Noxon Project

Site Name

Primary: Noxon Project
Secondary: Rock Lake Deposit
Secondary: Montanore

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Commodity

Primary: Copper
Secondary: Silver

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Location

State: Montana
County: Lincoln
District: Silver Butte

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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.

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Holdings

Type: Located Claim

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Workings

Type: Underground

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Ownership

Owner Name: Noranda Montanore
Home Office: Montana
Info Year: 1990

Owner Name: Montana Reserves Co.
Home Office: Montana
Info Year: 1990

Owner Name: Montana Reserves
Percent: 45.00
Home Office: Montana
Info Year: 1990

Owner Name: Noranda
Percent: 100.0
Home Office: Montana
Info Year: 1994
Years: 1994 -

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Production

Not available

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Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Plant
Deposit Type: Sediment-hosted Cu, Revett
Plant Type: Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant Subtype: Flotation
Operation Type: Underground
Mining Method: Open Stope - Room and Pillar
Milling Method: Flotation
Discovery Year: 1977
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y

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Physiography

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

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Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Sediment-hosted Cu, Revett

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Orebody

Form: TABULAR

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Structure

Type: R
Structure: BULL LAKE FAULT, SNOWSHOE FAULT, ROCK LAKE FAULT

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Alterations

Not available

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Rocks

Not available

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Analytical Data

Not available

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Materials

Ore: Pyrrhotite
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Covellite
Ore: Pyrite
Ore: Silver
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Digenite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcocite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Malachite

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Comments

Comment (Location): Lat/long was changed by 940 m on 9/10/2008 to agree with new coordinates for duplicate record 10048814, which had a lat/long - county conflict. Original coordinates were: lat/long NAD27 48-4-10N 115-38-16W (48.0694 -115.6378); UTM N5324697 E601481 Z11N; PLSS line# 1: Meridian- Montana Principal, TWNSHP 027 N, RNG 031 W, Sect 30, Sect_fract . New lat/long is from Boleneus et all, 2005. Deposit extends into Lincoln county so Lincoln was added to the list of county names.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): ESTIMATED BY NORANDA TO CONTAIN AT LEAST 300 MILLION OUNCES OF SILVER AND 2.5 BILLION POUNDS OF COPPER THE GEOLOGIC RESERVES OF THE DEPOSIT ARE ESTIMATED AT OVER 200,000,000 TONS. ABOUT 134,500,000 TONS OF ORE AT A GRADE OF 0.74 PERCENT CU AND 1.93 OUNCES PER TON AG ARE WITHIN THE EXTRALATERAL RIGHTS APPURTENANT TO VALIDATED MINING CLAIMS OWNED BY NORANDA AND THAT COVER THE APEX OF THE DEPOSIT. (ADKINS, N.D.) THE MONTANORE MINE CONTAINS AN ESTIMATED 142 MILLION ST ORE AT AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 0.78% COPPER AND 2.1 OZ/ST SILVER. MINE RECOVERIES ARE ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 220 MILLION OZ SILVER AND 1.5 BILLION LB COPPER. (E&MJ, FEBRUARY,1989) NORANDA MINING COMPANY (NMC) ESTIMATED TOTAL GEOLOGIC RESERVES AT NOT LESS THAN 134,535,193 TONS, WITH AVERAGE GRADES OF 1.93 OPT SILVER, A ND 0.74% COPPER (14.8 POUNDS PER TON). THIS ESTIMATE CONSISTS OF DEMONSTRATED RESERVES USING A MINIMUM 14 FOOT VERTICAL MINING HEIGHT AND A SPECIFIED NET SMELTER RETURN (NSR) CUTOFF VALUE. IT INCLUDES ORE SOLELY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES (INCLUDING EXTRALATERAL RIGHTS) OF MINING CLAIMS HR 133 AND HR 134. (FROM THE MINING VALIDITY REPORT BY BURNSIDE ET AL., 1993). NMC EXPECTS TO RECOVER ABOUT 67% IF THEIR TOTAL ESTIMATED GEOLOGIC RESERVES, WITH 28% LEFT TO SUPPORT MINE WORKINGS AND 5% LEFT AS BARRIERS ALONG ROCK LAKE AND THE ROCK LAKE FAULT. BASED ON THIS 67 PERCENT RECOVERY, NMC ESTIMATES MINEABLE RESERVES AT APPROXIMATELY 90,138,580 TONS OF ORE AT THE SAME GRADES AS THAT STATED AS GEOLOGICAL RESERVES. NMC ESTIMATES MINE DILUTION WILL BE 5% OF THE MINABLE TONNAGE (4,506,929 TONS), WITH AVERAGE GRADES OF 0.60 OPT SILVER AND 0.26 % (5.22 POUNDS PER TON) COPPER. AT 67% ORE RECOVERY AND 5% SUB-ORE DILUTION, NMC ESTIMATES THEY WILL EXTRACT NOT LESS THAN 94,645,509 TONS WITH AN AVERAGE GRADE OF 1.87 OPT SILVER AND 0.72% (14.4 POUNDS PER TON) COPPER. (FROM THE MINING VALIDITY REPORT BY BURNSIDE ET AL., 1993).

