The Free Enterprise Mine is a silver and uranium mine located in Jefferson county, Montana at an elevation of 5,499 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: 5,499 Feet (1,676 Meters)
Commodity: Silver, Uranium
Lat, Long: 46.25583, -112.14778
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.
Free Enterprise Mine MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Free Enterprise Mine
Secondary: Silver Bell
Commodity
Primary: Silver
Primary: Uranium
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Copper
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Barium-Barite
Tertiary: Arsenic
Tertiary: Antimony
Location
State: Montana
County: Jefferson
District: Boulder District
Land Status
Not available
Holdings
Not available
Workings
Not available
Ownership
Owner Name: Elkhorn Mining Co.
Home Office: Boulder, Mt 59632.
Owner Name: John Lewis, Elkhorn Mining Co., Boulder Bank Bldg. Boulder Mt. 59632
Production
Not available
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1949
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Not available
Orebody
Form: TABULAR, PODS
Structure
Type: R
Description: Boulder Batholith
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Name: Quartz Monzonite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous
Analytical Data
Analytical Data: ORE SHIPMENTS CONTAINED 5 TO 133 OZ AG/TON AND 0.14 TO 1.61% U3O8
Materials
Ore: Silver
Ore: Galena
Ore: Pitchblende
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Uraninite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Barite
Gangue: Pyrite
Comments
Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: ? (RADIOACTIVE MINERALS DISCOVERED 1949)
Comment (Commodity): USE AS HEALTH MINE STARTED IN 1952
Comment (Deposit): QUARTZ MONZONITE IS INTRUDED BY AT LEAST 2 FLAT-LYING SHEETS OF ALASKITE UP TO 25 FT THICK. URANIUM MINERALS NOT FOUND AT THE SURFACE. A CHALCEDONY VEIN CARRIES THE ORE.
Comment (Workings): WORKINGS CONSIST OF TWO VERTICAL SHAFTS AND DRIFTS AT DEPTHS OF 80, 100, AND 140 FT. MINE REMAINS OPEN AS A HEALTH CURE DUE TO PRESENCE OF RADON GAS 150FT WORKING SHAFT, AN ELEVATOR SHAFT. DRIFTS EXTEND FROM THE MINING SHAFT FOR 80-170 FT TO THE SW AND 150-180 FT TO THE NE.
References
Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 988-G, P. 143-155.
Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 16, P. 39-40.
Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 428, P. 20, 40-42, 94, PL. 1.
Reference (Deposit): 1950 GEOLMAP ROBERTS, W., USGS BULL., 988-
Reference (Production): USGS BULL, 988-G
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.
