The Valley Forge Mine is a gold, silver, and lead 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
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.
Valley Forge Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Valley Forge Mine
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Arsenic
Location
State: Montana
County: Lewis and Clark
District: Rimini District
Land Status
Land ownership: National Forest
Note: the land ownership field only identifies whether the area the mine is in is generally on public lands like Forest Service or BLM land, or if it is in an area that is generally private property. It does not definitively identify property status, nor does it indicate claim status or whether an area is open to prospecting. Always respect private property.
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1885
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
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
Type: L
Description: Lee Mountain-Valley Forge Shear Zone
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericitization
Rocks
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ORE $6/TON AU, 12 OZ/TON AG, 7% PB. HIGHER GRADE ORE SAID TO CARRY $11/TON AU.
Materials
Ore: Gold
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): 2 ORE BODIES; EAST BODY IS 300 FT. LONG AND WORKED TO A DEPTH OF 200 FT., WEST ORE BODY IS 350 FT. LONG AND EXTENDS BELOW 600 FOOT LEVEL (200-300 FT. BELOW MIDDLE ADIT)
Comment (Workings): ORE BINS NEAR LOWER MOST TUNNEL (5,500 FT.) CONNECTED TO RAILWAY BY AN AERIAL TRAMWAY (1911). MINE CONSISTS OF 2 CAVED SHAFTS, 2 ADITS WEST OF THE SHAFTS, A 2,000 FT. CROSSCUT FROM RIMINI, A RAISE, AND LEVELS AT 100 FOOT INTERVALS
Comment (Geology): VEIN OF JASPEROID 200 FT. SOUTH OF VALLEY FORGE LODE SAID TO CONTAIN GOLD.
Comment (Location): 1000 FT HIGHER THAN RIMINI. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1950)
Comment (Production): $200,000 IN AU, AG, PB ORE PRODUCED PRIOR TO 1911. SEVERAL THOUSANDS TONS OF ORE BETWEEN 1914 AND 1919.
References
Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 527, P. 82-3.
Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 842, P. 257-58.
Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 428, P. 55, PL. 1.
Reference (Production): USGS PP 428, P. 55; USGS BULL 842, P. 257.
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.
