Mining Operations: Montana has twelve major hardrock mines within its borders at various stages of operation or reclamation/closure, employing 2,273 on site, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, representing 0.53% of the total employment in the state of Montana.
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How many mines are in Montana?
Montana has 7,750 identified mines listed in The Diggings™.
Which state has the most mines?
The United States has 25,521 prospect mines. 73,499 mines were in production at the time the data was entered into USGS records. California, Nevada, and Colorado are the states with the most mines.
In The United States.
| Total | Authorized Statess |
|---|---|
| California | 25673 |
| Nevada | 11885 |
| Colorado | 11555 |
| Arizona | 7761 |
How many gold mines are in Montana?
In Montana, 54 mining districts distributed in 17 counties (fig. 14) each have produced more than 10,000 ounces of gold.
What types of mines are in Montana?
Montana is the only producer of palladium & platinum. Leads in talc production & is a major producer of copper/molybdenum, garnets, silver. It produces bentonite, common clays, construction sand/gravel, crushed/dimension stone, gold, lime, gemstones.
Is there still gold in Montana?
Most of the gold in Montana is found in the more mountainous western section of the state.In the mid-20th century bucket dredges worked many creek and rivers in Montana, resulting in millions of ounces in gold. Gold panning on Montana’s Rivers will still produce gold nuggets and fine gold.
What is Montana known for?
Rich deposits of minerals, including gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, coal and oil, earned Montana its nickname as the Treasure State.
What States had a gold rush?
Successive gold rushes occurred in western North America: Fraser Canyon, the Cariboo district and other parts of British Columbia, in Nevada, in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, and western New Mexico Territory and along the lower Colorado River.
What state has the most unmined gold?
1. Nevada. Nevada is the largest producer of both gold and silver in the United States. This can be attributed to several large commercial open-pit mining operations found throughout the state.
What state in America has the most gold?
Nevada
1. Nevada. Currently the top gold mining state of the US, Nevada is home to three of the world’s top 10 gold mines and seven of the top 10 US sites. Nevada’s Goldstrike is the top gold mine in the US, followed by the Cortez and Carlin Gold Mines, with all three located in north-central Nevada.
Is panning for gold legal in Montana?
To summarize, panning doesn’t require any permits. Small sluices are allowed, but suction dreding is heavily regulated. A detailed breakdown of Montana’s gold mining laws can be found on the USDA’s official PDF guide for prospecting.
Who first discovered gold in Montana?
Montana had three major strikes that produced large amounts of gold. In July 1862, a prospector named John White and his partner discovered gold at Grasshopper Creek and founded the town of Bannack nearby.
Is there gold in the Yellowstone River?
Yup, the river does have gold, but all I can find so far is flour gold. I will post a pic when I get a chance. When I first started prospecting, some 20 years ago, the Yellowstone was the first place I ever found gold. In the Miles City area.
Where is gold found in Montana?
Most gold in Montana has been found in the western part of the state near the border of Idaho. This part is filled with difficult terrain of rugged mountains along the Continental Divide; almost all the remaining parts of the state are flat land areas.
When did mining start in Montana?
The initial discovery was recorded in the spring of 1858 at Gold Creek, just east of Drummond, by brothers Granville and James Stewart, along with their partner Reece Anderson. In July of 1862, a gold rush to Montana started based on news of an initial big strike at Grasshopper Creek by John White.
What is the most abundant commodity in Montana?
Wheat is the number one commodity crop grown in Montana (Table 5-1). It has a production value of $939 million (USDA-NASS 2015), so changes in its acreage and distribution have significant implications for Montana’s economy and agricultural practices.
What is the biggest gold nugget found in Montana?
A gold nugget weighing about 2 pounds (27.5 ounces) is the largest gold nugget found in Montana during the last 80 years. The Highland Centennial Gold Nugget was recovered in September 1989 by the Stratton family while working a placer claim in the Highland Mountains south of Butte.
Can you pan for gold in Yellowstone?
Gold prospecting and rockhounding are completely off-limits within Yellowstone National Park. You cannot dig or collect anywhere within the park boundary, and you could get in serious trouble if you do.
Can you keep gold found on public land?
If you find gold you are free to keep it without telling a sole. You don’t have to report it to the government and you don’t have to pay taxes on it until you sell it. This public land is generally managed by either the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Most of it is found in the western United States.
Is Montana a poor state?
Montana ranks 27th in Poverty Rate at 14.4%(poverty rankings by state). The Poverty Rate of Montana is slightly lower than the national average of 14.6%.
What is Montana State animal?
grizzly bear
State animal. The grizzly bear, Ursus arctos horribilis, as preferred by a vote of Montana schoolchildren, is the official Montana state animal.
