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PC Mine, Cataract Mining District (Comet Mining District; Basin Mining District), Jefferson County, Montana, USAi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| PC Mine | Mine |
| Cataract Mining District (Comet Mining District; Basin Mining District) | Mining District |
| Jefferson County | County |
| Montana | State |
| USA | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
46° 21' 10'' North , 112° 20' 48'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Basin | 212 (2011) | 11.1km |
| Boulder | 1,207 (2017) | 21.6km |
| Elliston | 219 (2011) | 24.1km |
| Jefferson City | 472 (2011) | 24.8km |
| Deer Lodge | 2,965 (2017) | 29.8km |
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
P.C. Crystal Mine; Penn placer
A mine of hydrothermal breccia containing numerous pockets of quartz crystals (Knudsen, 2021). It is most famous for its Japan-law quartz twins. Quartz occurs also in single crystals or clusters. Other more rare collectible species include pyrite, galena and sphalerite which can grow to large crystal sizes.
The PC mine is located on the North Fork of Basin Creek about 7 miles northwest of Basin, Montana. It is in Section 22, T7N R6W. The deposit resides on private land.
First records of the deposit being worked for specimens dates to 1983 when W.C. Van Laer worked a lease agreement with landowner Forest Klies for access. Van Laer would work the site until 1987. In 1988, Bryant Harris, Elvis "Buzz" Gray, and Dr. Pete Knudsen would take over the lease agreement with Klies and work the site for specimens. In 1990, Knudsen took full rights to the lease and worked the entire exposed breccia out by 2005. Work was done by drilling and blasting, primarily with use of trailer compressor, hand drill, and dynamite.
The breccia itself is at rivers edge, with the pipe diving below water level. In order to continue work on the deposit, Basin Creek itself would have to be stopped. All breccia above water level was mined out.
While many different meanings for the name "PC" have been inferred, W.C. Van Laer named the site as such for "Pocket City", according to Pete Knudsen.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Anhydrite ? Formula: CaSO4 References: Paul Senn CollectionIdentified by Paul Senn: Visual Identification |
| ⓘ Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ✪ Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 References: |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 References: On several specimens obtained directly from miner and mine owner, Pete Knudsen. Identified by Paul Senn: Visual Identification |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Schorl Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ 'Tourmalinated Quartz' |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline' Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z References: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | var. Smoky Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Anhydrite ? | 7.AD.30 | CaSO4 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Schorl | 9.CK.05 | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmalinated Quartz' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Anhydrite | CaSO4 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
North AmericaContinent
- Rocky MountainsMountain Range
North America PlateTectonic Plate
- Great Falls DomainDomain
- Northern Rocky MountainsWide Rift
USA
- Montana
- Beaverhead–Deerlodge National ForestNational Forest
- North Montana Thrust BeltBasin
- Western Phosphate fieldMineral Province
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PC Mine, Cataract Mining District, Jefferson County, Montana, USA