The eternal Sunshine

Incredible that, in 2009, a sign of economic hope in Silver Valley continues their enigmatic legacy which is still down in the mine. As silver prices rise—-currently trading at $17 an ounce—- the metal is suddenly a prospect. Again. So a court battle is emerging for the Sunshine Mine’s lease, located near Kellogg, Idaho. Sterling Mining Co, who reopened the Sunshine Mine two years ago and went bankrupt, are trying to win it back but owe more than $1 million to keep the contract, a sum that includes royalties to the EPA and Couer d’ Alene tribe for superfund cleanup, back taxes, and a federal fine for discharging metals into Big Creek.

Sunshine Mine has quite the history. In the past 125 years, it has produced more than 360 million ounces of silver, one of the county’s largest strikes. Also, one of the country’s deadliest mining disasters occured when ninety-one workers were killed during the 1972 Sunshine Mine fire. Full story HERE .