The Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation is in the process of permitting the reopening of the historic Idaho-Maryland Mine, located in Grass Valley, California. In its golden past, the Idaho-Maryland Mine was the second-largest underground gold mine in California, producing about 2.4 million ounces of gold from 1861 until 1956. It is adjacent to the historic Empire Mine, which was historically the largest operating underground gold mine in California. Empire Mine operated from 1850 until 1956, producing 5.8 million ounces of gold. The Grass Valley gold district has reportedly produced over 17 million ounces of gold from 1850 until the mid 1950's, and is considered to be one of the richest gold districts in North America. The mines shut down in the mid 1950's due to a low fixed gold price of $35.00 per ounce and rising labor costs after World War II.

The gold mines in the area helped create the beautiful, prosperous community of Grass Valley and also brought about much of the development of Nevada County. The Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation is dedicated to creating a golden future for the City of Grass Valley and Nevada County by re-opening the historic Idaho-Maryland Mine and operating it as a forward-thinking, environmentally-responsible business that will be a source of jobs, revenue, and pride to the community. Mining and mineral processing practices, environmental technology, and environmental standards have improved dramatically since the 1960's. The Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation has incorporated these practices, technologies, and standards into the design and planned operation of its facilities.

The main proposed Idaho-Maryland Mine facilities will be located on a 101-acre site between Idaho-Maryland Road and East Bennett Road, next to the Whispering Pines business park. A second 37-acre property, called the New Brunswick site, is located near the intersection of Brunswick Road and East Bennett Road. A third one-acre easement is located near the intersection of Whispering Pines Lane and Brunswick Road. These are locations where historic mining activity occurred, and the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corporation is reclaiming these sites as the project develops, and part of its ongoing work. Take a virtual mine tour of the proposed Idaho-Maryland Project by clicking on the link on the upper right of your screen.

The proposed Idaho-Maryland Project will consist of a 2,400 ton per day gold mine and a 1,200 ton per day ceramics manufacturing operation. The combined operations will employ about 400 people when they reach full capacity. The ceramics manufacturing operation will eliminate the need for a surface tailings disposal, typically associated with a gold mine. The remaining 1,200 tons per day of tailings material processed in the gold mill will be returned underground as structural backfill, to fill the voids created by our mining. The elimination of a surface tailings impoundment is one of the many environmentally-responsible aspects of this project.

As you will see by reviewing the information on our website, many features have been included in our project to address public concerns such as traffic, noise, water quality, potential impacts to local wells, air quality, land use, etc. Additional mitigations will be developed as part of the ongoing Environmental Impact Review and built into the subsequent Conditional Use Permit. Concerns of the community are being addressed through the permitting process, and citizens can have input into the project through the public review process associated wit the Environmental Impact Review. Please go to the City of Grass Valley's website at www.cityofgrassvalley.com for additional information on the project. Be sure to watch for and attend the public meetings that will occur throughout the permitting process.

To learn more about the project, please feel free to contact us at any time at the links or phone numbers listed on this website.