The Silver Valley in Idaho is one of my absolute favorite places to visit. It’s close to my home, and it’s rich in amazing history (and cool rocks)! I used to drive past it every two weeks when I was living in Seattle and working in Montana, but it wasn’t until 2019 during my famous “Mining Roadtrip” that I decided to stop and take a look around. I’ve been hooked ever since!
Jessica Scanlan
Geologist and Host, The Rock Record
Follow her on YouTube and Instagram @minelifemediallc
Area Geology
The mine in Burke, Idaho/ Courtesy of Jessica Scanlan
The heart of the Silver Valley (aka the Coeur d’Alene Mining District) is Wallace, Idaho, located along I-90 a little less than one hour east of Coeur d’Alene. The city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it sits on top of more than 1 billion ounces of silver. It’s one of the largest silver-producing districts in the world!
Mines in this region have also produced significant amounts of gold, lead, zinc, and copper since the area’s first claims were made in 1884.
So what makes this one of the richest districts in the world for these critical minerals? The rocks beneath our feet!
Those sediments eventually became the “Belt Supergroup:” a large, thick package of strata that now stretches across parts of Idaho, Montana, and Canada.
Those rocks were later folded, faulted, fractured, and weakly metamorphosed—fractures and faults are excellent pathways for mineral-rich fluids!
In the Coeur d’Alene Mining District, hot, salty fluids moved through cracks in those ancient Belt rocks and deposited veins rich in silver, lead, and zinc. Geologists are still working through the details of how and when these ore-forming fluids moved through the district.
As the area underwent metamorphism, that salt became locked into the mineral scapolite, while other denser brines sank deeper into the crust.
These hot and salty fluids were really good at dissolving and transporting metals, so when they later moved upward through cracks and faults, they deposited those metals in veins that became today's ore deposits!
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Here’s a look at my recommendations for a weekend in Wallace.
Watch my video above for a full virtual tour!
Once you've scoped out all the geology-related, must-see spots, make a stop at these locales. They can provide a great break for the non-geos in your travel group!
The Oasis Bordello Museum
Outdoor opportunities (hiking, biking, and skiing, oh my!)
Dante’s Peak memorabilia spotting (Stop in to the 1313 Club for Dante’s Peak Poutine!)
Take photos at the Center of the Universe
Learn about the Last Stoplight on I-90
Grab a beer at Wallace Brewing Company
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