The Tip Top Mine is a copper, lead, and silver mine located in Deer Lodge county, Montana at an elevation of 7,251 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: 7,251 Feet (2,210 Meters)
Commodity: Copper, Lead, Silver
Lat, Long: 46.20917, -113.14611
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.
Tip Top Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Tip Top Mine
Secondary: Abbot
Secondary: Bretz
Secondary: Farmers Mine, New Year, Emma
Commodity
Primary: Copper
Primary: Lead
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Tungsten
Tertiary: Antimony
Location
State: Montana
County: Deer Lodge
District: Johnson Basin 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: Surface/Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Tip Top Mining Co.,
Home Office: 700 Griffith St., Las Vegas, Nv.
Owner Name: Union Bank And Trust Co.,
Home Office: Helena, Mont.
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1875
Discovery Method: Unknown
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
Form: LENSES
Structure
Type: R
Description: Phillipsburg Batholith; Phillipsburg Overthrust
Type: L
Description: Shear Zone, 2 - 3 M Wide Strikes N 45 W, Dips 55 Ne, Long, Narrow, North - Trending Hoist Of Hasmark Limestone
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cambrian
Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cambrian
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: 0.4 TO 15 OZ/ST AG
Analytical Data: 0.05 TO 0.5% CU
Analytical Data: 3 TO 5 FOOT SAMPLE LENGTH SHOW 0.01 TO 0.7% WO3
Materials
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Ore: Scheelite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Malachite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Workings): MINE DEVELOPED BY SHAFT INCLINED 70 DEG NE, 60 M LONG WITH SOME DRIFTS; AN OPENCUT, 20 M X 10 M WITH A 30 M DRIFT, AND SEVERAL OTHER CUTS AND BULLDOZER TRENCHES
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1870'S
Comment (Commodity): TUNGSTEN PRODUCTION CAME FROM TWO SMALL, NEAR SURFACE STOPES AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE VEIN STRUCTURE.
Comment (Location): UTM LOCATION OF INCLINED SHAFT ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1971)
Comment (Production): SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF AG, CU, PB (1870-1900).
Comment (Geology): SMALL OUTLIERS OF BIOTITE-GRANITE OCCUR ABOUT 0.5 MI E AND W OF DEPOSIT.
Comment (Deposit): QUARTZ LENSES IN A SHEAR ZONE THAT IS 5-10 FT WIDE AND FOLLOWS BEDDING PLANE OF THE LIMESTONE. MINOR AMOUNTS OF SCHEELITE ALSO OCCUR IN SMALL QUARTZ STRINGERS THAT CROSS THE SHEAR ZONE AND AS DISSEMINATED CRYSTALS IN QUARTZ-FREE DOLOMITE.
References
Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 84, P. 22, 24, 26.
Reference (Deposit): USBM REP INVES 5612, P. 43-48.
Reference (Deposit): USGS-USBM MINERAL YEARBOOKS 1954-1957
Reference (Production): WALKER, USBM RI 5612; EARLL, MBMG BULL. 84USGS-USBM YEARBOOKS 1954-1957.
Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 14, P. 11.
Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 78, P. 244-45.
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.