Comment (Exploration): AS REPORTED IN MISSOULIAN, SEPTEMBER 11, 1988: 1984 - TWO DRILL HOLES BY U.S. BORAX. U.S. BORAX EXPLORATION (PACIFIC COAST MINES, INC.) 1985-1988. FROM 1985 TO 1987 BORAX DRILLED 25 CORE HOLES FROM 8 SITES. FEBRUARY 1988 - MONTANA RESERVES OPTIONS PROPERTY FROM US BORAX AND TWO OTHER CANADIAN COMPANIES. SEPTEMBER 1988 - MONTANA RESERVES COMPANY (FRANK DUVAL AND HARRY MAGNESON) JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN NORANDA MINERALS (55%) AND MONTANA RESERVES CO. (45%). 1989 - EVALUATION ADIT STARTED ALONG LIBBY CREEK, OUTSIDE OF THE CABINET MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS. NORANDA CEASES CONSTRUCTION OF THE ADIT IN NOVEMBER 1991 BECAUSE OF WATER QUALITY CONCERNS (NITRATES FROM BLASTING) (BURNSIDE, ET AL., 1993)

Comment (Deposit): MINERALIZATION FORMED PRIMARILY AS PORE-SPACE FILLING AND GRAIN COATINGS AND ALSO AS MINOR, SECONDARY FRACTURE-FILLINGS. SULFIDE CONCENTRATIONS ALONG BEDDING PLANES AND AS HEAVY-MINERAL LAMINATIONS ARE COMMON. THE SULFIDE GRAIN SIZE IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE GRAIN SIZE OF THE HOST SEDIMENTS. ORIGIN OF THE MINERALIZATION IS UNKNOWN. IN THE SPAR LAKE MODEL OF HAYES AND EINAUDI (1986) , AND HAYES AND OTHERS (1989), WHICH IS INTERPRETED FROM STUDY OF THE SIMILAR SPAR LAKE DEPOSIT LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 17 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST, DIAGENETIC ORE SOLUTIONS MOVED THROUGH PERMEABLE QUARTZITE SAND BODIES, AND METAL DEPOSITION WAS LOCALIZED BY PREORE REACTANTS. THIS HYPOTHESIS MIGHT EXPLAIN THE MONTANORE DEPOSIT. ALTERNATIVELY, WODZICKI (PERS. COMMUN., 1990) ADVANCES THE POSSIBILITY THAT REDUCING, SULFUR-BEARING BRINES FROM THE UNDERLYING PRICHARD FORMATION MAY HAVE ASCENDED THE ROCK LAKE FAULT AND FLOWED INTO THE REVETT FORMATION. THESE BRINES THEN MIXED WITH SALINE, OXIDIZING COPPER-SILVER RICH FLUIDS MIGRATING THROUGH THE REVETT TOWARDS THE MARGIN OF THE BELT BASIN. THIS COMINGLING OF THE TWO FLUIDS IN FAVORABLE BEDS PROXIMAL TO THE FAULT COULD RESULT IN THE PRECIPITATION OF METAL SULFIDES. (ADKINS, N.D.).

Comment (Reserve-Resource): AKA ROCKLAKE OR NOXON. 1994 RESERVES FROM NORANDA ANNUAL REPORT. E/MJ, 3/89, P7.

