RockWoofCheck access before you go. Most sites listed here are old mines, quarries or prospects, and many are on private land or active mining claims. Get the landowner's permission, check the rules of the agency that manages any public land, and never enter mine workings. Locations are approximate.
Found alongside
Quartz
Mohs 7. Six-sided points; smoky quartz is NH’s state gem. Mindat
1,181 sites
Silver
Mohs 2.5–3. Native silver tarnishes black. Mindat
851 sites
Gold
Mohs 2.5–3. Soft, heavy and bright yellow; it doesn’t tarnish. Mindat
714 sites
Pyrite
Mohs 6–6.5. Brassy “fool’s gold,” often cubic. Mindat
691 sites
Copper
Mohs 2.5–3. Native copper is soft and turns green as it weathers. Mindat
630 sites
Galena
Mohs 2.5–2.75. Heavy, silvery lead ore that breaks into cubes. Mindat
488 sites
Counts are sites whose USGS record mentions the mineral or commodity. Hardness from Mindat.
By county
Jefferson County (186) · Granite County (181) · Lewis and Clark County (136) · Silver Bow County (120) · Powell County (112) · Beaverhead County (108) · Madison County (87) · Deer Lodge County (58) · Mineral County (37) · Sanders County (34) · Missoula County (25) · Lincoln County (18) · Ravalli County (18) · Cascade County (18) · Broadwater County (10) · Flathead County (9) · Meagher County (7) · Park County (6) · Lake County (3) · Gallatin County (2) · Phillips County (2) · Sweet Grass County (1) · Judith Basin County (1) · Fergus County (1) · Liberty County (1)
Sites (first 60)
| Site | Commodity | Minerals recorded | Status | Approx. location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena-Jefferson Mine | Silver, Lead, Zinc | Alabandite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Molybdenite, Rhodonite, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.357, -112.047 |
| Pohndorf Mine | Gemstone | Amethyst | Past Producer | 45.869, -112.354 |
| Kent Mine | Silver, Gold, Lead | Anglesite, Bindheimite, Cerargyrite, Covellite, Galena, Jamesonite, Linarite | Past Producer | 45.187, -112.950 |
| Hidden Treasure | Copper, Silver, Gold | Anglesite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Enargite, Galena, Gold, Malachite, Smithsonite, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.780, -113.665 |
| Forest Rose | Lead, Silver, Zinc | Anglesite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.516, -113.086 |
| Hand Mauldin Group | Lead, Silver, Zinc, Copper | Anglesite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Hemimorphite, Plumbojarosite | Producer | 45.287, -112.866 |
| Sunrise Mine | Gold, Copper, Silver | Anglesite, Copper, Gold, Silver | Occurrence | 45.298, -113.022 |
| White Cap Mine | Silver | Anglesite, Galena | Past Producer | 45.847, -113.168 |
| Nick Preen Mine | Silver, Copper, Lead | Anglesite, Galena | Occurrence | 45.315, -113.033 |
| Silver Tip Mine | Silver, Lead | Anglesite, Galena, Gold, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.368, -112.008 |
| Argo Mine | Silver, Gold | Ankerite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite, Quartz | Past Producer | 46.687, -111.583 |
| Triangle and Grass Widow Mines | Copper | Ankerite, Chalcopyrite, Gold, Specularite | Past Producer | 46.790, -113.668 |
| New Departure Mine | Silver, Gold, Lead, Copper, Zinc | Argentite, Bindheimite, Cerargyrite, Galena, Gold, Jamesonite, Psilomelane, Pyrargyrite, Silver, Smithsonite, Sphalerite | Producer | 45.198, -112.922 |
| Lone Pine Mine | Silver, Gold, Copper | Argentite, Bornite, Cerargyrite, Embolite, Freibergite, Galena, Pyrargyrite, Silver, Sphalerite, Stephanite | Past Producer | 45.715, -112.900 |
| Copper King Mine | Copper | Argentite, Bornite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Covellite, Enargite, Malachite, Tenorite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 47.618, -115.191 |
| Mary Ann Mine | Silver, Lead | Argentite, Bornite, Enargite, Galena | Past Producer | 47.922, -114.578 |
| Hope Group | Silver, Copper, Lead | Argentite, Cerargyrite, Chalcocite, Galena, Gold, Malachite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.340, -113.275 |
| Philipsburg | Silver, Manganese | Argentite, Cerargyrite, Chalcopyrite, Chlorargyrite, Galena, Gold, Magnetite, Powellite, Psilomelane, Pyrolusite, Scheelite, Silver, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite, Tremolite | Producer | 46.358, -113.259 |
| Granite - Bimetallic Mine | Gold, Silver | Argentite, Cerargyrite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Galena, Gold, Malachite, Proustite, Pyrargyrite, Pyromorphite, Silver, Sphalerite, Tennantite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.316, -113.243 |
| Cadgie Taylor Mine | Silver | Argentite, Cerargyrite, Chlorargyrite | Producer | 46.347, -113.271 |
| Silver Coin Mine | Silver | Argentite, Cerargyrite, Cuprodescloizite, Gold, Stibiconite | Past Producer | 46.613, -112.144 |
| Silver Bow Mine | Copper, Silver | Argentite, Chalcanthite, Chalcocite, Enargite, Silver | Past Producer | 46.014, -112.515 |
| Silver Bullion Mine | Silver | Argentite, Chalcopyrite | Producer | 45.458, -112.089 |
| Southern Cross Mine | Silver, Gold | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Malachite, Tennantite, Gold, Azurite | Past Producer | 46.209, -113.233 |
