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Mining

Mines

245 posts

Algonquin Mine

Algonquin Mine

The Algonquin is an old mine. It was one of the earliest mines in Montana’s Philipsburg district. By 1877, it was being worked by a 10-stamp mill for silver with minor amounts of gold. The mill proved inefficient, and a new 20-stamp mill was soon installed. Reportedly, there was

Blackmail Mill

Blackmail Mill

There isn’t much left at this old silver mill, also known as the Moorelight. I had a fun time climbing around and through the broken timbers. The mill did custom work and once supported a cross-cut adit connected to a deep shaft. The adit is caved these days. GPS

Adamson Mine

Adamson Mine

At 12,990 ft (3960 m), the Adamson is the highest mine in the Sierra Nevada. And as you might suspect, getting there is no easy feat. It is a strenuous climb up the rugged Wheeler Ridge to reach it. This is the top of the Sierras. Altitude sickness is

Hecla Mining Camp

Hecla Mining Camp

In 1872, William “Billy” Spurr and James Bryant discovered the Trapper lode high in a cirque on Lion Mountain. News of the silver strike spread, and soon, other miners staked claims all over the mountainside. The barren slope got its name when a prospector thought he saw a mountain lion

Scallywag Mine

Scallywag Mine

The mine is really called the Jubilee Lead Mine but everyone calls it the Scallywag Mine because of a road sign mounted on the ore bin with that name at the mine. One wonders where that sign came from. The mine is more recently worked than many out in Death

Scratch Awl Mill

Scratch Awl Mill

Over this last summer, we visited a few old mining ruins in Montana. We went out of our way to visit the Scratch Awl Mine as I was hoping there would be some equipment left on site to see. The Scratch Awl was an old and long-lived mine. It was

Ames Camp

Ames Camp

Roy Ames located some fluorspar claims in the hills above this little camp in 1941, but it doesn’t appear that he produced much, if any, fluorite. I suspect some of the buildings were already here by that time, but he probably improved them. Roy passed away in 1966 and