Beecher Lode

The Beecher Lode is a lithium, beryllium, and mica mine located in Custer county, South Dakota at an elevation of 5,479 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: Beecher Lode

Commodity

Primary: Lithium
Primary: Beryllium
Primary: Mica
Secondary: Niobium (Columbium)
Secondary: Tantalum

Location

State: South Dakota
County: Custer
District: Custer District

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.
Administrative Organization: Black Hills National Forest

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Surface/Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Lithium Corp. Of America

Owner Name: Arthur H. Lyndoe

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1900
Discovery Method: Ore-Mineral In Place
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Interior Plains
Physiographic Province: Great Plains Province
Physiographic Section: Black Hills

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: LENS

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Limonite Veinlets, The Stain Is Carried With Depth. The Pegmatite Is Badly Altered.

Rocks

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Pegmatite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: 39.1 PERCENT NB205, 36.8 PERCENT TA205

Materials

Ore: Tantalite
Ore: Columbite
Ore: Spodumene
Ore: Amblygonite
Ore: Beryl
Ore: Mica
Gangue: Lepidolite
Gangue: Cassiterite
Gangue: Tourmaline
Gangue: Albite
Gangue: Cleavelandite
Gangue: Apatite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Muscovite

Comments

Comment (Commodity): THE LARGEST SPODUMENE AND COLUMBITE CRYSTALS IN THE CUSTER DISTRICT

Comment (Production): BETWEEN 10,000 AND 100,000 LBS WERE PRODUCED IN 1962 (BE)

Comment (Deposit): GIANT CRYSTALS OF SPODUMENE ARE CONCENTRATED NEAR THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE PEGMATITE.

Comment (Workings): 3 LARGE OPENCUTS, 2 VERTICAL SHAFTS 60 AND 25 FT DEEP, 7 ADITS, 27 TRENCHES AND 6 DIAMOND DRILL HOLES.

Comment (Geology): THE PEGMATITE IS COARSE TO VERY COARSE GRAINED, UNEVENLY SEGREGATED PLUTONIC ROCKS OF MODIFIED GRANITIC COMPOSITION.

Comment (Location): NE 1/4, NE 1/4, SW 1/4, NW 1/4

References

Reference (Deposit): U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, 1955, BLACK HILLS MINERAL ATLAS, SOUTH DAKOTA: PART 2, BUREAU OF MINES INFORMATION CIRCULAR 7707

Reference (Deposit): FISHER, D. J., 1945, PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE MINERALOGY OF SOME PEGMATITES NEAR CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 50.

Reference (Deposit): FISHER, D.J., 1942, PRELIMINARY REPORT ON SOME PEGMATITES OF THE CUSTER DISTRICT, SOUTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REPORT OF INVESTIGATIONS 44

Reference (Deposit): BIENIEWSKI, C.L., 1964, THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF SOUTH DAKOTA IN 1962, SOUTH DAKOTA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS REPORT 10

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