Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-08-03

Inc NlAUGXA1 resources Oh NAVAAkkAAas
were the cause Of the first settlement
within the state and TO date have
been the largest single producers Of
wealth since settlement began" L. A.
Campbell, Montana State Planning
C0nsuItant, said a few days ago. The
discovery Of phenominaIIy rich and
easily worked deposits Of placer gold
started this settlement. II was con-
timed by the development OF gold
and silver veins and large, high grade
deposits Of lead and copper ores car
rying silver and geld.
Finally the mining Of zinc ores, to-
gether with the production OF the
fuels, coal, oil and gas and non-metal-
lies such as phosphate rock, cement and
others has kept the mining industry
in the front rank of wealth producers
in the state. The exhaustion OF the
placer gold deposits and the decline Ia
the price Of silver Sicne 1893 has con-
tributed to the concentration Of metal
mining activities to the mining Of cop
per, zinc and lead ores and lately 10
manganese ores.
Owing to the fact that all mineral
deposits are subject to exhaustion in a
relatively short time, It Is necessary, If
mineral production Is to continue on
its present scale, that additional de-
posts be discovered and developed con-
tinually. In order that this may be ac-
complished with a minimum Of unpro
ductive time and effort the known facts
regarding our mineral deposits and dis
trtcts should be made easily available
to persons and corporations engaged in
mineral development and production.
The mineral resources committee OF
the state planning board was organized
May 20, 1884. The committee consists
of nine members representing all the
principal branches of the mining in
dustry under the Craftsmanship Of DR..
F. A. Thomson. president Of the State
School Of Mines and the State Bureau
Of Mines and Metallurgy. A # r
thoroughly canvassing the needs Of the
industry and the financial possibilities.
the committee was able with FEFA
help to begin an inventory Of the pub
lished material on Montana ore deposits
and districts. Work was begun on
Jan. Is, 1885 and to date the following
reports are finished as far as available
published information goes. Each has
a fun photography with references:
Iron Ores-Geologica description Of
q deposit containing 2,000,000 tons OF
ore in Judith Basin county and brief |
account Of eight other deposits in the
same county. Also mention Of Is other
locations where iron ore has been found /
in the state, some Of them apparently
promising.
Chromium-Brief but thorough de-
scription Of the largest single known
deposit of chromium ore in the United
States in Saltwater and Sweet Grass
counties. Gives geological description,
location and extent of development.
Large ore reserves and good grade. Also
description of smaller deposit IN Carbon
county and mention of occurrence In
Madison county. Discussion Of uses,
domestic production and imports OF
chromite and concentration Of ores.
Observation-Disclosures and dis
cussion of the many occurrences OF
in Montana. Several of the
deposits show good promise, but pro
duction has been small. Discussion OF
the concentration of molybdenum and
uses of molybdenum and tables Of pro
duction and imports of molybdenum
pres and concentrates.
Tlngsten-Full description Of mines I
b Park county, Silver Bow county and
Lincoln county and brief mention OF
other occurrences. Discussion Of Chin
sse production, uses, marketing and
Tables OF Montana and s
domestic production and imports.
Vanadium-Discu Of the oc- {
rrrence of vanadium in phosphate i
ocks and elsewhere IN the state.
Titanium Of the titanium
with tables of domestic pro- 9
luction and imports. Description OF
arge deposits of titaniferous magnetic
n Glacier county which give promise
f economic value.
Nickel and Tin-LiSting known oc-
urrences of these metals In Montana. {
Iron ores for fluxing-A short de- b