~nlena , a.:1<i a rninecal re_ ort cl to be pet::; i t e oc cur in a .:~: -a nca.r tho south 

v1 aE on t~:. e 15- foot l evel . C'rootl shm'7in,- s of fro o gol ;ve ro panned f rom 

some sh att ered q artz on the botto~ l vel . 

Lone Pine 

The 4 pnt c:n·t ed and. 12 .u p:-Lt entcd cl:.cim ~ of tho Lone Pia e gron of 

F .· 0 . and s. 0 . t.-8.ll :r arB lo c" d on t he n') th si de of the. ·so·J.th For_" u t 

Gal en.. The surfa e :rl·11.t ivtcl1<ic s o. 2- st.:J.;np :1nte r'"'!>o:·tS r mill with 

wnalg.::una.tors th.::t t w~ s u sed t h r0'1.f'!;}'J t ::.c "' ~< son of 19:32 c:... ~ .;. newly COffiJJ leted 

35- ton n ill which i c:. '!JOwe red vi t h a. Di esel en-; i ne •. Srushing in t he new 

mill is effecterl. by a j aw :.P.~ r- a d a " dl mill .. G;b.s0n nrnalg.::.::1o.to1·s 

a.re used to r e cover trw fre e ::-ol:-1 , a . .: d t n"ole conce:1trate s are ·aved a.lso . 

In Piidi tion to evara.l p rospect >i ts a ni tmu als ti.1e r::>~H rty is deve lop e d 

by thr;.; e t!.ditf' ; no . 1 , t r e .":1 11 l s rel , is ll5 feet bclo·,, t1w mc'l.in or no . 2 

leve l,. whirh in turn i s 80 f c ot bol o .7 th·:.; no . 3 level. A total of ahout 

2,.01"' f e e t of t-nrmel he .. " ocen drivon- 930 f e et on no . 1 , 68~5 fe 'O: t on no . 2, 

and 400 fe e t on no . 3 . At the tL-:'16 of t!te surve y a ·aine :~.. ro:n t!le mill 

to the main l evel \7as nearly comple t f.d , Md c::..n 80- foot r ui sc cJn oct3 t'i1e 

two u-pper levels.. Most of t h e p roi1.uction of tht:: mine has c omo from tl':c 

extt::nsive stopes be t m:l cn l eve l 2 and. the surface . 

The Lone Pine,.,. :.~. ; l oc a t e in 190 7 an': 1908 , and J . n. Harrno.1 a nd D. F , 

Mo ... ro..,. v;::~ re the owne r'"' . I n 1927 o:r 1928 the property •.ra ~ ac ~:re el b,; 

F. o. Hhller an(l h in ilon, s. o_. Mii1ler . Tho lo.t t e:;.· LL ~ ope:.:n t .: d lt ~in -e 

then. Acc orclin • t o Mu ller the tot!':\1 nrod.u ction prio to 1902 h<1.s been 

about $60 , 000 . United St n.t er; Bureau ;f Hine s records s:how two p-rod-,:wtive 

pe:':'iods of four yea::s- ead --l'Jl6- 10 and 19 28- 31. The total prod'Cl.C tion for 

t hese periodr. according to t his authol'ity was 2 , 476. 89 ounc es of t_;Olft and 

1 ,075 ounces of sil v~er f rom 2 , 584 tons of cr ude or o. Ac cord.ing to r ·.tl l cr 

the small vein on levol 3 ran be t ween $20 and $30 to the ton , rod the big 

77 
83103 

vein illed $10 to $ 55 to t he ton . "-e d so say the sul]!hide or e on level 

2 plat ed. $8 t o t ile ton . Tho mi ne '~s boon i n continuous open a ti on since 

1928 . Pa rt of the g old is fr ee , ,., nrc p;..c t is ca_ ri ed in tho ulphi des. 

Tl:e countr y rock is whit e ma ssive quartzi t e , \-ihich lo a~ y is considerably bre cc iat e d. . In some p l aces t he beddi ng is ob..,cure , but in others it 

i s ve ry distinc t. The quartzit e co.l <: ns aany irre5"'Ular bodies of pegmatit e , which f ade into t he quart zit e without definit e con t a cts, a nd in some 

places the quar t zite itse l f he. s a gr;:-.ni toid t ez:t e and c arrie s conside rable bi otite . The D.ttitude of t he • ·a rt zit e is some ~11a t vari abl e , but 

a st r i ke of N. 750W . a nd a di p of 400 S'.1 . may a..ppr oach an aver.:>.ge . 

The :ui ne deve lop s tr10 .. a rall el ve ins, w:1ic 1 Goss t he structur e of 

t e countr y- r::ock . T1 e veL1s st rL-::e c..b o1.t 1 . 550E , anc1. d.i _ nbou t BOO SE . 

The 11 litt l e 11 v e in l "l e s above and between 10 n...1d 20 f e et :.x:my from the "bi 11 

vei n . A sy ~; 8m of northwestwor d-trcnding cross f n.ults st eps the ve in over 

t o tl e nor t t.v,rest . 1

.rh ese f .::-.ul ts c.Up st eeply southwest a t -.-:ngles r angi n6 

behte on 60° and gcf , mo st of t : em nbout 70 °. Fi gure 13 &""l ows the r e l a ti ons 

nnd is included pn.rtly ·b e caus e it g ives on ex.. .rnp e of st ep f 11.ul ting , wh ich 

m:.y bo r;:·X .. ·1er common i n t he d i strict . T.1e cross fault s commonl y c n.rry 

gouge as much as 8 inches thick . 

The v e i ns hav e sl1arp , de finit e v.J.ll s but a r e not ordina rily s epara t e d 

f rom t.1e wal l ro.cks by g ouge . :Both ve ins are lenticular . The larger one 

has a m~u um thickne ss of o.bout 4 f eet a nd the smaller one about ~ f e et . 

The o e is ma ssive wh ite quartz , wh i ch loc ally is much brecciated. 

