Southern Cross Mine

The Southern Cross Mine is a silver and gold mine located in Deer Lodge 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: Southern Cross Mine
Secondary: George Town
Secondary: Red Nell
Secondary: Cable

Commodity

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

Location

State: Montana
County: Deer Lodge
District: Georgetown (Southern Cross, Cable) 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

Owner Name: Anaconda Copper Mining Co.

Owner Name: Sentinel Mines, Inc., Sheridan, Mt.

Production

Year: 1968
Time Period: 1872-1968
Mined: 404000.000 mt
Material type: ore

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Polymetallic veins
Operation Type: Surface-Underground
Year First Production: 1872
Year Last Production: 1942
Discovery Year: 1866
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins

Orebody

Form: Tabular

Form: IRREGULAR AND COMPLEX

Structure

Type: R
Description: Philipsburg Batholith

Type: L
Description: Cable Stock

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Ferruginous And Oxidized

Rocks

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Description: dolomitic LIMESTONE
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cambrian

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Description: dolomitic LIMESTONE
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cambrian

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SILICEOUS- 1.47OZ AU, 1.5OZ AG, 24.9% FE
Analytical Data: 2ND CLASS- 0.48OZ AU, 0.4OZ AG, 38.5% FE
Analytical Data: HEAVEY FE ORE- 0.59OZ AU, 0.2OZ AG, 57% FC.
Analytical Data: ANALSIS OF ORE: 3.1/OZ AU, 3.4OZ AG, 53.9% FE

Materials

Ore: Tennantite
Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Azurite
Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Argentite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Hematite

Comments

Comment (Location): INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1971)

Comment (Development): CLAIM FIRST LOCATED 1866 BUT ALLOWED TO LAPSE, LATER RELOCATED BY SALTON CAMERON IN THE 1870'S

Comment (Deposit): FISSURE VEINS OF IRREGULAR WIDTH WHICH LIE APPROX. IN THE BEDDING PLANE OF THE COUNTRY ROCK OR CUTS STEEPLY ACROSS IT. W VEIN (MOST PRODUCTIVE) DESCRIBED ABOVE HAS A VERTICAL DEPTH OF 200 FT. ORE WAS RICHER A FEW FT BELOW THE SURFACE THAN AT THE OUTCROP. THE E VEIN CUTS THE COUNTRY ROCK AT A LARGE ANGLE ALONG BOTH STRIKE AND DIP. IT IS NOT SO WIDE, OF A LOWER GRADE, AND MORE PERSISTENT THAN THE W VEIN. ITS STRIKE IS 50 W, DIPS 60 NE AND HAS BEEN FOLLOWED FOR GT 400 FT ALONG ITS STRIKE. A THIRD VEIN IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE OTHER TWO AAND DIPS 50 E.

Comment (Workings): INCLINED SHAFT WITH 5 LEVELS, ON 150 FT LEVEL A 300 FT CROSSCUT TUNNEL CONNECTS WITH THE WORKINGS ON THE EAST VEIN, WHICH HAD A SHAFT AND 3 LEVELS.

Comment (Geology): STRATA IN THE HASMARK, RED LION, & MAYWOOD FMS. ALL STRIKE NORTHWARD AND DIP 40 TO 50 DEG N.COUNTRY ROCK IS GREATLY DISTURBED AND IS TRANSVERSED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF FAULTS

References

Reference (Deposit): 1906 GEOLMAP EMMONS AND CALKINS

Reference (Deposit): GEOLMAP MBMG EARLL

Reference (Production): MBMG BULL 84

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 84, P. 34, 35, 37.

Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 74, P. 231-34.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM 31, P. 21.

Reference (Deposit): USGS-USBM MINERAL YEARBOOKS 1905-1942.

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.