The Surprise Mine is a gold mine located in Madison county, Montana at an elevation of 4,879 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: 4,879 Feet (1,487 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 45.79444, -112.09306
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.
Surprise Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Surprise Mine
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Location
State: Montana
County: Madison
District: Whitehall (Renova) District
Land Status
Land ownership: Federal
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
Not available
Ownership
Not available
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Tobacco Root Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Description: Belt Sandstone Trends N-S, 25 W.
Type: L
Description: Fissure Zone
Alterations
Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation, Contact Metamorphism
Rocks
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Quartzite
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Limonite
Comments
Comment (Location): SW 1/4, NW 1/4, SECTION 34.
Comment (Geology): N-S DIKE IS 200-600 FT. WIDE.
References
Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 574, P. 100.
Reference (Deposit): BERG, A.B., GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE TOBACCO ROOT MOUNTAINS, MADISON CO., MT., UNIV. OF MINN., M.S. THESIS, 1959.
Reference (Deposit): 1914 RECON WINCHELL, A.N., U.S.G.S. BULL. 574
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.