Gal e. a , spl2.ler it e , end pyrit e · e r e r e c o0 niz ed i n t he ore . The sulrhide s 

i gt.; ncr c. l mal' e up . uch l ess than 4 pc;_· cent of the or e . Ac cor di ng to 

.uller one spec i men !.: an 2 . 3 percent of zi nc , 1.2 p 0rc<mt of l ead , $343 . 15 

t o t he ton in g old, and 9 . 8 ou."1c es to tl:e ton i n silver . The s"J.lphi c.c s 

can b e se en a lo!\3 fractur es in tile qun.rt z . 

ew York Group (inc l udi ng Illinois a...11 Ana co. da) 

The ow York Con sol ida t e d Gold i·.'i es Corpore tion control s s eve ral 

gr oups of l c.im"' , an10ng t~ em the llfew "!ork , the .tmacond.a , and the Illino i s . 

T e })roperty li s on bot}_ s L e s of tLe divide be t ween Fall and Little 

Le~;ge tt Creeks about 3-} mil e s north of Fall Creek, f rom wh ich it i s r eached 

ov r the old Golde n- 1 ev1some s kt.ge ro£'.d 

The compt:tnY a t p r e sent i s co!1:fi nin , its a c t ivities to the New York 

mine , vh ich is clcv elm.• ed on f ive lev el s b.y adi t twmel s . An n;nal f::;<>mo.tion 

mill li e s j ust 1.bove F a ll Cre e.- "-t the first mine l eve l . In 1931 Fahrenwald flotation c ells we r e add.ecL The ·first l evel is a cr os scut , which in 

1931 v1as 150 fe e t long c.nd had not t h en r eached th8 vein . It is r ep orted 

t o have een driven considerably farth er i n 1932 . At 85 fe e t ab ov e the 

mill level the second a di t cuts the le::td a t 130 f e t, a nd ab out 100 f ee t 

of r i ft h a s been driven a long it . The v e in has b een stoJ:led throL~h f rom 

78 
N 

EXPLANATION 

~~~ 

~~~ 

Vein Quartzite Quartz Pegmatite 

material monzonite 

60°+ 

Fau lt,~how ng 

d ip 

A- big vein 

"'.JSO 

Strike end d ip 

of rocks 

B- little ve in 

25 o 100 feet Surveytnl, Septr1mber 193/ 

Figure 13.- Geologic map of:-the main level of the Lone Pine mine. 

79 
83103 

t>is level t o t :lC t~ :ir , :: ch ~.r· 4.0 f y ; t ;-_bov.::; . T::.e t h i r"l. l ovc l :i.s ab out 

(!~' : .:: t lo:, ,; , ·:.::~~~ ~~:t :i.' it:-.~:> I:J<.; D~l ,l. ·.-ive . alo e~ st::-ot.g f::mlt . The r e 

:.r.:1s oo . .D S()r.'l c o.to r· n~ u.b'Jvc V:is ::.o,·cl not L .r :rom tl1e p ortal . A 60- foot 

crossc·1t int ~, ;:-~ cct..., t1:.o ~, i;1 .3: ~ fee t r.:.bove tno t hird level. Con iCierable 

st·Jpin.c_; hns i.:> " •:) :J. :!.0:1c . (; t --: <:.cn t'.·1:i. s fo1_u·t~1 1-Jv cl £""-Yld the fifth , nhich is 

;.i2 f est .:1oovc it. ':~he ve i n ::as nlso iwon s to::.) od abo t 30 f ee t abov e the 

fift ll l 8vol , 

The ..,\...'1acon da tunnel p Jrt:-1 i s .::.. t t.1e si c e of tho road sbo·J.t 1 a.li' a 

~nile e£•r'.t of tile lrevi -~·or:.C . 1.:.Le t 1. ':t.l! ~l i s ;;.'!)out 350 f e et onr; , :·nd se re r al 

s!" or t Cl ::lSSC: l1. t~; ~-.: e t u :-.l c. f~·ou it . l.'Le Illinois b'-' OUp :\_.., d.e·;e lo:,Je J oy 

a si ~c~ ft , wb ic~. r:c:·.s · i lled ·i'.; :~ ·.itl tJr a t the ti: eo this sw:-vey , 2Jld an 

aLi t t·UJ.1 1:el . T:!:wse )~· -::i :: s ar-:l a.lo:n ,. Lt ttlc Legge tt Cret::lc about half a 

mi le north of t:t.e l"e:: York . 

rrrlEJ 

Fe :7 Yo-~~ 

opcrc.te 

JI T011.llC ti 

;.._ .aeon [L t;:ro·u.:; i s rr ))o~· ~ to f- ~~ ve be'; 1 oca t e d i!l 1900 ' {'n ' the 

or.d Ill ino::..-. [ro :.:~· S 1v Cw.r a d. S..1itl: b l 9Lu Th8 Gr·': am- .L:."'sc; Co . 

tLo ;..: :-~co:l;.~ . i n 1905 . It ·::2-.s l<..::: t ·::o::.>.:ed Ll 1 311 , ond. s er.o 

n is oro: :'~ C'-1 . :r. r:) •i:., tio 'l L ::n1 t_c c;-r Yor::-: b eG--·rl i:1 15 . r:be 

ore J. Or:J. "v }: c~>e _;)l·ope "v~ce s ·;a s t:e.J.tt::d L'l 'v:he Ju,·~ co . c'l.:>. 'O ~l_) mill , vrl:.i ch 

r;a a 5- scl),. l_J s'ceaw ::1 iJ.l with a ~,;n c- :i.ty of 9 tons i n 24 hours. It is 

e:_)o rt 1 t h:1 t 3ci :p e::.ce::t of t}:e (;).!>:.<' lue \V''. s wed t:y c:Jna1gronation and 

vc.!lner co ncentr ~-t tion . ~cccr-=.i g to :S . L. J ones, Jr ., the 1)ropertie s had 

pro·'\.ucecl $17 , 360 in b.lll:orl f r ::>m 1 , cg;_; tor.s of ore b.r A1.1Cust 1° 16 . The 

totDl proc. ·.ct. 'J::. f::-om t he :-- .. Yo:r::: :ni: e .'.":; .. ~o et... !1 to ho.ve oeen betr;een 

$40 , 0 'J0 .:u.d $ . .5 , 000 . T'lle _u:c e Pn t cor:'l!n:ny t ook over the p-::operty frol the 

Cen tral I daJ-1 o S.old l'ti:t.e s , I . , i n 19':\1 . 

