Montana Gold Claims

Barber Gulch - Placer Gold Claim - History Revisited

 

Barber Gulch Placer Mining Claim
BLM No. MTMMC 221585
SE 1/4 Section 25, T16N, R28W, and the S 1/2 of N 1/2 and N1/2 of S 1/2 of PB 67
T16N, R27W
Mineral County, Montana
160 Acres

Non-Patented  

Cedar Creek Mining District

Historical records note, "The gold recovered from the placers was considered to be exceptionally rich, ranging from $19.75 to $20.45 with a standard price of $20.67 per ounce. In 1875 it was reported that the various drifts were yielding as high as $300 to a set of timber, and that about $50,000 in gold was recovered each year from 1871 to 1873. The fineness was reported as ranging from .950 to .982 (Sahinen 1935; Lyden 1948).

Each of the creeks has several notable tributaries for which some information is available.

Oregon Gulch and Snowshoe Gulch have both been significant producers along Cedar Creek. In 1875, one company on Snowshoe Gulch grossed $9,200 in 10 weeks with nine men. The net profit for the owners was $4,600, with an additional two to three thousand dollars stolen from the sluices. Windfall Creek, a tributary of Trout Creek, is considered to be the largest producer of placer gold in the district. The "Miller Ground" claim on Windfall Creek was reported to have yielded gold valued at $150,000 by 1919. Tucker Gulch is an important tributary of Quartz Creek, although production along Quartz Creek probably did not exceed $100,000 (Lyden 1948)."

The initial rush on Cedar Creek, especially on Oregon Gulch was so great that a hundred miners staked out 200 claims within six months of the initial discoveries in 1869. Mining camps arose and were abandoned quickly as the focus of placering shifted around the district. The population of the district rose upwards of 10,000 by some estimates. In 1870, Forest City, on Cedar Creek itself, reached a population of 7,000 and was a wholesale commercial center for many towns in the area including Missoula. The success of the district prompted publication for three years of "The Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer" newspaper. The paper was then moved to Missoula and its name changed to the Missoulian (Smith 1899; Rowe 1911b; Lyden 1948; Wolle 1963).

The gold is recovered from stream and bench gravels located along the three creeks and their tributaries. The gold originates from veins associated with igneous dykes crosscutting the northward extension of the Bitterroots. Chalcopyrite is the principal ore material, and also carries copper and silver in small amounts (Sahinen 1935).

BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT

Sahinen (1935) locates the district as encompassing Cedar, Quartz and Trout Creeks and their tributaries, which originate near the crest of the northwestward extension of the Bitterroot Range. The creeks flow northeastward to the Clark Fork River.

HISTORIES OF SELECTED MINES

Although Sahinen (1935) and Lyden (1948) both note that some lode mining has been conducted in the district, no mention of specific mines occurs in the literature. Lode mining appears to have been generally confined to the period between 1915 and 1919, inclusive. Lode production at this time is estimated at less than $500,000 and included copper, silver and gold (Sahinen 1935; Lyden 1948).

The Barber Gulch Claim is located approximately 25 miles from Superior, Montana in a pristine wilderness environment. Majestic beauty, abundant wildlife, and great gold; what more could one ask for?

There are enormous tailing piles, evidence from all the work done in the gulch by the early miners. Every season's snow and major melt over the past hundreds of years has carried rich new material into the canyon, creating the potential for rich streambed deposits. Massive boulders and extensive exposed bedrock in shallow water make the Barber Gulch Gold Placer Claim a dredger's dream.

 

Gold is recovered from the stream bed and bench gravels located along the entire length of the claim. The gold originates from veins associated with igneous dikes that crosscut the northward extension of the Bitterroot Mountains. Chalcopyrite is the predominant ore material, quartz is plentiful. Copper and silver, in lesser amounts have also been found.

 

Oregon Gulch Historical Notes:
"Around the turn of the century, the Big Flat Mining Company began hydraulic mining of the Big Flat area of Oregon Gulch. Because no roads led into Big Flat, the company built a mining camp consisting of a bunkhouse, cookhouse, and office building to house its personnel. The Big Flat Company remained active through August 1910, when smoke from the great 1910 forest fires forced a temporary shutdown.Little work was done at Big Flat over the next three years, but in August 1914 the placer was reopened for an unknown period of time.

 

When mining again was suspended at Big Flat, the company reportedly employed A1 Wade (for whom Wade Peak is named) as a watchman at the camp until 1930.That year Montana Dredge & Engineering Company acquired the Big Flat claims. The firm's president and general manager, Guy L. Covington of Seattle, renovated the old camp and erected several new buildings closer to the creek. He also activated a small sawmill just upstream that may have been part of the earlier Big Flat operation.The lumber produced was used in construction of a flume and dam in 1931-1932.

 

The flume carried water from Missoula Gulch along the hill to the west of the present-day Big Flat road, supplying water for camp use and for hydraulic giants.  The sawmill also furnished lumber for building construction and the repair of a large flume on Oregon Gulch.In 1935, Covington (who had designed power excavation equipment used by many Northwest mines) installed a two-cubic-yard capacity Covington dry-land dredge at Big Flat and it was in operation by 1936. Covington also built the first road connecting Big Flat to the main Cedar Creek road. Sometime prior to 1931, Charlie Miller had extended the Cedar Creek road from LaCasse's camp as far as Miller Saddle. In 1931, Covington built the road from Miller's Saddle down into the Big Flat camp.  

Cedar Creek Mining District

Notes:

Barite chunks are scattered across the across Oregon Creek adjacent to mouth of Barber Gulch, with a seam visible. Dowsing readings are intriguing. 

• Barite is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4). It receives its name from the Greek word "barys" which means "heavy." This name is in response to barite's high specific gravity of 4.5, which is exceptional for a nonmetallic mineral.

The goal of the exploration planned in the Big Flat is to discover and develop a productive and profitable mine. In addition to determining the quantity, location, and value of pay gravels in the placer deposit. Initial exploration will provide valuable information regarding surface drainage patterns, stream flows, and bedrock depth.

• Stream banks are firm and stable, composed of:
• Sand - less than 1⁄4 inch Gravel - 1/4 inch to 3 inches
• Small cobbles - 3 inches to 6 inches
• Large Cobbles - 6 inches to 12 inches
• Rocks - 12 inches to 24 inches
• Boulders - greater than 24 inches Bank heights vary from 2-to-12 feet or more.

Bank vegetation includes native grasses, wildflowers, native brush, shrubs, and trees. Many of the northward-facing slopes have a thick stand of pines, firs, and other conifers, whereas the southward-facing slopes are commonly grass and brush covered and more sparsely timbered. Timber includes litter and understory with brush from two to five feet. The area contains subalpine fir and mixed conifer with significant standing dead and downed trees. depths and types of soils.

Historical Notes:

Childress notes, LNFHP; Mineral County Press August 27,1914; The Mining Journal October 15, 1933,14; April 15,1935, 21; May 15, 1936, 23; May 15,1937, 26.

 

A Prospector's Paradise, the claim is suited for most types of gold mining activities from panning, sluicing, and high-banking to metal detecting, and dredging. For those miners seeking to run large volumes of yardage, there are several stream adjacent meadows condusive to the operation of heavy equipment. 