Comment (Reserve-Resource): RESOURCE IS INSITU, RECOVERABLE ORE EQUALS 5,440,000 MT . RESOURCE REPORTED IN COLUMN TWO IS IN-SITU IDENTFIED ORE. . RESOURCE REPORTED IN COLUMN THREE IS IN-SITU ORE FROM THE ROCK LAKE, ROCK PEAK, AND HORIZON BASIN CLAIM GROUPS. . RESOURCE REPORTED IN COLUMN FOUR IS IN-SITU IDENTIFIED ORE FROM THE ROCK LAKE, ROCK PEAK, AND HORIZON BASIN CLAIM GROUPS.

Comment (Geology): THE MAJOR FAULTS, HIGH AND LOW ANGLE REVERSE STRUCTURES, ARE RELATED TO WEST-DIRECTED THRUSTING. ONLY THE LARGEST, THE LIBBY LAKES FAULT SPLAYS, ARE VISIBLE AT THE SURFACE. ANOTHER LARGE FAULT, THE ROCK LAKE FAULT, IS A STEEPLY DIPPING, WEST SIDE UP, NORMAL STRUCTURE LOCATED ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE AREA. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FAULT AS IT IS THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE MONTANORE MINERALIZATION. BASED ON STRATIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE, THE ROCK LAKE FAULT HAS ABOUT 2,500 FT OF DIP-SLIP MOVEMENT.(ADKINS, N.D.) THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FOLD IS THE ROCK LAKE SYNCLINE. IT IS A PLUNGING, ASYMMETRICAL FOLD OVERTURNED TO THE WEST AND OPEN TO THE NORTH. THE EASTERN LIMB IS STEEPLY OVERTURNED, AND TRUNCATED ON TOP BY THE LIBBY LAKES FAULT SPLAYS. THE WESTERN, LOWER LIMB, WHICH HOSTS THE DEPOSIT, IS FAIRLY FLAT AND TERMINATES ON THE WEST AGAINST THE ROCK LAKE FAULT. TO THE EAST OF THE ROCK LAKE SYNCLINE, IN THE UPPER LIBBY CREEK AND RAMSAY CREEK DRAINAGES, THE ROCKS ARE DISTORTED INTO BROAD ANTICLINES AND SYNCLINES. ALL THE FOLDS APPEAR TO HAVE FORMED IN RESPONSE TO WEST-DIRECTED THRUST FAULTING. (ADKINS, N.D.)

Comment (Geology): ACCORDING TO U.S. BORAX GEOLOGISTS, THE MAIN MINERALIZED HORIZON IS CONFINED PRIMARILY TO THE UPPER PART OF THE LOWER REVETT FORMATION AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, TO THE MIDDLE OF THE REVETT IN THE NORTHERN AREA (MCNARY, NO DATE, U.S. BUREAU OF MINES). BELT SUPERGROUP STRATA IN THE PROJECT AREA CONSISTS OF GREENSCHIST-GRADE METAMORPHOSED SEDIMENTARY ROCKS ASSIGNED , IN ASCENDING ORDER, TO THE PRICHARD, BURKE, REVETT, ST. REGIS AND WALLACE FORMATIONS (ADKINS, NO DATE). THE MINERALIZED ZONE OR LODE ON HR 133 AND HR 134 OCCURS IN THE UPPER PART OF THE LOWER REVETT FORMATION, AND LARGELY CONFORMS TO (PARALLELS) THE QUARTZITE BEDS IN WHICH IT IS CONTAINED. THESE QUARTZITE BEDS WITH THE CONTAINED MINERALIZATION HAVE A DOWNWARD COURSE (IE. PLUNGE) TO THE NORTHWEST FROM BETWEEN 12 TO 17 DEGREES. THEY STRIKE TO THE NORHTEAST. THE CENTERLINE OF HR 133 AND HR 134 PARALLELS THE COURSE OF THE OUTCROP OF THE MINERALIZATION, WHICH IS ABOUT N 56 E. (BURNSIDE ET AL, 1993).