-- e ro.mt_;:r ·oc: ~f t!te l e·,., York mi!1e is ·Li'ce , massive , rocr;ystal l ized 

q1·.'.rt. zite , w:hi ,_ i. ;-;~p t; Cltc i t) dif ' :::r ent dec r ees by e "":~at: t i c m::c t eri nl. 

ilc a1 · t::.e ua::.:t zit c {'T J.cl es Lt. o })EJ@!\t...tite . T~•e y_;_, ·.r t:.ite in the field 

i~ d.isti·t.L,l.isl· e , . •.vith if i~:..,_lt~' fro:n a i . c:_1m.:rtz , althoug::t. t:1e t ·.w ccn 

o:rii --..rE' · ~,; C.lffc-rentL ted ':lit.:. tl1e micros ope . 'I':w L e :nd of t he; (p::.c..rtz -

ite i nortl~e8...>t , Md it ' i l) S i ·~ :1er0 l to t:·1e sout~flast . . ltho~::Gh its 

F' tit··1·' e is :r o t u ... ifo ... , , . st E~e -o f N. 00oE . •Iitil a c.i. i p of ~wos : .. may 

::· . p·o rouch :...n .:.;.ve::.·l..tf.;'-' . Jeccn::.:;t:' of t .. e d.L. '~ icul ty QTIXill. te~ec. i:n det r:~iniil£' 

'.':Ntt ':.'Cl S VGL1 1\l<.:.rt?. :_tnd w:.at V![-).S recrrst&.l l iz"ld q :-:tzi te , 2.!1d because of 

t:ne in cc :. i h.1i t y of p v ti ns of the 'i: n~s , it ·:a s i:np os ible in the 

i.ne 0.V t· ilable to m~n L 1. st·.:., .·r t h e ~eol ·.' /:: i.... el:' tio 1s i n d.et.:.1.il . ':.'he 

vein in gcnen.l rNo"e~ s t o i'ollo1v e l'. sE: .ti:lly tt.e ber1C.i:lr- o-!: C:e qu .::rtzite . 

A L on2; fn.ul t j_" ... ·:e 2. expo .,c d on L. t : ird l evel <.<!1 ·.va·--.. ,-,_lr.;o ~o "aiz d 

on the s econd :1d 1iftl1 1 .ve ls. ~ ..... e mov enE::nt '-T-Pe£..r's to h:we ·ne ·)1 moc- tly 

alone,; ;·_n <:•.lt(:)red boc;y of ''' _, it , !~ich ori t:; inc1.lly T .s p o::-1:.:::>.-_'l s a. si ll, or 

n. ~e c·.1.ttLtG the qu.--h t z.' . . ; n.t ;;. -"!13.11 : . ,:;l e . Tl.e tre l1d 'Jf the ·:~. t 

r f ,, t ,_ t . "Oo.. -" ·t _:) · ... -o rOOE .,, :..;, ,· ,.-" l"'ve1 :.:t ·e s ::om :-.u 1.1 ·,1.rJrt11 o _; • ..:> • • , ":nu 1 L:l p . ..:> ·- o ·· _... c v . ... ... ,._ , .. 

1-.:·.s n cri V <.;TI for 0 rer 200 foe t , .long tf.is _·f :.'.'l·.lt, ::r·:l:· r. c::tl;J· b1

, ~:~·usc it 

l':<., s t1ou -;:1t to be t he le:,d . It s-> cms more ll .~~ Gl y tt"""l.t .ll:JS 1 et post~~:.J.:: . L.ult 

which cut::; t l 6 bedLli:t.;; "'.nd tl!.C::-efO]' ' ·he vei:1 . Ap o_, ntly rlo or . has b e en 

fo•md in or ab~1e i:~ f.-;..ult . l'l'.e ol c.e fis u'l.'" ~' o:;.· : lss·rre t~ [,t lo . .:t1ized 

fi) 
83103 

the dep osition of the ve in see:n to be l ess n rom:.nent t 1a n t he f n.ul t j ust 

described . The stop inc 1o.s a ll been do ne j lst un:l..er the lar er f ,1 t , 

along v; .at se ems to b e the i :1te.: ~e.:; ti n of t he ve in 81d the f flul t , nne. it 

is just p ossible t hc:..t t h e quart z is e~· t l10.11 the f · nlt and c,!lJle in a l n 

the int e rsec t i on but entirely i ti:w footr:all o: t he l a r t;E-r f au lt. The 

veL1 i s 3 t o 5 f ee t ~1ic~~ and consists of mn.ssive white qu'-'1.'.:t z . At 1 o t 

places the hangi ng wall ~ rkn<i by n. t h in g ouge sea111 , und i n o. f ew p l a c es, 

notably on tho sec or~d :evc l , h~ s <:l s o i" t ::ue of tre fo ot wn.ll. I n other 

pl a ce s the fo otwc..ll i s le ss de fi nite . ·.'lost of t . 0 ore consist s of t ho . 

vei n q1mrt z Vii th numerous nDll sulpi1idi:l stri:l{;t: r s , but i n sol:'lC :~ la .os , 

as on the sec ond l evel , mining ha s b een done i n the f ootrya ll . y~ it , 

ar senopyri t e , galena, and .n. mi neral that l ook s like gal ena. exc ep t for a 

le ss p erfe c t cleG.vage vre r e r e co,_, n i zed in the o:- e . The uni dent ified .ne l 

wo.s s ee n in p egmu.ti te <:t one p l e:.ce c.pd./b a. :!: i eee of :>e&nc;;.ti t e in the or e 

bin a t the mill. Accordi ng to J ones00 t ' 1. . concentra t es f r an t h . old mill 

consiste d of gal ena , :Phal ri~ . and. p~ rit . He s:::.ys t hat the gol d i f r ee 

in the sulphide s and. t ho.t t ' lC ricbest o1·e ah1a ys consists of f i ne - grained 

galena ".nd b r own spl!.<.tl c r i t e . 

