Cobaltmemories

Idaho Cobalt Mine Construction starts this spring

cobaltmemories — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:22:48 +0000

This is from a press release:

Commencement of Idaho Cobalt Mine Construction for targeted for Q2, 2011
“We are pleased to see the Idaho Cobalt Project move towards the construction phase, with construction management services provided by JDS. We know there is more work ahead, but with the recent equity raise and a talented team working together, we fully expect to be in a position to break ground and start excavations once the snow line has retreated from the higher elevations.” commented Mari-Ann Green, CEO of Formation Metals Inc. “We are all looking forward to a very busy spring and summer”, she concluded.

I will keep you posted when I have more information.

Cobalt Project Moving Forward

cobaltmemories — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:54:56 +0000

Russ Steele

I am running behind in keeping readere up-to-date on the Formation Metals Cobalt Project. Leslie Shumate posted this update in late December on the Lemhi County Supervisors approving the sale of Recovery Zone Facility Bonds in support of the Cobalt Project. Link Here.

Uncle Sam Mining and Milling Co.,Inc Capital Stock

cobaltmemories — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:21:58 +0000

One of the nice things about writing a book and having a blog is I can share reader feed back with all the visitors to this blog. The other day, a large envelope appeared in my mail box. The return address was Sandy Sims. In the envelope was a copy of stock certificate certifying that James G. Sims is the owner of thirty-seven thousand five hundred shares of Capital Stock of the Uncle Sam Mining and Milling Co.,Inc. The certificate was issued on the 22nd day of May 1939 at Salmon Idaho. I sent Sandy and thank you note and requested his permission to post a copy of the certificate. He invited me to visit his current mining activity this summer and he will tell me some more Blackbird Stories, which I will share here upon my return.

I have attached a pdf copy of the front and back of the certificate.

Uncle_Sam_Side1_sm

Uncle_Sam_Side2_sm

Personal Cobalt Story in October issue of Idaho Magazine

cobaltmemories — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:53:06 +0000

Russ Steele

This is the opening page to a personal story from my first spring in Cobalt, even before the town site was named. It was published in the October issue of Idaho Magazine which is on the newsstand now. When the December issue comes out, I will post my Wagon Thief story here.

Uknavage Family Photos of Cobalt

cobaltmemories — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:01:25 +0000

Russ Steele

Pam Russell, has sent a link to some family photos of Cobalt. She has agreed to share them with the readers of Cobaltmemories. Link to Photos.

She writes:

Joe Uknavage and his family lived in the little mining town of Cobalt, Idaho from 1956-1959. Mike made a trip back in 1967 and took photographs. Joe and Judy Uknavage were there in 1972 for a Cobalt Reunion. Pam was there in 1988.

Review: Cobalt: The Legacy of the Blackbird Mine

cobaltmemories — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:28:04 +0000

Cobalt: Legacy of the Blackbird Mine was reviewed in the Idaho Librarian, the Quarterly Publication of the Idaho Library Association. The reviewer was LeAnn Gelskey, Assistant Director at the Hailey Public Library, Hailey Idaho.

Cobalt: The Legacy of the Blackbird Mine is an insightful booklet that offers a chronological history of the Blackbird Mine and many of the people who had a hand in the legacy of the area. It further provides a glimpse into the life of Russell Steele and his family, residents of Cobalt from 1949 to 1952, and again in 1956 and 1957.

The Blackbird Mine is located west of Salmon in a region referred to as the Idaho Cobalt Belt. The first mineral discoveries at the future miningsite were made by a Lemhi Indian by the name of Little Tommy in 1892. These discoveries included copper and gold and then cobalt, minerals that were used extensively during wartime. The history concludes by describing the cleanup of the environmental damage caused by human activities at the mine site. The author has done extensive research on mining in this area and includes many photographs.

Steele shares personal anecdotes and life stories of the Blackbird and nearby town of Cobalt. He recounts some of the hardships the families encountered but also relates fond memories of life at the mine. One of the more humorous stories is that of a rowdy poker game that ended after a miner lit a stick of dynamite with no explosive cap. The card players were unaware that the stick would not explode and ran out into the cold night.

