Blue Bell Mine

The Blue Bell Mine is a copper mine located in Missoula 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.

Site Name

Primary: Blue Bell Mine
Secondary: Leonard Mine

Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Gold
Secondary: Silver
Tertiary: Arsenic

Location

State: Montana
County: Missoula
District: Copper Cliff District

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Ralph Gleason
Home Office: Deer Lodge, Mt.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year Last Production: 1957
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Garnet Range

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Type: R
Description: Bearmouth Overthrust

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 7-10% CU

Materials

Ore: Malachite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Copper
Gangue: Enargite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Location): C SW/4 SEC 11, 4.2 KM WSW OF UNION PEAK

Comment (Production): 21 CARLOADS PRE-1916

Comment (Workings): SHAFT, AN INCLINE 350 FT N OF SHAFT, RELOCATED AS BLUE BOY IN 1943 BY OLE DAHL, OLD SHAFT CAVED

Comment (Geology): GEOL.DESC: 10 FT. BRECCIATED ZONE WITH OXIDIZED ORE.

Comment (Location): Political location in record is Missoula county. However, lat/long fall just inside adjacent Granite county. Original coordinates were: lat/long NAD27 46-48-16N 113-27-12W (46.80444 -113.45333); UTM N E Z; PLSS line# 1: Meridian- Montana Principal, TWNSHP 012N, RNG 015W, Sect 11, Sect_fract . Relative position information field says 0.45 KM S OF COPPER CLIFF AND 400 FT HIGHER. Original lat/long is 0.75km S. Lat/long were recalculated using WGS84 datum, which moved the point to 0.52km S and original PLSS coords become correct.

References

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 660, P. 214-20, 223-4.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 10, P. 48.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 8, P. 11, 31

Reference (Production): USGS BULL 660

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.