#175 - Hydraulic Mining
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 45° 32.866 W 116° 18.259
11T E 554305 N 5044038
Hydraulic Mining sign (#175) on U.S. Hwy. 95 betwee White Bird and Riggins.
Waymark Code: WMAR9Z
Location: Idaho, United States
Date Posted: 02/16/2011
Views: 7
Idaho History Marker #175 about the Hydraulic Mining at turnout on west side of U.S. Hwy. 95 between White Bird and Riggins. One of two signs at location.
Marker Name: Hydraulic Mining
Marker Type: Roadside
Marker Text:
Visible directly across the river is a pit left by large scale hydraulic mining for gold deposited in ancient gravel beds.
Big nozzles, called “hydraulic giants,” shot powerful streams of water against a pre-historic river bed (now the bank of the stream) to expose and wash down gold-bearing gravel, which then was sluiced to recover the gold. This method, brought to Idaho in the 1860’s, remained in use until recent economic changes made gold mining unprofitable. Many pits -- some enormously larger than this one -- are left as reminders of the mining days gone by.
County: Idaho
Group Responsible for Placement: State of Idaho
Marker Number: 175
City: Not listed
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
In your log, please say if you learned something new, and if you took any extra time to explore the area once you stopped at the historic marker waymark.
If possible please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location.
Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Idaho history please include that in your log.