The Switchback Prospect is a gold and copper mine located in Mineral county, Montana at an elevation of 4,800 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: 4,800 Feet (1,463 Meters)
Commodity: Gold, Copper
Lat, Long: 47.38667, -115.53694
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.
Switchback Prospect MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Switchback Prospect
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Location
State: Montana
County: Mineral
District: (Unorganized)
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
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
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: Bitterroot Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: Large Scale Nw Trending Fault (Silver Creek) With Throws Ranging From 2000 To Several Thousand Ft
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Argillite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Argillite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Siderite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): VEIN AVERAGES ONLY A FEW INCHES IN THICKNESS AND THE ORE WAS SAID TO CARRY $2 PER TON IN AU.
Comment (Workings): ONE ADIT WITH 150 FT OF DRIFT EXISTED AND ANOTHER TUNNEL WAS BEING EXCAVATED AT TIME OF 1912 EXAMINATION.
Comment (Geology): SILVER CREEK FAULT MAY BE CONTINUOUS WITH FAULTS ON THE ATLAS PROPERTY NEAR MULLAN, ID. WHERE 20 FT WIDE VEINS OF AN KERITE CONTAINING CHALCOPYRITE AND SOME GALENA ARE KNOWN.
Comment (Location): ALONG MONITOR RD, BETWEEN SILVER AND BIG SUNDAY CREEKS.
References
Reference (Deposit): CALKINS, F. C. AND JONES, E. L. JR., 1914 , ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF THE REGION AROUND MULLAN, IDAHO AND, SALTESE, MONTANA: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 540 , P. 197 .
Reference (Deposit): WALLACE, R. E. AND HOSTERMAN, J. W., 1956 , RECONNAISANCE GEOLOGY OF WESTERN MINERAL COUNTY, MONTANA: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULL. 1027-M, P. 608 , PL. 48 .
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.
