Open-File Report 368 MBMG February 1998
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Abandoned - Inactive Mines of the Blackfoot and Little Blackfoot River Drainages Helena National Forest Volume II Open-file Report 368 MBMG February 1998 Phyllis A. Hargrave Tom P. Bowler Jeff D. Lonn James P. Madison John J. Metesh Robert Wintergerst Abandoned - Inactive Mines of the Blackfoot and Little Blackfoot River Drainages Helena National Forest Volume II Open-file Report 368 MBMG Reformatted for .pdf - February 2002 February 1998 Phyllis A. Hargrave Tom P. Bowler Jeff D. Lonn James P. Madison John J. Metesh Robert Wintergerst Contents Page List of Figures .................................................................. vi List of Tables ............................................................. viii Introduction ............................................................... 1 1.1 Project Objectives .................................................. 1 1.2 Abandoned and Inactive Mines Defined .................................. 2 1.3 Health and Environmental Problems at Mines .............................. 2 1.3.1 Acid Mine Drainage .......................................... 2 1.3.2 Solubility of Selected Metals ................................... 3 1.3.3 The Use of pH and SC to Identify Problems ........................ 5 1.4 Methodology ...................................................... 5 1.4.1 Data Sources ............................................... 5 1.4.2 Pre-field Screening ........................................... 6 1.4.3 Field Screening ............................................. 7 1.4.3.1 Collection of Geologic Samples .......................... 7 1.4.4 Field Methods .............................................. 8 1.4.4.1 Selection of Sample Sites .............................. 8 1.4.4.2 Collection of Water and Soil Samples ..................... 9 1.4.4.3 Marking and Labeling Sample Sites ....................... 9 1.4.4.4 Existing Data ...................................... 10 1.4.5 Analytical Methods ......................................... 10 1.4.6 Standards ................................................. 10 1.4.6.1 Water-Quality Standards .............................. 11 1.4.6.2 Soil Standards ...................................... 11 1.4.7 Analytical Results .......................................... 13 1.5 Helena National Forest .............................................. 13 1.5.1 History of Mining .......................................... 15 1.5.1.1 Production ........................................ 16 1.5.1.2 Milling ........................................... 16 1.6 Summary of the Helena National Forest Investigation ....................... 17 1.7 Mining Districts and Drainage Basins ................................... 17 Blackfoot and Little Blackfoot Drainages ........................................ 18 2.1 Geology ......................................................... 18 2.2 Economic Geology ................................................. 21 2.3 Hydrology and Hydrogeology ........................................ 23 2.4 Summary of the Blackfoot and Little Blackfoot Drainages ................... 24 i 2.5 Telegraph Mine and Mill ............................................ 31 2.5.1 Site Location and Access ..................................... 31 2.5.2 Site History - Geologic Features ............................... 31 2.5.3 Environmental Condition ..................................... 31 2.5.4 Structures ................................................ 35 2.5.5 Safety ................................................... 35 2.6 North Ontario Mine ................................................ 35 2.6.1 Site Location and Access ..................................... 35 2.6.2 Site History - Geologic Features ............................... 35 2.6.3 Environmental Condition ..................................... 35 2.6.4 Structures ................................................ 39 2.6.5 Safety ................................................... 39 2.7 Lily (Little) Orphan Boy Mine ........................................ 40 2.7.1 Site Location and Access ..................................... 40 2.7.2 Site History - Geologic Features ............................... 40 2.7.3 Environmental Condition ..................................... 40 2.7.4 Structures ................................................ 44 2.7.5 Safety ................................................... 44 2.8 O’Keefe Creek (Copper King) Mine .................................... 44 2.8.1 Site Location and Access ..................................... 44 2.8.2 Site History - Geologic Features ............................... 44 2.8.3 Environmental Condition ..................................... 45 2.8.4 Structures ................................................ 47 2.8.5 Safety ................................................... 47 2.9 Hope (Adit) Mine .................................................. 47 2.9.1 Site Location and Access ..................................... 47 2.9.2 Site History - Geologic Features ............................... 47 2.9.3 Environmental Condition ..................................... 48 2.9.4 Structures ................................................ 51 2.9.5 Safety ................................................... 52 2.10 Hub Camp Mine .................................................. 52 2.10.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 52 2.10.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 52 2.10.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 52 2.10.4 Structures ............................................... 56 2.10.5 Safety .................................................. 56 2.11 Unnamed Mine 8N6W6ABDB ....................................... 56 2.11.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 56 2.11.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 56 2.11.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 57 2.11.4 Structures ............................................... 60 2.11.5 Safety .................................................. 60 ii 2.12 Viking Mine ..................................................... 60 2.12.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 60 2.12.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 60 2.12.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 61 2.12.4 Structures ............................................... 64 2.12.5 Safety .................................................. 64 2.13 Third Term Mine ................................................. 64 2.13.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 64 2.13.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 64 2.13.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 65 2.13.4 Structures ............................................... 68 2.13.5 Safety .................................................. 68 2.14 Ontario Mine and Mill ............................................. 69 2.14.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 69 2.14.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 69 2.14.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 69 2.14.4 Structures ............................................... 74 2.14.5 Safety .................................................. 74 2.15 Monarch Mine and Mill ............................................ 74 2.15.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 74 2.15.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 75 2.15.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 75 2.15.4 Structures ............................................... 81 2.15.5 Safety .................................................. 82 2.16 Kimball Mine .................................................... 82 2.16.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 82 2.16.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 82 2.16.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 82 2.16.4 Structures ............................................... 86 2.16.5 Safety .................................................. 86 2.17 Treasure Mountain Mine ........................................... 86 2.17.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 86 2.17.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 86 2.17.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 86 2.17.4 Structures ............................................... 90 2.17.5 Safety .................................................. 90 2.18 Big Dick Mill and Tailings .......................................... 90 2.18.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 90 2.18.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 90 2.18.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 91 2.18.4 Structures ............................................... 95 2.18.5 Safety .................................................. 95 iii 2.19 Upper Kimball Mine ............................................... 95 2.19.1 Site Location and Access .................................... 95 2.19.2 Site History - Geologic Features .............................. 95 2.19.3 Environmental Condition .................................... 95 2.19.4 Structures ............................................... 99 2.19.5 Safety .................................................. 99 2.20 Charter Oak Mine & Mill, Negros Mine, and