 

 

Mineral County is located in the vast "big sky country" of Montana. The crest of the Bitterroot Mountains divides Montana from Idaho and serves as the county’s western boundary. The topography varies from remote, high alpine lakes to whitewater streams and from heavily forested ridges to smooth rolling meadows. 

Oregon Creek Research Notes

A connected-bucket dredge was reported to have operated in the early 1900's. Historical records and physical evidence of placer, shaft, drift and limite lode mining mark the immediate area of the Oregon Gulch Project. The gold extracted was transported from Superior, a station on the Northern Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroads (Rowe 1911; Sahinen 1935)

Historical Evidence Of Placer Activity – Barber Gulch Area (Barber Gulch and Southern Cross Claims)

There is no way to find out how many miners actually worked along the creek as all buildings burned in the fires and we have only these snippets from old publications to look to for information. Little physical evidence remains indicating there were ever this many men in camp. There is, however evidence of parts and pieces of old mining equipment, etc. but one has to assume that anything that did not burn was salvaged years ago.

References to the Kansas City Commercial Company are sparse throughout historical records. This mining company operated in the Big Flat. The notes found, indicate the Kansas City Commercial Company was actively mining the Big Flat until their dredge operations were consumed by the 1910 firestorm. No references can be found of their operations after that date.

The fire came over the mountains from Idaho and into Cedar Creek basin, the paper reported. It continued: "The fire is coming down Cedar gulch and is reinforced by a huge blaze from Oregon gulch. "The Cedar... fire has already destroyed the Amador mining property and the Kansas City Commercial company's dredging plant with the exception of the dredge itself. Two charred bodies were found on the summit by fire fighters returning to Iron Mountain from Oregon gulch. "If a heavy wind should arise in the direction of Iron Mountain, the fire from Cedar... may become... bad... It has reduced the Amador mine to a smoldering heap and consumed... the Big Flat Mining company's plant in Oregon gulch..."

W.S. Clifford and Joe Shinnick had passed through the firey Cedar area and shared their experiences with the newspaper: "They were members of a pack outfit which was composed of eight men and 27 horses. They went through Oregon gulch on their way into Idaho and at the summit met a courier who warned them back.

"The fires came quickly. Before the party could get out, the horses had been lost in the fire and the two boys cut off from their comrades. They don't know what became of the six men who were with them. Clifford and Shinnick got out through Oregon gulch into Cedar. There they stayed at the Kansas City Commercial company plant until they were routed out to help fight fire there.

"When the fire had passed, they came down the creek to Iron Mountain..."

In another article about the Cedar fire, the paper noted that "... the Amador and Kansas City companies used electric speeders (on the Amador track) as an avenue for escape... (others)

Big Flat Mining Company

Around the turn of the century, the Big Flat Mining Company began hydraulic mining of the Big Flat area of Oregon Creek. Because no roads led into Big Flat, the company built a mining camp consisting of a bunkhouse, cookhouse, and office building to house its personnel. The Big Flat Mining Company remained active through August 1910, when smoke from the great 1910 forest fires forced a temporary shutdown.

Little work was done at Big Flat over the next three years, but in August 1914 the placer was reopened for an unknown period of time. When mining again was suspended at Big Flat, the Company reportedly employed A1 Wade (for whom Wade Peak is named) as a watchman at the camp until 1930. That year Montana Dredge & Engineering Company acquired the Big Flat claims.

The firm's president and general manager, Guy L. Covington of Seattle, renovated the old camp and erected several new buildings closer to the creek. He also activated a small sawmill just upstream that may have been part of the earlier Big Flat operation.

The lumber produced was used in construction of a flume and dam in 1931-1932. The flume carried water from Missoula Gulch along the hill to the west of the present-day Big Flat road, supplying water for camp use and for hydraulic giants. The sawmill also furnished lumber for building construction and the repair of a large flume on Oregon Gulch.

In 1935, Covington (who had designed power excavation equipment used by many Northwest mines) installed a two-cubic-yard capacity Covington dry-land dredge at Big Flat and it was in operation by 1936. Covington also built the first road connecting Big Flat to the main Cedar Creek road.

LNFHP; Mineral County Press August 27,1914; The Mining Journal October 15, 1933,14; April 15,1935, 21; May 15,1936, 23; May 15,1937, 26.

Covington Mineral Assay Report from drill testing four holes in the Big Flat.

Note dates: Four tests above were assayed in September 1933 - The four test holes below were drilled in December 1034. We continue to search historical archives for additional information. 

Sometime prior to 1931, Charlie Miller had extended the Cedar Creek road from La Casse's camp as far as Miller Saddle. In 1931, Covington built the road from Miller's Saddle down into the Big Flat camp.

The Barber Gulch claim follows Oregon Creek and includes the mouth of Barber Creek.  

In addition to the exciting outdoor adventure of gold mining, the Bitterroot Mountains of Mineral County provide many opportunities for fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and photography. Within Mineral County there are 87 miles of river, 650 miles of streams, and over 50 high mountain lakes. In addition, there are over 400 miles of hiking trails and more than 1,000 miles of off-highway roads. 

160 Acres 

Non-Patented 

 

Access is available from mid-June to mid-October and provides an excellent opportunity for the recreational panner or seasoned miner. The Barber Gulch Placer Claim is part of a claim block slated for commercial gold exploration and production.

 

Gold is present at a grade sufficient to have a strong effect on the economics of an excavation project. The package is available for sale/lease or joint-venture. 

 

Sale Price: $137,700.00

For more information please contact:

Marlene Affeld

[email protected]

509-389-2606

Disclaimer: This locality information is for reference purposes only. Please do not attempt to visit any sites listed without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary. 

 

Food For Thought -

Unlocking Value in Montana’s Historic Mining Camps

The old adage “the best place to find a new mine is in the shadow of an old mine” is more than just a quaint saying. The phrase, well known to many in the world of resource exploration, is actually based on scientific principles that have led to recent significant discoveries.

Today, hitting pay dirt by using only surface exploration techniques is becoming a much harder and costlier prospect for junior explorers, even those in possession of development-stage projects with advanced exploration potential. Instead, forward-thinking geological teams are setting their sights on historic mining camps in the hopes that where there was once fire, the potential for another spark remains.

Blue Sky Country: Modern exploration techniques unlock potential value

“Exploration for new mineral deposits using surface techniques has resulted in fewer discoveries because most of the easy-to-find, near-surface deposits have been found,” explains Stanley Korzeb, economic geologist for the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG), and a research professor at Montana Tech. “Future mineral exploration is now focusing on deep deposits that have no surface expression, but are related to ore deposits exploited by past mining efforts. Most historic mines were developed on epithermal vein systems, and geologic studies have shown a relationship between epithermal vein systems and porphyry systems.”

Korzeb says that based on these studies, historic mining districts are being reexamined for deep mineral resources using advanced deep-drilling techniques and new geophysical techniques, such as short-wave infrared spectroscopy, lithogeochemical analysis and isotope geochemistry.

