Site Inspection Report for the Abandoned and Inactive Mines in Idaho on US Forest Service Lands ...

62 Pages·2009·21.93 MB·English

Site Inspection Report for the Abandoned
and Inactive Mines in Idaho on U.S. Forest
Service Lands, Region 4
Victoria E. Mitchell
Earl H. Bennett
Idaho Geological Survey
University of Idaho
Staff Report 14-4 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3014
August 2014 Moscow, Idaho 83844-3014
www.IdahoGeology.org
Site Inspection Report for the Abandoned
and Inactive Mines in Idaho on U.S. Forest
Service Lands, Region 4
Victoria E. Mitchell
Earl H. Bennett
Staff Reports present timely information for
public distribution. This publication may not
conform to the agency’s standards
Idaho Geological Survey
University of Idaho
Staff Report 14-4 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3014
August 2014 Moscow, Idaho 83844-3014
www.IdahoGeology.org
SITE INSPECTION REPORT FOR THE

ABANDONED AND INACTIVE MINES

IN IDAHO

ON U.S. FOREST SERVICE LANDS

(REGION 4)

CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
FIELD INSPECTIONS BY:

EARL H. BENNETT

VIRGINIA S. GILLERMAN

FALMA J. MOYE

TAMRA A. SCHIAPPA

Idaho Geological Survey
FINAL REPORT EDITED BY:

VICTORIA E. MITCHELL and EARL H. BENNETT

Idaho Geological Survey

Prepared for the U.S. Forest Service, Region IV,

Under Cooperative Agreement #1104510892011
CONTENTS
Introduction and Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Abandoned and inactive mines inspected for the U.S. Forest Service

(Region IV) in southern Idaho (Listed by section in

report) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-30

Contents of Chapter Two (Boise National Forest) 1-30

Contents of Chapter Three (Caribou National Forest) . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-31

Contents of Chapter Four (Challis National Forest) 1-32

Contents of Chapter Five (payette national Forest) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-35

Contents of Chapter Six (Salmon National Forest) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-36

Contents of Chapter Seven (Sawtooth National Recreation Area .'.... 1-38

Contents of Chapter Eight (Sawtooth National Forest) 1-39

Contents of Chapter Nine (Targhee National Forest) 1-41

Alphabetical list of mines inspected on U. S. Forest Service, Region IV,

lands in Idaho 1-43

Appendix A. List of histories prepared for mines on U.S. Forest

Service, Region IV, lands in Idaho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-50

Appendix B. Standardized form used for field inspection of mines on

U.S. 'Forest Service, Region IV, lands in Idaho , 1-54

FIGURES
Figure 1-1. Location of priority sites in the Region IV forests. .. . . . . . . . .. 1-5

TABLE
Table 1-1. High priority mines in the Region IV forests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1-6

Table 1-2. Mines in the Boise National Forest that received high or medium

ratings. 1-8

Table 1-3. Mines in the Caribou National Forest with known or suspected

physical hazards (from USFS information) 1-11

Table 1-4. Mines in the Challis National Forest that received high or medium

ratings. 1-14

Table 1-5. Mines in the Payette National Forest that received high or medium

ratings. 1-19

Table 1-6. Mines in the Salmon National Forest that received high or medium

ratings. 1-22

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Table 1-7. Mines in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area that received high
or medium ratings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26

