The Pioneer Placer is a gold mine located in Powell county, Montana at an elevation of 4,600 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: 4,600 Feet (1,402 Meters)
Commodity: Gold
Lat, Long: 46.5242, -112.95220
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.
Pioneer Placer MRDS details
Site Name
Primary: Pioneer Placer
Commodity
Primary: Gold
Location
State: Montana
County: Powell
District: Pioneer
Land Status
Land ownership: Unknown
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
Year: 1959
Time Period: 1861-1959
Mined: 9.000 mt
Material type: gold
Deposit
Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Placer Au-PGE
Operation Type: Placer
Mining Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Physiography
General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Mineral Deposit Model
Model Name: Placer Au-PGE
Orebody
Not available
Structure
Type: R
Structure: ROYAL STOCK
Alterations
Not available
Rocks
Name: Glacial Sediment
Role: Host
Description: GLACIAL DRIFT
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Quaternary
Age Old: Quaternary
Analytical Data
Not available
Materials
Ore: Gold
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Comments
Comment (Deposit): MUCH OF THE PLACER GOLD WAS COATED BY LIMONITE. 3 STAGES OF GLACIATION WITH A NOTED DECREASE IN GOLD FROM THE OLDEST TO THE YOUNGEST.
Comment (Geology): THE OLDEST DRIFT IS COMPOSED OF BOULDERS AND COBBLES OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK AND MINOR AMOUNTS OF METAMORPHIC ROCK. THE INTERMEDIATE DRIFT IS COMPOSED OF METAMORPHIC ROCK AND MINOR GRANITIC ROCK. THE YOUNGEST DRIFT IS COMPOSED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF FRESH GRANITIC BOULDERS AND COBBLES.
Comment (Geology): LATE GLACIAL OUTWASH DEPOSIT THAT OVER LIES TERTIARY "LAKE BED" CLAY. CLAY PROVIDED IDEAL BEDROCK FOR DREDGE MINING.
Comment (Workings): DREDGE MINING IN QUATERNARY ALLUVIUM WIDTH VARIES FROM 250-1500 FT. PRE 1942 1.5 MI DOWNSTREAM FROM PIONEER WAS DREDGED
Comment (Deposit): DEPTH VARIES FROM 15-50 FT. OVERBURDEN OF TAILINGS FROM EARLIER MINING OPERATIONS ON PIONEER BAR WERE REWORKED.
Comment (Deposit): "PAY STREAK" RANGED IN THICKNESS FROM 2-50 FT. THICK
Comment (Deposit): SIX TERRACES 100 TO 300 FT WIDE, THROUGH VERTICAL DISTANCE OF 200 FT. GRAVELS ARE 8-12 FT. THICK OVER BEDROCK OF TERTIARY CLAY.
Comment (Deposit): Merged data from Deposit ID's 10015912 (K&K Bar and E. Fork of Pioneer Placer), 10015911 (Lower Pioneer Gulch Placer), and 10015914 (Pioneer Bar Placer)
References
Reference (Deposit): FORMERLY OPERATED BY PIONEER PLACER DREDGING COMPANY
Reference (Deposit): ALSO LOCATED T9N R11W SECTIONS 14,22.
Reference (Deposit): PARDEE J T, 1951, USGS BULL. 978-C, P.77-79,91.
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.