The South Fork p r: operty l i e c. a out 250 -fe ~ ab ove t.1e South -= of 

the Clean 'fn t e r Rive r on t h e north d·~ , .:-t.bo 1t 7 miles in a dir ect l i ne 

erst of Gol de n , a lthouz1 it is sor.1er1r.a t f.:~.r ·!lc r by roa<L U t il 9~2 the 

mine was cac~ d b y fJ. road t l1at lea es ·t..:1e ole'. El k Ci t y- .Jcwsome ro..: . d a t 

El k Summit ; now, ho·,·:cv er , it is r·.::.sil y c::.cc ·sssible by the new r oo.d o.l ong 

the north bank of tl':e South Fork. The r i:w ·:1o.s aL":l.ost totally inaccessible 

at the t i :ne of thi s su r v ey , and 1uuc:1 o: :1e :i.r..foY'mn.tion contri ncci he r e in 

i s taken f r om tbe n0t es mai'.e in 1 16 by E . L . .T one , Jr . !tec or ds shan a 

total o_ about 2 , 100 fe e t of t :G.l!1E'! l. , t oe:;e t :1e:: 'lith sor.:e ··a i se. a nd. stapes. 

rrhe only ac c essi ble pa:.· t of tL mi ne in the r.tm"!lc of 9~) . ., ·vas the f i c- t 

150 feet of oue lev el , wh ich j_s eport rci to ~e l , 100 fee t long . 

hr . '11ir lo~1 and t wo othe rs !t,".ve t ... e p rope rty, which now consi sts of 

f ive pat ent e d cl a i ms , und er op ti on <:JJld p l -.n -to re open - i t . The di~cov ry 

was l'll a do in 1'.)05 by E . E . Espy . I t i s r e:p orted t hat t he r.1 i ne wu.s }Jar t ly 

O\'mecl bet·.veen 190 6 and 1909 by ~r . Ad.ams a~1d F_arJc Peck and tha.t i n 1909 

Peck sold h i s i nterest to : . . St o'::-ell , , -ho operated it during t he yea r s of 

its be st p r oduc ti on , from 1909 to 13 . 

The t ot al production has b en est l'll~ d. e s be t wee n $ v00 , 000 and 

$250 , 000 . Unit ed. st es B,,r eau of J.U;1es r e cord,, sho-,Y a continu ous p roduct:iom 

b~t 'IE: en 1905 and 1916 , exc p t in 1· 06 , 1'307 , 1914-, u. ·~- 0l~ , vri th a tota l 

of 6 , 036 ounc es of g old anc'l. 1 , 529 o1.mcos f silver frvm 11 , 539 tons of 

or e . Storrell i s oup:p osed to hav e r e cov er ed. an L verego of $13 a ton for 

f our yec s from t he lat ~ i n t h e ct <~ mi l l . 

The countr y ra ce is 'hi ghly ontorted gnei ss a nd. schist . The v ein in 

gene ral t end s t o c onform to t he ctr uct-...:r e of tho country rock . Jan e 

g i ve 's i ts strtke as r , 20oE . &'lcl clir 35°- 4.0°:8 . A readin ., a t tl1e stoped 

Jone s "' L Jr ll!lJ)'"lblir.hed not s , 191 6 . ' -"' . . ' . ' - ~ 

SlL 
83103 

outcrorJ of the v e in gave a strike of N. 35°E. and o. dip of :JOoSE ., an·n. 

,_nothe in t: e a r.ce ssible pa_ t of the mc...in ,.d t gave a strike of jJ , 55oE. 

D.Ild r. dip of 50°SE . 

The vein i s r eported t .'J rrmt:; e in thicknt: s. behveon 3 a _cl 14 f ee t '-nd 

r1hero seen a t the s1u·fac e is :bo1 t ~ fe t th· k - 11 - 0. : -lC • JoncG s~ys : A out 625 

feet from the p ort a l of t l:e ·mid0.le tu.11nel an e<:tst- vlest f ault cuts the ore , 

a.nd the ve tn is thr o~ m 65 fee t to the east . Tl e ore contimles no:cth of 

t hi s fo.ult for 125 J.eet , where it is · ain. f o:>.ulted by aJ1 east- 1'e st fault . 

The vein ha s not br;en found north of t:r is fault , '' 

Tl1e ore is Phite 

a!'senopyri te , galenn. , 

fine , bri ~h t t,;ol C:. fro. 

or bluish ma ~s ive 1_ua:-tz . Jones r e cognized pyrite , 

nnd ch:tlcopy:'i te i:1 the ore . IIe was a bl e to pro.n 

the oxidi ze 1 or e , 

Other prope:cties 

Some prope rti es nc r e n ot e: ~::.m ec_ i n det il 'Jecause the :v orkings were 

inacce ssible , beca'.lse of time limi tati ons, or for othe r r eo.sons. A111ong 

these i'1ay be mentio:1erl . the ',onder , the :Buckhorn, and the I on Cro·.m . The 

informc.ti on ~~er e give::1 about the fir st t wo i s taken e _ti::'el;:r from Thomson 

E:.nd Balla1·d , :1.../ a:.1·:': t:1.at concer -lin; the I rm C 'O' , v,h ich strictly does 

ot belong in t he Tcwn:·.le di strict , from J ellu'1l . 521 

The Wonder mine of A. S . Johnson is rre st of Old Golden , ncar the 

divide b etwee n Buc~dlorn .:~.nd Tenmile Cr e; ·. • 11 J.'l:o [;Old is C<'..rried by a 

tY9ical quartz ve i n , of ::hi h one wall is har:ply ··efined and the other 

gr ad al ly blends i 1to the cnclosinc Jj.J e rock. 11 According to Thorn"'on and 

Ballard the vcii1 gt :··i .. :::L s cast , Gtar.ds nenrl~r vertical , and r< ngcs in vtidth 

from a knife - t;Jdsc to 6 o-r 7 feet . I t is "'t <tt ed tl a t ore shoots carry 

~16 to $17 a to~ . 

T_ c Ih1c:-dwrn lie east of the . onder , a t Old Golde n . It a lso i s an 

erst- ,vost vertic<' l V<:) in .:Lnd cuts t~e col..L"ltr y- rock gneiss, which strikes 

Lbout north a d d ips 45°£ . "In tho J3ucknor:1 t_lo vnill mn.tter iLelf appec.rs 

to d ange s racJ..ually fruro de se. wbi to p.a tz thr oush pegmatite to a :fi ee;raineC. apli t e . Pyr it e and ar enopyritc w r ' seen in 1.moxi cli zed s:pecimen s ." 

