Bald Butte Mine

The Bald Butte Mine is a gold and silver mine located in Lewis and Clark county, Montana at an elevation of 6,880 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: Bald Butte Mine

State:  Montana

County:  Lewis and Clark

Elevation: 6,880 Feet (2,097 Meters)

Commodity: Gold, Silver

Lat, Long: 46.72278, -112.34639

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 Bald Butte Mine

Bald Butte Mine MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Bald Butte Mine


Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite
Tertiary: Molybdenum


Location

State: Montana
County: Lewis and Clark
District: Marysville District


Land Status

Not available


Holdings

Not available


Workings

Type: Surface/Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Bald Butte Gold Mines,
Home Office: Spokane, Wa


Production

Year: 1948
Time Period: 1890-1948
Mined: 152000.000 mt
Material type: ore


Deposit

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


Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Polymetallic veins


Orebody

Form: STRATA-BOUND


Structure

Type: R
Description: Boulder Batholith, Prickly Pear Dome

Type: L
Description: Marysville Stock, Post-Mineral Downthrown Fault Blocks


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Sericitization, Fluoritization


Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Description: PORPHYRITIC DIORITE, GRANODIORITE
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Description: PORPHYRITIC DIORITE, GRANODIORITE
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Description: PORPHYRITIC DIORITE, GRANODIORITE
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene


Analytical Data

Analytical Data: SAMPLE: 30% CAF2, 41% SIL, 5% AL AND FE OXIDES


Materials

Ore: Fluorite
Ore: Sphalerite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Molybdenite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Sericite
Gangue: Quartz


Comments

Comment (Location): ON BALD BUTTE 3.5 MI SOUTHWEST OF THE OLD MINING CAMP OF MARYSVILLE.

Comment (Production): TOTAL PRODUCTION REPORTED VALUE $2750000, 90% WAS BULLION, AND 10% IN CONCENTRATES. BULLION 753 FINE, CONCENTRATES RAN 1 OZ AU, 4 OZ AG, AND 10% PB.

Comment (Deposit): ORE SHOOTS WERE FOUND ALONGSIDE THE DIKE IN PLACES AND IN THE ADJOINING HORNSTONE ON ITS N SIDE.

Comment (Workings): WORKINGS INCLUDED A SERIES OF PITS & TUNNELS. HOWEVER, AT THE TIME OF SAHINEN'S VISITATION THE UNDERGROUND WORKINGS WERE INACCESSIBLE.

Comment (Geology): THE "KNIFEBLADE" FOUND HERE. SO NAMED FOR NARROW FISSURE VEIN STRUCTURES RICH IN FREE GOLD.

Comment (Commodity): SAHINEN REPORTS THAT FLUORITE PRODUCTION WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT EXTENSIVE BENEFICIATION


References

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 28, P. 6, 22, 23.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 955-E, P. 220.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 527.

Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 57, P. 178

Reference (Production): KNOPF, 1913, U.S.G.S. BULL. 527


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.