Bearcreek owes its existence to area coal mining that began in the 1890s to supply coal for the northern pacific railway and the anaconda company. We are the worlds largest primary producer of platinum, the second largest primary producer of palladium and the third largest producer of gold on a goldequivalent basis, as. The history of gold dredging in montana by us bureau of mines. The montana coal and iron company prospered through world war i. Sep 02, 2015 usfs and deq approve benbow mineral exploration portal. Usfs and deq approve benbow mineral exploration portal montana. Founded in 1879, butte, the richest hill on earth, is located in silver bow county in southwest montana. Referred to as the benbow project, it is the next phase. The anaconda mining company got so big, in fact, that by the late 1920s it was the fourth largest company in the world and by far the largest company in montana. Benbow chromium mine near nye, montana the diggings. Lost butte, montana local and regional history books. The bearcreek post office was established on november 22.
Clary mcadow the amazing lady mine owner by larry hoffman. The restaurant and bar date back to the 1950s as the y bar, serving postworld war iiera chromium miners at the benbow mine. With its huge berkeley pit now flooded and the headframes from famous underground mines standing motionless, but thankfully well preserved, butte means many things to many people. Sibanyestillwater is a leading international precious metals mining company, with a diverse portfolio of platinum group metal pgm and gold operations and projects. Sep 17, 2018 the benbow mine is located east of the stillwater mine over the mountain ridge. Butte became a hotbed for silver and gold mining in its early stages, and grew exponentially upon the advent of electricity in the latenineteenth century due to the lands large natural stores of copper. Dorothy benbow ragsdale interview, june 14, 1982 lemelson. The tremendous amounts of coal extracted from the bearcreek mines all traveled over this 21 mile long spur. Dillon on the boulder plateau, and in the gish mine area in the boulder river mining district. The history of gold dredging in montana by us bureau of.
Interviewed by donna frey on 14 june 1982 in columbus, mont. Best ohv off road driving trails in montana alltrails. Following public roads and trails adjacent to the montanawyoming state line, this trip. The benbow mine is a chromium mine located in stillwater county, montana at an elevation of 8,448 feet. Jul 23, 2014 interviewed by donna frey on 14 june 1982 in columbus, mont. In it, she famously paraphrased theodore roosevelt, stating that montana was a great country for men and horses, but hell. The city of 34,000 is nearly on the continental divide at an elevation of 5549 feet in the rocky mountains flanked by the boulder mountains to the north and. Benbow, who first discovered chromite there is at the east end of the exposed stillwater complexmost of the localities described. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Dean, montana the custer gallatin national forest and montana department of environmental quality have prepared an environmental assessment and decision notice and finding of no significant impact for stillwater mining companys benbow exploration portal and support facilities plan of operations for mineral. Butte is a city in southwestern montana established as a mining camp in the 1860s in the northern rocky mountains straddling the continental divide.
Geology and mineral deposits of lincoln and flathead counties, montana, montana. The popular benbow jeep trail and benbow mine between the fishtail. Prepared by montana state library natural resource information system nris for montana department of state lands. Other trails in the area offer access to abandoned mines and historic cabins. Leading mining historian kerby jackson introduces us to a classic mining work in this important reissue of the history and development of gold dredging in montana. Most underground mines had been closed in the 1970s, so for the first time in its history, butte was a mining town without a mine. Because the nearest station and this geographic feature may have. Picket pins prospect picket pin occurrence, sweet grass co.
A brief description of the intrusion is attached along with a. Nov 21, 2017 peek into the past of the richest hill on earth. Historically the site has been associated with the stillwater mining district which is now part of the custer national forest. This decision approves construction of an underground. Usmining provides information on mines, operators, and minerals mined in bozeman, mt. Published by the libby pioneer society and the libby womans club. Gibson is a geologist, historian and tour guide in butte, montana. Jul 27, 20 benbows attempts to build up the mine died during the crash of the stock market in 1929, according to a history of the area compiled by the montana department of environmental quality. The southwestern side of the bowl is made of a large mass of granite known as the boulder batholith, which dates to the cretaceous era. Past producer in stillwater county in montana, united states with commodities chromium, iron. In it, she famously paraphrased theodore roosevelt, stating that montana was a great country for men and horses, but hell on women and cattle.
Those interested in native american history will want to take note of the high. It owned virtually every mine on the hill in butte the hill is the hill above and around butte that contained all the minerals and where most active mining was done. Aldersons memoir of her years as a ranchers wife, is consistently listed as one of the best books about montana. Rv industry news product news campground spotlight product spotlight calendar of events rv books. The land on which butte was established is positioned in the silver bow creek valley or summit valley, a natural bowl sitting high in the rocky mountains straddling the continental divide. A history of thomas chalkley benbow by his daughter, dorothy benbow ragsdale collection of cebe hanson, 31504 early life thomas chalkley benbow was born december 29, 1864, at new providence, hardin county, iowa. The benbow chromium mine was closed at the time of data entry with no known plans to reopen. The benbow mine is a chromium mine located in stillwater county, montana at an elevation of 8451 feet. This decision approves construction of an underground exploration. Benbow, and the benbow chromium mine on rock creek near columbus, in stillwater county. Bozeman, mt mines, mine companies, mine owners and mine information.
