Custer Mountain Lode

The Custer Mountain Lode is a feldspar, mica, lithium, and beryllium mine located in Custer county, South Dakota.

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: Custer Mountain Lode
Secondary: Snookum

Commodity

Primary: Feldspar
Primary: Mica
Primary: Lithium
Primary: Beryllium
Tertiary: Tantalum

Location

State: South Dakota
County: Custer
District: Custer 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.
Administrative Organization: Black Hills

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface

Ownership

Owner Name: George Beach Estate

Production

Not available

Deposit

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

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Interior Plains
Physiographic Province: Great Plains Province
Physiographic Section: Black Hills

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Feldspar
Ore: Mica
Ore: Spodumene
Ore: Lepidolite
Ore: Beryl
Gangue: Apatite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Cassiterite
Gangue: Triphylite
Gangue: Andalusite
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Uraninite
Gangue: Lithiophilite
Gangue: Sillimanite
Gangue: Lazulite
Unknown: Amblygonite

Comments

Comment (Workings): SEVERAL SMALL CUTS AND PITS AND A LARGE OPEN CUT WHICH IS 35 FEET DEEP

Comment (Production): YEAR ENDING JULY 1938

Comment (Deposit): A SMALL CUT IN THE FLOOR OF THE OPENCUT DISCLOSES LEPIDOLITE AND SPODUMENE. THIS MAY INDICATE A LEPIDOLITE CORE.

References

Reference (Deposit): USBM INFO CIRC 7707, P. 100

Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 247, P. 97-98

Reference (Deposit): SDGS RI 50, P. 37-56.

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