In the state of Montana, where Korzeb’s research is focused, some mining districts have not been studied since the 1930s, while others were last explored more recently in the 1980s.

Through his research work at the MBMG, Korzeb is currently focused on the reexamination of historic mining districts for potential exploration targets. To understand the future exploration potential and genesis of mineral resources in historic mining districts, he is using the latest methods for fluid inclusion, lithogeochemistry, isotope geochemistry, age dating and mineralogical techniques, in conjunction with geologic data generated by past mining and exploration efforts.

In essence, Korzeb’s work is proving the scientific basis behind the maxim that “the best place to find a new mine is in the shadow of an old mine.” If you can locate the metal and fluid source that developed the mineral resources exploited by past mining efforts, you may discover a deep porphyry system or another type of deposit with future mining potential."

Sale Price: $137,500.00

For further information contact: Marlene Affeld - 509-389-2606 or email to: [email protected]

 

 

Montana Gold Claims - For Sale or Lease

If you own a gold claim, you own your own private bank. Gold is going to levels previously unimaginable.

Given today's economy, there is something very comforting about having real gold in ones' safe... security personified... beautiful, tangible gold, that you can actually hold in your hands.

Essentially, the best hedge against both wild inflation and deep depression is the time honored, inflation-proof, depression-proof, store of value...Gold.

Unlike paper money or stocks - gold requires no CEO or board of directors - it is self backed - valuable in itself - an actual wealth that can be found on/in the ground.

There couldn’t be a better time to invest in a real gold property.

Where will you mine next season?

All claims listed for sale have been sampled and researched to establish worth. Only that ground meeting complete satisfaction and bearing realistic potential for gold were acquired. Several tenures comprise ground not before thoroughly or seriously worked for placer. Many of these locations comprise potential tertiary benches or buried channels, suitable for smaller-scale operations.

Whether a major commercial mining company, a serious junior mining concern, a recreational miner, the weekend prospector, or individuals simply wishing to enjoy the out-of-doors while trying their hand at unearthing lustrous treasures, whether using a pan, sluice, searching with a detector or employing other recovery methods, properties hereunder listed, hold excellent potential. Those claims, contiguous to one another, may be purchased individually or as a group. Group prices may apply.

 

LOOKING FOR NEW GROUND? 

1,200 ACRES OF PLACER GOLD CLAIMS

20 to 160 Acres Each

For Sale or Lease

NW MONTANA

Based on information documented by state and federal agencies, geologists, historians, and our own prospecting experience, we believe the Big Flat Project represents a unique opportunity for recovering substantial quantities of gold within a proven gold-bearing trend that boasts impressive records of past gold production. We invite you to consider the mining properties offered for sale or lease in the Big Flat area of Oregon Gulch, Mineral County, Montana. 

Owner financing available 

10% Down – Balance over 10 years

No Credit Check, No Banks, No Interest

Non-Patented

Serious Inquiries Only

509-389-2606

[email protected]

 

Is an unpatented mining claim considered real property?

Answer: Yes.

The discovery of a valuable mineral deposit within the limits of a mining claim located on public lands in conformance with state and Federal statutes validates the claim; and the locator acquires an exclusive possessory interest in the mineral deposits within the claim. Further, the claim is property in the fullest sense of that term; and may be sold, transferred, mortgaged, and inherited without infringing any right or title of the United States...so long as he complies with the provisions of the mining laws. United States Supreme Court case of Wilbur v. U.S. ex rel Krushnic, 280 US 306 (1930).

The owner of an unpatented claim is entitled to mine, remove and sell all valuable mineral deposits within his claim boundaries provided he follows the regulations for Surface Management under 43 CFR 3809, and is entitled to such surface rights necessary for mining operations.

You may own a claim if you are a citizen of the United States, a minor who has reached the age of discretion, a corporation, and non-citizens (aliens) who have declared their intention to become a citizen. (43 CFR 3832.1) Mining claims are a tangible asset and show your rights to all interests in minerals in the claim boundary. A mining claim can be sold, traded, leased, gifted, willed, used as collateral, or transferred in part or in its entirety, just like any other real property. Ownership will be transfered by a quit claim deed and recorded with the State Office County Recorder and the Bureau of Land Managment (BLM) using a quitclaim deed which is a recordable conveyance.

If you have been following the price of gold, you know it is on the move. 

The price of GOLD is up more than 360% in the past 15 YEARS.

The Big Flat Project comprises multiple unpatented mining claims (1200 acres) located in Mineral County, Montana. The contiguious block of claims collectively encompass the potential lode sources for the placer workings. The property is located within a historically productive gold district. The aim of the project is to locate, define, and exploit these prolific placer deposits.

Available For Sale, Lease or Joint Venture: a premium group of non-patented placer gold claims located in Cedar Creek Mining District, Mineral County, Montana. The contiguous block is located in the historically proven gold-bearing area of Oregon Creek known as the Big Flat: the location of one of the richest gold strikes in Mineral County, Montana. The gold from this district was notably fine; some gold that was 982 fine was recovered and it was not unusual for it to be as high as 960 to 970 fine  (22 Karat). (Lyden, 1948, p. 102).

Placer Gold:

• A placer deposit is a concentration of a natural material that has accumulated in unconsolidated sediments of a stream bed, beach, or residual deposit. Gold derived by weathering or other processes from lode deposits is likely to accumulate in placer deposits because of its weight and resistance to corrosion. In addition, its characteristically sun-yellow color makes it easily and quickly recognizable even in very small quantities.

Oregon Creek, which cascades through the claims, is a primary tributary of Cedar Creek. Oregon Creek has been a significant proven producer. On one section of the creek (part of the Big Flat Project) history records report that on several claims, men equipped each with only a gold pan and shovel were pulling out an ounce or more to the pan.

The Big Flat Project spans over 10.3 miles of Oregon Creek and its tributaries. Oregon Creek ranges from 6 to 10 ft. wide, but in some areas can reach up to 20 ft. The depth of the creek ranges from 8-10 inches in the shallow areas, and up to 3-to-20 feet or more in-depth. There are lots of benches, gravel bars, river rocks, waterfalls, and exposed bedrock in the creek: all of which trap gold.

The gold pan or miner's pan of old was a shallow sheet-iron vessel with sloping sides and flat bottom used to wash gold-bearing gravel or other material containing heavy minerals. The process of washing material in a pan referred to as "panning," is the simplest, most commonly used, and least expensive method for a prospector to separate gold from the silt, sand, and gravel of the stream deposits. It is a tedious, back-breaking job, and only with practice does one become proficient in the operation. Thankfully, technology finally caught up with our gold fever and brought us modern methods and equipment! 

The gold previously produced from Oregon Creek was mined with very little mechanized equipment: the miners of yesterday did not have access to sophisticated methods of gold detection and recovery. Geologists suggest that the early prospectors recovered less than ten percent of the available gold. Oregon Creek remains relatively unworked for almost 150 years.

Gold is recovered from stream and bench gravels located along the three creeks and their tributaries. The gold originates from veins associated with igneous dikes crosscutting the northward extension of the Bitterroots. 

