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Abandoned mines › Idaho
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Ada County, Idaho

Ada County, Idaho has 136 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1948–1998, including 8 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts) and 16 prospect pits; 5 of the features carry a name on the map. MSHA's register carries 83 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Ada County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.

Mapped mine features (USGS)
136
Mine openings
8
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
0
MSHA mines marked abandoned
83
5 features carry a name16 prospect pits27 quadrangle maps, published 1948–1998 0 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    8 5.9%
  2. Prospect pits and trenches
    shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
    16 11.8%
  3. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    3 2.2%
  4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    107 78.7%
  5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    2 1.5%
Named features on the maps5 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Adelmann Mine Adit
Adelmann Mine Adit
Black Hornet Mine Adit
Queen Mine Adit
Queen Mine Adit

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned83 on register
  1. #2 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Nelson Sand & Gravel Company Inc · MSHA ID 1000600
    Abandoned
  2. 13 Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Intermountain Crushing Inc · MSHA ID 1001695
    Abandoned
  3. 45 Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Intermountain Crushing Inc · MSHA ID 1001696
    Abandoned
  4. 54 Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Intermountain Crushing Inc · MSHA ID 1001697
    Abandoned
  5. 55 & Hill Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Idaho Sand & Gravel Company Inc · MSHA ID 1001034
    Abandoned
  6. Ada Sand And Gravel Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ada Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 1000301
    Abandoned
  7. American Paving Company
    Surface metal/non-metal · American Paving Company · MSHA ID 1001437
    Abandoned
  8. Apple Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Paving & Asphalt Company · MSHA ID 1001715
    Abandoned
  9. Apple Street Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rock Contractors Inc · MSHA ID 1001718
    Abandoned
  10. Apple Street Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Central Paving Company Inc · MSHA ID 1001741
    Abandoned
  11. Aspen Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 1001347
    Abandoned
  12. Bailey Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Iron Horse Excavation, LLC · MSHA ID 1002308
    Abandoned
  13. Black Cat Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · C. Wright Construction Co Inc · MSHA ID 1000365
    Abandoned
  14. Black Cat Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · A Busy Bee Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 1001406
    Abandoned
  15. BLACK CAT PLANT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Black Cat Construction · MSHA ID 1001931
    Abandoned
  16. Blackscreek Ranch
    Surface metal/non-metal · D & B Crushing LLC · MSHA ID 1002179
    Abandoned
  17. Boise Refining Facility
    Facility metal/non-metal · Gold Hill Reclamation and Mining · MSHA ID 1002223
    Abandoned
  18. Busy B Pit And Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Busy B Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 1000337
    Abandoned
  19. CLAYTON DIASOURCE LLC
    Surface metal/non-metal · Clayton Diasource Llc · MSHA ID 1001969
    Abandoned
  20. Cole Road Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 1000934
    Abandoned
  21. Crusher #5
    Surface metal/non-metal · Knife River · MSHA ID 1002173
    Abandoned
  22. D & H Construction (Portable Unit)
    Surface metal/non-metal · D & H Construction Company · MSHA ID 1001832
    Abandoned
  23. DALRYMPLE PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Valley Gravel Co · MSHA ID 1000763
    Abandoned
  24. DIAMOND STREET PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ruschman Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 1001773
    Abandoned
  25. Eagle Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Idaho Materials & Construction · MSHA ID 1000740
    Abandoned
  26. Eagle Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Paving & Asphalt Company · MSHA ID 1000894
    Abandoned
  27. Eagle Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rock Contractors Inc · MSHA ID 1001711
    Abandoned
  28. Federal Way Aggregates
    Surface metal/non-metal · Idaho Materials & Construction · MSHA ID 1000604
    Abandoned
  29. Galey Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 1001388
    Abandoned
  30. Gravel Werks
    Surface metal/non-metal · Gravel Werks · MSHA ID 1001946
    Abandoned
  31. Gunn Portable Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Barry A Gunn Construction Inc · MSHA ID 1001890
    Abandoned
  32. HARRIS PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Turner Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 1000344
    Abandoned
  33. Hendricks Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Hendricks Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 1001385
    Abandoned
  34. Joplin Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Clements Concrete Company · MSHA ID 1001722
    Abandoned
  35. Joplin Pit Or Joplin
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ada Sand & Gravel & Construction Company · MSHA ID 1001447
    Abandoned
  36. KBR380-2
    Surface metal/non-metal · M.R. Miller Inc. · MSHA ID 1002127
    Abandoned
  37. KBR480-1
    Surface metal/non-metal · M.R. Miller Inc. · MSHA ID 1002126
    Abandoned
  38. KBR550-3
    Surface metal/non-metal · M.R. Miller Inc. · MSHA ID 1002123
    Abandoned
  39. King Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · King Development Company Inc · MSHA ID 1001706
    Abandoned
  40. Kuna Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ada County Highway District · MSHA ID 1000890
    Abandoned
  41. Mac Gregor Triangle Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Quinn-Robbins Company Inc · MSHA ID 1000864
    Abandoned
  42. Madison Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Quinn-Robbins Company Inc · MSHA ID 1000348
    Abandoned
  43. Mc Cartan'S Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mc Cartan'S Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 1001430
