Coeur Mining
North American precious-metals mining company focused primarily on gold and silver.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Coeur Mining, Inc. is a United States-based precious-metals mining company whose principal business is the exploration, development, operation and ownership of gold and silver mines. The company traces its origins to 1928, when it was established to mine silver in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene district. That regional base shaped the company’s name and early identity, although its portfolio later expanded well beyond northern Idaho. During the twentieth century and the first decades of the twenty-first, Coeur acquired, developed and operated mineral properties in the United States, Mexico, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. Its portfolio has included underground and open-pit mines, heap-leach and cyanide-leach processing facilities, exploration properties, royalties and streaming interests. The company also briefly owned a manufacturing business, Flexaust, which produced flexible hose, duct and metal tubing, but sold that operation in 1995 as it concentrated more closely on mining and related investments. Important stages in Coeur’s development included the acquisition of an operating lease at the Rochester mine in Nevada in 1983, sole ownership of the Wharf mine in South Dakota in 1984, and the gradual consolidation of its interest in the Kensington property in Alaska. Kensington began commercial production in 2010 after a lengthy permitting, exploration and legal process. Coeur also expanded internationally through assets such as the San Bartolomé silver operation in Bolivia, Palmarejo in Mexico and a number of former mines and projects in South America, Australasia and New Zealand. In 2013, the company changed its name from Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation to Coeur Mining, Inc. and moved its headquarters from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Chicago, Illinois. The rebranding reflected a broader North American and international operating portfolio rather than a business centered only on its historic Idaho origins. The company also established Coeur Capital to hold royalty, streaming and strategic investment interests. Coeur’s operating profile has changed over time as mines have been exhausted, sold, suspended or expanded. The company sold its remaining northern Idaho assets in 2006, transferred the San Bartolomé operation in 2018, and suspended mining and processing at the Silvertip silver-zinc-lead project in British Columbia in 2020 while evaluating a possible larger restart or expansion. Its established assets have included the Kensington gold mine in Alaska, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, the Palmarejo gold-silver mine in Chihuahua, Mexico, and the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. The company has also pursued development opportunities and exploration properties, including La Preciosa in Mexico and Joaquin in Argentina. Coeur’s positioning is tied to precious-metals exposure in politically and geographically diverse North American jurisdictions. Its products are not consumer goods sold under separate retail lines; they are principally doré, silver-bearing material and other payable metals produced through mining and processing operations. The company’s performance is therefore sensitive to gold and silver prices, ore grades, recoveries, energy and labor costs, permitting, geological conditions, capital requirements and community and environmental obligations.
History
Coeur Mining was formed in 1928 to mine silver in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene region. For much of its early history, the company was associated with northern Idaho operations, including the Coeur d’Alene Silver Mine, the Coeur Mine and the Galena Mine. It later broadened its activities through acquisitions, operating agreements and exploration investments in North America and overseas. A major expansion phase began in the 1980s. In 1983, Coeur acquired Asarco’s operating lease at the Rochester property in Nevada, restarting the operation as a surface mine in 1986. In 1984, it became the sole owner of the Wharf gold mine in South Dakota. Coeur acquired an initial 50 percent interest in the Kensington property in Alaska in 1987 and purchased the remaining interest in 1995. Kensington eventually became an underground gold mine and entered production in 2010 after extensive exploration, permitting work and litigation concerning federal permits. The company continued to diversify during the 1990s. It acquired Callahan Mining Corporation in 1991, adding the Galena mine and Flexaust manufacturing business. Flexaust was sold in 1995. Coeur and ASARCO also placed several Idaho interests into Silver Valley Resources Corporation; the Coeur mine closed in 1998, while the Galena operation continued until Coeur sold its interest in 2006. Other international ventures included the Golden Cross mine in New Zealand, the El Bronce mine in Chile and the Fachinal, later known as Cerro Bayo, property in Chile. In 1999, Coeur acquired the San Bartolomé silver project in Bolivia. Current mining operations began in 2008, using surface extraction of mineralized gravels near Potosí and Merrill–Crowe processing. Coeur later sold the operating company, Empresa Minera Manquiri, to Andean Precious Metals in 2018. The company acquired the Martha mine in Argentina in 2002 and operated it until its closure in 2012. In Australia, Coeur acquired rights to silver production and reserves from the Endeavor and Broken Hill mines in 2005, establishing interests that complemented its operating mines. The 2007 purchase of the Palmarejo project in Mexico led to production in 2008. Palmarejo became one of the company’s important gold-silver operations, using both open-pit and underground mining with flotation and cyanide leaching. Kensington entered production in 2010, strengthening Coeur’s gold position in Alaska. In 2013, the company acquired the La Preciosa project through its purchase of Orko Silver Corporation and formed Coeur Capital to hold royalty, streaming and strategic investment interests. That year it also changed its corporate name from Coeur d’Alene Mines to Coeur Mining and moved its headquarters to Chicago. Coeur acquired the Silvertip claims and infrastructure in British Columbia in 2017. Silvertip was a high-grade silver-zinc-lead project, but mining and processing were suspended in early 2020. The company subsequently evaluated a possible larger-scale development and restart. In 2022, Coeur sought to expand Wharf by 48.7 acres; local approval was granted through a conditional-use process, while state permitting remained necessary. Across these changes, Coeur has remained a precious-metals producer whose portfolio and geographic footprint have been reshaped continually by mine development, depletion, divestitures, commodity prices and permitting requirements.
