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

Sites Table
AIM Id Name Alternate Name District County
GR000476 POWERS PLACER / QUARTZITE QUARTZITE PLACER GARNET GRANITE
MRDS AMLI MILS Latitude Longitude Datum
DC08549 300390372 46.8286 -113.3014
Township Range Section QSection UTM Northing UTM Easting UTM Zone UTM Datum
12N 14W 1 BADD
Average Elevation Elev Units Land Owner 250K Quad 100K Quad 24K Quad
5220 F BLM BUTTE MISSOULA EAST ELEVATION MOUNTAIN
Property Type Update Date Who Updated
PLACER 4/6/1995 JEW
Commodities Table
Commodities Identified
GOLD
Agency Info Table
Information
Agency: BLM
Region District: BUTTE
Ranger District:
Forest Service Tract:
Watershed Code: 17010203
Forest or Resource Area: MISSOULA
Owner: B
Impact:
Report: Elk Creek and Tributaries/Powers Placer (PO004660/GR000476) Numerous placer workings are found in the drainage of Elk Creek and its principal tributaries. Total surface disturbance is probably in excess of several hundred acres but an actual figure is difficult to determine. The placer gold is found in Quaternary gravels derived primarily from granodiorite and Precambrian Belt rocks. Gold is found in these deposits as fine, flat particles resting on granite bedrock (Pardee, 1918). The general average for the placers in the Garnet Area was $50.00 per foot (Pardee, 1918). Placer mining started in the Elk Creek drainage in 1866. Most placer mining activity in this area had ceased by 1916; there has been intermittent activity since that time. Production of placer gold from this area must have been significant based on workings; no reliable production figures are available. Most of the placer work has been done on federal (BLM) land. No apparent water quality problems resulting from placer operations were noted in 1994. McCulloch (1991) summarized this deposit as an open cut, processed by a trommel and sluices with about 4 acres disturbance with seasonal production. Ore production was 60-80 cubic yards per day and waste was 180-240 cubic yards per day.
Screening Criteria Table
Information
Mill Tailings: N
Adit Discharge: N
Metal Leaching: N
Water Erosion: N
Residence: N
Hazardous Materials: N
Open Adit: N
Visit: Y
Comments: MBMG GEOLOGIST: JACK WATSON (9/15/94); PHOTOS 11-24; 11-25; 12-1; 12-2; AND 12-3; PLACER WORKINGS.
Mining Methods Table
Years Dredge dry land Dredge float Ground sluicing Boom dam Drifting Hydraulic Pan rocker Long Tom Mercury
UNK
Placer Table
Information
Gold: Y
Silver:
Titanium:
Rare Earth Elements:
Sapphire:
Garnet:
Tungsten:
Platinum:
Magnetite:
Hematite:
Pyrite:
Commodity Ref: McCulloch, R.B., 1991, Montana Mining Directory 1989-1990, MBMG Bulletin 129, 146 p.
Geologic Source:
Geologic Source Ref:
Lag:
Transported: Y
Type Comments: Quaternary alluvium
Type Ref: McCulloch, R.B., 1991, Montana Mining Directory 1989-1990, MBMG Bulletin 129, 146 p.
Unknown:
Fine:
Coarse:
Comments: Open cut, 4 acres disturbed, trommel and sluices. 100% public mineral ownership.
Size Ref:
Finess:
Fineref:
Spoil pile:
Wash pile:
Wash over:
Wash under:
Waste Ref:
Year Discovered: 1870's

End of report. Retrieved 5/3/2024 8:46:16 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.