Lucky Friday mine

Lucky Friday mine
Lucky Friday mine in 1995
Coordinates: 47°28′16″N 115°46′59″W / 47.471°N 115.783°W / 47.471; -115.783Coordinates: 47°28′16″N 115°46′59″W / 47.471°N 115.783°W / 47.471; -115.783
Country United States
State Idaho
County Shoshone
Elevation 3,440 ft (1,050 m)
GNIS feature ID 0386268
MRDS ID 10257227
MSHA ID 1000088
depth 9,587 ft (2,922 m)

The Lucky Friday mine is an underground silver, lead, and zinc mine in the western United States, near Mullan, Idaho.[1] Operated by Hecla Mining company, it is one of the few mines remaining operational in the Silver Valley of northern Idaho, producing 1000 tons of ore per day. The ore deposit type is Polymetallic veins of hydrothermal origin, the mining method used is underhand cut and fill mining.[2]

The mine's primary access and production are through the Silver Shaft, an 18-foot (5.5 m) diameter, concrete-lined shaft sunk to a depth of 6,200 feet (1,890 m),[3][4][5] over 2,800 feet (855 m) below sea level.

Geography

Located in northern Idaho, the mine is one mile (1.6 km) east of Mullan in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District, on the north side of exit 69 of Interstate 90. The elevation at the surface is approximately 3,400 feet (1,035 m) above sea level. About five miles (8 km) eastbound on I-90 is Lookout Pass, the border with Montana.

Geology

The geology is Precambrian meta‐sedimentary rocks and forms veins ranging in width from 4 to 20 feet (1.2 to 6.1 m), and over six thousand feet (1,830 m) in depth.[6] The ore is bleached by hydrothermal processes and extend downwards in veins at a 75-degree angle.

History

The mine was discovered in 1880 by J.F. Ingalls, Production started in 1942.

References

  1. ↑ Brainard, Wendell (December 7, 1962). "'Lucky Friday' is north Idaho's newest big silver producer". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. p. 13.
  2. ↑ William, Ted; Brady, Tom; Bayer, Doug; Bren, Mark; Pakalnis, Rimas; Marjerison, John; Langston, Rad. "Underhand Cut and Fill Mining as Practiced in Three Deep Hard Rock Mines in the United States" (PDF). cdc.gov/niosh. NIOSH. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Berberick, D.; Strickland, B. "Rehabilitation of Lucky Friday's Silver Shaft". onemine.org. SME. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Lucky Friday". www.hecla-mining.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Lucky Friday Mine (MRDS #10257227)". mrdata.usgs.gov. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Exploration". www.hecla-mining.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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