The Surprise Mine is a gold, silver, lead, copper, and zinc mine located in Jefferson county, Montana at an elevation of 5,679 feet.
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
Elevation: 5,679 Feet (1,731 Meters)
Primary Mineral: Gold, Silver, Lead, Copper, Zinc
Lat, Long: 45.91889, -112.03361
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.
Surprise Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Surprise Mine
Secondary: Olson's Surprise
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Primary: Copper
Primary: Zinc
Location
State: Montana
County: Jefferson
District: Whitehall (Cardwell) District
Land Status
Land ownership: Federal
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
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1930
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Bull Mountain
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: West Bull Mtn. Block
Type: L
Description: Nw To Ne Trending Folds And Faults
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Shale
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Shale
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Galena
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Workings): 1 SHAFT, 1 ADIT.
Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: FISSURE FILLING, 6 IN TO 4 FT WIDE
Comment (Deposit): VEIN RANGES 6 INCHES TO 4 FEET. VEIN PROBABLY EXTENSION OF CARBONATE MINE VEIN TO WEST.
References
Reference (Deposit): ALEXANDER, R.G., 1955, GEOLOGY OF THE WHITEHALL AREA, MONTANA YELLOWSTONE-BIGHORN RESEARCH PROJECT, CONTRIBUTION 195, 111 P.
Reference (Deposit): CONSV. DIV. COMP. DATE, 12-21-1961
Reference (Deposit): 1960 RECON MBMG BULLETIN 1
Reference (Production): MBMG BULLETIN 16.
Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 16.
Colorized Mining Photos
Western Mining History's collection of colorized mining photos includes incredible scenes from Montana: Best Historical Photos: Colorized Mining Scenes.