The Iron Crown mine e~ ahout 2 nile. northec..st of Newsome . The 

deposit 11 wos rl. scovor~r]. i n 1888 by ate 3 . Pe t t ibone , of Stites, and J ames 

D~r::n , who, after some deve lopment , solt it to Dr . J . A. Laut erman , a 

m1m.ng r:lan of Pueblo , Colo . A r:i ncCI.L. mill was i nstalled on t he :!1r011erty 

<.~nd operated contL ucusly for 10 o,. 12 years, d ring Nhich ':.i me it ~'od ced 

bullion to aa amo'.lnt variously rep orted at from $70 , 000 to <t>250 , 000 . Th is 

ve in is of the bedded t ype and 6 to 15 i nches of ore e.v rc>..gin. 1::1..b out $15 t .t' ' 

per ton was milled . Both walls of the v ein., are de com osec :fer c.. eli st anc e of 

18 inches c_nd ·:ill !.ver~.gc about $5 per ton in r,old. A IlarP.llcl vein h a"' 

r8ccntly b een e:1c our terod c..t a d.ept!c of 18 f ee t below the p::'esent vein, in 

"" s.1aft >.vhich is b oin,:?; sunk . The lower vein i s o.bout :.?. feet thick and hmvn 

good Vc:tlue s ." 

51/ Thomson , F . A., and :Ballard, s. U., o:p . c i t ., P · 96 . 

52/ Jellum, s. p ,, Some central I dcllo 0 old str~cts : Northvtest !..fin ing 

NeY1s, vol . 4 , pp . 32- 33, 00~~ 
83103 

Pla cer ine s 

:Big Cr e ek Ba sin 

Considerabl e g ravel has b e en washed a!. ong some of the st reams t hat 

flol'r into Big CreAk Mcadcw . It s eems p robable that the g ravel which f ills 

the basin a ccumulated in mertiar y t i me , but whet! e r or not the gravel 

that has been washed is reconcentrated is not lmovn. 

BUckeye 

The Buckeye p lacer is in a small gu.lch just we st of Newsome Creek and 

about half a mile south of old rewsome station. The property was wo r ked in 

1902 and 1903. The tota l r eported produ c tion i s 380.27 ounces of g old. 

The pit cove rs an a r ea of over 2 a cre s , and i t is roug1ly e stimated that 

125,000 cu b ic yards of gravd was mined . ~he gold content of the gravel 

is not lmovm , but on the assumption that the reported p ::-odu ction is the 

total output f or the mi ne and t hat the yardage est i mat e is ap2roximately 

correct , the gold s aved amottnted t o a bout 6 cents a cubic yar d . A ditcl1 

8 or 9 miles long was dug t o divert wa ter f rom Sawmill Cr e ek. 

The depo s i t at the Buckeye mine consists p rincipally of beds of sand 

and clay with layers of conglome r ate w_li c'1, where exposed in the pit , rang e 

in thi ckness from 20 t o 40 feet . The boulders are cl iefly quartzite . 

quartz , and gnei ss. I n gener al they are ban5~la , and p r a c t i cally all 

are less than l fo o t in diamet e r . The boulders of gneiss are de composed 

where exposed in the b c:uu-s . The "bedrock is gneiss wit:O. well- defined light 

and d" k bands that trend nor th and di p 45° E. The sur fac e of t he bedroCK 

is extr emely irr egu.l n,r . 

Gr avel flat a long Crooked Riv er 

For the last 2 mi l e s of its cou rse b e re emptying i n to the South :F'ork 

the Crooked Rive r flows in a g r nvol- f loored p lain n,bout a quart e r of a mile 

wide , Some of this g r avel hn,s bven p rospo c ted, but no consider abl e o.mount 

of plcccr work hn,s b een done. The <.1l t i tude of the ba sin r anges between 

3, 900 and 4 , 000 feet • ,:1i ch corn.:lsponds to t h--t of the l owe st g r .:1v0l i n 

tho Elk o.nd Newsome Creek v all eys. 1he g r n.vel ;ncy r1ell be a. Te rtiary desit , and more p ro specting may r eveal econc entrat ed auriferous g r avel 

ln the flat , a long tribu tar y streams, or on the valley sides. 

Keyes (Blue Bird) 

'I'ho Keyes (Blue Bird) plac e r is at the head of a gul ch t ributary to 

Legget t Cr vek a oout ~· mile s n orth of Fall Creek station , n ear the junction 

of tl e e" York mine ro n.d. The p roper ty \'laS worked b efore 1932 and has 

some ~::p ort d p roduction . In 1932 t h e Keye s Place r Co r p o r ati on operated i t 

and clear e d g round t o b e 10 rkod in 1933. 

The placer doposi t at t h o mi ne lie s i rnmediatel;y below a lar ge a r ea 

of high-lev e l g r a.v el. The upper part of th0 p i t , a t an altitu de of a.bou t 

83 
83103 

4 , 450 f ee t, h as cut into the high-l evel gravel . The deposit i s sandy with 

anb lar ::> d uban~lc.r q_ua::- tz and c:uartz i t e pebble·s ..,..n d :in some p lace s 

co 1t a i ns smo.l l lenslike b odies of clay . The ave r age dep th of the gravel 

in the pi t i about 5 f ee t . Accor<iing t o A. C. Col eman , supe rintendent , 

&ol d i s fow1d all t h r ough the dep osit b· .. t i s lar gely c ::mcentrate d in the 

fi st G i nch8s above tedroc~ The bedrock ex~o~ d in the it is augen 

gne iss. 

oo~ e Cr eek 

'lne loose Creek p lace rs of hhx R. Cro sby l i e on the north ~ide of the 

Sont'1 Fork in the U.r a i nag e O<'!.sins of Allison and Trail Cr eeKs , small 

tributaries of the river betv:een Ne'.vsome and. oose Cree!:s. They are about 

4 railo s cast of Fall Creek by v1 ay of the new rive r highv:ay and tl1e road 

that lead:- up out of t he canyon from a po int ne ar t he mouth of Tr e.il Cr el'lk . 

