The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-03-22
MINERAL INDUSTRY OF
THE STATE OF IDAHO
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under development will become of
considerable importance. Lead is a
strategic metal. The demand for it is
increasing; as we'll as new uses. No
new supply has been discovered in re-
cent years and future high price is
assured. These factors are all slim
illus to the greater expansion of this
industry.
Zinc, sister metal of lead, is sinlil-
arly situated as to distribution, prices
and uses, and the expansion of its de-
velopment will naturally increase with
that of lead.
Idaho is an important producer of
copper, and the state holds a high po-
sition among the ranking states of the
Union. The many properties now I'M
der development and the numerous
discovered and undiscovered veins in
dictate that this metal will eventually
put the state in a higher position and
greatly add to its prosperity.
Silver Second to Lead.
"Silver, the second most important |
metal produced in Idaho. will always |
keep the state in an enviable position,
as this metal is associated with all OF
the principal metals and its produc-
ton will increase with the production
of the others.
Gold is the most widely distribut-
ed rare metal found and produced in
the state. Practically all of the pla-
Ger deposits that could be hydraulics
ed are exhausted, but large areas suit
able for dredging operations are still
available and the gold lode deposits
in this state offer greater opportuni
ties than those of almost any other
state in the Union. (
Many of the common and uncom- I
mon metals and minerals are being II
developed, the extensive distribution |
of which will always be an important I
factor in and add to the mineral l
wealth of the state. d
Resources.
THE state of Idaho contains an :
area of sass square miles The
maximum width at the southern end is
approximately 312 miles and the
length from the southwest corner to
the northwest corner is approximately
4S6 miles. The state is divided into "A Il
as having minerals of commercial i'm
portance. In % of these counties con- r
siderable mining has been done, while
only IS have mines of any Importance.
In the past practically mining has p
been confined to the five principal II
metals which are widely distributed "
throughout the state; but also lying II
within the borders of the state is II
great variety of the uncommon metals al
and minerals. 1t is this great diver hi
sity of mineral wealth that makes d'
Idaho one of the principal mining ia
states of the Union. re
Lead. al
Lead, the principal metal produced pi
in Idaho, is widely distributed ~
the state 1t occurs in all IN
the lead minerals, the most important m
of which is galena or lead sulphide. tn
The principal counties, in the order of ~ ~
their prominence. are: Shoshone ne
Blaine, Lemhi Custer Boundary, pl
Bonner Boise, Butte and Camas. The yo
Importance of Idaho as a lead produce -,
ing state is shown by the fact that in M
1922 her production was little over SUI
the United States thus giving her tn
second place; Missouri being first ~
Silver.
"All of the lead, copper and zinc &C
,res of the state carry large proper CT
ion of silver, so the mining of silver A
,an hardly be separated from that of
is associated metals, and naturally its
production nuctuates with their pro-
luction During 1922 Idaho ranked
bird in the United States in the pro- &c
luction of silver; Utah was first and
Montana second. One-seventh of all
he silver produced in the United To
States during 1922 came from Idaho
rs stated above, silver is associated col
With all of the lead, zinc and copper of
res; and with but one or two excep- mir
ions it is not associated with other Ma
Metals It's occurrence is such that it q
5 one of the most widely distributed w;
metals produced in the state. The W;
principal silver producing counties are lsz
;hoshone Blaine Custer Bonner, loi
.emhi, Boundary, Washington, Boise, the
,wyhee Idaho, Butte, Camas, Valley, lar
dams and Cassia, named in the or the
err of their prominence. of
Copper. $40
Copper which ranks third in the fro
st of the principal metals produced
4 Idaho is found in many widely sec
catered sections throughout the
tate The principal counties that
reduce this metal. in the order of
heir prominence, are: Custer Lemhi NO
hoshone, Adams, Bonner, Washing
IN, Idaho Blaine. Butte, Clearwater OF
nd Latah. OF these Custer and Lem n
counties produce by far the greater n
-. .,4,,o,,,rt a,,an+,,a11,, tho largo \
ou'i'' - ii, nov
Upper deposits OF Aoahis County VIII scr