Location and access is a concern for any mining operation. A valuable asset of the Big Flat Project is the existence of an established network of maintained roads and trails. Located in the Lolo National Forest on United States Forest Service land, the claims are easily accessible via USFS roads. Easy access is a key feature of the Big Flat Project and one that not only enhances the value of the property, but increases the ability to remove minerals with a higher profit margin.

Gold is present at a grade sufficient to have a strong effect on the economics of an excavation project. These claims could contain world-class mineral deposits. Further study, sampling and drilling will likely prove major gold reserves.

Offered For Lease or Joint-Venture - Investor Inquiries Invited.

Will lease parcels as small as 20 acres.

Offered For Lease or Joint-Venture - Investor Inquiries Invited.

Barber Gulch Placer Gold Claim

Southern Cross Placer Gold Claim

Bonanza Gulch Placer Gold Claim

Hard Times No. 1 Placer Gold Claim

Hard Times No. 3 Placer Gold Claim

Grubstake Gulch Placer Gold Claim

Wild Rose Placer Gold Claim

Missoula Gulch Placer Gold Claim

Rainbow's End Placer Gold Claim

With the price of gold holding at a strong high, participation in the Big Flat Project presents a unique investment opportunity for a visionary entrepreneur.

Historical Notes 

This map, courtesy of the Mineral County Historical Society, dates to about the time the USFS took over forest management (1906) -  It is interesting to note, that as early as 1906, there were several established mines within the area known today as the "Big Flat."

“The best place to find a new mine is in the shadow of an old mine”

Strike On Cedar Creek Draws Miners To The Area

On December 10, 1869, the news hit the major papers across Montana and Idaho, and the New Northwest paper out of Deer Lodge City, MT read:

"Big Mines Reported Struck! Such a time! We are living on excitement here entirely—Missoula has been wild for the last week—stampedes, charivari’s [sic] and I scarcely know what else. First a noise for four nights—and such a noise, thirteen boiler shops and a thousand gongs would be as nothing compared to it. Louis Barrette, one of the discoverers was in town to-day and had some of the gold with him, and it looks much like the gold from old Kootenai, coarse and well washed, and of a dark yellow color."

Cedar Creek Stampede

The Cedar Creek Chinese Report on Excavations at 24MN249 & 24MN262

The Montana Department Of Environmental Quality, reports. “The Cedar Creek Mining District, known primarily for its placer deposits, encompasses Cedar, Quartz, and Trout Creeks, rising near the crest of the northward extension of the Bitterroot Mountain range. The creeks flow northeastward to enter the Clark Fork River above Superior (Sahinen 1935).

The placers were first claimed in 1869 by French Canadian, Louis A. Barrette, and have seen continuous production since then. By 1935 the district had yielded at least $2,000,000 in gold and perhaps as much as $10,000,000. Annual output between 1869 and 1935 ranges from $1,000 to $50,000: with recovery primarily through sluicing and hydraulic methods.

Cedar Creek's history and gold production insights are especially intriguing. Many miners, prospectors, and geologists have long speculated: the gold recovered from Cedar Creek originates in Oregon Gulch.

Gold Production In Mineral County, Montana

The US Geological Survey ranks Montana as number 7 in gold production in the US and reports the state contains 31 gold mining districts, including the Cedar Creek Mining District, located in Mineral County. Total state gold production from the 19th century to 1968 was 17.8 million ounces, but considerable amounts of gold have been mined since (Bergendahl and Koshmann, 1968).

Situated in the western section of Montana, Mineral County is bounded by Missoula and Sanders counties and the state of Idaho. Most of the county topography is quite rugged with elevations ranging from 2500 to 8000 feet above sea level.

Located along the Idaho border, Mineral County was formed in 1914 by a partition of Missoula County. The county derives its name from the diverse array of minerals including lead, copper, zinc, silver, and gold located in its mountainous terrain. The county has a rich historical heritage of mineral discoveries in the late 1800s. Gold and silver were commercially produced from mines located in Mineral County. All gold mined before 1914 from the area now included in Mineral County is credited to Missoula County.

Almost all of the entire gold output in Mineral County came from placer deposits along the creeks that drain the east side of the Bitterroot Mountains and that flow into Clark Fork River between Tarkio and Superior. The most productive placers, and the only ones that produced more than 10,000 ounces of gold, were those along Cedar and Trout Creeks and their tributaries.

Estimates by Lyden (1948, p. 98-103) suggest that placer production before 1904 may have exceeded 120,000 ounces. From 1904 through 1956 the county produced placer gold valued at about $665,000 (32,175 ounces), most of which were produced before 1942.

The gold recovered from the placers was considered to be exceptionally rich, ranging from $19.75 to $20.45 with a standard price of $20.67 per ounce.

In 1875 it was reported that the various drifts were yielding as high as $300 to $600 to a set of timbers, and that about $50,000 in gold was recovered each year from 1871 to 1873. The fineness was reported as ranging from .950 to .982 (Sahinen 1935; Lyden 1948).

Surface Geology

The surficial geology of the area was created by Glacial Lake Missoula about 15,000 years ago. The entire flow of the Clark Fork River backed up behind an ice dam, and the glacial lake reached an elevation of about 4350 feet. When the ice dam failed, Glacial Lake Missoula emptied through the Clark Fork Valley in just a few days, releasing the greatest flood of known geologic record. This process occurred repeatedly, each time resulting in colossal floods. Exposed bedrock and sedimentary deposits provide evidence of the lake in the Missoula Valley, as do layers of lakebed deposits alternating with river sediments exposed just west of Missoula (Alt and Hyndman 1986).

Climate and Vegetation

Winters last from four to six months in this very mountain-ous region, and snow depths range from three teet to fourteen feet. Summer months provide only comfor,tablywarm weather, and the sum-mer nights are cold. Rainfall in this region is higher than inany other part of Montana, ranging fourteen to thirty inches per year.

Conifers cover all of the area, even growing in groves on the valley floor. White pine, yellow pine, Ponderosa, tamarack, fir, spruce, with aspen and cottonwood on the creek bottoms, are dominant. Grass is not abundant, being confined to stream bottoms and open meadowss. Since almost all of the region has been scourged by forest fires in the last fifty years, brush, saplings, and deadfalls prevail everywhere. Thousands of acres of lush huckleberry bushes are found 0n the slopes and ridgetops.

Local Resources: 

• The claims are located 25 miles up the mountain via Cedar Creek Road from the town of Superior, MT.
• Superior is situated on I-90 for immediate access to airports Spokane, WA and Missoula, Mt. Missoula is an excellent resource for equipment, parts and service.
• Local heavy equipment service is available in Superior, MT as is secure storage for winter repairs and staging.
• Superior, MT is a small rural community with a hospital, post office, grocery, lumber yard, and hardware store. There is a local airport for small aircraft.

This group of claims lends itself to a commercial mining operation. There is excellent road access – In 2018, Cedar Creek Road (USFS 320) was resurfaced and rerouted in and is in excellent condition for easy access. The above claims are a stellar mineral prospect with the Hard Times No. 1 as the heart of the exploration area. Each of the sites provides cleared USFS approved campsites suitable for an RV or mining equipment base. 