T~18 placers con is~ essentio.lly of t wo sma ll pits, nos. l and 4 , from 

\':hich about 18 , 000 ya r d s and 20 , 000 yards, r espectively, have been mined , 

anr, t· o lG..r 0 e p its, nos . 3 £l.l1d 2 , Vlh ich 1 ave a.reas of a bout 7 acres and 

33 ac!·e s , r espe ctively, and u.n e.ve1·age dep th of abou t 75 feet . (See f i 0 • 14.) 

Crosby con trols a b out 14 mile s o"' Ci i t ch , i n pa:ct out of r epair a t t_le time 

of thi s survey , through •rhich ·.vater is b row;ht from l.loose and Eea r Creeks , 

b~l t he plc:ns to extend t 1:.e itche s a11~ t ap b oth Nugg et and Beaver Creeks . 

The f ir. t placer locati on was mace abou t 1863 ~ Allison Creek by 

the man a ft e r ·.vhom t he creek i s named . IIe or~::e d the gu.lc bottom only 

end. about 1869 r-o l d o 1t to t l e Cilinese , \ho worked tl1e gr av el on the west 

. i de of tbe cu l ch and 'iscoverGd ;· hat i s now the no . 2 p it. In or der to 

'::ork l e h i gher gr av el t' e Chinesa canst ucte i about 6 YYl ilcs o: dit ch from 

Ee,.r .Jre8k, but t!'l.ey we r e n ever abl P. to cleDn off t he be<lrock at the site 

of the p it b C:l. se of their inabili t ;r to maJ:e <: rock cut ne eded for drain-

~-e;e . According to ~"p orts tl1e Ch i nese l eft ith u cl ean- up of abou t . 

<iJ40 , 000 . The p l acers r1 e:re 1e x t wor ked i n 1071 by Flynn , .cint ey , u rray, 

and Russell , who wa shed only t hP- cr ee _-:- ott om ·l;rav cl. Early i n the e i ghties 

Pa c1.C:.y \Thite dug the 1oose Creek di tel an dive rted v1,-,_ t er to t he t op of 

t he e~~s t si de of Alli .., on Gu l ch . He mined principally i n Al de r Gulch , a 

small tribu tary to Alli on Gu l ch , and a cc on'in.:; to r e:p o ts took out nearly 

$90 , 000 in one vea.r . In 1889 the b ott om and side slopes aroUJld Allison 

G-u.l ch v e r e wo k~d by Hepne r . Charl e s Richarc1 son acqu ired a half int e r e st 

f rom him ear ly in tr. e nine ti e s . Rich[l.rd on rr.a e the roc ... cut i nto no . 2 

pit and. ::tft er 1or k i ng the e : or seve r al yea:·s op ene d the no . 3 p i t on the 

west si de of Trail Cr eek in 1902 . The nuxt ye2,r h e sold out to Rhodus 

Brothers, of the Aoos , Cr eel: Gold 1 i ning Co ., uho op e r n.t E' d until 19 10 , 

· hen the plac e rs p a ssed to t he ownersLi:p of Giles, who "Old out to Cr osby 

in 1927 . 

84 
500 0 500 1500 2500 FEET 

Figure 14o-- Sketch of vicinity of Moose Creek Placers o 

85 
83103 

No authen tic record of co~..pl te p r oduc ti on i s <Wailab l e , but Crosby 

mal':e s the followi nG e 'tir:la.t e : 

Production prior to 1898 ..... ... . ..... . .. $200 , 000 

Richardson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 , 000 

R~o us rot~ers ....... ... .... ... . . .. ... .. 125 , 000 

Gile s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 , 000 

Crosb ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 , 000 

386 , 000 

As maJr be een on tLe geo logi c map (p l . 1) , tne Nioosc Creel~ p l ace rs 

are dev elope d in three small p atches of gr ave l whicl lie on the no se s bet ween ftoo se and Allison Cr e eks , be t v1 een Allison and Tr a il Creeks, and between Trail and Newsome Creeks. The a ltitude of the lowest gr ave l in all 

t hese patche: s is about 4 , 000 feet , or 300 fee t above the South Fork , which 

f_lows in a youthful canyon a short dist<mce to the s outh . The h i ghest 

gr avel that r emains is ,iust ove r 4 , 500 fe e t. The grav el a r eas appear to b e 

r emnant s of t:1e onc e much more continuous deposits that lay in the extensive basinlike deprc si on now dr a ined and dissected p rincip ally by Newsome 

Cr eek and the South Fork of the Clearwater River . In the no . 2 pit nearly 

200 fee t of nearly horizonta l ed~ of s a nd , grav el, and clay are exp osed , 

a11d according to Crosby, gold occurs at several hori zons wi th'in these b eds. 

The texture of t he beds s eem s to indicate that they we· e d eposited, a t 

least in part , in the quiescent vraters of a l ake , although a stream may 

have flowed here a t different st ages during the depo sition of the beds. 

The gr <wel in t he ·icini ty of the . oo e Creek r;lac er s a?pears to 

fall into thr ee c a t egori es- - (1) ~l<\ t \'lhi ch \'Tas d ep osited. i n the old NeVIsome 

Cr e lc Basin , e ithe r in the .... e d of s·cr.P-.:un s or in a lake , a nd vhich has 

not b een mov e d since (the true high- l ev el g r av e l) ; (')) t hat wh ich is found 

n.lon the ::;lo-pe s a nd st ream bo tt oms b .lo\r tlle 1 i {:;h-l evel g r av el ond i s 

he for~ , a t l eu.st in lc:;.r ge p< rt , e concen trnt ed old gr ovel ; nn e~ ( 3) that 

Yil ic 1 has been dep osite d nlonu t he present gul ch bot tons in p l aces whe r e 

it could. no t be mixed wi th r e conc ntra t ed high - l ev el gr a v el . The g old 

i t se lf r eflec ts i n some C.eeree the oriE; in of the gr , v el in vth ich it i s 

f oun . Tl a t i n t he high- l ev el grr..vel is r a ther fine , i rounde d , a."'ld i s 

r eported t o c:.ssay b e t Heen $18 . 60 and $19 . 3'- to t he ou nce . Th e gold in 

t he r econ centrat ed gnwel runs conside c. bly higher to t he y a d t han t h a t 

i n the h i gh - l ev el grav el and i ordinarily v. orth a t l east $19 an o m c e . 

