Big Ben Molybdenum

The Big Ben Molybdenum is a molybdenum mine located in Cascade county, Montana at an elevation of 6,299 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

Name: Big Ben Molybdenum  

State:  Montana

County:  Cascade

Elevation: 6,299 Feet (1,920 Meters)

Commodity: Molybdenum

Lat, Long: 46.96583, -110.71222

Map: View on Google Maps

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.


Satelite image of the Big Ben Molybdenum

Big Ben Molybdenum MRDS details

Site Name

Primary: Big Ben Molybdenum


Commodity

Primary: Molybdenum
Tertiary: Copper
Tertiary: Tungsten
Tertiary: Lead


Location

State: Montana
County: Cascade
District: Neihart 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: Surface/Underground


Ownership

Owner Name: Frank Manniska, Neihart Mont.

Owner Name: Frank Maniska, Neihart, Mont


Production

Not available


Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Occurrence
Operation Type: Unknown
Discovery Year: 1922
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: Little Belt Mountains


Mineral Deposit Model

Not available


Orebody

Form: IRREGULAR


Structure

Type: R
Description: Little Belt Mountains Are A Broad East - West Arch

Type: L
Description: Significant Intrusion By Porphyries And Diorites


Alterations

Alteration Type: L
Alteration Text: Some Silicification Of Country Rock


Rocks

Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Neoproterozoic

Name: Gneiss
Role: Host
Age Type: Associated Rock
Age Young: Holocene


Analytical Data

Not available


Materials

Ore: Chalcopyrite
Ore: Molybdenite
Ore: Galena
Ore: Molybdite
Gangue: Quartz
Gangue: Fluorite


Comments

Comment (Location): ADIT USED FOR LOCATION - ALTITUDE APPROXIMATE SECTIONS NOT SURVEYED

Comment (Deposit): US BUREAU OF MINES REPT. OF INV. 4406 GIVES DETAILED INFORMATION ON DRILL CORES

Comment (Deposit): STRONGER FRACTURES HAVE PREFERRED TRENDS FROM N 20 DEG E TO N 85 DEG E, DIPS BOTH TO NORTH AND TO SOUTH. DIAMOND DRILL HOLES DELINEATE DEPOSIT OF AT LEAST 520 FT LONG X 270 FT WIDE X 365 FEET DEEP.

Comment (Workings): SURFACE WORKINGS ARE A SERIES OF TRENCHES AND PITS TOTAL LENGTH OF APPROX. 500 FEET

Comment (Geology): NO AGE ASSIGNED TO PINTO DIORITE ALTHOUGH IT IS CUT BY THE SNOW CREEK QUARTZ PORPHYRY. MAJOR MINERALIZATION OCCURRS IN SNOW CREEK QTZ PORPH. AND PINTO DIORITE. MINOR IN CARPEN. CREEK.


References

Reference (Deposit): HERDLICK, J. A., 1949 , INVESTIGATION OF THE BIG BEN MOLYBDENUM DEPOSIT, NEIHART DISTRICT, CASCADE, MONT; US BUREAU OF MINES REPT. OF INV. 4406

Reference (Deposit): ROBERTSON, A. F., 1951 , MINES AND MINERAL DEPOSITS (EXCEPT FUELS) CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA, U. S. BUREAU OF MINES INFO. CIRCULAR 7589 P 59 - 61

Reference (Deposit): SCHAFER, P. A., 1935 , GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE NEIHART MINING DISTRICT, CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA, MONT. BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOL. MEMOIR NO. 13 P. 56 - 57

Reference (Deposit): CREASEY, S.C., SCHOLZ, E.A., 1944, BIG BEN MOLYBDENUM DEPOSIT, NEIHART MINING DISTRICT, CASCADE COUNTY: MONTANA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PRELIMINARY REPORT, P. 29.

Reference (Deposit): 1943 DIREXPL BUREAU OF MINE


Principal Gold Districts of Montana

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.