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Montana Resources (Butte/Berkely/Continental)

Producer in Silver Bow county in Montana, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Lead, Manganese, Molybdenum, Silver, Zinc
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Public Land Survey System information
  6. Commodities
  7. Materials information
  8. Alteration
  9. Mineral occurrence model information
  10. Host and associated rocks
  11. Nearby scientific data
  12. Geologic structures
  13. Ore body information
  14. Controls for ore emplacement
  15. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  16. Mining district
  17. Mineral rights holdings
  18. Land status
  19. Ownership information
  20. Production statistics
  21. Reserves and resources
  22. Workings at the site
  23. Links to other databases
  24. Bibliographic references
  25. General comments
  26. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10173000
MRDS ID W013425
MAS/MILS ID 0300930001
Record type Deposit
Current site name Montana Resources (Butte/Berkely/Continental)
Alternate or previous names Berkeley Pit, Berkeley Underground, Copper Moly Dome, Continental East, Continental West, Kelly, Badger, Elm, Berkeley Neck, Butte, Continental Area, Badger-Elm, Orlu

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -112.52729, 46.0202 (WGS84)
Elevation 1597
Location accuracy 500(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Silver Bow(county)

Montana(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Butte North(quadrangle 1:24,000 scale)

Butte North(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Butte(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Hydrologic units (watersheds)

Upper Clark Fork(hydrologic unit)

Pend Oreille(hydrologic accounting unit)

Kootenai-Pend Oreille-Spokane(hydrologic subregion)

Pacific Northwest(hydrologic region)

Geographic areas

Country State County
United States Montana Silver Bow

Public Land Survey System information

Meridian Township Range Section Fraction State
Montana Principal 003 N 007 W 17 Montana

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Lead Tertiary
Manganese Critical Tertiary
Molybdenum Primary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Azurite Ore
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Covellite Ore
Cuprite Ore
Enargite Ore
Galena Ore
Gold Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Silver Ore
Sphalerite Ore
Pyrite Gangue
Barite Unknown
Calcite Unknown
Chalcanthite Unknown
Digenite Unknown
Fluorite Unknown
Gypsum Unknown
Huebnerite Unknown
Kaolin Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Malachite Unknown
Marcasite Unknown
Pyrolusite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Rhodochrosite Unknown
Rhodonite Unknown
Rutile Unknown
Sericite Unknown
Tennantite Unknown
Tenorite Unknown
Tetrahedrite Unknown
Wurtzite Unknown

Alteration

  • (Local) OXIDATION, PYRITIZATION, SERICITIZATION

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 79
USGS model code 21a
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu-Mo
Mark3 model number 2

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Quartz Monzonite
    Rock type qualifier quartz monzonite-monzogabbro suite
    Rock unit name BUTTE QUARTZ MONZONITE
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Cretaceous
  • Host or associated Associated
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Porphyry
    Rock type qualifier QUARTZ PORPHYRY DIKES AND PLUGS
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Cretaceous

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -112.52729, 46.0202
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name NORTHEAST-STRIKING NORMAL FAULTS
Type of structure Regional
Structure name Boulder Batholith
Type of structure Regional
Structure name LEWIS AND CLARK LINEAMENT

Ore body information

  • General form Tabular
    Strike E00W
    Dip 10N
    Thickness 640M
    Length 2347M
    Width 1798M
    Depth to top 50M
    Depth to bottom 5000M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Type of Orebody #2 FISSURE VEIN
    Shape of Orebody #2 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #3 DISSEMINATED
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control OTHER
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 OTHER
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PYRITIZATION
    Strike And Dip E00W:01N
    Minimum Depth to Top 10
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 5
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Date of Last Modification 820825

