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Rainbow Project

Plant in Silver Bow county in Montana, United States with commodities Copper, Gold, Lead, 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. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Land status
  14. Ownership information
  15. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10270336
MAS/MILS ID 0300930072
Record type Site
Current site name Rainbow Project
Alternate or previous names Alice Mine

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Main Entrance
Geographic coordinates: -112.53699, 46.0327 (WGS84)
Elevation 1832
Location accuracy 100(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 008 W 12 N2NENW Montana

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Tertiary
Gold Tertiary
Lead Tertiary
Silver Primary
Zinc Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Argentite Unknown
Chalcedony Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Quartz Unknown
Rhodochrosite Unknown
Silver Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Main Entrance (1) -112.53699, 46.0327
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike S80W
    Dip 80S
    Length 100M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 FISSURE VEIN
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Strike And Dip S80W:80S
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 830316
  • Strike S15W
    Dip 85S
    Thickness 4.6M
    Length 160M
    Width 60M
    Depth to top 0M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 FISSURE VEIN
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SILICIFICATION
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 INTERM ARGILLIC
    Strike And Dip S15W:85S
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 980413

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1874
Mining method Combined Methods - Other Combined Methods
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Butte District

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner New Butte Mining
    Interest 100
    Home office Montana
    Year 1989

Comments on the production information

  • ALL PRODUCTS LISTED ARE FOR THE OVERALL INTEGRATED OPERATION AND NOT JUST THE ALICE.
  • DEPOSIT HAS BEEN A MINOR PRODUCER

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1990
    Total resources 408000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 475.88 g/mt Silver Major 1990
    Zinc Zn 7.72 wt-pct Zinc Major 1990
    Lead Pb 2.08 wt-pct Lead Trace 1990
    Gold Au 2.58 g/mt Gold Trace 1990
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1990
    Demonstrated 408000mt ore
    Total resources 408000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Silver Ag 539.86 g/mt Silver Major 1990
    Zinc Zn 7.72 wt-pct Zinc Major 1990
    Lead Pb 2.08 wt-pct Lead Trace 1990
    Gold Au 2.846 g/mt Gold Trace 1990

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • DATA FROM CLIPPINGS-1988 DATA IS OLD AND IN NEED OF UPDATE.
  • NOT IN BUTTE CU & MN REPORTS.- KNOWN BY NAME OF RAINBOW BLOCK. NEW BUTTE MINING IS A 100% SUBSIDIARY OF THE ROBERTSON GROUP OF THE U.K. IT IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME WHETHER OR NOT THE MINE IS SHUT DOWN. 1993 RESERVES FROM RANDOL 1993/94. MINE CLOSED IN 1991 (MBMG, BULL 130, 1992)
  • RESOURCE DATA PROVIDED BY THE ANACONDA COPPER COMPANY M1C2=NARROW VEIN RESOURCES ELIMINATED FROM THE MINE PLAN RESOURCE BECAUSE OF LIMITED SIZE AND THE EXCESSIVE DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED. M1C1=M1C2+M1C3 M2C1=SUB LEVEL CAVE LOAD HAUL DUMP RESOURCE INCLUDED IN THE MINE PLAN RESOURCE

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 2395M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Swell Factor .25
    Percent Waste Rock 12.9
    Percent Recovery 80
    Hardness of Rock SOFT SEMIPLASTIC WITH LITTLE WATER
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. UNSUPPORTING MAY SLOUGH
    Mine Support Chars. POST, HEADBOARD, CAPS, ROOF BOLTS
    Length of Inclines (m) 510
    Slope of Inclines 16
    Number of Inclines 1
    Capacity 1128
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 17.73
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 260
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1989

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    BRIMHALL, G., 1975, PRIVATE ANACONDA COPPER COMPANY REPORT.

  • Deposit

    CORBETT, R. P., AND RALPH, F. E., 1968, DEWATERING WITH A

  • Deposit

    4,100 FT HEAD PUMPING PLANT: MINING CONGRESS JOURNAL,

  • Deposit

    V. 54, NO. 9, PP. 33-37.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 1955, ANACONDA CHANGES

  • Deposit

    MINING TECHNIQUES AS BUTTE OUTPUT AND RESERVES CLIMB:

  • Deposit

    V. 156, NO. 8, PP. 86-89.

  • Deposit

    -----1981, RAISE DRILLING: V. 182, NO. 2, PP. 96-103.

  • Deposit

    GAGE, H. L., THE BUTTE DISTRICT: BONNEVILLE POWER

  • Deposit

    ADMINISTRATION, PRIVATE REPORT, PP. 406-429.

  • Deposit

    GALE, G., 1981, METALLURGIST, U.S. BUREAU OF MINES, WESTERN

  • Deposit

    FIELD OPERATIONS CENTER.

  • Deposit

    HANNIFAN, M. K., 1972, MERITS OF OPEN PIT VS. UNDERGROUND

  • Deposit

    MINING IN BUTTE: MINING CONGRESS JOURNAL, V. 48,

  • Deposit

    PP. 119-123.

  • Deposit

    INGERSOLL, R., 1981, FORMER CHIEF GEOLOGIST, THE ANACONDA

  • Deposit

    BUTTE OPERATIONS: WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS.

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGIST OF ANACONDA BUTTE OPERATIONS: WRITTEN AND

  • Deposit

    KAISER ENGINEERS, 1967, GLACIER PEAK PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY

  • Deposit

    STUDY: PRIVATE REPORT PREPARED FOR KENNECOTT COPPER

  • Deposit

    CORPORATION.

