Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-11-29

that have been going the rounds {
the industry that there was consider
able misunderstanding regarding tn
Red Lodge deposits Faults shown O
published maps, indicating that tn
lenses of ore were badly broken, ar
said to have been proven non-exsten
by development work that has bee
in progress for the past six months
Telling the story of Montan
Chrome. in which DR.. Allard had BEEF
a leading figure, he related:
"P. H. Brophy, a geologist Of Ret
Lodge, and others knew of its exist
ence (the Red Lodge deposit) year
ago. but its value was not appreciated
because it had not then assumed al
important part in metallurgical proc
eSseS. The first World war brought
to prominence chrome on the Still
water deposit. Domestic chrome as
sumed Importance as a strategic min
eral Arrangements were being made
for its mining when the war ceased,
and the matter was dropped for high
er grade ore could be imported more
cheaply from foreign countries
I'm 1918, M E. Martin, while pros
pecting for rare metals in the noun
tains south of Red Lodge, explored the
extent Of the deposits found by Mr.
Brophy in that area. Neurological
analysis at that time disclosed a low
grade chrome averaging about SO per-
cent chronic oxide plus II percent
iron plus other metals At about the
same time a rather extensive body of
ore Of the same grade was found on
the Boulder river south of Big Timber,
evidently a continuation of the same
geological deposit which extended from
Red Lodge through the Saltwater
country.
'Adr. Martin located some 48 claims
on the Highline, Hell Roaring, and
Silver Run plateaus, but due to the
fact that there was a high iron ratio
IN these deposits, which did not meet
existing metallurgical Specifications
that had been developed for foreign
ores, and due to the further fact that
this ore could not be mined at union
wages and shipped over railroads In
competition with ore mined by cheap
labor and brought in by ocean-going
vessels, it was impossible to secure the
development of these properties.
TN 1919, E. B. Hubbard. mining engi-
neer, who had carefully gone over the
Montana chrome belt, recognized its
potential value. He interested a group
of his fellow citizens In Livingston to
invest In its exploration and develop
ment. Later on, in 1922, a group of
Billings citizens, together with others
throughout the state, took over the
Z - Jno fxrfv1r aud /
Montana Chrome, INC, was born.
Much money was spent keeping up |
these properties and trying to secure
their development. In 1910, real prog
reSs was made. World war No. 2 made
of ore difficult because Of
the lack of ocean-going vessels Mon
tana chrome then became Of strategic
value The government secured a lease
on the Benbow and Mouatt properties
on the Saltwater and proceeded to
prepare for their development. Ore was
blocked out by diamond drills, and
mining operations turned over to the
Anaconda Mining Co. A long, difficult
road to the saltwater mines is in the
process Of completion. Preparations
are being made for the mining Of $50
short tons per day in that district.
A mill has been designed to concen-
rate 40 short tons daily. Power and
telephone lines have been completed,
and a tram is under way. It is hoped
hat everything will be in order there
Early in 1912
While this has been going on In
he Saltwater district, Montana
Chrome, Inc, has made a deal with
he u. S. Vanadium Co., whereby they
re to mine and operate the Red Lodge
properties. This deal went into effect
n September. Within an hour after
he papers were signed, machinery was
N the way to the mine, and within
/ week ore was being Stockpiled at
Red Lodge to await the completion of
450-ton concentration plant already
tarted. Several hundred thousand
ons are being stripped from the
enses above the switchbacks on the
plateau. One Tense there that was once
eported as insignificant has now been C
ound to be some IS to 30 feet wide I
n one place and varying in width for /
It least 300 feet. This furnishes ore
or immediate delivery to the stock
lie. While this is going on, roads are
'eing surveyed and built to the lenses
n the Hell Roaring plateau.
This development represents about {
ne-third Of the holdings of Montana
'hrome, Inc, for in 1899, this corpo-
alton purchased the right and title
( the Independence Mining Co. to the l
BOULDER claims. Negotiations are under
ray even now for development of the I
0-called Boulder properties. /
Millions Of tons of chromite ore, i
hitch have lain dormant throughout t
he ages, win probably be mined in d
ne near and ultimate future. Metal e
Irgicallurgical processes are being de- I
eloped to handle this low grade, high +
ration deposit. At the U
resent, the ore will either be shipped r
5 ore to established concentrating
lants or win be shipped as concen- II
'ates from the local mills already
nder construction.
"As one thinks Of the development
lat Is now taking place, the name