The Watseca Mine is a gold mine located in Madison county, Montana at an elevation of 5,879 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: 5,879 Feet (1,792 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 45.62, -112.50528
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.
Watseca Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Watseca Mine
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Zinc
Secondary: Arsenic
Location
State: Montana
County: Madison
District: Rochester District
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Type: Underground
Ownership
Owner Name: Watseca Gold Mining Co.
Production
Year: 1905
Time Period: 1865-1905
Mined: 47000.000 mt
Material type: ore
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Polymetallic veins
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1869
Discovery Year: 1865
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Highland Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Polymetallic veins
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: L
Description: Veins In Northeast System Appear To Be Tension Breaks
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericitization, Kaolinization, Oxidation, Hydrothermal Alteration
Rocks
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoarchean
Name: Granite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoarchean
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Ore: Arsenopyrite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Sphalerite
Gangue: Feldspar
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Biotite
Gangue: Kaolinite
Gangue: Limonite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1860'S
Comment (Geology): SCHISTS ARE LOCALLY HIGHLY CONTORTED BY GENERALLY STRIKE N 30 - 40 DEG E AND DIP 20 - 35 DEG NW
Comment (Development): MINE IS INACCESSABLE DUE TO FLOODING WITHIN 30 M OF THE SURFACE.
Comment (Production): PRODUCED OVER $1,000,000 IN GOLD BETWEEN 1900 AND 1905.
Comment (Workings): 3 COMPARTMENT VERTICAL SHAFT 200 M DEEP, CONNECTED WITH A 120 M INCLINE SHAFT. DRIFTS ON 4 LEVELS.
Comment (Location): Same location as Rochester (Rabbit) polymetallic vein deposit in Keith Long's significant deposit list.
References
Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM 19.
Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 574, P. 127.
Reference (Deposit): REYNER, M.L., TRAUERMAN, C.J., 1950, DIRECTORY OF MINING PROPERTIES, 1949: MONTANA BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY MEMOIR 31.
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.
