Helena District

The Helena District is a gold and silver mine located in Lewis and Clark county, Montana.

About the MRDS Data:

All mine locations were obtained from the USGS Mineral Resources Data System. The locations and other information in this database have not been verified for accuracy. It should be assumed that all mines are on private property.

Mine Info

Name: Helena District

State:  Montana

County:  Lewis and Clark

Elevation:

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 46.55833, -112.08333

Map: View on Google Maps

Satelite View

MRDS mine locations are often very general, and in some cases are incorrect. Some mine remains have been covered or removed by modern industrial activity or by development of things like housing. The satellite view offers a quick glimpse as to whether the MRDS location corresponds to visible mine remains.


Satelite image of the Helena District

Helena District MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Helena District


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Stone
Tertiary: Tungsten
Tertiary: Arsenic
Tertiary: Marble, Dimension
Tertiary: Dolomite


Location

State: Montana
County: Lewis and Clark
District: Helena District


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Not available


Ownership

Not available


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1864
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: L


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Not available


Structure

Type: R
Description: Boulder Batholith


Alterations

Not available


Rocks

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Mississippian

Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Limestone
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Calcite


Comments

Comment (Production): QUARTZ MONZONITE HAS BEEN QUARRIED FROM THE HARRISONAAND SCHIMPF QUARRIES.

Comment (Deposit): THE ORE DEPOSITS ARE MAINLEY NEAR THE CONTACT OF THE BATHOLITH WITH THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS. SOME ARE IN THE GRANITIC ROCKS AND OTHERS ARE IN THE ADJACENT HORNFELS OR TACTITE.

Comment (Geology): SEDIMENTARY ROCKS GO FROM CRETACEOUS-QUADRANT QUARTZITE THROUGH PRECAMBRIAN-BELT SERIES. TERT-RHVDLITE TUFF IS PRESENT.

Comment (Location): LAT/LONG GENERAL FOR AREA.

Comment (Development): LAST CHANCE GULCH WAS AMONG THE RICHEST IN PLACER GOLD, THE WHITLATCH-UNION WAS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE LODE IN THE DISTRICT. MOST OF THE RICH PLACER AND LODES WERE MINED OUT BEFORE 1900. DURING 1935-1950 THERE WERE SOME SUCCESSFUL DREDGING OPERATIONS. OTHERE MINES: SPRING HILL, INDEPENDENT, HOLMES GULCA PLACER, YELLOW JACKET, BIG INDIAN, NELSON GULCH PLACER; HARRISON, COLORADO GULCH DOLOMITE, NELSON GULCH MARBLE, SCHIMPF ARE NOMETALLIC MINES.


References

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 16, P. 7.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 842, P. 202-09.

Reference (Deposit): USBM R1 6334, P. 25-6.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 527, P. 85-7.

Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 610, P. 155.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM 26, P. 43.

Reference (Deposit): USGS-USBM YEARBOOKS

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 94.

Reference (Production): USGS PP 610, P. 155; USGS-USBM YEARBOOKS. MBMG BULL 94.


Principal Gold Districts of Montana

Principal Gold Districts of Montana

In Montana, 54 mining districts have each have produced more than 10,000 ounces of gold. The largest producers are Butte, Helena, Marysville, and Virginia City, each having produced more than one million ounces. Twenty seven other districts are each credited with between 100,000 and one million ounces of gold production. Read more: Principal Gold Districts of Montana.