Lucky Friday mine

Lucky Friday mine
Lucky Friday mine in 1995
Coordinates: 47°28′20.5″N 115°46′45.4″W / 47.472361°N 115.779278°WCoordinates: 47°28′20.5″N 115°46′45.4″W / 47.472361°N 115.779278°W
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	6,000 feet

The Lucky Friday mine is an underground silver, lead, and zinc mine near Mullan, Idaho, it is operated by Hecla Mining company. Lucky Friday is one of the few mines remaining operational in the silver valley, 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.^[1] The mine's primary access and production are through the Silver Shaft, an 18 feet (5.5m) diameter, concrete lined shaft sunk to a depth of 6,200 feet (1,890m).^{[2] [3] [4]}

Geography

The mine is located one mile east of Mullan, Idaho in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District.

Geology

The geology is Precambrian meta‐sedimentary rocks and forms veins ranging in width from 4 to 20 feet in width extending down over 6,000 feet. ^[5] 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. 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.
2. Berberick, D.; Strickland, B. "Rehabilitation of Lucky Friday's Silver Shaft". onemine.org. SME. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
3. "Lucky Friday". www.hecla-mining.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
4. "Lucky Friday Mine (MRDS #10257227)". mrdata.usgs.gov. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
5. "Exploration". www.hecla-mining.com. Retrieved 11 October 2014.