Excelsior Mine

The Excelsior Mine is a silver, gold, and copper mine located in Beaverhead county, Montana at an elevation of 5,942 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: Excelsior Mine
Secondary: Excelsior Lode Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Gold
Primary: Copper
Tertiary: Bismuth
Tertiary: Manganese
Tertiary: Tellurium

Location

State: Montana
County: Beaverhead
District: Bannack 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: Phillip And Fred Shenon

Owner Name: Grand Deposit Mining Co.

Production

Year: 1902
Material type: ORE
Description: Ap_Grade: ^202 Short Tons Of Ore

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1902
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: Pioneer Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR SHOOTS

Structure

Type: R
Description: Eastward Thrusting

Type: L
Description: Step Faulting, Fractures

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Pliocene

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Mississippian

Name: Diorite
Role: Associated
Age Type: Associated Rock Unit
Age Young: Pliocene

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: VEIN CHIP SAMPLE NEAR OLD SHAFT ASSAYED 0.001 OZ AU/TON, 0.05 OZ AG/TON, AND 0.30% CU.

Materials

Gangue: Garnet
Gangue: Calcite
Gangue: Bornite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Location): CENTER OF SW 1/4, SECTION 8.

Comment (Commodity): TETRADYMITE (BISMUTH TELLURIDE)

Comment (Development): IN 1963 THE GRAND DEPOSIT MINING CO. (RENO, NEV) EXPLORED A GRANODIORITE CONTACT ON THE ADIT LEVEL, UNDER A $80,000 OFFICE OF MINERALS EXP. CONTRACT. NO ORE WAS FOUND

Comment (Deposit): ORE OCCURS ON LIMESTONE SIDE OF GARNET ZONE. IT IS OFFSET TO THE SOUTHWEST BY A SERIES OF STEP FAULTS. MINERALIZED FRACTURES OCCUR ALONG OR NEAR THE GRANODIORITE CONTACT THE CONTACT STRIKES N35W AND DIPS 45W

Comment (Workings): 1500-FT OF DRIFTS AND CROSSCUTS AND 120 FEET OF STOPES. TWO INACCESSIBLE SHAFTS.

Comment (Geology): MADISON GROUP COMPOSED OF MISSION CANYON LS. AND LODGEPOLE LS.

References

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 574, P. 74-75.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 85, P. 80-81.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 6, P. 40.

Reference (Deposit): USGS MAP I-433.

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

Reference (Deposit): 1931 COMPILE M.B.M.G. BULL. 6

Reference (Deposit): 1965 GEOLMAP LOWELL, W.R., U.S.G.S. MAP I-433

Reference (Deposit): 1972 RECON M.B.M.G. BULL. 85

Reference (Production): MBMG BULL 85, USGS BULL 574

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.