Big Auric
This is a very unique placer mining claim, just 5 miles south of historic Idaho City, which includes 650’ of gold bearing Big Gulch Creek, open to dredging, located just downstream abutting the Big Gulch lode mine (see picture of old shacks). Yet this claim also has the rich benches of the Mores Creek drainage. From the aerials the road makes a horseshoe, which is a large lower bowl (circled in red), with Mores Creek placers evident. At the lower points of the bowl, there are some hand stacked tailing piles from the old operations, although through two deeper hand sample pits (slightly higher than the tailings), there is virgin Mores Creek deposit ranging at least 5’ thick, with ample color and rich deposits (see picture of gold collected from pits). This bowl area could be worked using a drywasher, or pump water from Big Gulch to process the material wet. There is a locked gate over NF025B mining claim, although access is granted to mining claim owner(s), for working the claim through the Forest Service, which allows for a sense of privacy and security with equipment. As this gate is located “on” the mining claim, to visit & sampling purposes only, please do not request the code at this time as it is not intended to the general public or for general access, information will be forwarded to the buyer only. This site also has a couple camping areas located on the claim, and with being located adjacent to HWY21, it has extremely easy access.
- Acreage: 11.22 Acres
- River footage: 650’ Big Gulch Creek
- Placer/lode: placer
- Location: Boise County, Township 5N, Range 5E, Sec.18, NW ¼
- Mining claim serial #: IMC221497
Map to Claim
Coordinates
NW 43.77630’N, -115.91040’W
NE 43.77630’N, -115.90593’W
SE 43.77465’N, -115.90890’W
NSE 43.77495’N, -115.90908’W
SW 43.77447’N, -115.91040’W
NW 43°46’34.6800″N, -115°54’37.4400″W
NE 43°46’34.6800″N, -115°54’21.3480″W
SE 43°46’28.7400″N, -115°54’32.0400″W
NSE 43°46’29.8200″N, -115°54’32.6880″W
SW 43°46’28.0920″N, -115°54’37.4400″W
Maps
Images
Overview
Driving Directions from Boise: Take HWY 21 (from I-84 Exit 57), north out of Boise for 28.5 miles, or about 5 miles before getting to Idaho City. Turn left (northwest) onto Forest Service access road NF 025B. The mining claim is starts immediately after getting onto this road, and extends about 1100’ up the road. The claim is marked on the side boundaries (north/south edges) along the road (on the creek side).