The Gold i n t he g ulch grav el , which pre s:rrnably is der ived from the countryr ock gn e i ss, i"" Octr se and an&ular and runs 1) e tween ~1 -l: .;:..nd $16 to the 

ounc e . 

lhen the c.evelopment vwrlc in proo r ess is CO!!!pl e t ed Cro 0 y IJlans to 

handle about 500 , 000 yards of gr ave l a. year by usinb several g i ant s , 

griz zlies, and t abl es, and :r_e est imates a 1·eserve su.:f:Lici ent for at 

l erst 7 years a t that r .:1- te . Con.iderably l ess then half of the a reas of 
83103 

hi eh- level g r av e l on the noses bet ·1e en Alli so::1 and Trail Cree,rs d T L n r a il 

and ' ev1some Cr eeks has been Yo:c'~ , but of co ' r e it c1oes not follow 

Ld all t 1c <.mwo :::-ke~l grmJ.21d is n esc l·r rich enou.gh or sui t a le for 

pla cel' mining . Tl1e p ob l eia J f £Te tti ng \~'c.. ~ to some of L.e place , Hill 

no doub t p r ove C.i ffic1.1.l t . 

Ne ~/some Creel:: 

.. iu ch of tl e e:,r av e l ._ l ong \iei·: . ome Creek was wo: ed ov e r lJy a r lJ- dhy 

miners , s o th(tt o 1ly a fe\'1 sma ll 111w.ro ~ceci ,".r e<'..s r emG.in a long the lm·:e ::: 

ee.c~1es of the skc·Y • I n 1331 t ce ev1 somc House Pl8.Ct.lr Co . iu.d cor.rpl e ted 

r epairs on the :B1cl:e: e n:,. t. -' <Uld l1a.cl i s t , lled a Fe1 r:r _yd. aulic eleva tor 

fo the pu_ o s of minin · che c r eek gr o.vd unde rlyi n~ the flat a t 1 ewsome 

shtion . Accordi11g to R. C. :;.tac e r , i n charf; e of o::;>e ):ati ons, the g r c.vel 

i s a.bout 10 f ee t thick end :b..as an averae;e {;ol e<, content of about 30 or 40 

cents to the cub i c ···ard, and i some p l <.ces it p rospec ted ove r $1 . The 

gold i s coa rse , and_ the larE;e r -p i ece s B.!.'e el l _ou.n.:"ed . 2ac e r st e t es t a t 

t~·e 2;0ld on t -1e vest si d.e JI h~ 1b.t r ests o. St cla y bed and t h&.t on t he 

east si de occurs on c;neiss b e drock . 

I n 1931 P e ll Brot_ e r s ':e re slu i in[ in the bed of Ea~rfo· k Cr eek, a 

tri bu t e.. y of ~ ei" some C:r ee:c , about 2 ::iE es .:..b ov e its j uztction with :rtadcliff 

elc . The y .. eportod some l)l'Oduc ti o: ir t: a t year . 

Nev some & Legset t Creelc 

he Nevsome c: et;...;e tt c_ e.c lac er i s ab out 5 or 6 mil es :1orthee.st of 

Golden c d i s e n.checl bL t!:.e roan th£.t tur;1. north from t'1e South :!i'ork 

hi g,lwr.y 0.t Fall Cree_;: . c ry l ittle wo.s l earned. e.bo·,._t tre J" i tory of ~h e 

m·ne . Prod·ction of 930 . 37 ounce s of g ol d and l :?-8 ounces of ilver v1as 

r ep o. t ed from 1904 to 1912. w· 

A p it , 000 f ee t lon,:; and a t i ts vlidest rlac e abou t 600 fe r-: t 'li 0.e 

anc

1. f r om 30 t o 100 feet deep 1as t een e .' CFI.va.t co., partly i n gr;:tv e l a nd 

:pC'.r tl:r in s ne i ss bedroc 1·:. The t :1.ilinss were cL ive rte d into Legge tt Cr eek 

b; natu :-: l r un-off . 

T'.ne g r av e l i s i l "'ene c.~. l 1 oorly so:· t ee'. a.r. co tr' i ns b'..lt f ew clD.y bEmd . 

I n place s lenses of Rene'\. cur~ i n it. ':' e bou lC..ers c.r e !lot excessi vely 

large ; some arc ov e r 14 i n cLes . ross, b1 .t the av e .<•.ee d.i c:une t e r i s l e ss t ha...11 

5 incb~R . Bo-,lld e'..' of v;}· ".'i.e .:.wi d (.,r <wL:: ":l.[',, t:;;ite , gne i ss, ,-nc' c rani t_i c 

rock;.; pl' GV8.il . Tl e $rne i s.; ,~nd L .e grc: .. n iti ro c~ :s ~.._ e {'; rao.tl~ a lt e r ed \'/1 e re <.:> • m, b dd ' e;~ os d in baru>::s , a n cl ost o:f t':1em di i n t egn-..te den mo·; o. . .!.rle e lng 

.:t}Y!Jears to c'\.i ·o .:;,bou t 10°" • The ;:::ne i ss bed:tocl: h E'..s conspic·u.o'J. ~'.nc~in :: , 

n ich in pl <.. ~s i s c onsic'i.e r ab ly ··,.mtort d . The contc-.ct o:· . t:1e ~neiss t'.Ild 

gr<'..ve l is a t .r'..n a ltitude of n.bou t 4 , 325 f ee t . The r~ :-.. v l 1n t:he up1e::.· 

p.:-.r t of the p it i s fro 11 30 t o 35 f ed t •. i c}: :'Jld .".t t~J.8 lowc:r e. d. c·bout 15 

fe et thick ; t ;,e av er ace hic ~e s i s not ove . 20 fe t · H is ro, ~ll y 

est i rn""t ec'c thu t &.b out G50 , 000 cubic ? nr d.s o· grave l -:Cis novod. froia ;,;-,_e p it, 

Product ion figure s f u:;:n i s.ned b C. N' . Ge rry , of t he U • S · :Bt'...r e au of 

Mi:1e s. 
83103 

and if the r ep0rt e d u rodu ction repr es ent s the t ot al out put of the mine 

the ave r n.ge g old con t ent of t he r;r av l i necl wa s ab out 4 cents a cubic ' 

yani. 