Controls for ore emplacement

  • intense fracturing
  • Supergene enrichment

Comments on the geologic information

  • Other Porphyry Copper Deposit With Classic Horsetail Vein Structure Well Developed Example Of Concentric Mineral Zoning Of Hydrothermal Deposits. Classic Example Of Zoned Altered Porphyry Copper
  • Primary Minerals Pyrite Is Most Abundant Metallic Mineral Marcasite May Aid In Promoting Secondary Enrichment Bornite Some Primary Most Is Secondary. Chalcopyrite Primary In Granite Secondary Elesewhere. Chalcocite Most Abundant Copper Mineral Secondary. Covellite Secondary, Rare Enargite 2nd Most Abundant Cu Mineral Primary. Tetrahedrite Primary. Tennantite Rare. Sphalerite Common Primary Zinc Mineral Secondary. Galena Primary Common. Molybdenite Common Primary Mineral In Cu-Mo Dome. Manganese Minerals Rhodochrosite,Rhodinite,Pyrolusite. Gold Often Occurs With Tellurium And Selenium In Minor Amounts. Silver Native Silver Occurs As Coatings Wire And Fibers Exotic Minerals Include; Pyrargyrite;Digenite;Hubnerite Wurtzite;Wulfenite. Oxidized Minerals Occur In Minor Amounts Chrysocolla In Veins Malachite Surface Outcrops. Azurite Surface Outcrops. Copper Pitch Rare. Chalcanthite Most Abundant Mineral In The Oxide Zone. Pisanite Resulting From Seepage. Goslarite Forming On Walls Of Old Workings. Melaconite Rare. Tenorite Rare. Minerals Of The Gangue:In Decreasing Order Of Abundance. Sericite Magnetite Rutile Kaolin Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Barite Rhodonite Rhodochrosite
  • Boulder Batholith, Lewis And Clark Lineament (To North), East-West Lineament That Is The Northern Edge Of The Archean Block (To South). Butte Is In The Wedge-Shaped Central Block Between These Other Two Blocks, (Meyer And Others, 1968).

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Deposit size Medium
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1864
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1882
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation
Production years 1880-2000

Comments on exploration

  • Placer Production Was First Until 1867. Silver Mining Started On A Limited Scale In 1866. The Anaconda Claim Started The High Grade Copper Production In 1882. Mn Was First Produced In 1917. Zn Started Around 1916. In 1944 The First Major Change In Mining Methods, It Was Block Caving. Nature Of Discovery Also: B Ore Mineral In Place.

    Updated By Mbmg (2000) From Winer, 2000.

    1864-Placer Gold Discovered By Budd Parker, P. Allison, And James And Joseph Esler.
    1866-Mining District Formed
    1867-Gold Placer Mining ?Era? Over Mainly Due To Lack Of Water.
    1874-William Farlin Assays Samples For Silver And Copper, Stakes ?Asteroid? Later Known As The ?Travona? Claim.
    1876-First Profitable Treatment Of Silver Ore At The Dexter Mill (Backed By William A. Clark).
    1879-First Successful Copper Smelter In Butte (Colorado Smelting Company).
    1880?S To 1999-Copper Also Recovered In Varying Amounts By Precipitation Of ?Copper Cement? In Leach/Precipitation Plants.
    1882-Marcus Daly Makes Major Copper Discovery At The Anaconda Mine.
    1884-First Smelter In Ananconda Finished.
    1887-Silver Era Peaks; Mills Treating 400 Tons Of Ore Per Day; Mainly By Open Roasting And Mercury Amalgamation.
    1891-Anaconda Mining Company (Daly Syndicate) Formed, Later Called The Anaconda Copper Mining Company (1895) Which, In Turn, Was Controlled By The Amalgamated Copper Company (1899).
    1893-End Of Silver Era With The Panic Of 1893.
    1906-Consolidation Of Individual Mines Into The ?Amalgamated Copper Company?, Called The Anaconda Copper Mining Company After 1910 When Amalgamated Holdings Were Acquired By Anaconda. Amalgamated Dissolved In 1915.
    1944 To 1962-Block Caving Mining Tested And Then Supercedes Basic Drilling And Blasting Underground Methods To Mine Ore (300,700 Tons Of Copper Ore Mined This Way During This Time).
    1952-Block Caving At The Kelley Mine Fully Operational.
    1955-Berkeley Pit Started (Stripping Overburden In March And Ore Production In July, 1955).
    1974/75-End Of Anaconda Com

Mining district

District name Butte District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Private Lease
Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Montana Resources Inc.
    ID 2400338
    Interest 51.1
    Home office Montana
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.)
    Interest 49.9
    Home office New York
    Year 1994

Comments on the ownership information

  • Company Address: Montana Resources Inc. 600 Shields Butte, Mt 59701 Asarco Incorporated 180 Maiden Lane New York, Ny 10038