Mineral County continues to be a site of active gold exploration. Based on geology, it is predictable that several large undeveloped and undiscovered gold deposits will be found, identified and developed in the future.

For Further Information, Contact:

Marlene A. Affeld

Oregon Gulch Gold

PO Box 70 

Saint Regis, Montana 59866

509-389-2606

[email protected]

The description information provided above is as accurate and complete as possible and presented in good faith. While I have made every effort to provide as complete historical notes as possible, various records are subject to interpretation. Therefore, I make no warranty, implied or expressed, as to the completeness or accuracy of the furnished information. As with any non-patented mining transaction, the lessee or purchaser is advised to perform research and their own due diligence.

Locality information is for reference purposes only. Please do not attempt to visit any sites listed without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holder for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary. 

• Please be aware that mining claims are federally protected.
  
• Anyone found prospecting a mining claim without express consent from the owner can be charged with criminal trespass and theft.
  
• Our properties are closely monitored.
  
• Please contact us in advance before visiting any of our gold properties. 509-389-2606

Important Notice: Properties offered for sale hereunder, are for mining purposes only and do not include ownership of surface rights or the right to use the surface for residential or recreational purposes.

All claims are “Unpatented” mining claims, which means you will own the mineral rights to the property but not the actual land. The land belongs to the federal government (i.e.; the American People) and is administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and/or the United States Forest Service (USFS). According to the BLM, a mining claim is “a parcel of land for which the claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract a discovered, valuable, mineral deposit. This right does not include exclusive surface rights.”

Hard Times No. 3 Placer Claim

Hard Times Mine No. 3 

BLM No. MTMMC 212707

50 Acres
Non-Patented 

W 1/2 Section 12, Township 15 North, Range 28 West

Cedar Creek Mining District

Mineral County, Montana

 

 

 

Massive boulders and extensive exposed bedrock in shallow water make the Hard Times No. 3 Placer Claim a prospector's paradise.

The Hard Times No. 3 Placer Claim is part of a contiguous block acres slated for commercial gold exploration and production. Gold is present at a grade sufficient to have a strong effect on the economics of an excavation project.

The Hard Times No. 3  - 50-Acre placer claim is available for sale/lease or joint-venture. 

Sale Price : $ 47,500.00

For more information please contact:

Marlene Affeld

[email protected]

509-389-2606 

 

The Hard Times No. 3 Placer Gold Claim has exposed bedrock outcroppings and several natural gravel bars, a diversity that offers outstanding spots to pan, high-bank, dredge, sluice or metal detect. The incredible potential of this claim would keep anyone prospecting for a lifetime.

For additional information, please contact:

Marlene A. Affeld

PO Box 70

Saint Regis, Montana 59866

509-389-2606

[email protected]

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Wild Rose Gold Placer Mining Claim: For Sale/Lease/Joint Venture

 

Blanketed with wild roses in mid-summer, away from the noise and congestion of the city, the Wildrose Placer Mining Claim is the perfect prospector's getaway - a dredger's dream!

Wild Rose Placer Mining Claim 160 Acres

With the price of gold  soaring to new highs, exploring for the golden mineral  has become one of the most sought-after outdoor activities today.  Unlike stocks and bonds, its value will never go to zero...

Gold is one of Earth's most highly prized natural resources

BLM No. MTMMC 236743 - Wild Rose Placer Mining Claim
160 Acres
West ½ of Section 2 and Northeast ¼ Section 3, T16N, R27W
Mineral County, Montana

The claim is located in the Cedar Creek Mining District of Mineral County, Montana. The claim is accessed by the Bonanza Gulch Trail and runs for approximately 1-mile, following the streambed. 

"Mineral Country encompasses 1,223 square miles and was the 54th county to be recognized as Montana’s independent county in 1914.  There is relatively little population in the county with Alberton, St Regis and Superior containing the majority of its inhabitants.  Most of it is a rugged vast wilderness that is contained within the Lolo National Forest.  A wilderness steeped in a rich history of mining and logging and the famed Mullan Trail becoming one of the main arterials through this pristine valley weaving its way up over a mountainous pass.

It is said that The Clark Fork River carries more water than any other river in Montana that runs through the bottom of its meandering valleys.  It is populated with ponderosa pines, lodge poles pines, douglas firs, eastern larch, with pockets of beautiful cedar groves.  The high mountains contain pristine spring fed lakes that remain icy cold even in the peak of the hot summer months and are abundant with Brook, Native Cutthroat, Yellowstone Cutthroat, and some Rainbow Trout.  Almost every drainage leads to or contains some remarkably beautiful spot.  In many ways this area still feels untouched and to wander this land is like stepping back into a simpler more beautiful time."

Courtesy: Meanering Through Mineral County With Jim Cyr

The Wild Rose Claim is part of a contiguous block of approximately 1200 acres slated for commercial gold exploration and production. Gold is present at a grade sufficient to have a strong effect on the economics of an excavation project. The package is available for sale/lease or joint-venture.

Sale Price: $87,950.00

Note - The sale price listed is for a 160-acre Unpatented Placer Mining Claim. 

For more information, please contact:

Marlene Affeld

509-389-2606

[email protected]

Moss MIning

In the Big Flat we have several locations with exposed bedrock, covered in moss: some spots are in the creek, some are high embankments. Come check it out. http://Wildlil.com

A few suggestions about finding and processing gold bearing moss

Copyright © 1995 - Steven L. Katz

Focus your attention on moss that is in the high water zone of a river or stream -- larger rivers seem to produce more moss and more moss with gold. The moss appears to trap dirt as part of its survival process when water is flowing over it -- usually during spring high water.

Moss and small plants like to grow into crevices and cracks in bedrock -- make sure that you thoroughly clean out each crevice below the moss. Use the wire brush to loosen dirt clinging to the face of the rock underneath the moss.

Stringy moss which does not contain much dirt is not likely to have trapped much gold either.

The heavier materials, including gold, will tend to settle to the bottom of the vac's bucket due to the action of the air swirling around in the bucket.

My tests suggest that there is more gold in the dirt underneath the moss than in the moss itself.

The dirt in large amounts of moss can be worked loose by putting the moss with water in a large bucket (15 gal), squeezing the moss out as if it were a sponge and then running the moss through 4 and 8 mesh sieves -- then the dirt can be processed in a mini sluice such as the McCann Microsluice (tm) or in a small high banker -- my experiments with the McCann unit suggest that one pass through the sluice will result in 95-99% recovery -- hardly worth a second pass. Please try to dump the silty, muddy water in a settling hole and not directly in the river.

After you have gotten your first bucketful of material in a new area, pan it out to make sure that the moss that you are working with really does contain gold -- gold bearing moss, when present at all, is usually uniformly gold rich along a section of river -- but sometimes mother nature will pass an area by!!!

If you have a large amount of material, and it is convenient to do so, take the raw material home for processing -- in the long run you will gather more material (and gold) than if you stop periodically to pan out the material.

A large agitator such as an old washing machine may be a better and easier way to get the gold and dirt out of the moss -- but I haven't come up with a design yet -- if you do, and don't mind sharing the design of your solution.

