I stumbled across a map of Idaho’s Mining Districts and couldn’t help notice the multitude of Districts and their coverage across our minerally endowed state. You might as well be surprised to discover that the lands encompassed by the Salmon-Challis National Forest are among the most prolifically populated with mining districts. Who would have guessed?
Amazing isn’t it? A not so difficult Google search will list hundreds of mineral reports, many from the prestigious U.S.G.S. (United States Geological Survey). Nothing reported in the Draft Assessment about this vastly rich and strategically significant mineral cornucopia, much of which is listed for Wilderness designation. Let me share some easy to obtain informative data that is suspiciously absent in overview of mineral resources.
“Mineral production from the Salmon National Forest began during 1866 when placer gold was discovered in Leesburg Basin. Hardrock mining quickly spread throughout the Forest and many deposits containing a wide range of commodities were discovered and developed. Although early records are sketchy, production is estimated to include 940,000 ounces gold, 654,000 ounces silver, 61.9 million pounds copper, 8.9 million pounds lead, 13.9 million pounds cobalt, 208,000 pounds zinc, and 37,000 tons fluorite mill feed.
Not a bad historic return based on current metal prices, likely a small portion of total future reserve capacity. But who’s counting!
Wonder how they missed this? Probably didn’t give a schist.
As the importance and dependence of specific mineral commodities increase, so does concern about their supply. The United States is currently 100 percent reliant on foreign sources for 20 mineral commodities and imports the majority of its supply of more than 50 mineral commodities. Mineral commodities that have important uses and face potential supply disruption are critical to American economic and national security. However, a mineral commodity’s importance and the nature of its supply chain can change with time; a mineral commodity that may not have been considered critical 25 years ago may be critical today, and one considered critical today may not be so in the future.
The U.S. Geological Survey has produced this volume to describe a select group of mineral commodities currently critical to our economy and security. For each mineral commodity covered, the authors provide a comprehensive look at (1) the commodity’s use; (2) the geology and global distribution of the mineral deposit types that account for the present and possible future supply of the commodity; (3) the current status of production, reserves, and resources in the United States and globally; and (4) environmental considerations related to the commodity’s production from different types of mineral deposits. The volume describes U.S. critical mineral resources in a global context, for no country can be self-sufficient for all its mineral commodity needs, and the United States will always rely on global mineral commodity supply chains. This volume provides the scientific understanding of critical mineral resources required for informed decision making by those responsible for ensuring that the United States has a secure and sustainable supply of mineral commodities.
The Nation was largely built on the products produced from its mineral deposits. The future will also be built on a foundation of minerals, many of which will continue to be discovered and produced from across the country.
So, let’s see what we know of the above highlighted elements that might be locked up in this proposed Wilderness wasteland.