Geology and mineral resources of the North-Central Idaho Sagebrush Focal Area: Chapter C in <em>Mineral resources of the Sagebrush Focal Areas of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming</em>

Abstract

For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888 -ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://store.usgs.gov.Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.Suggested citation: Lund, K., Zürcher, L., Hofstra, A.H., Van Gosen, B.S., Benson, M.E., Box, S.E., Anderson, E.D., Bleiwas, D.I., DeAngelo, J., Drake, R.M., II, Fernette, G.L., Giles, S.A., Glen, J.M.G., Haacke, J.E., Horton, J., John, D.M., Robinson, G.R., Jr., Rockwell, B.W., San Juan, C.A., Shaffer, B.N., Smith, S.M., and Williams, C.F., 2016, Geology and mineral resources of the North-Central Idaho Sagebrush Focal Area (ver. 1.1, October 27, 2016): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5089 -C, 147 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089C. Supplemental InformationTemperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as°F = (1.8 × °C) + 32.Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as°C = (°F -32) / 1.8. DatumsVertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum. Executive SummaryThe U.S. Department of the Interior has proposed to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of Federal lands from mineral entry (subject to valid existing rights) from 12 million acres of lands defined as Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming (for further discussion on the lands involved see Day and others, 2016).The purpose of the proposed action is to protect the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and its habitat from potential adverse affects of locatable mineral exploration and mining. To inform the decision on whether to withdraw the SFAs from mineral entry, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requires a mineral-resource assessment be completed to identify mineral resources within the proposed area of withdrawal. The USGS Sagebrush Mineral-Resource Assessment (SaMiRA) project was initiated in November 2015 and supported by the BLM to (1) assess locatable mineral-resource potential and (2) to describe leasable and salable mineral resources for the seven SFAs and Nevada additions. Geologic SettingThe purpose of this chapter is to document the geology and mineral resources of the North-Central Idaho Sagebrush Focal Area ("study area"), which extends from east-central to south-central Idaho. The geologically complex ar...