Cable Mine

The Cable Mine is a gold, silver, tungsten, and copper mine located in Deer Lodge county, Montana at an elevation of 6,821 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: Cable Mine

Commodity

Primary: Gold
Primary: Silver
Primary: Tungsten
Primary: Copper
Secondary: Manganese
Secondary: Lead
Secondary: Iron
Secondary: Zinc
Tertiary: Arsenic
Tertiary: Antimony

Location

State: Montana
County: Deer Lodge
District: Georeetown (Southern Cross, Cable) 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.

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Canyon Lode Mining Co.,
Home Office: Box 48, Cable Rd, Anaconda, Mt

Production

Year: 1940
Time Period: 1866-1940

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Deposit Type: Skarn Au
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1867
Year Last Production: 1957
Discovery Year: 1866
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: Y
Deposit Size: S

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Flint Creek Range

Mineral Deposit Model

Model Name: Skarn Au

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR

Structure

Type: R
Description: Philipsburg Batholith

Type: L
Description: Cable Stock

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Hvdrothermal, Oxidation

Rocks

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

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Late Cambrian

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: PRE 1900 A AU NUGGET WORTH $375 WAS FOUND.
Analytical Data: AU $2.97/TON. 500 PPM FOR PB AND ZN
Analytical Data: AG 15 OZ/TON
Analytical Data: CAO 10%
Analytical Data: FEO 38.3%
Analytical Data: AVE ANALYSIS OF TAILINGS FROM OXIDIZED ORES: CU 3.06%

Materials

Ore: Chrysocolla
Ore: Bornite
Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Malachite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Gold
Ore: Copper
Ore: Marcasite
Ore: Chalcocite
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Pyrite
Gangue: Pyrrhotite
Gangue: Limonite
Gangue: Hematite
Gangue: Specularite
Gangue: Magnetite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Deposit): THE ORE BODIES ARE CONFINED TO THE LIMESTONE AND SHALE THAT TRENDS SE AND IS BOUNDED BY 2 INTRUSIVE GRANITES. THE LARGEST ORE BODY WAS THE CORNISH ORE SHOOT. ABOVE IT IS THE SQUARE SET SHOOT. 100 FT W OF THE ENGINE STATION IS THE SHOWERS SHOOT. IT IS IN LINE WITH THE OTHER TWO, BUT A LARGE IRREGULAR BODY OF MAGNETITE IS SITUATED BETWEEN THEM. THE 3 ORE BODIES APPEAR TO BE CONNECTED TO THE S OF THE MAGNETITE BODY BY COARSELY CRYSTALLINE CALCITE AND QUARTZ. ANOTHER GROUP OF ORE BODIES OCCUR TO THE N LYING CLOSE TO THE GRANITE CONTACT.

Comment (Workings): 3 SHAFTS, TEST PITS, ADIT, 2 SHAFTS ARE DEEP

Comment (Development): MILL BUILT IN 1867,

Comment (Production): 1866-1872 TOTAL PRODUCTION $400,000., 1872-1913 TOTAL PRODUCTION WAS SAID TO BE BETWEEN 3 AND 4 MILLION DOLLARS. ;TOTAL $4 TO 6.5 MILLION AU UP TO 1949 ;

Comment (Geology): EARLL (1972) REPORTS MINE IN NARROW LIMESTONE PENDANT WITHIN CABLE GRANODIORITE STOCK THE COUNTRY ROCK IS GREATLY METAMORPHOSED NEAR THE GRANITE CONTACT. THERE ARE MICA VEINS OCCUR IN MANY PLACES AT THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE GRANITE AND LIMESTONE, AND THEY CUT THE MAGNETITE. FISSURE CUT THE ORE BUT ARE NOT MINERALIZED.

Comment (Deposit): 10 ACRES ARE DISTURBED ; INFO.SRC : 1 PUB LIT; 3 FIELD OBSERV; 3 FIELD OBSERV; 3 FIELD OBSERV

Comment (Location): MINE ON NORTH CENTER EDGE OF THE SW/4 SEC 10. ; INFO FROM LAND.ST :(1971)

Comment (Commodity): FE AND MN USED FOR FLUX

References

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 84, P. 16, 18.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 315, P. 31-35.

Reference (Deposit): USGS PP 78, P. 221-231.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM 31, P. 20

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 10, P. 15.

Reference (Production): USGS PP 78, MBMG BULL 84, USBM M&M 31.

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.