Production statistics

  • Year 1982
    Period 1952-1982
    Material ore
    Ore mined 662661973.82mt
    Accuracy Accurate
  • Year 1983
    Period 1882-1983
    Description 1882-1983: Copper Production 8915000 Metric Tons, Silver Production 21694000 Kilograms, Gold Production 89940 Kilograms, Zinc Production 2226999 Metric Tons, Manganese Production 1679999 Metric Tons, Lead Production 387740 Metric Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 8915000mt
    Tertiary Manganese Manganese 1679999mt
    Tertiary Zinc Zinc 2226999mt
    Primary Silver Silver 21694000g
    Secondary Gold Gold 89940000g
    Tertiary Lead Lead 387740mt
  • Year 1983
    Period 1981-1983
    Description Molybdenum Production 6960 Metric Tons
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Molybdenum Molybdenum 6960mt
  • Year 1991
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1993 10K.
    Ore mined 15932000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 45700mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 25500g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 5760mt
  • Year 1992
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1994 10K.
    Ore mined 16103000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 47500mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 27800g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 4400mt
  • Year 1993
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1995 10K
    Ore mined 15267000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 42800mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 23700g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 3300mt
  • Year 1994
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1996 10K
    Ore mined 13791000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 50890mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 17000g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 3400mt
  • Year 1995
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1997 10K.
    Ore mined 13474000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 21200g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 4630mt
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 51170mt
  • Year 1996
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 14506000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 47540mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 25600g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 4990mt
  • Year 1997
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 13806000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 41500mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 26700g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 4652.5mt
  • Year 1998
    Material Ore milled. Asarco 1998 10K.
    Ore mined 17514000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary in conc. Copper Copper 44600mt
    Primary in conc. Silver Silver 32290g
    Primary in conc. Molybdenum Molybdenum 4505mt
  • Year 1999
    Material ore
    Ore mined 17014000mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 37277mt

Comments on the production information

  • In 2005, Montana Resources, Inc. produced copper, molybdenum, and silver from the Continental Pit Mine. Ore grades remained steady at 0.20% copper and 0.025% molybdenum. Assembly of a 31-cubic-meter electric shovel was completed and placed into production in late summer. Significant improvements were made at the mill in upgrading the electric circuitry and computer controls. A plan was also in place to upgrade the ancillary equipment at the mine and mill during 2006. Montana Resources also began investigating the feasibility of starting production in the supergene zone between the Berkeley Pit and the Continental Pit. Pumping tests were started late in 2005 and a drilling program was planned for 2006. Pending favorable results, production of copper was expected to be substantially increased at the mine. (USGS 2005)

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1990
    Total resources 424569600mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.026 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1990
    Copper Cu 0.3 wt-pct Copper Major 1990
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 496345000mt ore
    Total resources 496345000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.03 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1994
    Copper Cu 0.35 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
    Silver Ag 2.4 g/mt Silver Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1996
    Demonstrated 469000000mt ore
    Total resources 469000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.018 wt-pct Molybdenum Major 1996
    Silver Ag 2.4 g/mt Silver Major 1996
    Copper Cu 0.34 wt-pct Copper Major 1996

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • Additional Inferred Resources: Berkeley Neck (Kelly)- 196 Million Mt @ 1.07 % Cu Berkeley Pit - 81 Million Mt @ 0.71 % Cu Copper-Moly Dome- 680 Million Mt @ 0.85 % Cu Source- Montana (Butte) Standard, 6/2/85.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 1500HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 38.9
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 0
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 12
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 34474
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 0
    Unit Production Cost 1.6
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 365
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1988

Comments on the workings information

  • Open Pit, Shafts, Tunnels, Adits, Etc.; Underground Workings In The Butte Mines Include 42 Miles Of Vertical Shafts, Together With 2,681 Miles Of Other Passageways. Adding The Excavation From Stopes Brings The Total Length Of The Various Workings Which Have Been Opened Underground To About 10,000 Miles.

    Berkeley Pit- Mined 400 Million Tons Of Copper Ore; Approximately 1 Mile Long And 1 Mile Wide ; 50,000 Tons Of Ore Per Day Mined At The Maximum (Gcm Services, 2000).

Comments on other economic factors

  • Production As Of Jan. 1, 1965: (From Meyer And Others, 1968)

    Total Tons Ore Mined - 326,857,074; With 272,492,476 From The Berkeley Pit Of Which 68,573,478 Were Ore. Metal Production From The Butte Hill As Of 1965: Copper-16,188,113,874 Pounds
    Zinc-4,792,562,266 Pounds
    Lead-836,691,887 Pounds
    Manganese-3,702,787,341 Pounds
    Silver-644,801,110 Ounces
    Gold-2,506,253 Ounces

    Total Butte Metal Production 1880-1991

    (All Mining Methods And Ore Types). From Winer, 2000.