- 2022
Wharf expansion application advanced
[1]A local conditional-use approval supported a proposed 48.7-acre expansion known as the Boston Expansion.
- 2020
Silvertip activities suspended
[1]Mining and processing at Silvertip were suspended as Coeur assessed a possible expanded restart.
- 2018
San Bartolomé divested
[1]Coeur sold Empresa Minera Manquiri, including the San Bartolomé mine, to Andean Precious Metals.
- 2017
Silvertip acquired
[1]Coeur acquired the claims and infrastructure associated with the Silvertip project in northern British Columbia.
- 2013
Corporate rebrand and Chicago headquarters
[1]Coeur d’Alene Mines became Coeur Mining, Inc. and moved its headquarters to Chicago.
- 2013
Coeur Capital established
[1]The company created Coeur Capital to hold royalty, streaming and strategic investment interests.
- 2010
Kensington begins production
[1]The Kensington underground gold mine in Alaska entered production after extensive development and permitting work.
- 2007
Palmarejo project acquired
[1]Coeur acquired the Palmarejo project in Mexico; production began in 2008.
- 1999
San Bartolomé acquired
[1]Coeur acquired the Bolivian San Bartolomé silver project from ASARCO.
- 1991
Callahan Mining acquired
[1]The acquisition added the Galena mine and Flexaust manufacturing business to Coeur’s portfolio.
Products and positioning
North American precious-metals producer with a portfolio centered on gold and silver mining, exploration and related royalty interests.
Precious metal
Gold
Gold is one of Coeur’s principal payable metals. It is produced from operations including Kensington in Alaska, Wharf in South Dakota and Palmarejo in Mexico. Depending on the deposit, production uses underground mining, open-pit mining, crushing, heap leaching, flotation or cyanide-based recovery. Gold output is generally marketed as refined or semi-refined precious-metal product rather than as a consumer-facing branded good.
Precious metal
Silver
Silver has been central to Coeur’s identity since its founding in Idaho and remains a major product of the company’s portfolio. Silver has been produced at mines and projects in Mexico, Bolivia, Nevada and other jurisdictions, with recovery methods varying by ore body. Coeur has also held contractual silver interests and royalty or streaming exposures through its capital and investment activities.
Base metals
Lead and zinc
Lead and zinc are associated with the Silvertip project in northern British Columbia. Silvertip is characterized as a silver-zinc-lead operation or development project rather than one of Coeur’s primary historical gold-silver mines. Mining and processing were suspended in 2020 while the company considered a larger potential expansion and restart.
Brand decisions
2022
Seek the Wharf Boston ExpansionStrategyBackground
Coeur sought to extend the operating life of its Wharf gold mine in South Dakota through a 48.7-acre expansion.
Action taken
The company submitted a conditional-use application; the Lawrence County Commission approved it, while state mine-permit approval remained required.
Aftermath
The local approval potentially supported an extension of mine life, subject to additional regulatory authorization.
2020
Suspend Silvertip operationsStrategyBackground
Silvertip was a high-grade silver-zinc-lead project in northern British Columbia, but its operating configuration was subject to reassessment.
Action taken
Coeur suspended mining and processing activities and began evaluating a larger potential expansion and restart.
Aftermath
The project remained under evaluation rather than operating as a producing mine.
2013
Adopt the Coeur Mining nameOtherBackground
The company had expanded from its historic Idaho base into a broader North American and international precious-metals portfolio.
Action taken
Coeur d’Alene Mines changed its corporate name to Coeur Mining, Inc. and moved its headquarters to Chicago.
Aftermath
The rebrand presented the company as a geographically broader precious-metals producer rather than an Idaho-centered mining business.
Recent events
- 2022
Coeur pursues expansion of the Wharf mine[1]
Regulation
The Lawrence County Commission approved a conditional-use application for a 48.7-acre Boston Expansion at the Wharf mine, subject to additional state mine-permit authorization.
- 2020
Coeur suspends Silvertip mining and processing[1]
Other
Mining and processing activities at the Silvertip project in northern British Columbia were suspended while the company evaluated a larger potential expansion and restart.
- 2013
Coeur Mining changes its name and headquarters[1]
Other · Leadership change
The company adopted the Coeur Mining name and relocated its head office from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Chicago, Illinois, accompanying the change with a broader corporate identity.
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