The Gold Flume
(Placer)
(30 acres)
Broadwater County, Montana
$33,000
Under Contract
(Placer)
(30 acres)
Broadwater County, Montana
$33,000
Under Contract
•Primary Commodities: Gold
• Claim designation: un-patented Placer
• Size: 30.00 acres
• Location: Broadwater County, Montana
• Claim designation: un-patented Placer
• Size: 30.00 acres
• Location: Broadwater County, Montana
The Gold Flume Placer is a documented mineral property in the historic Radursburg mining district of Western Montana. Featuring one of the only available placer mines in the highly sought-after mining district, with a seasonal spring fed creek, and current assays of 1.5-to 3.8 grams Au (Gold) per yard in a virgin gravel deposit.
The discovery of placer Gold in the early 1860s started a new gold rush into the mining district. Most of the best mining ground lay west of the town. The rich ground was filled with course Gold over the ages of erosion, with rich lodes such as the Keating mine only three miles north of the gold fields. With over two hundred men employed in the first year as shovelers, each made yearly wages in the small three-month operating season due to low water. Although no accurate account was kept, the placers are believed to have yielded over $500,000 in the first three years alone.
Most claim owners packed dirt half a mile to water until William Quinn and his company dug, with shovels and picks, a five-mile ditch, which was gouged from the shoulders of the hills and flumed across ravines. The miners would pay almost any sum for water.
By 1866, the famous Keating lode mine was located north of the placer grounds, and the small camp, became the town of Radursburg.
Unlike so many mining camps in Montana, Radersburg did not lapse into a ghost town even though its population dwindled from 1,000 in the early 1860s to 200) in 1880 to 305) and climbed again to 425 in 1910 and now claims about 75 inhabitants. Rather it maintained its identity as an important center with prosperous people, a post office, bars, and a general store.
Primary workings on the Gold Flume consist of small shafts, and lengthy open cuts across the valley deposit. Most cuts range between two and four feet deep, with a false bedrock of Pliocene gravel tufts between four and seven feet in depth.
Secondary workings are present on terrace deposits of Uncle Johnnies Gulch.
- Terrace deposits range between 2ft and 4ft in width, with surface length seemingly extending along the hillside.
- Impact hammers are recommended for mining the deposit, though a pick axe will suffice with lower work yields.
- Gold consists of large course pieces, nuggets, and fine dust as eroded from the host deposits.
Estimated Gold values range from: 1.5-to 3.89 grams per yard in the initial pay layer, with greater values further into the deposit.
Seasonal water is available in a small creek, from late March through late May,
During the warm and cold season, this mine is the perfect location for a dry washing and metal detecting operation. With a vast majority of Gold untouched due to the water availability of past Gold rushes. Today the dustless dry washing technology boasts over a 95% capture rate of fine Gold in dry gravels.
- Access is available for most vehicle types in the warmer months between May and November, with Snowmobile or ATV access during the winter season.
A large, secluded camping and staging area is located adjacent to the gulch workings. The level area is suitable for a camper and multiple vehicles.