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Home > Idaho
In the “Regional Geology” section (Chapter Five) of the guidebook, the following areas of Idaho are covered:
“Guide to the Southeast Idaho Phosphate District,” by Ray M. Petrun. (Paper 16)
”Regional Geology and Fossil Sites from Pocatello to Montpelier, Freedom, and Wayan, Southeastern Idaho and Western Wyoming,” by David E. Fortsch and Paul Karl Link. (Paper 17)
”Geology of East-Central Idaho: Geologic Roadlogs for the Big and Little Lost River, Lemhi, and Salmon River Valleys,” by Paul Karl Link and Susanne U. Janecke. ( Paper 18)
”Field Guide Along the Northern Edge of the Eastern Snake River Plain, and the Lemhi and Beaverhead Mountain Ranges Bordering Birch Creek Valley, Idaho,” by Kathleen B. Price, Glenn Embree, Roger Hoggan, and Steve Hansen. (Paper 19)
Quartzite, a metamorphic rock, is quarried in Idaho in the City of Rocks area. It is known under the trade name of “Oakley Stone.” The quarries from which it originates are located on the west flank of Middle Mountain.
“The BLM administers approximately 36.5 million subsurface acres in Idaho. Additionally, BLM administers mining claim records and mineral leases on lands managed by other federal agencies.
BLM's manages three major categories of mineral resources: locatable, leasable and salable minerals. Locatable minerals include mining claims for gold, silver, copper and other "hardrock" minerals. As of April 1, 2001, 11,962 active mining claims were recorded on Idaho public lands....”
“Idaho's public lands provide a good source for "salable minerals" such as sand, gravel, stone and clay....”
Idaho Gemstone Guide, presented by the Idaho Department of Lands. (Includes information on: * Rockhounding on Idaho State Endowment Lands, * Rockhounding on Public Land, * State Exploration Locations, * Publications, and * Recreational Gold Mining.)
Idaho Minerals - Minerals found in Idaho, presented by the Idaho Mining Association.
Idaho State Minerals Information, U.S. Geological Survey.
A Location Guide for Rockhounds, (PDF) Collected by Robert C. Beste, PG, St. Louis, Missouri: Hobbitt Press, 2nd ed., December 1996, 148 pp. (Includes chapters on “Mineral Locations by State,” “Appendix and Glossary,” and “Bibliography.”)
Historical Museums of Idaho, A Guide Finder, presented by CensusFinder.
Yale Peabody Museum: GNIS (Search the USGS Geographic Names Database)
1994 through 2006– The Mineral Industry of Idaho – United States Geological Survey (1994 through 2006)(Scroll down to the “Publications” section.)
| Figure 28. (From Tertiary Volcanic Tuffs and Sandstones Used As Building Stones in the Upper Salmon River Valley, Idaho, Bulletin 811-E, 1929.) |  |
Quartzite, a metamorphic rock, is quarried in Idaho in the City of Rocks area. It is known under the trade name of “Oakley Stone.” The quarries from which it originates are located on the west flank of Middle Mountain.
Digital Mines of Idaho, presented by DigitalAtlas.
Idaho Mines, presented by Digital Atlas.
(from the web site) “Northwest Mining Association (NWMA) is a 113-year-old, 1,800 member non-profit, non-partisan trade association founded in Spokane, Washington during the early years of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District. We were soon supporting the mining industry throughout the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.”
Table Rock sandstone was quarried in the Boise foothills at Table Rock for use in the construction of the Idaho State Capitol. This sandstone was also used in the construction of over a hundred homes and several buildings in Boise. Reportedly, the sandstone is evenly grained, dense, and uniform like limestone.
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A Location Guide for Rockhounds, (PDF) Collected by Robert C. Beste, PG, St. Louis, Missouri: Hobbitt Press, 2nd ed., December 1996, 148 pp. (Includes chapters on “Mineral Locations by State,” “Appendix and Glossary,” and “Bibliography.”)
