Pioneer Placer

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

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.

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.