Groundwater Under the Butte Hill - The East Camp Mining System and the Berkeley Pit

This lecture discusses monitoring activities of the Berkeley Pit for the past 31 years at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology in Butte, Montana.

Geochemistry and Stable Isotopes of Surface Water and Groundwater in the Continental Pit in Butte, Montana, USA

The Continental porphyry Cu‐Mo mine, located 2 km east of the famous Berkeley Pit lake of Butte, Montana, contains two small lakes that vary in size depending on mining activity. In contrast to the acidic Berkeley Pit lake, the Continental Pit waters have near-neutral pH and relatively low metal concentrations. The main reason is geological: whereas the Berkeley Pit mined highly‐altered granite rich in pyrite with no neutralizing potential, the Continental Pit is mining weakly‐altered granite with lower pyrite concentrations and up to 1‐2% hydrothermal calcite. The purpose of this study was to gather and interpret information that bears on the chemistry of surface water and groundwater in the active Continental Pit. Pre‐existing chemistry data from sampling of the Continental Pit were compiled from the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology and Montana Department of Environmental Quality records. In addition, in March of 2013, new water samples were collected from the mine’s main dewatering well, the Sarsfield well, and a nearby acidic seep (Pavilion Seep) and analyzed for trace metals and several stable isotopes, including dD and d18O of water, d13C of dissolved inorganic carbon, and d34S of dissolved sulfate. In December 2013, several soil samples were collected from the shore of the frozen pit lake and surrounding area. The soil samples were analyzed using X‐ray diffraction to determine mineral content. Based on Visual Minteq modeling, water in the Continental Pit lake is near equilibrium with a number of carbonate, sulfate, and molybdate minerals, including calcite, dolomite, rhodochrosite (MnCO3), brochantite (CuSO4·3Cu(OH)2), malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2), hydrozincite (Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6), gypsum, and powellite (CaMoO4). The fact that these minerals are close to equilibrium suggests that they are present on the weathered mine walls and/or in the sediment of the surface water ponds. X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of the pond “beach” sample failed to show any discrete metal‐bearing phases. One of the soil samples collected higher in the mine, near an area of active weathering of chalcocite‐rich ore, contained over 50% chalcanthite (CuSO4·5H2O). This water‐soluble copper salt is easily dissolved in water, and is probably a major source of copper to the pond and underlying groundwater system. However, concentrations of copper in the latter are probably controlled by other, less‐soluble minerals, such as brochantite or malachite. Although the acidity of the Pavilion Seep is high (~ 11 meq/L), the flow is much less than the Sarsfield Well at the current time. Thus, the pH, major and minor element chemistry in the Continental Pit lakes are buffered by calcite and other carbonate minerals. For the Continental Pit waters to become acidic, the influx of acidic seepage (e.g., Pavilion Seep) would need to increase substantially over its present volume.

Some Notes on the Composition of "Copper Pitch"

A supply of so-called "copper pitch" ore was received by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology in response to a request by them from a resident of Kalispell, who had previously sent a specimen to the Bureau for a mineralogical analysis. Since this material was little known and had apparently received but little study under a reflec­ting microscope, it was thought that such a study might throw some light on the mineralogical and chemical composition of the material.

The Amplifier - v. 4, no. 8

In this issue...Mines Hockey, Ed Simonich, Faculty Wives Club, convocation, Mineral Research Center, Drama Club, Memoir 36, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology

The Amplifier - v. 5, no. 9

In this issue...Engineering Days, Mine Rescue and First Aid, Chemistry Department, Mineral Club, Anderson-Carlisle Society, Honor Roll, Continental Oil Company, Intramural basketball

The Amplifier - v. 6, no. 9

In this issue...M Days, beard contest, Anderson - Carlisle Society, Honor Roll, South Africa, Magma, International Club, First Aid, Bob Hauck, Continental Oil Company, Montana Power

The Amplifier - v. 7, no. 8

in this issue...Sweetheart Swirl Dance, R J Trio, Air Force Base, Civil Rights, Bill Barry's Boxing Club, International Club, Donald E. Mahagin, Main Hall

Magma 1975

In this issue...Honors Convocation, Students, M Days, M Day Smoker, Sports, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Awards, Cheerleaders

The Amplifier - v. 16, no. 5

In this issue...Sweetheart Dance, Butte Symphony, Mineral Report, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Noon Lecture Series, Poetry Contest, History of Tech, Library Fund

Geology and Ore Deposits of the Butte-Highland Gold Mine.

The Butte-Highland mine is situated at the head of Basin Creek, in the Highland mining district, Silver Bow County, about 14 miles south of Butte. The tunnel portal and present surface plant are at an elevation of about 7350 feet above sea level, facing westward across the head of Basin Creek valley. The "ghost" mining town of Highland lies a mile to the east, near the forks of Fish Creek. Access to the mine is obtained at present from Beaudine's siding, 12 miles west. The property may also be reached, with difficulty, over poor roads from Limekiln hill, or from Moose Creek.

Geology and Ore Deposits of the Golden Era and Goldfinch Mines, Argenta Mining District, Montana.

This report includes the results of geological investigation of a small area in the northern part of the Argenta mining district. Approximately two square miles were mapped. The underground working of the three mines only were accessible: the Goldfinch. Golden Era, and Mayday mines.

Geology and Ore Deposits of the Golden Messenger MIne, Lewis and Clark County, Helena, Montana.

The Golden Messenger Mine which is approximately twenty-three miles northeast of Helena, Montana, near York, on Trout Creek, has long presented several problems of both theoretical and practical interest.

The Geology and Ore Deposits of Jardine, Montana

The subject to be covered by this paper is based upon field study made during a six week stay at Jardine. The work began on June 19, 1937 and ended on July 31 of the same year.

Geology of the Golden Sunlight Mine and Vicinity

The Golden Sunlight Mine is in the northern part of the Cardwell mining district on the eastern slope of a small range that rises by a series of benches to an elevation of 7,200 at a point five miles east of the town of Whitehall in Jefferson County.

The Geology and Mineralogy of the Independence Mining District

From 1888 until 1893 the district was a booming mining camp. Seven stamp mills were running and ore was be­ing mined from the Independence, King Solomon, Poorman, Golden, Hidden Treasure and Crown claims. The town of Independence, which was on the Boulder River at the fork of Basin Creek, boasted a population of 400 people.