    Copper-20,428,831,775 Pounds
    Zinc-4,909,202,540 Pounds
    Manganese-3,702,787,341 Pounds
    Lead-854,797,405 Pounds
    Silver-706,019,918 Ounces
    Gold-2,922,446 Ounces (Estimated Due To Incomplete Records)
    Cadmium-4,306,156 Pounds
    Bismuth-4,042,663 Pounds
    Sulfuric Acid-9,456,105 Dry Short Tons
    Selenium-316,855 Pounds
    Tellurium-237,256 Pounds
    Molybdenum-52,344,889 Pounds

    This Information Was Cited From Malone And Miller (1973) And A Telephone Interview With George Burns, Chief Geologist, Montana Resources (1992).

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    Denver Equipment Co. Modern Mineral Processing Flowsheets. Denver Equip Co, Denver, Co, 1962.

  • Age

    Lund, K., Aleinikoff, J.N., Kunk, M.J., Unruh, D.M., Zeihen, G.D., Hodges, W.C., du Bray, E. A. and O'Neill, J.M., 2002, SHRIMP U-Pb and 40Ar/ 39Ar age constraints for relating plutonism and mineralization in the Boulder Batholith region, Montana; Economic Geology, v. 97, p. 241-267.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Mining Journal-various years

  • Geology

    Rusk B G, Reed M H, Dilles J H and Kent A J R, 2006 - Intensity of quartz cathodoluminescence and trace-element content in quartz from the porphyry copper deposit at Butte, Montana : in American Mineralogist v91 pp 1300-1312

  • General

    Kirkham, R.V. and Sinclair, W.D., 1996, Porphyry copper, gold, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, silver; in Eckstrand, O.R., Sinclair, W.D. and Thorpe, R.I., eds., Geology of Canadian Mineral Deposit Types, Geological Survey of Canada, Geology of Canada, no. 8, p. 421-446.

  • Geology

    Rusk B, Reed M 2002 - Scanning electron microscope-cathodoluminescence analysis of quartz reveals complex growth histories in veins from the Butte Porphyry Copper deposit, Montana: in Geology v30 pp 727-73

  • Reserve-Resource

    Asarco Inc., 1993 Annual Report, P.A15-A18.

  • Geology

    The portergeo.com.au web page for "Butte, Continental, Berkely, Anaconda Vein" has a long description of the geology.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Asarco Inc., Form 10-K. Dec. 31, 1995.

  • Geology

    Rusk, B.G., Reed, M.H., Dilles, J.H., and Bodnar, R.J., 2000, Magmatic fluid evolution from an ancient magmatic-hydrothermal system: The porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit, Butte, MT: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 32, no. 7, p. 399.

  • Reserve-Resource

    Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C., 2008, Porphyry copper deposits of the world: database and grade and tonnage models, 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155, 45 p. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1155/

  • Deposit

    Bennett,Harold J.,Lyman Moore,Lawrence E.Welborn, And Joseph E.Toland. An Economic Appraisal Of The Supply Of Copper From Primary Domestic Sources, Bumines Ic 8598, 1973,156pp.

  • Deposit

    Bonner,E.O. Berkeley Pit-Mining Plan Operations. Min.Eng.,March 1959, Pp.293-297.

  • Deposit

    Brimhall,George,H.,Jr. Minerology, Texture, And Chemistry Of Early Wallrock Alterations In The Deep Underground Mine And Continental Area, Butte District,Montana. In Guide-Book For The Butte Field Meeting Of Soc.Of Econ.Geol., Butte Montana,August 18-21,1973 Pp.H1-H4.

  • Deposit

    Dayton,Stanley. Anaconda Maps Greatest Expansion Program In The History Of Butte. Min.World.V.18,No.12,November 1956, Pp.56-61

  • Deposit

    Dougherty,John F. Berkeley Pit Planning. Paper Presented At The National Western Min.Conf.Of The Colorado Min. Assoc.,Denver,Colorado,Feburary 5,1965.