  • Deposit

    LEONARDSON, B., AND MC ALEER, J., 1981, EXPLORATION

  • Deposit

    GEOLOGIST FOR MOLYCORP, INC., PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS.

  • Deposit

    LINFORTH, F. A., 1952, ZINC RESOURCES BUTTE AND MONTANA:

  • Deposit

    MINING AND CONTRACTING REVIEW, V. 59, NO. 4, P. 8.

  • Deposit

    MEYER, C., SHEA, E. P., GODDARD, C. C. JR., AND STAFF, THE

  • Deposit

    ANACONDA COMPANY, 1968, ORE DEPOSITS AT BUTTE, MONTANA:

  • Deposit

    IN ORE DEPOSITS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1933-1967, V. II,

  • Deposit

    CHAP. 65, PP. 1373-1416.

  • Deposit

    MILLER, R. N., 1973, PRODUCTION HISTORY OF THE BUTTE

  • Deposit

    DISTRICT AND GEOLOGICAL FUNCTION, PAST AND PRESENT: IN

  • Deposit

    GUIDEBOOK FOR THE BUTTE FIELD MEETING OF SOC. OF ECON.

  • Deposit

    GEOL., AUGUST 18-21, 1973, PP. F4-F10.

  • Deposit

    NORMAN, N. E., AND DYE, J. H., 1981, THE ECONOMICS OF

  • Deposit

    MECHANICAL RAISE BORING: V. 33, NO. 3, PP. 273-276.

  • Deposit

    PROFFETT, J. M. JR., 1973, STRUCTURE OF THE BUTTE DISTRICT,

  • Deposit

    MONTANA: IN GUIDEBOOK FOR THE BUTTE FIELD MEETING OF SOC.

  • Deposit

    OF ECON. GEOL., AUGUST 18-21, 1973, PP. G-2.

  • Deposit

    SALES, R. H., 1914, ORE DEPOSITS AT BUTTE, MONTANA: TRANS.

  • Deposit

    AIME, V. 46, PP. 1-94.

  • Deposit

    SALES, R. H., AND MEYER, C., 1944, PRELIMINARY STUDY OF VEIN

  • Deposit

    FORMATION, BUTTE, MONTANA: ECON. GEOL., V. 44, NO. 6,

  • Deposit

    PP. 465-484.

  • Deposit

    STOUT, K., 1980, MINING METHODS AND EQUIPMENT: MCGRAW-HILL,

  • Deposit

    INC., NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 218 PP.

  • Deposit

    STRAAM ENGINEERS, INC., 1979, CAPITAL AND OPERATING COST

  • Deposit

    ESTIMATING SYSTEM HANDBOOK: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES,

  • Deposit

    CONTRACT NO. J0255026, P. 374.

  • Deposit

    THOMPSON, B., 1981, SENIOR GEOLOGIST FOR THE ANACONDA

  • Deposit

    COMPANY, PERSONAL COMMUNICATION.

  • Deposit

    WEED, W. H., 1914, GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE BUTTE

  • Deposit

    DISTRICT, MONTANA: U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, PROF. PAPER 74,

  • Deposit

    262 PP.

  • Deposit

    WETZEL, N., 1979, MANGANESE RESOURCES OF THE BUTTE DISTRICT,

  • Deposit

    MONTANA: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES MINERALS AVAILABILITY

  • Deposit

    DEPOSIT EVALUATION REPORT.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, ANACONDA'S EMMA - MODERN METHODS AND MACHINERY

  • Deposit

    DOUBLED HER OUTPUT; NO. 4, PP. 9-13.

  • Deposit

    U.S. BUREAU OF MINES RI 7148, P. 145.

  • Deposit

    MONTANA BUREAU OF MINES AND GEOLOGY IC 20, P. 46.

  • Deposit

    MONTANA BUR MINES BULL. 129, 1991.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE ANACONDA COMPANY HAS NO PRESENT PLANS TO RESUME ZINC MINING BUT THE SYNDICATE VEIN RESOURCES AND THE NEAR SURFACE RESOURCES AROUND THE ALICE PIT ARE BEING REEVALUATED BECAUSE OF RECENT SILVER AND ZINC PRICE INCREASES. THIS EVALUATION INCLUDES FIVE BUTTE ZINC MINES WHICH HAVE THE LARGEST POTENTIALLY MINEABLE REMAINING RESOURCES. THE EVALUATION INCLUDES THE ALICE, ANSELMO, BADGER, LEXINGTON, AND MOUNTAIN CONS. MINES. THE ALICE IS ONE OF 39 BUTTE MN DEPOSITS.A COMPLETE EVALUATION OF THE BUTTE MN DISTRICT IS AVAILABLE UNDER SEQ. NO. 0300930224. THE TONNAGE PRESENT IN THE ALICE IS NOT USED IN THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT ASSAY DATA ON PRIMARY COPRODUCT (ZN,AG,PB). FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS ADVISED. THE THREE PRINCIPAL VEINS IN THE MINE ARE THE ALLIE BROWN, WAPPELLO, AND LA PLATA. THE VEINS CONSIST OF QUARTZ, PYRITE, SPHALERITE, GALENA, CHALCOPYRITE, ARGENTITE, AND SOME FORM OF GOLD, PRESUMABLY A SULFIDE. 1985 UPDATE. NO ACTIVITY AT MINE SINCE 1981.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 13-APR-1998 Spear, James M. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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