Published on August 14, 2015
The Stibnite Gold Project site is one of the most historic mining districts in all of Idaho. It has been home to thousands of miners, operated by several different companies and was critical to the U.S. war effort in the 1940’s.
Miners first started looking for gold at the site before 1900. Eventually, multiple mining companies were operating in the area and by 1932 the Bradley Mining installed a mill and started developing more robust operations.
While gold and silver were the initial draw to the area, during World War II the focus of the mine quickly shifted to antimony and tungsten – elements critical to the war effort.
Stibnite, Idaho provided 90 percent of the antimony and 50 percent of the tungsten for the U.S. during World War II. The work being done at the site was so important individuals were allowed to conduct their military service there.
During the mine’s peak in the 1940’s, more than 750 people lived and worked in Stibnite year-around. The town had a hospital ( in fact, it was the only one in Valley County for many years), a school, recreation center and even a bowling alley. The site was actively mined up until 1996.
Midas Gold looks forward to the next phase of the Stibnite Gold site. As we explore the site, we continue to honor the the rich traditions of miners who were in the area before us while also repairing the environmental legacies left behind from their work.
