Tip Top Mine

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

Name: Tip Top Mine  

State:  Montana

County:  Deer Lodge

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.


Satelite image of the Tip Top Mine

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

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.