The Lower Gold Creek Placer is a gold mine located in Powell 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.
Lower Gold Creek Placer MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Lower Gold Creek Placer
Secondary: China Bar Placer
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Location
State: Montana
County: Powell
District: Pioneer (Gold Creek) 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
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1860
Discovery Year: 1852
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Flint Creek Range
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: Royal Stock
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Not available
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Comments
Comment (Deposit): GOLD IS PRESENT IN GRAVELS AND BENCHES BUT CONTAIN MANY LARGE BOULDERS. CHINA BAR GRAVEL IS 8 FT THICK.
Comment (Deposit): THE PART OF GOLD CREEK BELOW THE MOUTH OF PIONEER CREEK HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED AS A POSSIBLE SITE FOR CONNECTED-BUCKET DREDGING. BUT THE BOULDERS MAY MAKE IT UNPROFITABLE. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT
Comment (Production): 1867 CHINA BAR WAS PRODUCING $50/MONTH. BY USING SLUICE BOX $1.50-2.00/DAY WAS RECOVERED IN 1862.
Comment (Workings): HYDRAULIC GIANTS WERE FIRST USED IN 1871. 1860 A 30 FT SHAFT WAS SUNK BY HENRY THOMAS.
Comment (Location): CHINA BAR IS LOCATED ABOUT 1.0 MI FROM THE MOUTH OF THE CREEK ON THE EAST BANK. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1958)
References
Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM NO 26, P. 118-120, 122.
Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 78, P. 263-4.
Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM NO 5, P. 27.
Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 610, P. 168-69.
Reference (Production): MBMG MEM 26. USGS BULL 978.
Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 978, P. 69, 73, 75-77, 91, 93.
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.