    Abandoned
  44. Meridian Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Sand & Gravel Company · MSHA ID 1001446
    Abandoned
  45. MIKE'S SAND & GRAVEL, INC.
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mike'S Sand & Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 1001885
    Abandoned
  46. No 3 Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Nelson Sand & Gravel Company Inc · MSHA ID 1000601
    Abandoned
  47. Pleasant Valley Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Paving & Asphalt Company · MSHA ID 1000892
    Abandoned
  48. Pleasant Valley Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Anderson Construction Inc · MSHA ID 1001761
    Abandoned
  49. Portable 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · M R Miller Inc · MSHA ID 1002015
    Abandoned
  50. Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · Marcum Asphalt & Gravel · MSHA ID 1001820
    Abandoned
  51. PORTABLE CRUSHER #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Morrison Knudsen Corp An Ohio Corp · MSHA ID 1001956
    Abandoned
  52. PORTABLE CRUSHER #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Paving & Asphalt Company · MSHA ID 1001904
    Abandoned
  53. Portable Plant #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cloverdale Nursery & Turf Farm Inc · MSHA ID 1002009
    Abandoned
  54. PORTABLE PLANT #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Nelson Construction Company · MSHA ID 1001710
    Abandoned
  55. PORTABLE PLANT #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Paving & Asphalt Company · MSHA ID 1001824
    Abandoned
  56. Portable Plant #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cloverdale Nursery & Turf Farm · MSHA ID 1002104
    Abandoned
  57. PORTABLE PLANT #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Nelson Construction Company · MSHA ID 1001944
    Abandoned
  58. PORTABLE PLANT #3
    Surface metal/non-metal · Nelson Construction Company · MSHA ID 1001961
    Abandoned
  59. Portable Screen Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Apple Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 1001897
    Abandoned
  60. Prime Earth Inc
    Surface metal/non-metal · Prime Earth Inc · MSHA ID 1001866
    Abandoned
  61. Prime Earth, Inc - Star
    Surface metal/non-metal · Prime Earth, Inc. · MSHA ID 1002076
    Abandoned
  62. Pro Agg Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Pro Agg Inc · MSHA ID 1001632
    Abandoned
  63. PUG MILL 3-203
    Surface metal/non-metal · Morrison Knudsen Corp An Ohio Corp · MSHA ID 1001954
    Abandoned
  64. QS&G Nordberg
    Surface metal/non-metal · Quality Sand & Gravel, Inc. · MSHA ID 1002140
    Abandoned
  65. Ramco Inc Portable Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ramco · MSHA ID 1001692
    Abandoned
  66. Rental Portable Screen Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Idaho Concrete Company · MSHA ID 1001709
    Abandoned
  67. Rip Rap Pit-Gowen Field
    Surface metal/non-metal · Galey Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 1001270
    Abandoned
  68. Rock Crusher #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Double G Company · MSHA ID 1001707
    Abandoned
  69. Rock Crusher #3
    Surface metal/non-metal · Double G Company · MSHA ID 1001796
    Abandoned
  70. Rocky Mountain Gravel Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rocky Mountain Paving, Inc. · MSHA ID 1001795
    Abandoned
  71. Rumple Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rock Contractors Inc · MSHA ID 1001386
    Abandoned
  72. Sarah'S Portable Plant No 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · B H Construction · MSHA ID 1001856
    Abandoned
  73. State Pit Source Ad-111-S
    Surface metal/non-metal · Boise Paving & Asphalt Company · MSHA ID 1001457
    Abandoned
  74. Summit Stone Portable
    Surface metal/non-metal · Idaho Materials & Construction · MSHA ID 1002035
    Abandoned
  75. Superior Construction-10 mile pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Superior Construction & Excavating Inc. · MSHA ID 1001977
    Abandoned
  76. Swanfalls Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ada County Highway District · MSHA ID 1000893
    Abandoned
  77. Ten Mile Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ada County Highway District · MSHA ID 1000891
    Abandoned
  78. TV Plant #001286
    Surface metal/non-metal · Idaho Materials and Construction · MSHA ID 1001994
    Abandoned
  79. Wash Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Premier, LLC · MSHA ID 1002288
    Abandoned
  80. Wash Plant #4
    Surface metal/non-metal · Knife River Corporation Northwest · MSHA ID 1002092
    Abandoned
  81. Western Construction Portable Plant #3
    Surface metal/non-metal · Western Construction Inc · MSHA ID 1001726
    Abandoned
  82. White Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Ada County Highway District · MSHA ID 1000819
    Abandoned
  83. Wild Cat Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rick Hanson · MSHA ID 1001051
    Abandoned

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms
Feature type Features
Gravel Pit 39
Borrow Pit 24
Gravel Pit 18
Prospect Pit 16
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 10
Adit 7
Cinder Pit 6
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 6
Open Pit Mine 2
Quarry 2
Tailings - Undifferentiated 2
Disturbed Surface 1
Sand Pit 1
Mine Shaft 1
Borrow Pit 1
Other counties in IdahoAll counties →
How to read these numbers

A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.

Sources
  1. USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
    597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
  2. USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
    States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
  3. OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
    One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
  4. MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
    Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
  5. US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
    Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
  6. GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
    Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
  7. Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
    The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
  8. IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
    Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.