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Abandoned mines › Montana
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Missoula County, Montana

Missoula County, Montana has 180 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1959–1999, including 29 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts) and 42 prospect pits; 14 of the features carry a name on the map. OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 13 problems in the county, 13 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 77 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Missoula County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.

Mapped mine features (USGS)
180
Mine openings
29
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
13
MSHA mines marked abandoned
77
14 features carry a name42 prospect pits45 quadrangle maps, published 1959–1999 13 OSMRE problems, 0 reclaimed 0 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    30 15.5%
  2. Prospect pits and trenches
    shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
    42 21.8%
  3. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    14 7.3%
  4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    85 44.0%
  5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    14 7.3%
  6. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    8 4.1%
Named features on the maps14 named · from the USGS compilation
Name on map Feature
Bellview Mine Mine Shaft
Chickaman Mine Adit
Clemantha Mine Adit
Copper Cliff Mine Mine Shaft
Coppersmith Mine Adit
Hidden Treasure Mine Adit
Lawyers Combination Open Pit Mine
Leonard Mine Mine Shaft
Linton Mine Adit
Mammoth Mine Mine Shaft
Traintler Prospect Prospect Pit
Triangle Mine Adit
Ward Lode Mine Mine Shaft
Whaley Mine Open Pit Mine area

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

OSMRE abandoned mine land problems13 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Frogs Diner P2 Clogged Stream Lands Reclamation Pending
Frogs Diner P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Pending
Frogs Diner P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Pending
Joe Wallit Mine P2 Clogged Stream Lands Reclamation Pending
Joe Wallit Mine P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Pending
Joe Wallit Mine P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Pending
Lost Cabin Mine P2 Clogged Stream Lands Reclamation Pending
Lost Cabin Mine P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Pending
Lost Cabin Mine P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Pending
Nugget Mine P2 Clogged Stream Lands Reclamation Pending
Nugget Mine P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Pending
Nugget Mine P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Pending
Nugget Mine P2 Portals Reclamation Pending

