The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-03-27
RARE METALS FOUND
IN THE STATE OF IDAHO
THEY OCCUR ESPECIALLY IN
PLAcERS-ARE WORTH
CLOSE ATTENTION.

( (Annual Report Of Robert N. Bel
, State Mine lnspector).
!, Idaho Is noted for the occurrence o
. the rarer metals and minerals, and
. while this branch of our mining in
dustry has not yet received much at
tention, the prospects of proftabl,
mining operations Of this kind, espe
cially in connection with gold placer
operations, is Of no mean Importance
Monazite.
This mineral, containing the valu,
able rare oxides Of thorium, cerium
etc. Is very prevalently disseminated
through the old placer gravel beds OF
central Idaho. particularly In the Boise
Basin, Long Valley. Rock Flat, Resort
and Warren districts.
This mineral occurs as yellow sand
in about the same proportion as the
black magnetic iron sand occurs in
most other placer diggings. 1t is de-
rived from the disintegration of the
granite formation and is also found in
small quantities in the gold quartz
veins that traverse these districts.
Cobalt and Nicke1.
These metals occur In association
with the copper ores Of the Blackbird
district in Lemhi county, and with the
gold bearing iron sulphide ores of
Washington basin in Custer county
and also in association with copper
iron sulphide minerals in portions OF
the Big Creek district. Like similar
deposits in Canada, several of these
deposits show conspicuous association
Of pyrrhotite ore, and other pyrrhotite
deposits in the state are worthy of an
alysis for this more important mineral
association.
Tungsten.
This mineral occurs in lenzy quartz
filed assure veins in diabese schist at
Patterson creek in Lemhi county,
where some extensive development
work has been done and milling
plant of 100 tons daily capacity is now
being erected.
Tungsten in the form of sheelite ore
occurs in punches in the large quartz
veins in the Golden Chest mine at
Murray in Shoshone county and in the
Golden Winnie mine in the same dis
trict
A high grade sheelite ore is also re-
ported from the Charity mine at War
rem, Idaho county, in association with
a narrow gold bearing quartz vein in
granite. and recent discovery Of
clean tungsten ore is reported from
Blaine county, near Arco, from which |
line specimens have been received at
this Office
Tin Ore.
High grade stream tin ore, carrying
IS per cent metallic tin. is found assoc
lated with gold bearing placer gravel
It Panther creek and Silver creek in
4emhi county.
Samples containing important tin
'alues are also reported from a quartz
'ein near Salmon City, associated with
old. lead and vanadium minerals.
Mercury, Platinum.
Cinnabar ore has been found at sew
raj points In the state, especially as
ebbles in the placer gravels of Stan
~ creek. where pieces up to several
ounds in weight Of cinnabar ore, con-
aiming 60 per cent mercury. have oc-
asionally been found in the cleanup
OK Of dredging operation, associat-
l with other rare minerals. including
letallic platinum.
At Sugar creek in the Thunder
otntain district, shattered and rece-
entcd quartose sandstone contain de-
,sits of large size and average values
per cent mercury and have pro-
iced some fine specimens of high
'ade ore.
These deposits are quite extensive
I'd with their surface debris covering
e mountain slope below. which con-
in rich panninbs In high grade Gin
bar mineral. they present very at
active and probably an extensive re-
urce of mercury ore.
Cinnabar has also been found
injection with igneous bikes at r
owe in Elmore county and at u
EEK in Blaine county.
Semi.Precious Stones.
Beautiful IRE opals have been fo
the lava formations of Latah. La
and Owvhee counties and Carr
gem quality occur i'm several of
.cer counties of the state.
,orundum and prismatic topaz
lis. including specimens of
ality. are plentifully found In
Ger gravels of Adams. Custer, b,
d Idaho counties.