  • Deposit

    Eilertson,Nils A. Estimating Direct Costs Of Development In A Block Caving Mine. Bumines Ic 8673,1975, 109pp.

  • Deposit

    Goddard,Charles C.,Jr. Berkeley Pit History And Geology. Min Eng.,March 1959, Pp.290-292.

  • Deposit

    Gustafson,Donald,L, Distribution,Minerology,And Structural Features Of The Horsetail Ore Bodies, Butte District, Montana. In Guide Book For The Butte Field Meeting Of Soc.Of Econ.Geol.,Butte Montana, August 18-21,1973 Pp.J1-J5.

  • Deposit

    Hannifan,Martin K. Merits Of Open Pit Vs.Underground Mining In Butte. Min..Cong.J.,April 1972, Pp.119-123.

  • Deposit

    Huttl,J.B. Berkeley Pit Blasting Is An Art. Eng.Min.J.,V.158 No.12, December 1957, Pp.107-110.

  • Deposit

    Huttl,J.B.,Berkeley Pit Maintenence Area Is Planned For Efficiency. Eng.Min.J.,V.158,No.12, March 1958, Pp.110-113

  • Deposit

    Huttl,J.B.,New Crushing-Conveying Plant Designed At Berkeley, Eng.Min.J.,V.158,No.12,December, 1957, Pp.102-103.

  • Deposit

    Mcclave,Micheal A. Control And Distribution Of Supergene Enrichment In The Berkeley Pit, Butte District,Montana In Guidebook For The Butte Field Meeting Of Soc. Of Economic Geologiists, Butte,Montana, Aug.18-21, 1973, Pp.K1-K4

  • Deposit

    Mcwilliams,John R. Mining Methods And Costs At The Anaconda Company Berkeley Pit, Butte,Montana. Bumines Ic 7888,1959,46pp.

  • Deposit

    Meyer,Charles, Edward P.Shea,Charles C.Goddard Jr., And Staff,The Anaconda Company. Ore Deposits At Butte Montana. In Ore Deposits Of The United States, 1933-1967, V.11,1968, Pp. 1375-1416.

  • Deposit

    Miller,Richard N. Production History Of The Butte District And Geological Function, Past And Present. In Guidebook For The Butte Field Meeting Of Society Of Economic Geologists,Butte,Montana, August 18-21,1973, Pp. F1-F10

  • Deposit

    O'Leary,V.D. Recent Developments Underground At Butte, Min. Eng.,November, 1963, Pp. 39-43

  • Deposit

    Popoff,C.C. Block Caving At Kelly Mine, The Anaconda Company Butte, Montana.Bumines Ic 7758, Sept.1956, 102pp.

  • Deposit

    Proffett, John M. Structure Of The Butte District,Montana. Guidebook For The Butte Field Meeting Of Society Ofeconomic Geologists,Butte, Montana,Aug.18-21, 1973,Pp. G1-G12.

  • Deposit

    Ralph.F. Berkeley Pit. Crushing And Conveying System. Min.Eng.,March 1959, Pp. 298-300a.

  • Deposit

    Read,Ransom F. Butte Copper-Berkeley Open Pit Mine And Underground, Butte,Montana.Bumines Mas Report, Jan. 1980 23pp.

  • Deposit

    Sales,T.H. Ore Deposits At Butte Montana. Trans.Aime,V.46, 1914, Pp. 3-109.

  • Deposit

    Sales,T.H.And C. Meyer. Priliminary Study Of Vein Formation, Butte,Montana. Econ.Geol.,V.44, No.6, 1949, Pp.465-484

  • Deposit

    Shea,E.P. Development And Planning Of The Berkeley Pit.Min. Cong.J. V.43,No.7, July 1957, Pp.36-39.

  • Deposit

    Spindler,John C. The Clean Up Of Silver Bow Creek. Min.Cong.J. June 1977, Pp. 58-63.

  • Deposit

    Thomas,Richard A. Montana'S Giant Berkeley Pit Girds For Another 22 Years. Surface Mining,1977 Eng.Min.J., June 1977 Pp. 107-109.

  • Deposit

    Thompson,Byrl T. Distribution Of Primary Mineralization And Hydrothermal Alteration Within The Berkeley Pit, Butte District, Montana. In Guidebook For The Butte Field Meeting Of The Soc. Of Econ.Geol.,Butte,Montana,Aug.18-21, 1973, Pp. L1-L7.

