Boise County has a long history in mining. Many of the county’s communities were founded on, and derived their culture from, the mining era. Idaho Copper Corporation (IDCU) embraces the history of the region, yet envisions a new era for the community – an era based on modern mining practices driven by good stewardship and social responsibility-the CuMo Project Era.
IDCU is committed to understanding the complex features that comprise Boise County’s culture and environment. Industry experts will delve deep into the area’s infrastructure, social climate, environment and community needs and with this knowledge, the CuMo Project team will develop a comprehensive project plan.
The project team commits to strict adherence to Best Management Practices on public lands, exceeding expectations for community involvement and vigilant stewardship of all natural resources. On these values, IDCU will build a long and meaningful relationship with Southwest Idaho.
Building blocks for meaningful community engagement:
- Community meetings, presentations and informational tours
- Community partnerships
- Open forums for public comment
History of Mining in Idaho Timeline
1860
Ten prospectors led by Captain E.D. Pierce enter the Nez Perce Reservation in search of gold. After a month of no luck, one of the men, Wilbur Bassett, strikes gold along Canal Gulch. This discovery sets off one of the largest migrations in American history.
1862
Ten thousand miners pour into the Florence Basin, and the district is producing more than $600,000 worth of gold a day based on modern prices. Prospectors discover the most significant gold mining district in Idaho - the Boise Basin.
1863
Idaho City’s population is 6,200, surpassing Portland as the largest city in the Northwest. Latecomers, finding all the good ground taken, fan out in all directions. One party finds gold along Jordan Creek in the Owyhee Mountains. There, Silver City becomes a boomtown.
1881
Andrew Prichard strikes gold along the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River creating a northward migration of miners. Fueling the rush is the Northern Pacific Railroad, which promises free gold in North Idaho for the price of a ticket on the railroad.
1885
Noah Kellogg locates the Bunker Hill Mine in the Coeur d’Alene area and finds silver.
1908
Waterloo Mine is state's first phosphate mine (underground mine).
1962
While investigating the tungsten potential in the Thompson Creek area, Henry T. Eyrich found molybdenum in stream sediment samples collected along Pat Hughes Creek, a tributary to Thompson Creek.
1985
Coeur d’Alene mining district produces their one billionth ounce of silver. The district has also produced vast amounts of lead, zinc, and copper. Other notable mines in the Silver Valley include the Morning Star, one of the deepest mines in America; Bunker Hill, America's largest underground mine; and the Sunshine Mine, which has produced more than 300 million ounces of silver.