This book is unique in that it does not end on the last page. Steele is continuing the story of the mine on his blog, Cobaltmemories, where he is building on the the material presented in the book by adding more photos, stories, video and audio clips, and related links.

Throughout the book the author educates his reader on mining, processing, and environmental issues without injecting his own political views or ideas. The historical and factual information regarding the early years of mining in Idaho make this book a welcome addition to any library. Readers will also want to follow the author’s blog for an interactive experiment in recording and sharing history in the twenty-first century.

McDonald’s Cobalt School Pictures

cobaltmemories — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:33:23 +0000

Russ Steele

I attended the fifth grade at the Cobalt school-house right after is was opened in the fall of 1950. My most vivid memory of the school-house is the book-case behind Mrs. Pence’s desk. This book-case served as the Cobalt Lending Library for many months. Mrs. Pence would send a letter to the Idaho State Library requesting books. We would write a note listing the books we wanted to read and leave it on her desk. She would request the book from the State Traveling Library. Also, Community Club bought books for the library and community members donated books, including as set of Encyclopedia Britannica.

It was a big event for me when the books arrived from the Traveling Library in Boise. Some times I was disappointed when the specific book I had requested did not come, but there was always something to read.

After the school-house was finished it also served was the community center. Each Sunday church services were held in the school-house, including Sunday school for the children. Multiple denominations used the school for church services including the Mormons. The current emphasis on the separation of church and state would most likely prevent the use of a school-house for church services, if anyone cared.

Monthly dances were planned and held in the school-house. Each dance had a theme, Valentine’s Day, Fireman’s Ball, Halloween, etc. The music was often provided by local band members, using the school piano and members own instruments. Community plays and talent shows were also held at the school-house. It was the community social center until the Rec Hall was built in and opened in the fall of 1955.

Here are some pictures of the school house, it is sad to see it in such disrepair. McDonald: http://gallery.me.com/insightworks#gallery

Idaho Cobalt Project Web Page

cobaltmemories — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:08:20 +0000

The Idaho Cobalt Project web page can be found here. There are links to job opportunities, to the company CEO and you can sign up for a mailing list to keep you up to date on activities on the Big Flat above the Blackbird Canyon.

Mike McDonald’s Photos

cobaltmemories — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:40:25 +0000

During our book tour in Salmon last summer, Mike McDonald shared some of his Cobalt and Blackbird Mine pictures with the Lemhi County Historical Society and Museum. Ellen and I scanned his pictures for the Museum and keep a copy for this blog.

I have been struggling to find a method, with this version of WordPress, to create photo albums for Mike’s pictures. To create photo albums I need a dedicated WordPress site, which would add more complexity that I am not ready for right now. In the interim, I am going to post the pictures on my Mac Mobile Me Insightworks account, with links from this blog.

I am organizing the photos by subject, with an introductory paragraph, As a test I have uploaded some picture of the Blackbird taken in October 1987 by Mike McDonald. Let me know if you have problems accessing the the photos at: http://gallery.me.com/insightworks#100008

Your feedback will be greatly appreciated. More pictures to follow if this works.

FORMATION METALS BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF IDAHO COBALT PROJECT

cobaltmemories — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:17:55 +0000

Some good economic news for Lemhi County. This arrive in my email box on the 27th of February 2010.

Formation Capital Corporation has started construction on the Idaho Cobalt Project. Details in this Thursday, February 25, 2010, Press Release.

“Commencing Stage I of construction of the mine will keep the overall schedule on-track, with initial production expected in the first or second quarter of 2011″, stated Bill Scales, President of the Company. “The past several weeks have been spent assessing the project schedule, scope of work, budget and tendering requests for quotations for project contracts. We are pleased to announce that Dahle Construction, a local heavy construction contractor, has been awarded the contract for timber clearing. Work on the project is currently underway.”

“The first stage of construction consists of timber clearing for the crusher and concentrator site, tailings and waste rock storage facility, topsoil stock pile area and road areas around the mill site,” stated Guy Jeske, General Manager of the ICP. He continued, “Timber clearing in winter conditions is preferable since the frozen ground helps reduce environmental impacts.”

Stage II will see facility construction and mine development fully underway and is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2010. Stage III allows for mine development below the water table and is slated to commence later in the year.