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GEOLOGY OF THE SWAMP CREEK - TRIANGLE GULCH AREA BEAVERHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA
A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Geology Montana School of Mines
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Geology BUTTE, MUM I ANA ______ 23230 by
'^
Paul A. Guttormsen, Jr. June 1952
UBR ARY - MONTANA TSCW BUTTE, k!CHTAMA
UMI Number: EP33477
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ABSTRACT
1
INTRODUCTION
2
Location and accessibility . • . . #
2
Purpose of investigation
3
Method of investigation
4
Acknowledgments
. . • . •
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
6 7
PHYSIOGRAPHY
10
Physiographic history
10
Relief and elevations
14
Drainage
•
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
• • .
•
21
DESCRIPTION OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
30
Pre-Cambrian
30
Belt series
•
32
Cambrian
. . .
Hasmark formation
• •
• • • • • • • •
Red Lion formation Devonian Jefferson formation Three Forks s h a l e
36 37 42
. . . . . . . . .
45
. . . « * . .
45
• • • • • . • • • • *
Mississippian Madison group
16
48 49
• » » * » , . . » « .
Big Snowy group undifferentiated
0
49 51
PAGE Mississippian-Pennsylvanian
54
Amsden formation Pennsylvanian
54
#
.
55
Quadrant formation
55
UNCONSOLIDATED SEDIMENTS
57
Tertiary . • • .
57
High-level gravel Terrace deposits
. . . • .
Lacustrine deposits
t
58 59
Quaternary •
59
Moraine Recent alluvium and talus
57
#
59 . • •
60
IGNEOUS ROCKS
60
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
65
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
71
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
78
BIBLIOGRAPHY
82
iii
LIST OF TABLES TABLE I.
PAGE Patented Claims and Numbered Lots, Swamp Creek-Triangle Gulch Area
II.
Silver, Gold, Copper, and Lead Production, Vipond Mining District, 1939-1948
III.
75
76
Production in the Vipond District, Beaverhead County, Montana, Production (Gross Metal Content) 1949-1950
77
LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1.
PAGE Index Map of Southwestern Montana Showing the Location of the Swamp Creek-Triangle Gulch Area . . .
2
2. Detailed Location Map of the Swamp Creek-Triangle Gulch Area . . . .
2
3« Radial Drainage Pattern of the Pioneer Mountains
.
16
!+• Stratigraphic Section Swamp CreekTriangle Gulch Area, Beaverhead County, Montana 5.
Sketch Map of Quartz Hill Showing Principal Ore Bodies
6.
30
77
Ore Occurrence - Quartz Hill Mining District
77
LIST OF PLATES PLATE I.<