| Monte Cristo Mine | Gold, Copper, Silver | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Cuprite, Gold, Malachite, Silver | Producer | 46.450, -112.265 |
| Jay Gould Mine | Silver, Gold | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Electrum, Gold, Malachite | Past Producer | 46.880, -112.452 |
| Magna Charta Mine | Silver, Gold | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Silver, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.011, -112.533 |
| Lexington Mine | Silver, Gold | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.028, -112.536 |
| Queen of the Hills Mine | Gold, Silver | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Silver | Past Producer | 45.674, -112.954 |
| Springfield Mine | Silver | Argentite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.046, -112.558 |
| Silver Reef Mine | Silver, Lead | Argentite, Chrysocolla, Galena, Gold, Malachite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.172, -113.219 |
| Birdseye Mine | Lead, Silver | Argentite, Galena | Past Producer | 47.921, -114.573 |
| Alice Mine | Silver, Gold, Zinc, Lead | Argentite, Galena, Gold, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite, Silver, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.033, -112.537 |
| Goldsmith Mine | Silver, Gold | Argentite, Galena, Gold, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.030, -112.545 |
| Lone Eagle Quartz Mine | Uranium | Argentite, Galena, Pitchblende, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 46.408, -112.158 |
| Meadow Mine | Zinc, Silver, Lead | Argentite, Galena, Pyrargyrite, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.566, -111.967 |
| Ruby Mine | Silver, Gold | Argentite, Gold, Silver | Past Producer | 46.198, -112.435 |
| Amy Silversmith Mine | Silver | Argentite, Rhodochrosite, Rhodonite | Past Producer | 46.029, -112.548 |
| Aurora Mine | Silver, Copper | Argentite, Silver | Past Producer | 45.723, -112.904 |
| Beal Mountain Mine | Gold | Arsenopyrite, Gold, Sylvanite | Plant | 45.954, -112.883 |
| Montana Resources (Butte/Berkely/Continental) | Copper, Silver, Molybdenum | Azurite, Bornite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Covellite, Cuprite, Enargite, Galena, Gold, Molybdenite, Silver, Sphalerite | Producer | 46.020, -112.527 |
| Kenelty Barite Deposit | Barium-Barite | Barite | Past Producer | 48.056, -115.196 |
| Missoula Barite Deposit | Barium-Barite | Barite | Occurrence | 46.832, -113.991 |
| Lannigan Mountain Area | — | Barite, Bornite, Chalcopyrite, Malachite, Quartz | Occurrence | 47.070, -112.203 |
| Willis Creek Prospect | — | Barite, Chalcopyrite | Occurrence | 47.058, -112.171 |
| Bissonette Mine | Copper, Silver | Barite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Sphalerite, Tennantite | Past Producer | 46.998, -112.102 |
| Columbia Claim | Gold, Silver, Copper | Barite, Copper, Gold, Silver | Past Producer | 45.917, -112.029 |
| Jung Frau | Copper, Silver | Barite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 45.004, -113.344 |
| Clay Deposit N Side of East Fork Reservoir | Bentonite | Bentonite, Montmorillonite, Quartz | Occurrence | 46.128, -113.376 |
| Main Range Beryl | — | Beryl | Occurrence | 46.033, -113.137 |
| Flint Creek Mine | Gold | Bismuth | Past Producer | 46.236, -113.212 |
| Montreal Star | Gold, Lead, Silver | Bismuth, Bismuthinite, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Marcasite, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.122, -112.463 |
| Mount Washington Mine | Silver, Copper, Gold, Lead | Bismuth, Chalcopyrite, Galena, Gold, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.356, -112.144 |
| Fairview Mine | Gold, Silver | Bismuth, Chalcopyrite, Molybdenite, Silver, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.814, -113.329 |
| Elkhorn | Silver, Gold, Lead, Copper | Bismuthinite, Bournonite, Galena, Magnetite, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Tetradymite, Tetrahedrite | Past Producer | 46.283, -111.951 |
| Sir Walter Scott Group | Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead | Bismutite, Galena | Past Producer | 45.280, -112.877 |
| Noble Mine | Gold, Silver, Copper | Bornite, Cerargyrite, Chalcopyrite, Gold, Malachite, Sphalerite | Past Producer | 45.537, -112.109 |
| Modoc Mine | Silver, Copper | Bornite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite | Past Producer | 46.025, -112.509 |
| Green Mountain Mine | Copper | Bornite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite | Past Producer | 46.024, -112.527 |
| Indian Queen Mine | Silver, Copper, Gold | Bornite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Copper, Cuprite, Malachite, Melaconite, Scheelite | Past Producer | 45.398, -112.820 |
Back to Rockhounding in Montana.
How we built this page: we counted named sites in the USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) for this area, left out sand, gravel, crushed stone, clay pits and unnamed sites, grouped them by Census county, and linked every site to its USGS record. We did not visit these sites, and MRDS does not tell you who owns the land or whether collecting is allowed.
Source: USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS). USGS ceased systematic updates to MRDS around 2011, so status and details may be out of date. Each site links to its USGS record.
Updated