 

 

 

Getting To Know Your Claim

Are you are interested in leasing or purchasing a claim in the famous Cedar Creek Mining District of Mineral County, Montana? 

A couple of the available claims are ideal for the recreational prospector while others are ready for commercial development or aggressive recreational recovery. All of the claims are in a contiguous block, ideal for a commercial mining venture. Claims are for sale individually or as a package to suit your mining objectives.

Send me an e-mail with your questions to marneaffeld.com and I will respond or you may call 509-389-2606 - I love to talk mining!

Do you want a claim worth owning that you and your family will enjoy for generations to come - Make your gold prospecting dreams a reality!

Do you want to spend next summer doing something exciting? Camp on your very own mining claim and prospect for gold flake and nuggets! Two of the claims are on the site of the old gold rush mining camp; a great place to metal detect.

Read and Research

Expand your knowledge of prospecting. During the winter months, when snow lays heavy on the mountain, research the history of the area and study the local area. Learn the location of roads, trails, and open clearings. 

Plan your adventure and organize supplies, a survival kit, camping supplies, and mining gear and equipment. Be sure to take extra batteries, plenty of food and water as well as bug spray and bear repellent. If you are woods-wise and trained in firearm safety, it is prudent to carry a sidearm. Weather conditions can change rapidly. Be sure to carry warm, water repellent clothing and insect repellent. 

In northwest Montana, our mining season is short. Spend as much time as possible getting to know your claim. Carry survival gear, emergency food supplies, and a compass or GPS. The forest is dense and it is easy to get turned around and lost. As you explore your claim, always know the way back to your base location. Cell phones do not always work in the area of the claims. 

Obtain a detailed topo map of the area. Have the section where you are located, enlarged, and printed. Grid off the area on the map. Number the grids. Carry a pocket notebook. As you prospect and explore, make detailed notes of your findings in each numbered grid. Sketch out a map of the localized area to provide future references points when you are ready to commence explorational testing. (It is a good idea to set up a permanent file system or journal. Transfer your field notes into a permanent mining journal, making note of the time of year, the water level in the stream, weather conditions, and personal observations. Your records will prove invaluable in evaluating the claim and developing it to its full potential.)

Make note of important topography features including areas of exposed bedrock, quartz outcroppings, waterfalls, gravel or sand bar, and dramatic changes in the streambed. Exposed bedrock with deep crevices or fractures can trap gold washed downstream by spring flooding. (Moss that in embedded in the cracks of bedrock often contains fine gold trapped within its roots. Plan to wash pieces of the moss carefully in your gold pan. Manipulate the moss until all sediment is released. Drop the moss in the stream. It will float downstream and attach to a fallen log or rock. The moss will grow again and your test has not harmed the fragile ecosystem. Pan out the material. Note if you found color and the percentage of black sand and quartz particles.)

Take note of the thickness of the alluvial cover (gravel, sand, and soil) and the types of float rock and quartz. Look for rusty, stained pieces of quartz, they may contain visible specks of gold. 

Look for locations where the streambed makes a sharp turn and widens. (Gold moving downstream will slow down at that point and will be deposited on the inside curve of the stream bed. Bedrock outcrops or large boulders will also break the flow of the water, allowing gold to settle on the downstream side of the obstacle.)  

Do not limit your prospecting to the current streambed. (Over the centuries the stream may have changed course many times. Fallen trees, erosion, landslides, avalanches and heavy spring flooding change the course of the stream. Examine points higher up the bank, some of your best color may be many yards from the present stream bed.)

Hold Your Horses!

Do not start your testing in the first good-looking spot you find. Locate several potential areas before deciding where to begin. If you test the first spot that looks promising and you locate some gold, what happens? You will likely remain right there and work the area. By doing so, you may find some gold flake or gold dust. With the same effort, and a little more testing you could be recovering nuggets, fifty feet away. 

Gold Is Where You Find It

Old-time prospectors always said, “Gold is where you find it!” Truer words were never spoken. Gold may hide in heavy or compacted gravels or impervious layers of clay or heavy sediment. Gold and other heavy minerals eventually work their way down until settling on false bedrock (cemented or compacted layers) or bedrock. Given perfect conditions, they form the “golden yellow paystreaks” you are looking for. Increase your chances of success. Test bedrock locations first. Work out crevices in the bedrock and pan out the material. Crevices trap nuggets and flake. 

Use Your Metal Detector

Use your metal detector to examine areas of exposed bedrock. Detect upslope from the bedrock as well. Test the tops of ridges or outcroppings. The soil in Mineral County is highly mineralized and has a rich history of gold production. During the Cedar Creek Gold Rush, hundreds of men worked the drainages. You may find lots of rusty nails, mining artifacts, or old coins and brass buttons. Make sure your detector is ground balanced, but do not discriminate. Dig every target. You may find a nugget or a valuable piece of mining history. Keep careful notes regarding detecting sites. Record your finds if you feel the location justifies further exploration.

Save Your Concentrates

Always keep your concentrates. Store concentrates from different areas in separate containers, clearly marked with the location. Double-check the heavy concentrates in your pan, even if gold is not visible. A small, high-quality magnifying glass is a handy tool. Pyrite cubes, garnets, and black sand are indicators of gold. Not all gold is visible and may be coated with other materials. Your gold may contain a heavy concentration of fine gold or other valuable minerals including silver and platinum. A helpful hint - purchase a box of geologist sample bags from an oilfield supply store. Geologist sample bags have a waterproof label for location and notes, are strong, and are made of a material that will allow your samples to dry but not sift through the sample bag. 

During the winter months, carefully fine pan or use a micro-concentrator to evaluate your samples. You may be quite surprised by the amount of gold recovered that is not visible to the naked eye. 

Many mineral dealers will purchase black sand concentrates. 

Prospecting, Patience & Perseverance

Claims are from 20 to 160 acres. 160 acres equals almost 7,000,000 square feet. That is a lot of area to prospect. You will not find gold in every spot you dig, no matter how mineralized the claim. Placer gold is deposited erratically. Remember the old prospector adage "Gold is where you find it.' Don't dismiss a spot because it doesn't look like a textbook pocket. The contour of the land changes, the rocks roll, the mountain rumbles. During the spring melt, gold moves. Read the signs. A successful prospector is a patient and persistent treasure hunter. Learn how to read nature’s clues and you may be finely rewarded for your labors. 

 

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Placer Claim For Sale In Montana - Hard Times No 3

Color In Your Pan

Wise Reasons To Invest In A Gold Claim

 

By: Marlene Affeld

"There is no precious metal in the world coveted more than gold. The famous “yellow metal” has been a standard by which wealth is measured for centuries, and as civilizations took the first steps out of the Dark Ages and into international trade in the Middle Ages and beyond, gold was there as the standard unit of commerce used by nations and people who spoke different languages. Despite language and cultural barriers, everyone understands the value of gold. Today, gold remains a primary vehicle for private investment and the protection of wealth."

Now is the perfect time to invest in a gold claim. Although hording gold as a hedge against the devaluation of the dollar is a great idea, cut out the middleman and find your own gold on your own claim.