  • Deposit

    U.S.Congress. Closure Of Undergground Copper Mines. Hearingbefore The Subcommettee On Minerals, Materials, And Fuels Of The Committee On Interior And Insular Affairs, United States Senate To Review The Anaconda Company'S Plan To Close Its Underground Copper Mines In Butte, Montana. 93rd Congress, 2nd Session, November 25,1974 ,123pp.

  • Deposit

    United States Security Exchange Commision. Anacondacompany Proxy Statement For A Special Meeting Ofcompany Proxy Statement For A Special Meeting Of Shareholders To Be Held October 20, 1976, Spet.14, 1976, 104pp.

  • Deposit

    Weed, W.H. Geology And Ore Deposits Of The Butte District, Montana.Us.Geological Survey Professional Paper 74., 265 Pp.

  • Deposit

    Wraith, William Jr., And Fulmor,T.G.,Anaconda Company'S Butte Concentrator. Min. Eng. May 1964, Pp. 55-78

  • Deposit

    Young,P.M. Berkeley Pit-Servicing Mobile Equipment. Mining Engeneering Magazine, March 1959., Pp. 300b- 300d.

  • Deposit

    Mont. Bureau Of Mines And Geol. Bulletin 129, 1991,

  • Deposit

    Kirkpatrick, Dave. Arco, Epa Balk At Drilling Test Wells. Montana Standard, June 26, 1992.

  • Deposit

    Mining Record, Asarco Buys Interest In Montana Copper Mine, 5/10/89, P.1,2.

  • Deposit

    Miner'S News, Asarco Inc. Joins Montana Resources In Copper Venture, 6/89, P6b.

  • Deposit

    Hansen, C.J., Going Good In Butte, Pay Dirt, 9/89, P.24b.

  • Deposit

    Dayton, Stanley H., Montana Resources- Richest Hill Once Again Yielding Copper Treasure, Engineering And Mining Journal, 1/90, Pp. C58-C65.

  • Deposit

    Tilman, Raymond V., Montana Resources Succeeds In Butte Through United Efforts, Pay Dirt, 5/90, Pp. 5b,6b.

  • Deposit

    Southwestern Pay Dirt, Mri Improves Moly Extraction From Copper Ores At Butte, 6/91, P 22a.

  • Deposit

    Rocky Mountain Pay Dirt, Epa Presents Its Plan For Cleaning Up Butte'S Berkeley Pit, 2/94, P 18a.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit Secondary Enrichment In The Southeastern Part Of The District, Mined In The Berkeley Pit (Meyer And Others, 1968). Upper 300 To 400 Feet Affected By Supergene Alteration (Perry,1932)
General Mining In The Continental Pit Suspended July 2000 Due To Uneconomic Conditions Created By Electric Rate Increases. Still Suspended As Of September 2000 (Current). Underground Mines Include The Mountain Consolidated (Mount Con), Steward, Original, Granite Mountain, Speculator, Kelley, Leonard, Badger State, Elm Orlu, Emma, Travona, Orphan Girl, Orphan Boy, Nettie, Norwich, Bluebird, Anselmo, Lexington, Alice, Black Rock, Pittsmont, Belmont, Anaconda, High Ore, Marget Ann, Etc. Open Pits Include The Berkeley, (East) Continental, Syndicate, Alice, Bullwhacker, Butte-Duluth, Etc
General SEE Deposit ID 10400191 Butte, Veins (Anaconda)
Deposit Pervasive Sericitic Alteration (Rusk And Others, 2000).

Sericite-Biotite-K-Feldspar Alteration Envelopes Enclose Molybdenite And Chalcopyrite Veinlets In Deep Levels In The Center Of The District. Pre-Main Stage Potassium Silicate Alteration Adjoins Some Quartz-Moly Veinlets. The Potassium Silicate Assemblage Includes K-Spar, Biotite, Sericite, Pyrite And Chalcopyrite. The Main Stage Alteration Includes Advanced Argillic And Sericitic Alteration In The (Central) Copper Zone, With Pervasive Sericitization Of The Quartz Monzonite And Silicification And Advanced Argillic Alteration Locally. The (Intermediate) Copper-Zinc Zone Includes Gradations From Fresh Quartz Monzonite, To Argillic (Green Montmorillonite To White Kaolinite Zones) To Sericitic Alteration Adjacent To The Vein. The Peripheral Zinc-Manganese Zone Includes Alteration From Fresh Quartz Monzonite To A Smaller Montmorillonite Then Kaolinitic (Argillic) Alteration And Sericitic Zones. Post-Main Stage Alteration Includes A Small Monmorillonite/ Kaolinite Subzone; 0?-6? Of Argillic Alteration On Late Faults And Joints With Sone Pyritization Of Biotite (Meyer And Others, 1968). See Also Sales And Meyer, 1948 For Description Of Wall Rock Alteration At Butte. They Postulate That The Sericitization And Argillitization Were Contemporaneous
Deposit The Following Is From Meyer And Others, 1968: Steward Veins And Faults; Rarus Fault; Middle Fault Systems; Continental Fault System; Anaconda And Blue Veins (Horesetail Veins).