The Technology of Marble Quarrying, U. S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 106, by Oliver Bowles, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1916.
The exterior of St. Dominics was constructed with dark grey, light grey, and buff stone from quarries in Boise, Idaho, and Monte Vista, Colorado.
It is stated in the article, “Land Matters,” from December’s Landscape Architecture Magazine, that the engraved tablets that are a part of the memorial are made of Idaho sandstone.
The Belgravia Building was constructed of sandstone quarried from nearby Table Rock in 1904. It was originally the first apartment building in Boise, but today the building houses an art gallery, offices, salons, and Mortimer’s Restaurant.
The site indicates that Boise sandstone was used throughout the park except for the inlaid floor of The Rookery, which are “small, reddish granite stones imported from Germany.” Sandstone was also used in the sandstone fountains, The Eirie, and the stone benches.
According to Yahoo Travel, there is a collection of sandstone buildings in Old Boise that date from the late 1800s.
Table Rock sandstone, quarried near Boise, Idaho, was used in the construction of the old Assay office. Please click on the title of this entry to go to the Idaho State Historical Society web site which presents the some photographs and the history of the Assay Office.
The Boise Depot was constructed with Boise Sandstone from the original quarry at the Old Penitentiary. Click here to see a photograph and historical information on the Boise Depot. (The above link is presented on the Great Railroad Stations web site by John C. Dahl.)
Table Rock sandstone quarried on Table Rock, east of Boise, was used in the construction of the Boise Children's Home. (This link is presented on the Independent School District of Boise City web site.)
Joseph and Temperance Bown built their two-story sandstone house near their log house in 1879. The sandstone blocks used in the Bown House "were hauled from Table Rock Quarry, located north of the house across the Boise River. The house is built in classic Italian style, with 20 inch sandstone walls."
| (colorized postcard photograph, #325; Photo by Wesley Andrews Co., Portland, Oregon; 7A-H61; "C. T. Art - Colortone" Reg. U. S. Pat. Office; early 1900s; unmailed.) |  |
Federal Building/U.S. Post Office, 304 North Eighth Street, Boise, ID 83702
Architect: Taylor, James Knox, Sup. Architect
Constructed: 1898 - 1905; Nat'l Register ID #: 76000663; GSA Building #: ID0002ZZPlans for the building were accepted in 1901, and the style is given as Second Renaissance Revival style. Construction by Campbell and Company of Boise began in 1902 and by 1905 the building was partially completed. Boise Sandstone was used for the basement and first floor as cladding, and the upper floors were of terra cotta. Jellison Brothers supplied the Boise Sandstone from a nearby quarry.
Sandstone from Table Rock Sandstone Quarry near Boise, Idaho, was used in the construction of Strahorn Hall.
The upper story of one of the oldest buildings in Challis on Main Street collapsed after an earthquake killing several. The Challis Maintenance Supervisor said that the rocks were from an old rock quarry in Challis dug to build many of the town's first buildings.
| A. Schoolhouse, Chalis Idaho. This building, erected in 1922, is of rough-dressed white tuff from the quarry at Challis. |  |
| B. Corner of McGowan's Store, Challis. This view illustrates the use of Chisel-dressed tuff from Challis. The rock shows weathering where permeated by capillary rise of water from the ground. |  |
The New Administration Building, located in the center of the main quadrangle. Construction of the new Administration Building began in 1907, completed in 1909. According to the description, the building was constructed in the Gothic style, with “red brick facing with buff colored Boise sandstone trim.” Additions to the building were made in later years.
Brink Hall, located at Line Street and Idaho Avenue. Boise Sandstone was used for the trim on the building. (The building was originally named the Willis Sweet Hall, and later called the Faculty Office Complex East. It was renamed Carol Ryrie Brink Hall in the early 1980s.)