With the bottom falling out of oil prices and the stock market in a state of chaos, there are a lot of people lamenting they did not diversify their portfolios and invest in gold. When the finances of the world are volatile, investors flock to the security of gold, which in turn raises gold prices.

In today’s world of terrorist attacks, and financial uncertainty, many people, are converting assets to gold as it often out-performs other investment options. Historically, proves an excellent hedge against inflation with the price of gold typically increasing more than inflation.

Interwoven into the history and culture of the majority of the countries of the globe, gold is respected for its value and rich history. For 2,000 years gold has been an ideal method of protecting wealth; through wars, stock market crashes, and currency collapses, gold holds its value and is seen as a way to pass on wealth from generation to generation.

The increased wealth of emerging markets impacts the world demand for gold. India remains one of the world’s biggest consumers of gold with most worn as jewelry. In China, gold bars traditionally are used to store wealth with China’s demand remaining consistent.

The price of gold tripled between 1998 and 2008, dramatically escalating in value to a record value of a $1,000 an ounce. From 2008 to 2012, the price of gold went “through the roof” hitting an all-time high of $1,900.

Gold finished 2015 at $1.060 per ounce; down ten percent for the year. However, back then, investment advisers continued to recommend allocating a portion of one’s portfolio to the precious metal. Gold bounced back. Today, sage money managers remain confident in the power of gold, trusting in the knowledge that it has been exchanged for thousands of years and is a proven store of value.

Symbolic of wealth, status, and power, gold not only retains its value when the economy is vigorous; it maintains its value during times of geopolitical uncertainty. Gold is often referred to as a “crisis commodity” as investors flee to its relative safety when world tensions threaten to disrupt the normal flow of commerce. Lord knows, we are in a crisis now as inflatioin skyrocks and we all are feeling the pinch. 

Financial investors consider gold as an essential part of a diversified investment portfolio. The price of gold consistently increases in response to world events that deflate the value of paper investments such as stocks and bonds. Today gold is at $1975.00 and climbing.

Although the price of gold is cyclical and can be volatile in the short term, gold remains a sound hedge against inflation and the erosion of major currencies, making purchasing a gold claim an investment well worth consideration.

Southern Cross Placer Gold Claim For Sale/Lease Or Joint Venture

Southern Cross Placer Gold Claim

BLM No. MTMMC 221587

W 1/2 Section 36, Township 16 North, Range 28 West

160 Acres

Non-Patented 

 

Cedar Creek Mining District

Mineral County, Montana

 

Big Flat Historical Notes:

 

Big Flat Mining Company Around the turn of the century, the Big Flat Mining Company began hydraulic mining of the Big Flat area of Oregon Gulch. Because no roads led into Big Flat, the company built a mining camp consisting of a bunkhouse, cookhouse, and office building to house its personnel. The Big Flat Mining Company remained active through August 1910, when smoke from the great 1910 forest fires forced a temporary shutdown.

 

Little work was done at Big Flat over the next three years, but in August 1914 the placer was reopened for an unknown period of time. When mining again was suspended at Big Flat, the Company reportedly employed A1 Wade (for whom Wade Peak is named) as a watchman at the camp until 1930. That year Montana Dredge & Engineering Company acquired the Big Flat claims. The firm's president and general manager, Guy L. Covington of Seattle, renovated the old camp and erected several new buildings closer to the creek. He also activated a small sawmill just upstream that may have been part of the earlier Big Flat operation.

 

The lumber produced was used in construction of a flume and dam in 1931-1932. The flume carried water from Missoula Gulch along the hill to the west of the present-day Big Flat road, supplying water for camp use and for hydraulic giants. The sawmill also furnished lumber for building construction and the repair of a large flume on Oregon Gulch. In 1935, Covington (who had designed power excavation equipment used by many Northwest mines) installed a two-cubic-yard capacity Covington dry-land dredge at Big Flat and it was in operation by 1936. Covington also built the first road connecting Big Flat to the main Cedar Creek road. Sometime prior to 1931, Charlie Miller had extended the Cedar Creek road from La Casse's camp as far as Miller Saddle. In 1931, Covington built the road from Miller's Saddle down into the Big Flat camp.

 

Childress notes, LNFHP; Mineral County Press August 27,1914; The Mining Journal October 15, 1933,14; April 15,1935, 21; May 15,1936, 23; May 15,1937, 26.

 

The history of Mineral County is rich in gold. Present day prospectors can take a step back into the glory days of mining. The old timers didn't get it all. Experts estimate that greater than 85% of the earth's gold is still loose on the planet, waiting to be found.

 

Every season's snow and major melt over the past hundreds of years has carried rich new material into the canyon, creating the potential for rich stream bed deposits. 

 

 

Gold is recovered from the stream bed and bench gravels located along the entire length of the claim. The gold originates from veins associated with igneous dikes that crosscut the northward extension of the Bitterroot Mountains. Chalcopyrite is the predominant ore material, quartz is plentiful. Copper and silver, in small amounts have also been found. 

 

This body of water seasonally goes underground for a substantial distance to be measured over a mile, as was witnessed in 2011 by all parties involved including the USFS representatives during an official walk through. This same pattern of the creek dropping underground, reappearing approximately 1-mile downstream, was evident again in the summer of 2017.

 

The Southern Cross placer gold claim is located in an area known as the Big Flat. Big Flat is a Flat in Mineral County, Montana. It has an elevation of 1,340 meters, or 4,396 feet.

 

This claim has several great campsites, wide open meadows and shaded glens along the creek. The scenery is spectacular: the fishing is fabulous!

Mineral County is located in the vast "big sky country" of Montana. The crest of the Bitterroot Mountains divides Montana from Idaho and serves as the county’s western boundary. The topography varies from remote, high alpine lakes to whitewater streams and from heavily forested ridges to smooth rolling meadows. 

The Bitterroot Mountains of Mineral County provide many opportunities for fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and photography. Within Mineral County there are 87 miles of river, 650 miles of streams, and over 50 high mountain lakes. In addition, there are over 400 miles of hiking trails and more than 1,000 miles of off-highway roads. 

The Southern Cross Placer Claim is part of a contiguous block of approximately 1240 acres slated for commercial gold exploration and production. Gold is present at a grade sufficient to have a strong effect on the economics of an excavation project. 

The Southern Cross Placer Gold Claim is available for sale/lease or joint venture. 

Sale Price: $129,200.00

For more information contact:

 

Marlene Affeld

[email protected]

509-389-2606

 

 

A Dredger's Dream - Missoula Gulch Gold Placer Mining Claim

Gold prospecting is a fun family activity and with the price of gold on the rise, it can also be financially rewarding. 

Go for it. Take a little time for yourself. Enjoy the great outdoors. Get some peace of mind in the mountains. Go prospecting, fish, camp, hunt, hike, and explore. Meet friends. Find gold on your new mining claim.

Missoula Gulch Placer Mining Claim

BLM No. MTMMC 236742

160 Acres - Non-patented - The claim follows the stream bed which includes over a mile of deep pools and cascading waterfalls.