Steward - Northeast-Striking Normal Faults, Apparent Offset Is Left Lateral, Are Slightly Mineralized. Rarus - N45e, Dip 45nw, With Apparent Dip-Slip Movement (Gravity). Middle Fault System - Strike Slightly Northeast, Dip Steeply South, Normal Faults, No Ore Associated, But Mineralized With Calcite. Continental Fault System - North-Striking Normal Fault, Displacement Approx. 1,500 Ft At A Minimum, Is Post-Ore.

Veins: East-West Striking Anaconda Veins, Northwest-Striking Blue Fault Veins, The Anaconda Veins Strike N60-70e In The Western Part Of The District, Dip Steeply North To The North But Overturn With Increasing Depth To Dip South Below The 2,800 Ft Level, They Converge To The West And Downward, And The Dips Flatten Out At The Deeper Levels. To The East, The Anaconda Veins? Strike Changes To The East And The Southeast. The Anaconda Veins Then Disappear In The Central Zone And Re-Appear Several Thousand Feet Eastward. Most Of The Vein Ore Mined In Butte Came From The Anaconda Veins. The Blue Fault Veins Offset The Anaconda Veins In A Left-Lateral Sense. They Dip Steeply South (With Some Local North Dips) In The North Part Of The District And Diminish To As Little As 45 Degrees In The South Part. Mineralization Began In The Anaconda Veins And Then The Blue Veins Became Available For Mineralization. Ore Shoots On The Anaconda Veins Are In The Dialational Zone Where The Veins Change Strike Because Of Offset By The Blue Faults. Horsetail Zones ?Break Off? Of The Anaconda Veins In The Eastern Part Of The District. These Are Small Veinlets That ?Finger Out? According To Perry, Into A Spray At Nearly Right Angles To The Main Vein. Sometimes They Are The Terminus Of The Vein.
Deposit From Meyer And Others (1968):

Anaconda Veins (Major Producers In The West Third And In The East Third Of The District) Follow East-West Striking Quartz-Porphyry Intrusives.
Blue Veins (Northwest-Striking), In The Central Portion Of The Deposit Fault The Anaconda Veins.

Rusk and others (2000) define several stages of mineralization.
Deposit Associated Deposits: Main stage veins (?Cordilleran-style? polymetallic (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Au, Mn) veins)

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 29-APR-98 Buckingham, David A. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Current status (per MSHA)

StatusActive since 05/24/2004
MSHA mine ID2400338
Mine name (MSHA)Continental Mine
Current operatorMontana Resources, LLC
Current controller (parent)Montana Resources Inc
Mine typeSurface (Metal / non-metal)

MSHA cross-reference per the original MRDS record. Mine status and operator reflect MSHA's last published Mines export (February 2025); MSHA's public bulk feed has been unavailable since, so this may be out of date. See the Mine Data Retrieval System for current status.

Open MSHA's Mine Data Retrieval System for inspections, accidents, and violations for this mine.

Operator history (post-MRDS)

MRDS records operators as of each record's last update (≤ 2019). Some of the operators listed here have since changed hands or dissolved:

  • Asarco (American Smelting And Refining Co.) — acquired by Asarco LLC, subsidiary of Grupo México (2009)
    American Smelting and Refining Co. Filed Chapter 11 in 2005; acquired out of bankruptcy by Grupo México in 2009.

Curated by qvyshift.com from publicly-reported M&A activity (SEC filings, press releases, USGS Mineral Yearbooks). Not authoritative — verify against primary sources before relying on it. The MSHA panel above is the current authoritative source for actively-permitted mines.

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