Mining methods, local mine history

              Mining Methods Local Mine HistorY
By CLIFFORD R. PARSONS
December 19,1937 Fergus County Argus
GOLD and silver have long been the two metals most sought after by man from ancient times
down to those of today. These two metals have been the strongest forces in the settling of the
western part of the United States.
It was placer gold found at Sutter's mill that started the influx of people into California to gain
fame and fortune on the mother lode, Eldorado of the new world. lt wasn't, so very long after
the initial strike that groups of men banded together into companies and took over large tracts
of the placer ground forcing the one man placer mine out of the picture. There was plenty of
men now out of employment as placer miners and so they set out to explore the surrounding
territory hoping they would uncover another rich strike, Montana territory was a likely area,
and so they came, prospectors and their pack outfits modern Jason's in search of the golden
fleece.
Fortune smiled upon these hardy adventurers who had braved all kinds of hazards, natural and
otherwise, to come into the land of the Shining mountains. Bannock, Virginia City and Last
Chance Gulch added their golden chapter to Montana's colorful history.
Gold was first found in Central Montana in Yogo creek in the early '70's to be followed later by
discovery of placer gold in the Judith and North. Moccasin mountains. By this time lode mining
had started generally over the state and prospectors were out looking now for "free milling"
ore whose values could be recovered through the use of stamp mills and amalgamation.
The Judith mountains were the first of the three mountain groups in Central Montana to gain
the notice of men in the mining world with the rich strikes made in the Spotted Horse, Maginnis
and Gold Reef. The first two mines being close to the town of Maiden and the last being near
6ilt Edge.
Maiden was the center of a prosperous mining district from 1882 until the turn of the century
and had atl of those things taken as natural appurtenances in any mining camp including a
newspaper which still is published ln Lewistown. The Maginnis in Maiden itself and the Spotted
Horse which lay over the mountain from the town, gained most attention because they were
the spectacular producers. Their total production having been very close to five millions of
dollars.
The ore in these two mines was what is known as "free milling" and the gold and silver values
were recovered through amalgamation. lt might be well at this point to set down the
fundamental operations involved in amalgamating ores so that the word will have a ccncrete
significance rather than a hazy abstract and inaccurate meaning to the average reader.
Amalgamation was facilitated in recovering gold values in ores by the use and operation of