De Lamar Claim

Overview

I am asked often if I have any mining claims located on Jordan Creek. With the well known history of the gold from Silver City, and the ease it is to work BLM mining claims, these types of claims are highly sought after. This mining claim is located on Jordan Creek, right at the foot (north) of the De Lamar Mine, with extremely easy road access right across the mining claim. I have found that accessing this claim from Jordan Valley, seems to be easier driving, but you can also access it from the Silver City side as well, see the driving directions below. As you will see from the pictures and aerial view, there are a few lower flat benches that can be worked on the claim as well. This portion of Jordan Creek will have some of the rich deposits from the Silver City (War Eagle and Florida mountain ranges) and De Lamar operations. The IDWR does call Jordan Creek open for dredging year round.

DeLamar Gold 1

DeLamar Directions

Driving Directions: From Exit 33A in Nampa, head west on Karcher Rd (name changes to SR-55 just outside Nampa). After 16 miles, turn left (south) on US 95. You will stay on US 95 for approximately 44 miles till you reach Jordan Valley. US 95 takes an abrupt turn west in the center of town, at this turn you will turn left (east) on Yturri Blvd (name changes to Pleasant Valley Rd just outside Jordan Valley). Stay on this road for 3 miles, then left on Long Ridge Road. After following this for 14 miles, there will be a dirt access road to the left (north), which you will turn left on before the bridge (over the bridge will have a “dead end” sign which goes up to the DeLamar mine). Take this for approximately a 1/2 mile to the mining claim. **** A second way to access these claims is from Cow Creek, which is a shorter route from HWY 95, but the road is rougher (truck advised). The claim can also be accessed from the Murphy side, passing by Silver City, although this requires many miles of rough dirt roads, where 4 WD is advised (faster to use HWY95).

Show Me The Gold

About Jordan Creek

Where does the gold in Jordan Creek come from? There are a few main sources for the gold found in Jordan Creek, closer to Silver City, you would have all the vein activity on War Eagle Mountain (could research Addle, New Year, Poorman, Empire, Illinois Central, War Eagle mines to name some of the major that feed into Jordan Cr.), the Florida Mountain Range (with Potosi, Trade Dollar/Black Jack, Tip Top, Empire State, Banner mines to name a couple), and further downstream is the De Lamar mountain, which is essentially one massive open pit mine.

There are several reports that cover the countless mines and mining activity for this region…not sure how important it is to list them all, but here are a couple that are best suited to Jordan Creek, and the gold recovered from this area (the first is the better).

http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/Bulletins_(B)/B-11.pdf

http://www.idahogeology.org/PDF/Pamphlets_(P)/P-138.pdf

What does the color look like?

Let’s talk about the gold…I have worked Jordan Creek for over 20 years throughout various parts of it. First and foremost, is you are likely going to find amalgam (mercury with gold) in placer recovery, and you want to SAVE this, not toss it back in the creek (which I hear about inexperienced prospectors doing). More on amalgam below. Gold from this region has a high silver content, and so it is pretty common to see 18 karats. I have metal detected what I thought were silver nuggets, to later discover that they were 40% gold. In Jordan Creek, you will also find ample amounts of black sands…so get them magnets out. :o)

Where does all the mercury come from?

If you read old reports, there supposedly was a spill of 10,000 lbs of it into Jordan Creek by Silver City, plus the placer operations in the area…but the area is also known for its Cinnabar where mercury is naturally forming.