Problem types carry OSMRE's priority prefix: P1 and P2 are threats to health, safety and property, P3 is environmental. A problem area is a cluster of problems reclaimed as one project; several rows can share one location.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned77 on register
  1. 300 Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rock It Crushing LLC · MSHA ID 2402773
    Abandoned
  2. 63-4411
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Department Of Transportation · MSHA ID 2402157
    Abandoned
  3. A A A Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · A A A Construction of Missoula, LLC · MSHA ID 2402079
    Abandoned
  4. AAA Portable Crusher #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · AAA Construction of Missoula LLC · MSHA ID 2402532
    Abandoned
  5. Big Rock
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rainglow Services · MSHA ID 2402252
    Abandoned
  6. Black Diamond Mica Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Muscovite Mining & Milling Co · MSHA ID 2401426
    Abandoned
  7. Cap Wallace Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Wayne Clutis Mining Inc · MSHA ID 2401673
    Abandoned
  8. Cay Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · JD Russell Excavating Inc · MSHA ID 2402147
    Abandoned
  9. Crusher #1 - Grant Creek
    Surface metal/non-metal · Western Materials · MSHA ID 2400474
    Abandoned
  10. Diamond Point Minerals
    Surface metal/non-metal · Diamond Point Minerals · MSHA ID 2401619
    Abandoned
  11. Dirty Ike Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Phillips Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 2401288
    Abandoned
  12. Dorite Claims
    Surface metal/non-metal · William J Wheeler Sr · MSHA ID 2401643
    Abandoned
  13. Eagle Pugmill
    Surface metal/non-metal · Knife River Missoula · MSHA ID 2402144
    Abandoned
  14. Elk Creek Greenough MIne
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Barite Company LLC · MSHA ID 2402491
    Abandoned
  15. Elk Creek Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Wayne Clutis Mining Inc · MSHA ID 2401607
    Abandoned
  16. F.W.F. WASH PLANT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Farwest Gravel Company Llc · MSHA ID 2402161
    Abandoned
  17. F.W.G.
    Surface metal/non-metal · Farwest Gravel Company Llc · MSHA ID 2402160
    Abandoned
  18. Fabtech Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · JD Russell Excavating Inc · MSHA ID 2402224
    Abandoned
  19. Friday Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wayne Clutis Mining Inc · MSHA ID 2401452
    Abandoned
  20. Garrick Gravel Incorporated
    Surface metal/non-metal · Garrick Gravel Inc · MSHA ID 2401804
    Abandoned
  21. Glory Hole Gold Placer Mine
    Surface metal/non-metal · Glory Hole Mining Company · MSHA ID 2401735
    Abandoned
  22. Hidden Treasure
    Underground metal/non-metal · Viking Explorations Inc · MSHA ID 2401584
    Abandoned
  23. HUSET CONSTRUCTION
    Surface metal/non-metal · Huset Construction · MSHA ID 2402084
    Abandoned
  24. Joyce No 2
    Surface metal/non-metal · James W Frost Operator · MSHA ID 2401461
    Abandoned
  25. LOLO SAND & GRAVEL
    Surface metal/non-metal · Lolo Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 2402166
    Abandoned
  26. LS Jensen Screen Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Mtls & Cons · MSHA ID 2402185
    Abandoned
  27. LS Jensen Wash Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Montana Mtls & Cons · MSHA ID 2401820
    Abandoned
  28. LS Jensen-Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · L S Jensen Construction & Paving · MSHA ID 2401765
    Abandoned
  29. Mattie V
    Underground metal/non-metal · Bill Wheeler-Leasor · MSHA ID 2401560
    Abandoned
  30. Mc Quarrie Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Meridian Aggregates Company · MSHA ID 2400482
    Abandoned
  31. Mickelson Rock Products
    Surface metal/non-metal · Mickelson Rock Products LLC · MSHA ID 2402341
    Abandoned
  32. Monroc/Hunton
    Surface metal/non-metal · Western Excavating · MSHA ID 2402472
    Abandoned
  33. Montana Barite Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · Montana Barite Company · MSHA ID 2401220
    Abandoned
  34. MRM WASH PLANT #170
    Surface metal/non-metal · JTL Group Incorporated · MSHA ID 2400486
    Abandoned
  35. Nelson Mountain Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Nelson Mountain Mining Inc · MSHA ID 2401586
    Abandoned
  36. Nine Mile Mines
    Underground metal/non-metal · Nine Mile Mines Inc · MSHA ID 2401700
    Abandoned
  37. Nine Mile Operation
    Surface metal/non-metal · United States Antimony Corp · MSHA ID 2401711
    Abandoned
  38. Nine Mile Placer
    Surface metal/non-metal · Clay A Lewis · MSHA ID 2401281
    Abandoned
  39. Nugget #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Eddy Peak Mines · MSHA ID 2401576
    Abandoned
  40. Pattee Canyon Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Western Materials Inc · MSHA ID 2401451
    Abandoned
  41. Portable #1
    Facility metal/non-metal · Rock Products Inc · MSHA ID 2401888
    Abandoned
  42. Portable 3
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rock it Crushing · MSHA ID 2402769
    Abandoned
  43. Portable Crusher
    Surface metal/non-metal · Deer Lodge Asphalt inc · MSHA ID 2402630
    Abandoned
  44. Portable Crusher #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington Construction Company · MSHA ID 2401422
