Shell Canyon

The Shell Canyon is a phosphorus-phosphates mine located in Madison county, Montana at an elevation of 6,499 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: Shell Canyon

Commodity

Primary: Phosphorus-Phosphates
Tertiary: Uranium
Tertiary: Fluorine-Fluorite

Location

State: Montana
County: Madison

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

Not available

Ownership

Not available

Production

Not available

Deposit

Record Type: Site
Operation Category: Prospect
Operation Type: Surface
Mining Method: Unknown
Years of Production:
Organization:
Significant: N

Physiography

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

Mineral Deposit Model

Not available

Orebody

Not available

Structure

Not available

Alterations

Not available

Rocks

Not available

Analytical Data

Not available

Materials

Not available

Comments

Comment (Deposit): LOCATION CONSISTS OF TRENCH AND EXPOSURE ON N SIDE OF SHELL CREEK CANYON NEAR THE CREST OF SMALL DOME. PHOSPHORIA FM. ATTITUDE: N5W,12W. RETORT MEMBER:BED IS 2 FT THICK AT 32.5% P2O5, 3.25 FT THICK AT 26% P2O5. DUE TO THE FLAT DIP AND HARD LIMESTONE FOOTWALL THE DEPOSIT MAY BE SUITABLE FOR OPEN-PIT MINING. SAMPLE LOT 1214 FROM USGS PROF PAPER 313-E IS LOCATED HERE.

References

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 209, 1953.

Reference (Deposit): LUFT, S., 1958, NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY CO. PROPERTIES AND

Reference (Deposit): U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROF. PAPER 313-E, 1970, P. 733-743.

Reference (Deposit): U.S. BUREAU OF MINES RI 6611, 1965, P. 105.

Reference (Deposit): INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DEPT., PHOSPHATE REPORT.

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.