Comment (Deposit): DEPOSIT TO BE MINED IS ALSO LOCATED IN: SECTIONS 19, 20 29, 31, AND 32 T. 27 N. R. 31 W. . BORAX CLAIMS COVER PORTIONS OF ORE ALL OF SECTIONS: 26, 27, 34, 35, AND 36,T.28N., R.32W ; SECTIONS: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35 AND 36, T.27N., R.32W.; SECTIONS: 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13 14, 15, 22, AND 24, T.26N., R.32W.; AND SECTIONS: 5,6, 7, 18, AND 19, T.26N., R.31W. . PROPERTY NOT MENTIONED IN 1995 ANNUAL REPORT.

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References

Reference (Deposit): U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMO-

Reference (Deposit): CHEMICAL CORPORATION, 1986.

Reference (Deposit): EOUS GEOLOGIC AND DRILL HOLE INFORMATION. U.S. BORAX

Reference (Deposit): 25 PP.

Reference (Deposit): UNITED STATES BORAX AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION. MISCELLAN-

Reference (Deposit): NOXON PROJECT. PACIFIC COAST MINES INC., JAN. 15, 1986,

Reference (Deposit): PACIFIC COAST MINES INC. CONCEPTUAL PLAN OF OPERATION -

Reference (Deposit): CENTER, AUG. 1984, 39 PP.

Reference (Deposit): JAYNE, D.I. THE TROYMINE - MINERAL PROPERTY EVALUATION

Reference (Deposit): FILE REPORT. U.S. BUREAU OF MINES - WESTERN FIELD OPERATION

Reference (Deposit): OF MINES - WESTERN FIELD OPERATOIONS CENTER, SEPT.1984, 30PP

Reference (Deposit): DEPOSIT-MINERAL PROPERTY EVALUATION FILE REPORT. U.S.BUREAU

Reference (Deposit): JAYNE, D. I. SILVER AND GOLD RESOURCES OF THE ROCK CREEK

Reference (Reserve-Resource): NORANDA MINERALS INC., 1995 ANNUAL REPORT, P.39.

Reference (Deposit): THE MINING RECORD, 3-16-94, P.5.

Reference (Deposit): THE NORTHERN MINER, 3-21-94, V80 N3, P.14.

Reference (Deposit): NORANDA MINERALS INC., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, P.39.

Reference (Deposit): MONT. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. BULLETIN 129, 1991.

Reference (Deposit): 1981, 77 PP.

Reference (Deposit): SANDERS COUNTIES, MONTANA. U.S. GEOL. SURV. BUL. 1501,

Reference (Deposit): RESOURCES OF THE CABINET MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS, LINCOLN AND

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND U.S. BUREAU OF MINES. MINERAL

Reference (Deposit): SERVICE, FEB. 1986.

Reference (Deposit): COORDINATION REPORT - KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST. U.S. FOREST

Reference (Deposit): U.S. FOREST SERVICE. CABINET MOUNTAINS MINERAL ACTIVITY

Reference (Deposit): 1973; 13 PP.

Reference (Deposit): PRECIPITATION, AND HEATING AND COOLING DEGREE DAYS, 1941-70.

Reference (Deposit): THE NORTHERN MINER, 10-11-93, P.16.

Reference (Deposit): ROYAL MINERALS, INC. PRESS RELEASE, 2-23-94.

Reference (Deposit): ROCKY MTN PAY DIRT, 10-93, P.19A.

Reference (Deposit): ROCKY MTN PAY DIRT, 6-93, P.16A.

Reference (Deposit): ROCKY MTN PAY DIRT, 5-93, P.17A.

Reference (Deposit): THE NORTHERN MINER, 11-15-93, P.3.

Reference (Deposit): NORANDA INS., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.19.

Reference (Deposit): SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW, 2-26-94, P.8.

Reference (Deposit): SEG NEWSLETTER. MONTANORE. JAN. 1992, P. 23.

Reference (Deposit): Boleneus, D.E., Appelgate, L.M., Stewart, J.H., and Zientek, M.L., 2005, Stratabound Copper-Silver Deposits of the Mesoproterozoic Revett Formation, Montana and Idaho; USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2005?5231, cuag_deposit.txt.

Reference (Deposit): SPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. MONTHLY NORMALS OF TEMPERATURE,

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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.