Polaris Mine

The Polaris Mine is a silver, copper, zinc, and lead mine located in Beaverhead county, Montana at an elevation of 7,178 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: Polaris Mine
Secondary: Silver Fissure

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Copper
Primary: Zinc
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Montana
County: Beaverhead
District: Polaris (Lost Cloud) District

Land Status

Not available

Holdings

Not available

Workings

Type: Underground

Ownership

Owner Name: Milton E. Hayes, Wisdom, Mt

Owner Name: Midnite Mines, Inc. Spokane
Years: 1976 -

Production

Year: 1965
Time Period: 1908 - 1965
Material type: AU
Description: Cp_Grade: ^4243 Short Tons Of Ore Mined 1908 - 1965

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Past Producer
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1884
Discovery Year: 1883
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, LENSES

Structure

Type: R
Description: Eastward Thrust Faulting

Type: L
Description: Fault Zone (Polaris Fault) Strikes N 60 Deg E And Dips Approximately 45 To 60 Degrees Nw.

Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Limestone Country Rock Is Altered

Rocks

Name: Limestone
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Mississippian

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Copper
Ore: Sphalerite

Comments

Comment (Deposit): POLARIS FAULT WAS MINERALIZED FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET ALONG STRIKE AND IS ABOUT 10-20 FT. WIDE. LENSES OF HIGH-GRADE SILVER ORE WERE SEPARATED BY LOWER GRADE (12-40 OZ/TON) SEGMENTS RAKE OF ORE WAS 45 DEG TO SW

Comment (Workings): POLARIS ADIT WAS 2300 FT. LONG, PLUS DRIFTS AND AN INCLINED RAISE CONNECTED TO WORKINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 320-FT. MAIN SHAFT. RECENT PRODUCTION WAS FROM A SURFACE CUT.

Comment (Geology): NO MINERALIZATION IN HANGING WALL OF POLARIS FAULT

Comment (Development): SEVERAL PATENTED CLAIMS. 100-TON SMELTER BUILT IN 1907, BUT CLOSED IN 1908 BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT ORE SUPPLY.

Comment (Location): CENTER OF SE 1/4, SECTION 28

Comment (Production): PRODUCTION YEARS-1908, 1912, 1914-15, 1917-20, 1922, 1924-25, 1934-35, 1939, 1955-56, AND 1959-65.

References

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 85, P. 120-123.

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 574, P. 76.

Reference (Deposit): LAWSON, D.C., 1977, DIRECTORY OF MINING ENTERPRISES, 1976: MT. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL., BULL. 103, P. 3.

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

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

Reference (Production): GEACH, R. D., 1972 , MINES AND MIN DEPOSITS (EXCEPT FUELS) BEAVERHEAD CO., MONT, P. 179

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.