Table 1-8. Mines in the Sawtooth National Forest that received high or

medium ratings. 1-27

Table 9-1. Mines in the Targhee National Forest that received high or

medium ratings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-29

I-iii
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

This report was prepared as part of a project to identify, characterize, and
describe abandoned or inactive mines (AIMs) with significant environmental or
physical hazards on lands administered by Region IV of the U.S. Forest Service
(USFS). Seven National Forests in the southern half of Idaho (all south of the main
Salmon River) were included in this study. Mines within this area are or have been
major producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, antimony, and
molybdenum. Fluorite and uranium resources are also important in some areas. The
original version of this report was provided to the USFS in 1995 under Cooperative
Agreement #1104510892011. This 2014 version is being provided for distribution to
the general public and differs only in formatting.
The Idaho Geological Survey maintains a database containing information on
some 8,300 mines and prospects in the state. As the first part of a contract with
Regions I and IV of the USFS, this database was updated and digitized. Additional
information, including selected fields from the U.S. Geological Survey's Mineral
Resource Data System (MRDS) and the U.S. Bureau of Mines' Minerals Industry
Location Subsystem (MILS) and coded production data from the U.S. Bureau of
Mines' files, was added to each record. Every national forest in the state was then
provided with a copy of the digital database for the forest in dBASE IV format and
an overlay of the forest map showing the location of mines and prospects.
After the database was completed, Region IV proceeded with Phase II of the
project. This was designed to find which mining properties might contain hazardous
materials (HazMat) or physical hazards. HazMat problems include significant
amounts of acid mine drainage, sulfide waste material in close proximity to streams,
unstable dumps or tailings piles or impoundments (particularly those within active
floodplains), or improperly stored fuels, chemicals, or explosives left from mining
operations. Physical hazards consist of unmarked and dangerous open workings,
particularly shafts. Open adits, unless combined with other hazardous conditions, are
not considered a serious problem. However, the openings to all inactive mines should
be gated or closed to discourage trespassers.
During the fall and winter of 1993-94, the mines in each forest were ranked on
the basis of production (as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Mines). Mines that
produced over 1,000 tons of ore were included on the original priority lists because
producing mines have significantly higher probabilities of having HazMat or physical
hazards than relatively undeveloped prospects. These lists were reviewed and modified
by USFS personnel in each forest , and the revised priority lists were used to determine
which properties needed to be examined in the field. The final list included about 300
mines in the Region IV forests.
In addition, detailed histories were prepared for sixty of the mining properties
on the priority lists (Appendix A). These histories were compiled from annual
reports on mining by the U.S. Geological Survey, the U .S. Bureau of Mines, the
Idaho Inspector of Mines, and the Idaho Geological Survey (IGS)/Idaho Bureau of
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Mines and Geology; published articles and books; theses and dissertations; and
unpublished materials in the IGS's files. Each report traces the development of a
mine, in as much detail as possible, from its discovery to the present and includes
information on the ownership, milling processes, and mine workings, where
available.
During the summer of 1994, IGS field crews visited the mines on the priority
lists (Figure 1-1). The geologist located the mine on a topographic map and recorded
basic information on a standardized form (Appendix A). Additional observations were
made at most of the sites, and many of the mines were photographed. Each property
was rated as having a high, medium, or low potential for HazMat and physical
hazards. A high rating was given to those properties with severe HazMat problems
requiring remediation or extremely dangerous physical hazards. Most of the high-
priority mines had multiple problems requiring attention. A medium rating was
assigned to properties that have problems which can be solved easily and/or which do
not require prompt remediation. Examples of properties for which a medium rating
was assigned include mines with numerous open adits and/or unstable structures and
sites which require reseeding. Also included in this category are localities where
additional sampling is needed to determine the metal content of tailings or discharge.
A low rating was assigned where there was no evidence of HazMat or physical
problems. In many of these cases, natural vegetation has already begun reclaiming
the site, and intervention was judged to be less effective than allowing natural
processes to proceed unhindered.
Field inspections were completed for 277 properties on or near USFS land.
(These properties are listed by geographic area on pages 1-30 to 1-42, list the contents
for Chapters 2 through 9; an alphabetical list of all mines included in this report begins
on page 1-43.) Of these mines, 24 (9%) were rated high, 64 (23%) were medium,
and 189 (68%) were low. Of the properties rated high and medium, 7 had acid
drainage, 49 had significant amounts of mill tailings or mine waste or had mill tailings
or mine waste near streams, and 6 had other HazMat problems. The presence of
physical hazards contributed to the high or medium ratings on 27 properties. The high-
priority mines for all forests are listed in Table 1-1.
The properties in the Boise National Forest (page 1-30) that received a high or
medium rating are listed in Table 1-2. Out of 35 mines examined in the Boise
National Forest, 3 (9%) ranked high, 7 (20%) medium, and the remaining 25 (71 %)
were low. Of the 10 properties with high and medium ratings, 2 had HazMat
problems, 1 had physical problems, and 1 had both HazMat and physical hazards. Of
the remaining mines, 4 had tailings or mine waste in or adjacent to stream beds or
other areas subject to potential erosion. The remaining properties received their
ratings for a variety of reasons. Several priority sites in the northern part of the
Boise National Forest were inaccessible during the summer of 1994 because of major
forest fires in the area.
Three properties in the Caribou National Forest were examined (page 1-31),
and all three received low ratings. In addition, fourteen sites with known or