Those interested in native american history will want to take note of the high bluffs as they pass through the town of nye. Why study montana history a short history of montana. Benbow, and the benbow chromium mine on rock creek near columbus, montana. Nannie alderson, 1883 montana pioneer ranchwoman a bride goes west, aldersons memoir of her years as a ranchers wife, is consistently listed as one of the best books about montana. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is nye 2 which is approximately 5 miles away and has an elevation of 4,840 feet 3,428 feet lower than benbow mine. Rvers that want to make the trip to the benbow mine will find many scenic boondocking opportunities in the valley below the mine.
Mar 20, 2016 the restaurant and bar date back to the 1950s as the y bar, serving postworld war iiera chromium miners at the benbow mine. According to the united states census bureau, the town has a total area of 0. Atv travel allows access to hard to reach locations such as the trailhead to island lake for fishing, the golf course for breathtaking views, sorry, no actual golfing, or the old benbow mine, rich in stillwater county history. Check out all our videos and pictures of our adventures on our website at this video will take you on an adventure up high.
Usfs and deq approve benbow mineral exploration portal. He leads historic walking tours for old butte historical adventures and drives the tourist trolley for the butte chamber of commerce. The mountain con mine boasts that it is a mile high and a mile deep. The benbow mine is located east of the stillwater mine over the mountain ridge. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. Geology and mineral deposits of lincoln and flathead. The butte mine district is essentially within the city limits of butte. Sep 02, 2015 dean, montana the custer gallatin national forest and montana department of environmental quality have prepared an environmental assessment and decision notice and finding of no significant impact for stillwater mining companys benbow exploration portal and support facilities plan of operations for mineral exploration.
Mining historian kerby jackson introduces us to a classic mining work in this important reissue of a brief history of butte, montana. His parents were doctor thomas alexander benbow and mary nicholson benbow, who were born at greensboro, north carolina. Interviewed by donna frey, june 14, 1982, columbus, mont. Exploring some of nevadas abandoned mining history part 1 duration. Unavailable since 1916, this important publication was originally published by the us bureau of mines and has been unavailable for a century.
It is exhibits mineralogic and compositional layering on many scales. Bozeman, mt mining, mines, mine owners and mine statistics. The montana standard has published a pictorial history of butte with more than 200 photos, many of which were contributed by local families. Nov 29, 2016 the montana standard has published a pictorial history of butte with more than 200 photos, many of which were contributed by local families. A list of all the mines in montana that begin with a with maps, driving directions and a local area search function. The 12th annual conference of the mining history association was held in butte, montana, june 1417, 2001. These deposits were on mountain view, benbow and initial creek areas. According to thomas turianos wellresearched book, select peaks of greater. A number of trails in the lewis and clark national forest are open to atvs and motorcycles. Works projects administration wpa mineral resources survey 1941 montana mine index, an alphabetical index arranged by counties, districts and mines of information on montana mines from 18671940. Benbow mine camp 1942 big sky country, the shining, small island.
During world war i there was new development at the benbow mine in the nye mining district and at the claims of a. Geology and mineral deposits of lincoln and flathead counties. Places for hiking and camping near nye, montana rv life. Plan to comply with the new statutory requirements in montana code annotated 761601.
With great detail as well as with an insight into montana history, we the reader go through the events of this tragedy in 1917. Topics include the life of her inventorminer father, thomas c. Benbows attempts to build up the mine died during the crash of the stock market in 1929, according to a history of the area compiled by the montana department of environmental quality. Because the nearest station and this geographic feature may have differences in elevation and topography, the historic weather at the two separate. Freeman, this important publication sheds a bright light on one of the most important mining areas in the history of the west.
Anaconda copper, montana air pollution, and the courts, 18901924 by donald macmillan listed under montana history. Dean, montana the custer gallatin national forest and montana department of environmental quality have prepared an environmental assessment and decision notice and finding of no significant impact for stillwater mining companys benbow exploration portal and support facilities plan of operations for mineral exploration. The benbow mine is located east of the stillwater mine over the. The montana coal and iron company was involuntarily dissolved in 1980. Ore hoist in the butte district courtesy of the butte silver bow archives construction of timber head frames in the butte district courtesy of butte silver bow archives 1883 history of mining on the stillwater complex in southcentral montana. Benbow mine camp 1942 with images big sky country, rocky. Rides range from flat forest roads accessing scenic ridge tops to rugged and rambling trails through stream beds and over rocks. The benbow mine is a chromium mine located in stillwater county, montana at an elevation of 8,451 feet. Benbow mine camp 1942 big sky country, rocky mountains. The berkeley pit operated until 1982, when increasing costs and low copper prices resulted in a full shutdown. Times we remember in the shadows of the cabinets the shining tree echoes along the kootenai pages from the. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet.
Geology 222b laboratory stillwater igneous complex the stillwater igneous complex sic is a precambrian sheetlike, basic intrusion located in the beartooth mountains of montana near the ybra field camp. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Exploring abandoned mines and unusual places 40,715 views. Both the washoe smith mine and the nearby foster creek mine operated at full capacity. We are not just preserving buttes mining history, but are pre. The view is from the miners memorial that honors the 2,500 men that lost their lives in miningrelated incidents in montana from 1870 to 1983. During the 1980s, the population declined before stabilizing around 32,000 in the early 1990s. Dorothy ragsdale 18991990 discusses the life of her inventorminer father, thomas c. Building out the definitive list of the best books where montana plays a key role in the book or authors life. Full text of mineral development potential of the stillwater. Stillwater mining company montana mining association. Why study montana history a short history of montana mining company, anaconda. Stories behind beartooth mountain monikers outdoors.
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