The data below represent everything available in the MBMG Abandoned and Inactive Mines (AIM) database.

Sites Table
AIM Id Name Alternate Name District County
BE004620 WATSON GULCH MINE FRENCH CREEK MANGANESE OXIDE ARGENTA BEAVERHEAD
MRDS AMLI MILS Latitude Longitude Datum
01-115 300010393 45.3611 -112.9128
Township Range Section QSection UTM Northing UTM Easting UTM Zone UTM Datum
05S 11W 36 BBDB
Average Elevation Elev Units Land Owner 250K Quad 100K Quad 24K Quad
7960 F NF DILLON DILLON ERMONT
Property Type Update Date Who Updated
LODE 1/7/1997 RKM
Commodities Table
Commodities Identified
MANGANESE
Agency Info Table
Information
Agency: NF
Region District: R1
Ranger District: DILLON
Forest Service Tract:
Watershed Code: 10020002
Forest or Resource Area: BEAVERHEAD
Owner: N
Impact: L
Report: French Creek (BE004620) The French Creek Manganese Oxide Mine consists of several prospect pits, a caved adit, and two moderately sized dumps. Total surface disturbance is less than 1 acre. The mine apparently explored manganese enrichment in a light-gray to light-purple dolomite (Pennsylvanian Amsden Formation?). Dump rock exhibits sparse limonite and manganese staining. AIM dump rock samples assayed 1,495 and 700 ppm manganese; low lead and arsenic concentrations were reported for these samples. The mine was active from 1956 to 1957 (MBMG files). The adit has a small volume freshwater flow and one of the dumps is in contact with Watson Gulch Creek. The site is located on USFS land. A plan map of this mine site was made for the AIM program.
Assay Table
Information
Sample Id: WWFC-1
Material Type: WA
Sample Method: COMP
Comments: West waste rock dump sample.
Mines Table
Type Condition Ground Water Photos Available? Photo Numbers Ownership Comments
A01 COLP FLOW Y 1-11, 1-12, 8 NF
Sample Table
Sample Id Sampler pH SC Date TempC Flow Rate Flow Units Flow Method Source Ind No Veg Stain Salt Sulf Turb Location Related to Stream Stream Sedimention Photos Available? Photo Numbers Remarks
BFCS10L RKM 7.9 125 10/8/1996 5.8 135 GPM METER STREAM N N N N N UP WATSON GULCH NO Y 7 Eh: 448 mV
BFCS20M RKM 7.1 268 10/8/1996 7.7 0.5 GPM BUCKET ADIT N N N N N NA NO Y 8; 9 Eh: 491 mV
BFCS30L RKM 8.2 132 10/8/1996 7.2 90 GPM METER STREAM N N N N N DOWN WATSON GULCH NO Y 10 Eh: 387 mV
Screening Criteria Table
Information
Mill Tailings: N
Adit Discharge: Y
Metal Leaching: N
Water Erosion: Y
Residence: N
Hazardous Materials: N
Open Adit: N
Visit: Y
Comments: MBMG GEOLOGIST: JACK WATSON (5/22/94) PHOTOS 1-11 AND 1-12.
Solids Table
Sample Id Source Date Sampler Sample Type L Transect Soil Interval Indicator of contamination Path Veg Color Salt Photos Available? Photo Numbers
BFCD10L WA 10/8/1996 RKM COMP 50 0-6" N Y Y N Y
Structures Table
Type Number Condition Photos Available Photo Numbers Comments
CA01 2 G CABINS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. MAY BE INHABITED.
MB01 1 P Y 1-11 ADIT DISCHARGE BEGINS INSIDE THIS BUILDING.
Waste Table
Type Wind Erosion Veg Rill Gully Seep Pond Breach None Stability Floodplain Dist Stream Photos Available? Photo Numbers
WA01 LOW SPARSE N N N N N LOW NEAR 20 Y
WA02 LOW SPARSE N N N N N LOW IN 6 Y
Leach Table
Sample Material Type Sample Method Comments
FFCW10H WA COMP WEST WASTE ROCK DUMP SAMPLE
FFCW20H WA COMP EAST WASTE ROCK DUMP SAMPLE
M-Mines Table
Type Latitude Longitude UTM_N UTM_E UTM_Z Size Open Length Size Open Width Elevation Elevation Units
A01 4'
Rank Table
Information
Investigator: R. MARVIN
Date: 10/8/1996
Photos Available?:
Access: TR
Nearest Wetlands/Bog: 2
Drainage Basin: FRENCH CREEK
Water Contact Stream: Y
Nearest Surface Water Intake: 0.5
Number of Surface Water Intake(s) observed within 15 miles downstream:
Uses of Surface Water Intake(s) observed within 15 miles downstream: DOMESTIC/STOCK
Nearest Wells (miles): 0.5
Number of Wells within 4 miles: 1
Uses of Wells within 4 miles: DOMESTIC
Nearest Dwelling (miles): 0.5
Number of Months Occupied: 3
Number of Houses within 2 miles: 2
Recreational Usage on Site: M
Nearest Recreational Area (miles): 0.5
Name or Type of Recreational Area: HUNTING CABINS
Safety Risk from Open Adit/Shaft:
Safety Risk from Highwall or Unstable Slopes:
Safety Risk from Unstable Structures:
Safety Risk from Chemicals:
Safety Risk from Solid Waste (includes sharp rusted items):
Safety Risk from Explosives:
Sensitive Environments within 2 miles of Site or 15 miles Downstream:
Population within 0-0.25 miles: 0
Population within 0.25-0.5 miles: 0
Population within 0.5-1 miles: 0
Population within 1-2 miles: 2
Population within 2-3 miles: 0
Population within 3-4 miles: 0
Public Interest: L
Soil Chemistry Table
Sample Id Lab Id Description Project Comments
BFCD10L 97S0035 FRENCH CREEK MINE BHFORST

End of report. Retrieved 4/27/2024 11:01:24 PM.

The preceding materials represent the contents of the databases at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology at the time and date of the retrieval. The information is considered unpublished and is subject to correction and review on a daily basis. The Bureau warrants the accurate transmission of the data to the original end user at the time and date of the retrieval. Retransmission of the data to other users is discouraged and the Bureau claims no responsibility if the material is retransmitted. There may be data in the request area that are not recorded at the Bureau.