The Phoenix Mine
(Lode and Placer )
(40 acres)
Broadwater County, Montana
$43,000
SALE PENDING
(Lode and Placer )
(40 acres)
Broadwater County, Montana
$43,000
SALE PENDING
•Commodities: Silver, Gold, Lead, Copper
• Claim designation: un-patented lode and placer
• Size: 40 acres
• Location: Broadwater County, Montana
The Phoenix Mine is a documented mineral property located within the historic Hassle mining district of Broadwater County, Montana. This property is characterized by several notable features, including two adits on a Northeast-trending deposit, a mineralized ore spill, over 1,200 feet of annually flowing creek, placer gold deposits in the bench gravels, and excellent access.
The primary workings consist of two tunnel-style adits, both driven at an 85-degree northwest angle into a heavily mineralized outcropping. Adit #1 is equipped with a steel bat gate and provides underground access, extending over 450 feet.
The mine spill associated with this adit is estimated at more than 5,000 cubic yards, containing low to mid-grade ore and host rock. Adit #2, which is older, has a fully caved entrance, the mine spill here is estimated at over 12,000 cubic yards, also consisting of low to mid-grade ore and host rock.
Historically, only high-grade ore was shipped to a secondary processing location, as no mill was available on-site.
To support continued exploration and development, the underground workings will require a modern gate with timbered bracing. Additionally, approximately 5 to 10 cubic yards of soil and overburden will need to be removed for further exploration.
The estimated ore grades for the lode deposit are as follows: 0.89 to 1.89 ounces per ton (OPT) of gold (Au) and 2.00 to 17.00 OPT of silver (Ag). Base metals such as Lead and Zinc are available in unrecorded amounts.
In addition to the established workings, multiple virgin outcroppings of the epithermal deposits are visible above and below the adit area, exposed through older road cuts.
The mine spills consist primarily of mid-grade ores from early production during the 1900s. Due to the absence of a mill, only high-grade ore was processed off-site. The combined estimated mine spill from both adits is approximately 42,000 cubic yards, consisting of local host rock, argentiferous galena, chalcopyrite, auriferous pyrites, and malachite intrusions.
Historically, both adits featured timbered shaft houses and snow tunnels for shelter and storage. Remnants of these structures, including building materials and air vents, are still visible near the upper spills.
Placer gold can be found in the upper bench deposits, as well as in the creek bed gravels and bedrock deposits. Over 1,400 feet of waterway provides a consistent moderate flow suitable for stream sluices.
The placer gold is coarse, with most of the lode deposits located relatively near the placer base. The estimated placer gold availability ranges from 0.25 to 1.00 grams per cubic yard.
Access to the mine is via a maintained dirt road, suitable for most vehicles and 4x4s. The older mine road runs south to the mines and creek-bed from Indian Creek Road. During the winter months, a closure gate is in place approximately 300 feet south of the old mine road boundary, with parking available at the gate.
This secluded location, combined with the untapped potential of the historical workings, presents an ideal opportunity for both mining enthusiasts and established mining companies.
This mineral property is ready for continued exploration under a small miners exemption, with any heavy equipment use requiring an SMES permit.
History of the Park/Hassle/Indian Creek District
The Indian Creek mining district, located approximately 10 miles west of Townsend along the Northern Pacific Railway, began to see activity in 1866 with the discovery of valuable placer grounds in Indian Creek.
Upstream exploration led to the discovery of veins and mineralized porphyry masses in Diamond Hill, while at the Park mines, veins of andesite and diorite primarily produced pyrite, with some arsenopyrite and galena. Mineralized granite intrusions were located near Hassle, yielding gold, silver, copper, and lead. Open-pit mining and long tunnels in these large ore bodies resulted in an estimated $500,000 in gold production. One tunnel, 2,800 feet in length, was entirely within ore, assaying from $0.80 to $2.50 per ton ( Gold Price at the time was $20.67 per ounce).
By 1908, the combined production of the Park and Hassle mines included $5,313 in gold, 2,939 ounces of silver, 8,901 pounds of copper, and 27,374 pounds of lead. Total production for the district by 1911 was estimated between $2 million and $8 million, though a more conservative estimate of $1 million was suggested in 1933.
