Cleve-Avon Group

The Cleve-Avon Group is a silver and lead mine located in Beaverhead county, Montana at an elevation of 8,399 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: Cleve-Avon Group
Secondary: Franklin Mine
Secondary: Cleve - Avon Mine

Commodity

Primary: Silver
Primary: Lead
Secondary: Gold

Location

State: Montana
County: Beaverhead
District: Hecla (Bryant) 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: Lively'S, Inc., Melrose, Mt.

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Producer
Deposit Type: Replacement
Operation Type: Unknown
Year First Production: 1877
Discovery Year: 1873
Discovery Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N
Deposit Size: M

Physiography

General Physiographic Area: Rocky Mountain System
Physiographic Province: Northern Rocky Mountains
Physiographic Detail: Pioneer Mountains

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Form: CHIMNEY-LIKE DEPOSITS, BEDDING DEPOSITS

Structure

Type: L
Description: Three Separate Sets Of Fractures, Tight Folds, Great Fault, Pioneer Batholith

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

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

Name: Basalt
Role: Associated
Age Type: Host Rock Unit
Age Young: Late Cambrian

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

Analytical Data

Analytical Data: AVG. ORE ASSAYS BETWEEN 1896-1900: 45-167 OZ AG/TON, .5-10% CU, 8-34% PB, AND 7-16% ZN, PLUS SILICA, LIME AND IRON

Materials

Ore: Galena
Ore: Tetrahedrite
Gangue: Quartz

Comments

Comment (Development): SEVERAL PATENTED CLAIMS JOINED GROUP BETWEEN 1880 AND 1925. THE ONLY PRODUCING CLAIMS WERE THE CLEVE, AVON, AND FRANKLIN. ; ECON.COM: KNOWN DEPOSITS ESSENTIALLY EXHAUSTED, DEVELOPMENT HANDICAPPED BY OFFSET OF THE ORE LEADS, NEED FOR CONSTANT PUMPING IN LOWER LEVELS

Comment (Deposit): ORE DEPOSITS ARE IN LIMESTONE WHICH HAS BEEN FOLDED INTO AN ANTICLINAL STRUCTURE PLUNGING ABOUT 35NE, TERMINATED ON THE NORTHEAST BY THE GREAT FAULT. THE ORE BODIES SPREAD OUT FROM ORE-FILLED VERTICAL FISSURES, WHICH FORM TWO SETS, ONE OF WHICH STRIKES NE, (AVON-BARBOUR WORKINGS) AND THE OTHER NW (CLEVE INCLINE-HULL WORKINGS).

Comment (Workings): INITIAL DEVELOPMENT WAS BY ADITS 300 FT. ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN BASE. THESE WERE EXTENDED DOWNWARD BY INCLINES AND SHAFTS. LATER THE LOWER CLEVE TUNNEL WAS DRIVEN IN THE MOUNTAIN AT IT'S BASE. THREE LOWER LEVELS WERE OPENED AT 250, 350, AND 375 FT. BELOW THE TUNNEL LEVEL. THE BARBOUR WORKINGS REACHED A DEPTH OF NEARLY 500 FEET BEFORE MINING CEASED. MUCH OF WORKINGS ARE OPEN BUT FLOODED

Comment (Production): CLEVE-AVON WAS WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FROM 1877 TO 1901 BY THE HECLA CO. PRODUCTION WAS SECOND ONLY TO THE LION MTN. GROUP. LESEES OPERATED THE MINE SPORATICALLY FROM 1901-1938.

References

Reference (Deposit): LAWSON, D. C., 1974, DIRECTORY OF MINING ENTERPRISES FOR 1974, MT. BUREAU OF MINES & GEOLOGY BULL. 95

Reference (Deposit): USGS BULL 574, P. 85.

Reference (Deposit): MBMG MEM 25, P. 69-74.

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

Reference (Deposit): 1948 COMPILE M.B.M.G. MEM. 25

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

Reference (Deposit): MBMG BULL 85.

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.