    Abandoned
  45. Portable Crusher #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Knife River · MSHA ID 2402348
    Abandoned
  46. PORTABLE CRUSHER #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington Construction Company · MSHA ID 2401914
    Abandoned
  47. Portable Crusher #3
    Facility metal/non-metal · Washington Construction Company · MSHA ID 2401918
    Abandoned
  48. Portable Crusher #4
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington Construction Company · MSHA ID 2401923
    Abandoned
  49. Portable Screen Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · City Of Missoula · MSHA ID 2401456
    Abandoned
  50. Portable wash plant 1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Pine Ridge Excavation Inc · MSHA ID 2402771
    Abandoned
  51. Portal Screen Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · General Constructors Inc · MSHA ID 2402025
    Abandoned
  52. Prince Mine #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · J L Prince Company · MSHA ID 2401669
    Abandoned
  53. R J Williams
    Surface metal/non-metal · R J Williams · MSHA ID 2401818
    Abandoned
  54. Rainbow Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rainbow Enterprises · MSHA ID 2401998
    Abandoned
  55. RICHARDS PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · John Richards Const · MSHA ID 2402070
    Abandoned
  56. Rock Creek Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Finbraaten & Sons Excavation · MSHA ID 2401295
    Abandoned
  57. Screen & Wash Plant
    Facility metal/non-metal · Lloyd Twite Construction · MSHA ID 2402014
    Abandoned
  58. Screen #199
    Surface metal/non-metal · City of Missoula Street Division · MSHA ID 2402004
    Abandoned
  59. Screen Plant #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · Johnson Brothers Contracting · MSHA ID 2401966
    Abandoned
  60. Screen Plant #2
    Surface metal/non-metal · Johnson Brothers Contracting, Inc. · MSHA ID 2402275
    Abandoned
  61. Screening Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · Rock It Crushing · MSHA ID 2402774
    Abandoned
  62. SCREENING PLANT #411
    Surface metal/non-metal · Missoula County Road Department · MSHA ID 2401455
    Abandoned
  63. SEELEY LAKE CRUSHER #422
    Surface metal/non-metal · Missoula County Road Department · MSHA ID 2401454
    Abandoned
  64. Silver Bell Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Silver Bell Mining · MSHA ID 2401670
    Abandoned
  65. Small Portable Screen
    Surface metal/non-metal · Knife River Missoula · MSHA ID 2402145
    Abandoned
  66. Solminiski Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Cunningham Const Co · MSHA ID 2401293
    Abandoned
  67. Stenerson Bros Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Stenerson Bros Excavating · MSHA ID 2402413
    Abandoned
  68. Stinkwater Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Far West Logging Company · MSHA ID 2401304
    Abandoned
  69. Trommex Plant
    Surface metal/non-metal · G.T.L. Excavating · MSHA ID 2402277
    Abandoned
  70. W S Placer
    Surface metal/non-metal · W S Mining Company · MSHA ID 2401654
    Abandoned
  71. Wahoe Friends #1
    Surface metal/non-metal · QUETZAL COLLECTIVE LLC · MSHA ID 2402821
    Abandoned
  72. Wallace Creek Milling Company
    Facility metal/non-metal · Wallace Creek Milling Company · MSHA ID 2401585
    Abandoned
  73. Ward Lode Mine
    Underground metal/non-metal · Wrd Development Corp · MSHA ID 2400635
    Abandoned
  74. WES VAL PORTABLE CRUSHER
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wes Val Inc · MSHA ID 2402184
    Abandoned
  75. Wheeler Pit
    Surface metal/non-metal · Washington Construction Company · MSHA ID 2401267
    Abandoned
  76. WHEELER PIT
    Surface metal/non-metal · Wheeler Pit · MSHA ID 2402163
    Abandoned
  77. Wheeler'S Mill
    Facility metal/non-metal · William J Wheeler Sr · MSHA ID 2401572
    Abandoned

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms
Feature type Features
Prospect Pit 42
Gravel Pit 41
Gravel Pit 34
Adit 22
Open Pit Mine 9
Tailings - Undifferentiated 8
Mine Shaft 7
Sand Pit 5
P2 Clogged Streams 4
Gravel/Borrow Pit - Undifferentiated 4
P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments 4
P2 Clogged Stream Lands 4
Disturbed Surface 3
Tailings - Dredge 1
Open Pit Mine 1
P2 Portals 1
Borrow Pit 1
Tailings - Placer 1
Strip Mine 1
Other counties in MontanaAll counties →
How to read these numbers

A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.

Sources
  1. USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
    597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
  2. USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
    States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
  3. OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
    One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
  4. MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
    Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
  5. US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
    Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
  6. GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
    Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
  7. Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
    The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
  8. IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
    Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.