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unpublished materials in the IGS's files. Each report traces the development of a
mine, in as much detail as possible, from its discovery to the present and includes
information on the ownership, milling processes, and mine workings, where available.
During the summer of 1994, IGS field crews visited the mines on the priority
lists (Figure 1-1). The geologist located the mine on a topographic map and recorded
basic information on a standardized form (Appendix A). Additional observations
were made at most of the sites, and many of the mines were photographed. Each
property was rated as having a high, medium, or low potential for HazMat and
physical hazards. A high rating was given to those properties with severe HazMat
problems requiring remediation or extremely dangerous physical hazards. Most of the
high-priority mines had multiple problems requiring attention. A medium rating was
assigned to properties that have problems which can be solved easily and/or which do
not require prompt remediation. Examples of properties for which a medium rating
was assigned include mines with numerous open adits and/or unstable structures and
sites which require reseeding. Also included in this category are localities where
additional sampling is needed to determine the metal content of tailings or discharge.
A low rating was assigned where there was no evidence of HazMat or physical
problems. In many of these cases, natural vegetation has already begun reclaiming
the site, and intervention was judged to be less effective than allowing natural
processes to proceed unhindered.
Field inspections were completed for 277 properties on or near USFS land.
(These properties are listed by geographic area on pages 1-30 to 1-42, list the contents
for Chapters 2 through 9; an alphabetical list of all mines included in this report
begins on page 1-43.) Of these mines, 24 (9%) were rated high, 64 (23%) were
medium, and 189 (68%) were low. Of the properties rated high and medium, 7 had
acid drainage, 49 had significant amounts of mill tailings or mine waste or had mill
tailings or mine waste near streams, and 6 had other HazMat problems. The presence
of physical hazards contributed to the high or medium ratings on 27 properties. The
high-priority mines for all forests are listed in Table 1-1.
The properties in the Boise National Forest (page 1-30) that received a high or
medium rating are listed in Table 1-2. Out of 35 mines examined in the Boise
National Forest, 3 (9%) ranked high, 7 (20%) medium, and the remaining 25 (71 %)
were low. Of the 10 properties with high and medium ratings, 2 had HazMat
problems, 1 had physical problems, and 1 had both HazMat and physical hazards. Of
the remaining mines, 4 had tailings or mine waste in or adjacent to stream beds or
other areas subject to potential erosion. The remaining properties received their
ratings for a variety of reasons. Several priority sites in the northern part of the
Boise National Forest were inaccessible during the summer of 1994 because of major
forest fires in the area.
Three properties in the Caribou National Forest were examined (page 1-31),
and all three received low ratings. In addition, fourteen sites with known or
1-2
suspected physical hazards were reported by USFS personnel. These mines are listed
in Table 1-3.
The properties in the Challis National Forest (page 1-32) that received a high
or medium rating are listed in Table 1-4. Out of 68 mines examined, 6 (9%) ranked
high, 19 (28%) medium, 2 were unrated, and the remaining 41 (60%) were low. Of
the 25 properties with high and medium ratings, five had HazMat problems, five had
physical problems, and 6 had both HazMat and physical hazards. Of the twenty-five
mines, fourteen had tailings or mine waste in or adjacent to stream beds or other
areas subject to potential erosion. The remaining properties received their ratings for
a variety of reasons.
The properties in the Payette National Forest (page 1-35) that received a high
or medium rating are listed in Table 1-5. Out of 30 mines examined, 3 (10%) ranked
high, 6 (20%) medium, and the remaining 21 (70%) were low. Of the 9 properties
with high and medium ratings, six had potential HazMat problems, and one had both
an extreme physical hazard and potential HazMat problems. The potential HazMat
problems at three of the mines were related to current or recent operations and should
be addressed during reclamation of these properties. Tailings impoundments at four
of the properties ne~d to be sampled to determine the metal content of the tailings.
The adits at one mine need to be plugged to reduce the flow of acid water, which is
produced by a sulfide-bearing rhyolite. The remaining property received its rating
due to a combination of factors.
The properties in the Salmon National Forest (page 1-36) that received a high
or medium rating are listed in Table 1-6. Out of 50 mines examined, 4 (8%) ranked
high, 12 (24%) medium, and the remaining 34 (68%) were low or not rated. Of the
16 properties with high and medium ratings, 1 had a potential HazMat problem, 4 had
physical problems, and 2 had both HazMat and physical hazards. Twelve of the
sixteen mines had tailings or mine waste in or adjacent to stream beds or other areas
subject to potential erosion.
The properties in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA; page 1-38)
that received a high or medium rating are listed in Table 1-7. Out of 18 mines
examined in the SNRA, 1 (5 %) ranked high, 5 (28 %) medium, and the remaining 12
(67%) were low. Of the 6 properties with high and medium ratings, 1 active
operation had hazardous materials (but no major problems) on the site and 3 sites had
physical problems. Four of the mines had tailings impoundments or mine waste in or
adjacent to stream beds or other areas subject to potential erosion. The USFS has
sampled the tailings and is monitoring the groundwater down gradient from the
impoundment at one mine.
The properties in the Sawtooth National Forest (page 1-39) that received a
high or medium rating are listed in Table 1-8. Out of 63 mines examined on the
Sawtooth National Forest, 4 (6%) ranked high, 17 (27%) medium, and the remaining
42 (67%) were low. Of the 21 properties with high and medium ratings, 3 had
1-3
HazMat problems, 4 had severe physical hazards, 1 site had acid drainage, and 1 site
had both acid drainage and HazMat problems. Of the remaining mines, 5 had tailings
or mine waste in or adjacent to stream beds or other areas subject to potential
erosion. The remainder of the properties received their ratings for a variety of
reasons.
The properties in the Targhee National Forest (page 1-41) that received a high
or medium rating are listed in Table 1-9. Out of 10 site examined, 1 (10%) ranked
medium, and the remaining 9 (90%) were low. The property with the medium rating
had a possible HazMat problem.
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