Old l. ontana 

Tr ... e Old !.fon tana p l acer , :mo :n a t different times as t he S.:;.ca j awe a n.nd 

I doho , i s on Nev1some Creek c:.bout 1t mile s north of t he old r ewsome sk·.

5 e 

Rt CJ.tion . The prope· t y \ a vro r k ed p rincipally cl uring t he peri od 1905-9 , 

r lthough ~ome "'round w::..s wasl ed i n 1915 . The tot.::tl :..· eported p roduct i 0n 

is 31? . 02 ou:1ces o:c g old and 29 ounc e s of silve r~/ 

A l a r ge p i t r ou.::;: ly '100 by 300 fee t in c ro1.md plr:.n nnd f rom 30 to 

about :l.OO f ee t de e}? h a s b ee·1 e:;:cava t e d . Interbedded Gravel , sandstone , 

and clay r e st on gne i ss b e drock v:hr- r e exp o sed in t he . L e p i t . The bedrock, 

which i s cut by many }_)egma tite di ke s , is a t an a ltitude of approximat ely 

4 , 300 fee t . 

I t i s roue;l1ly esti't1· ... e-'. t hr..t 60 o to 800 , 000 cub i c yarc.s vras 

r emov ed f. om t he p i t . The t a.iling s ve r e C.i v ert ed to lJewsome Cr eelc by 

nab o.l run- off. 

Pi onee r 

T'.ne Pionee r plc c e r i s on a d i v ide bet leen SDllti am C eelc and the South 

Fork of ~1e Clea.r wa.t er Ri v e r , ab ou t 2 mil e s east of Fa ll Creek sta tion. 

According t o W. B. II ton 55/ t 1.e pl.s. e r v1:: f irst worked in t he late 

i xti ec . I n the early e · e. t i es Da,."l f." d John !. cP.1ers on built for a g r oup 

of .,1i a :!: s a c' it , called t. e l?- mi le c1.i tch , to dive t \7a t e r to tl1e placer 

from t 1e Cro oked. Rive r . Thi s itch e l evat ed the w<-..t e r suf f i ciently to ·.vor· 

all ex ept a n arrow trip of the p l ace r ground . .~any small cuts we r e 

excav ated, but only the outlines of .~.1e l a rge r ones are shmm on figure 2 . 

Trto t YP s of l 8.c e r C:.euosi t s h ve b e i1 mL1ed a t the Pioneer mine- -

:,i h- l cv el ~-<:Vel and :;ulch- grav e l formed largely 'Jy t he redeposition of 

t e E:;h l t;; a.v e l in f,'Ulcl es a t lov1e r a lti tude s . The h i gh g r av el 

r e ts on quart z it e: bedro c: a t Fi.n a l titucle b e t v1 e en 4 , 400 and 4 , 500 fee t . 

T.1e h i gh- leve l Gr<wc l v/i1er e e.cpose c't is simila r i n appea ance to t hat 

d .:loo::-.c Creek. Geor.ze Brdg r D.n o, dl'ift 100 f ee t l ong n t the con t o.ct of 

the g ravel and bed rocl~ a t the um. er end. of the Pion e er wo r k ing and tate s 

}~ t he took out $15 on bedr ock- f rom one se t of till1be:t (5 by 6 fe e t) but 

that t··1e gol d was only sp.:?.ri ngl:r pre se· t in t he g r ave l above bedrock. He 

al o .st a t ed ~6/ that t i.1e (S Ol d. \'l a s angule.: and. t hat some of it was a ttache d 

to wld t e qua:::- t z . 

54/ Producti on fig'rre s :;.\1rni sheci by C. N. Ge rry , of the U. S . :Bureau of 

' i es. 

f&/ P er s onal cornmnnic o.tion , Septemb e r 1932 . 

56/ P e rsonal commun ica ti on , September 1932 . 

88 
A co:1 si de r ab l e anwunt of the h · gh g r <.<.v el r emain s unno::: , because i t 

lies above tne ditch l evel . 'l.ne r e a r e also sone 2?c.:.tci1e s of unworkod gulch 

gr ave l that for s ome reason rre r e l of t by b oth r:h i t e and C'.in .se mi ners. 

Tippi e 

The Tipp i e :)lacer is in a c;ulch t r i bu t a ry to ~ews me Cr eel-;: about 

a mile north of the He•."lSome & Legge tt pb.c e::: . The :9:::opo rty was worked in 

t. e e arly c!a.ys b;r b o th white and Ch i nese mine r s . Tl e first p rod.uction , 

according to records ave..ila.bl e , was in 1.902 . ';'lith the exce1)ti on of 4 

yea~·s , produ c t i on was r ep orte d. until 1°25 . In 1932 preparations we r e 

being 1na.de t o wor k t he pro_ erty by H . C. Howard and. C. H. (i i n ry. Dur:i.ng 

t he 19 years in v hich production wG.s report ed the p roperty pr ociuced 

44:1.18 o1.mces of g old and 51 ounce s of si lve r . 91./ In 1921 the fin eness was 

r eport ed as 0 . 860 . 

The Ti pp i e pla cer i s in a gulch t hat has derived much of its gravel 

f rom t he .1i gh-level deposi t U..at c ap s the ri dges we st of the gulch . The 

gulch branche at the ca.bins; one b ran ch tre nds n ear ly north ,tl.e other 

more nea rly east . Both branche ~ hav e bee n mine d 3!ld are s aid to have been 

about equally r i ch, and as the streruns in t~1 e t wo branche s have flowed 

only a short di ta..nce over b eclrock , it follows tha t the , old. has p robably 

been almost en t i rely :<e rive d from the r e conc entra tion of the high- l evel 

gr ave l . 

57/ Produ cti on figur e s furni she0. by C. ! • Gerry, of the U. S. Bureau of 

'hnes. 

89