According to Bruce Railsback, Idaho sandstone quarried from the mountains above Pocatello was mainly used in the construction of the stone aircraft hanger. The building was originally constructed by the WPA in the late 1930s as a hangar. Today it is used as a teaching building.
According to this article, the Oneida State Academy was constructed from locally quarried sandstone in 1890. The building was moved from its original location to the City Park.
The old Episcopal Church was built in 1903 by Frank Pollard and William O'Connell from stone quarried in the old Shoup quarry west of Salmon. These masons later built the Catholic Church in 1908 from the same stone.
| A. Episcopal Church, Salmon, Idaho - Built of Tertiary sandstone quarried southwest of Salmon. The darkest blocks expose rusted joint faces. (from Tertiary Volcanic Tuffs and Sandstones Used as Building Stones in the Upper Salmon River Valley, Idaho,Bulletin 311-E, 1929.) |  |
According to this article, the following stones were used in the construction of the cathedral: The exterior of the cathedral is of “grey to tan Walker-Wilkeson Sandstone from sites near Wilkeson not far from Tacoma, Washington.” “Idaho Sandstone” quarried near Boise, Idaho, was used for the Narthex, Nave, Crossing, and Trancepts. Salem limestone quarried from Bedford, Indiana, was used for the All Saints Chapel, Channel, and Sanctuary Recedes at the high altar.
Washington, D.C. - the Idaho Memorial Stone contributed to the Washington Monument (photograph and history), presented by the National Park Service. The information below is from the National Park Service files and is presented with a photograph of the contributed Idaho stone.
The National Park Service web site presents the memorial stones in placed in the interior of the Washington Monument. The Idaho Memorial Stone can be viewed on the National Park Service’s web site in either the “Album” or the “Slide Show.”
The Idaho Memorial Stone in the Washington Monument can be viewed along with the details in the WAMO Stones Section 5.
The Washington Monument web site has recently been redesigned. Below is an description that was available on the National Park Service web site in January 2008 that describes the Memorial Stones in the Washington Monument.
“A unique feature of the Washington Monument is the 193 memorial stones that adorn the interior of the monument. Starting in July 1848 the Washington National Monument Society invited states, cities and patriotic societies to contribute Memorial Stones. The Society listed some requirements to be followed. They asked that the stone be durable, a product of the state’s soil, and meet the following dimensions; four feet long, two feet high and 18 inches thick. These stones pay tribute to the character and achievements of George Washington. These traits are not only admired by Americans but by people the world over as seen by the number of stones donated by foreign countries. Below is a list of stones donated by state. In the near future all the stones will be online.
“While viewing the stones please keep in mind that the Washington Monument has undergone extensive renovation over the last three years. A key component of the project has been the restoration of the memorial stones. Over the years the stones have been damaged by moisture and vandalism. The pictures that follow show the condition of the stones before their restoration. In the upcoming months new images will be added highlighting the restored stones.”
The following information relating to the Idaho Memorial Stone can be viewed along with the details in the WAMO Stones Section 5.
Name: Idaho
Level: 400-ft.
Donor: State of Idaho
Dates: 1928/1928
Original materials: limestone, lead frame, bronze rosettes
Dimensions: 2' x 4'
Sculptor/Carver: Tourtellote and Hummel, Architects
Original inscription: Idaho MCMXXVIII
Documented material history:
• 1928: “The block was shipped from the Bunker Hill Smelter, in Kellogg, Idaho with a bill of lading included on May 7, 1928.... A memorial from the State of Idaho was placed in the wall of the monument at the 400-foot landing on December 12, 1928....” [“Annual Report Director Public Buildings and Parks,” 1929, p. 59; MLK.]
Additional documented material information: “Designed by Tourtellote and Hummel, Architects, Boise, Idaho, appointed by the Governor. The work was done in part at the Bunker Hill Smelter, Kellogg, Idaho.” [MR]
Images:
• 1957 Allen photograph
• 1974 photograph
• 1980 photograph
• 2000 NPS slides
(None available at this time.)
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