Pamphlet No. 74 November 1945 STATE OF IDAHO Charles C. Gossett,· Governor IDAHO BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY , A. w. Fahrenwald, Director . A· GEOLOGICAL RECONNAISSANCE BETWEEN·· THE slm· AID SALMON RIVERS NOBTI. OF BIGGIIS, mAIO By Warren R. Wagner University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction .................................................................................... ~................................................................................................................. 1 ~~S:p~~ .. ~.:~~~.. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~ Acknowledgement ............................... ,.. ~ ........ ~ ..................................................•.. ~ .......... :.................................................................... 1 Geography and· physiography ..................................................................................................................................................................... l' Location ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Surface features ........... :..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Climate ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 A~cessibility ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 3 i GeOIO~o~e;o~d··:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~: 3 j Sedimentary and extrusive rocks ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Seven Devils volcanics ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Pittsburg formation .......................................................... :.............................................................. :.................... ~ ............................. 4 Lucile series .................................................................................................... ~ .................................................................................... 5 7 ~:~~~~~~ti~~ ~~~~~~.. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::~:~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::':~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 7 rI Quaternary deposits ...................................................................................................... :.................................................................... 7 Intrusive rocks ................................................................................................................, .......................................................................... '1 Granitic rocks ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 7.· Structure ........... ~ ........................................................................................................................................................ ,................................ 8 Foreword .................................................................................................. :............................................................................................ 8 A FQlding and cleavage ......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Faulting and jointing ...................................................................................... ~ ................................................................................... 8 r Ore.,deposits ............................................................................................................ :............................................................................... ,........... 9 " Introcluc:tion, ............................................................................................................... ,.; ............................................................ ,........... '9 I '." ',Placer deposits .............. ~ ................................................................................................. ~ ........................................................ ;' ........... '....... 9 History and production ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Occurrence and distribution ..... ;........................................ " ............................... ;~ ..................•.•........•...... ~~..................................... 9 I ~~~eo~u<k~~.~::::::::::::::::::::::·::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~::::::::::::::~:::::::::::::::J:::::::::::::~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~g CopW deposits ................................................................................................. ,........................................................................................ 10 Hi$tory and production ...................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Di$tribution and character of the deposits .................................................................................................................................... 10 Mineralogy .................................................................................................... ~....................................................................................... 11 Primary minerals .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Secondary minerals ...................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Ii Paragenesis ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Tenor of ore ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Wall rock alteration ........................................................... :......................................... !...................................................................... 12 Oxidation and enrichment ................................................................................................................................................................ 12 I Genesis of the deposits ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Future outlook ............................................................................ :......................................................................................................... 13 Properties .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Blue Jacket .................................................................................................................... ::...................................................................... 13 Duncan ............................................................................................................................... ,.................................................................... 13 Bateman .....................................................................................................................: ................................................... ~....................... 16 Pullman .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Map of Idaho showing location of area .............................. ,................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Conglomerate of the Pittsburg formation along Kurry Creek ........... ;........................................................................ ,. 6 Figure 3. Syncline in the Pittsburg formation. View looking east from