Southwest ¼ of Section 2 and the West ½ of Section 11, T16N, R27W, Mineral County, Montana

Missoula Gulch is an impressive drainage, resplendent with numerous waterfalls, deep pools and massive bedrock outcrops. Missoula Gulch is a year-around tributary of Oregon Creek. 

Overview of Missoula Lake, Mineral County, MT

Sale Price: $82,950.00

The Missoula Gulch Placer Claim is part of a contiguous block of approximately 1200 acres slated for commercial gold exploration and production. Gold is present at a grade sufficient to have a strong effect on the economics of an excavation project. The package is available for sale/lease or joint-venture. 

Note: The sale price is for 160 acres. This claim can be divided into smaller tracts - for sale or lease.

For more information, please contact:

Marlene Affeld

509-389-2606

[email protected]

Bonanza Gulch Placer Gold Claim For Sale Or Lease

Bonanza Gulch Placer - Federal Mining Claim

Bonanza Gulch – Overview – 

The Bonanza Gulch streambed is composed of repeating sequences of steps, cascading waterfalls, plunge pools formed by resistant bedrock, boulders and wood debris. The stream flows year-round down the steep gradient through confined channels directly coupled to hill slopes. The slopes support a relatively thick cover of timber. 

Bedrock in this portion of the Bitterroot Mountains has been assigned by Ross (1963), Northwest quarter geologic map of the Belt Series to the Wallace Formation. The formation is composed of quartzite, argillite, limestone, dolomite, and a wide range of mixture of these rock types. The most diagnostic characteristic of the formation as a whole is the presence of calcite, ferro- dolomite, or low-iron ankerite, or a mixture of these minerals. A thickness of about 10,000 feet of Wallace Formation is exposed in the Dry Creek valley approximately 7 miles north of this site. Colors range from white to dark gray with shades of reddish to yellowish-brown; typical of weathered surfaces.”

BLM No. MTMMC 221586 - Bonanza Gulch Placer Mining Claim - 160 Acres

S 1/2 of NE 1/4 and the N 1/2 of SE 1/4 and the W 1/2 of Section 2, T 16 N, R 28 W, Mineral County, Montana

Geological Notes Re: Yellow Bucket - Bonanza Gulch  

(The Yellow Bucket site is is located on a bench adjacent to the Miller's Bonanza Lode Mine shown on the map below as the Hartman - approx. 1904.)

Physiography and General Geology: On September 11, 1971, John B. Burleson, mining engineer, Regional Office, Missoula, Montana, accompanied by Geoffrey F. Wilson, resource assistant, USFS Superior Ranger District, conducted a mineral examination of the Yellow Bucket placer mining claim, noting in their report (No. 2810-May 15, 1972) “ The Yellow Bucket Placer Mining Claim is located in the vicinity of the confluence of Bonanza, Missoula, and Oregon Gulches; roughly 2 miles north of Oregon Peak. The area is mountainous with a maximum altitude of 6,863 feet at Mink Peak. The slopes support a relatively thick cover of timber. The area of the claim is generally sloping, however, the relief above is quite extreme.

Bedrock in this portion of the Bitterroot Mountains has been assigned by Ross (1963), Northwest quarter geologic map of the Belt Series to the Wallace Formation. The formation is composed of quartzite, argillite, limestone, dolomite, and a wide range of mixture of these rock types. The most diagnostic characteristic of the formation as a whole is the presence of calcite, ferro-dolomite, or low-iron ankerite, or a mixture of these minerals. A thickness of about 10,000 feet of Wallace Formation is exposed in the Dry Creek valley approximately 7 miles north of this site. Colors range from white to dark gray with shades of reddish to yellowish-brown; typical of weathered surfaces.”

The 1971 report references the mining developments at that time, stating, “Placer gravel is being washed from two, hand-dug pits located about 150 due east of the cabin and Oregon Gulch. Water is conveyed to these pits by approximately 400 feet of 2-inch plastic pipe which then moves the screened gravel 150 feet through 10-pipe to a sluice box at the water’s edge of Oregon Gulch.”

Mineral Values: In the 1971 evaluation of mineral values, the USFS report advises, “ Seven pans of gravel were washed. The material was taken from two, hand-dug pits as indicated by the claimants. Montana Laboratory Company, Philipsburg, Montana, reported 145.39 milligrams of free gold in the concentrated black sands saved from the seven pans of gravel. This gold calculates to a value of $11.71 per yard, assuming a fineness of 900 and a $49 gold value.” 

Note: The current price of gold – ($1,800,00) is 36.7 times more than the 1971 value of $49 per ounce. Do the math and you will understand why we are excited.

Update: As of April 4, 2022 gold is at $1933.10 and going up in value. 

Owner financing available - 10 percent down, 10 years, No interest. Serious inquiries only.

Sale Price: $165,400.00

Contact: Marlene Affeld

[email protected]

509-389-2606

              

Yellow Bucket Mine

 

Yellow Bucket Placer, Cedar Creek Mining District, Mineral Co., Montana, USA

 

Physiography and General Geology: See: US Geological Study

On September 11, 1971, John B. Burleson, mining engineer, Regional Office, Missoula, Montana, accompanied by Geoffrey F. Wilson, resource assistant, USFS Superior Ranger District, conducted a mineral examination of the Yellow Bucket placer mining claim, noting in their report (No. 2810-May 15, 1972) “ The Yellow Bucket Placer Mining Claim is located in the vicinity of the confluence of Bonanza, Missoula, and Oregon Gulches; roughly 2 miles north of Oregon Peak. The area is mountainous with a maximum altitude of 6,863 feet at Mink Peak. The slopes support a relatively thick cover of timber. The area of the claim is generally sloping, however, the relief above is quite extreme.

Bedrock in this portion of the Bitterroot Mountains has been assigned by Ross (1963), Northwest quarter geologic map of the Belt Series to the Wallace Formation. The formation is composed of quartzite, argillite, limestone, dolomite, and a wide range of mixture of these rock types. The most diagnostic characteristic of the formation as a whole is the presence of calcite, ferro-dolomite, or low-iron ankerite, or a mixture of these minerals. A thickness of about 10,000 feet of Wallace Formation is exposed in the Dry Creek valley approximately 7 miles north of this site. Colors range from white to dark gray with shades of reddish to yellowish-brown; typical of weathered surfaces.”

The 1971 report references the mining developments at that time, stating, “Placer gravel is being washed from two, hand-dug pits located about 150 feet due east of the cabin and Oregon Gulch. Water is conveyed to these pits by approximately 400 feet of 2-inch plastic pipe which then moves the screened gravel 150 feet through 10-pipe to a sluice box at the water’s edge of Oregon Gulch.”

Mineral Values: In the 1971 evaluation of mineral values, the USFS report advises, “ Seven pans of gravel were washed. The material was taken from two, hand-dug pits as indicated by the claimants. Montana Laboratory Company, Philipsburg, Montana, reported 145.39 milligrams of free gold in the concentrated black sands saved from the seven pans of gravel. This gold calculates to a value of $11.71 per yard, assuming a fineness of 900 and a $49 gold value.” 

Do the math - 50 years ago when this sample was assayed, the price of gold was less than $50 an ounce . Today's gold price is almost 40 times higher!