Golden Rod Mine

The Golden Rod Mine is a silver, copper, lead, and gold mine located in Madison county, Montana at an elevation of 5,200 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: Golden Rod Mine
Secondary: Iron Rod Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Lead
Primary: Gold

Location

State: Montana
County: Madison
District: Silver Star District

Land Status

Land ownership: Private
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

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Golden Rod Mining Co.
Home Office: Spokane, Wa.
Years: 1950 -

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Vein
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1868
Discovery Year: 1865
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR SHOOTS AND SEAMS

Structure

Type: R
Description: Boulder Batholith

Type: L
Description: Numerous Minor Faults, And One Large Fault Cuts Off Vein To West.

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Oxidation

Rocks

Name: Lamprophyre
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoarchean

Name: Lamprophyre
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Name: Lamprophyre
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoarchean

Name: Lamprophyre
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Late Cretaceous

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: DUMP GRAB SAMPLE HAD 3 OZ AU/TON, 15 OZ AG/TON. (IRON ROD SHAFT)

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Pyrite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): Discovery Year: 1860'S

Comment (Workings): OLD WORKINGS ATTAINED DEPTH OF 600-FT. GOLDEN ROD ADIT (1934) DROVE OVER 1,000 FT, AND ATTAINED 800-FT DEPTH. GOLDEN ROD ENCOUNTERED RICH ORE AFTER DRIFTING 800-FT ALONG CLAY SEAM.

Comment (Geology): ALL ORE IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY OXIDIZED ; GEOL.DESC: FREE GOLD OXIDIZED SULFIDE ORE. ORE SHOOTS 50 FT. LONG, SEVERAL FT. WIDE.

Comment (Deposit): EXTENSIVE UNDERGROUND WORKINGS. ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT

Comment (Deposit): DIP OF VEIN BECOMES STEEPER AT DEPTH. PARALLEL VEINS FOLLOW BANDING OF GNEISS. AT LEAST THREE VEINS ARE PRESENT, OF WHICH CENTER ONE IS MOST IMPORTANT.

References

Reference (Deposit): REYNER, M.L, 1950, DIRECTORY OF MINING PROPERTIES-1949: MT. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., MEMOIR 31, P. 65.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM 19, P. 48-49.

Reference (Deposit): 1914 RECON WINCHELL, A.N., U.S.G.S. BULL. 574

Reference (Deposit): 1950 GEOLMAP MBMG MEMOIR 19

Reference (Production): MBMG MEM. 19.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 574, P. 142-143.

Reference (Deposit): GILBERT, F.C., 1935, DIRECTORY OF MINING PROPERTIES: MT. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., MEMOIR 15, P. 50.

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.