In the low hills outside of Deer Lodge, Montana, surveyors located an old, but substantial mine operation that was most recently held by Kennecott Exploration. A huge old mine camp, with cabins, a workshop and garage, old mining equipment and the outhouse to end all outhouses. There is a massive patio and firepit area and enough room to park a few RVs, 5th wheels and as much machinery as you need to make this mine into a producing property.

It would take a bit of work to re-open any of the mines on this claim, however, the gold and silver recovery is likely well worth it. Kennecott Exploration held this property for a number of years, letting it lapse in 2012, with the gold and silver crash coming into full swing. Kennecott Exploration reportedly has survey and samples from the property that showed it to be a good target for an underground operation.

As noted, this is a deep forest claim, the heavy tree cover keeps the mines and the buildings cool in the hot months and offers protection from the majority of the inclement elements. There is no shortage of room to park and stage equipment. Not all of the area is flat, but the claim has had substantial clean up performed by private individuals over the last 20 years. These cabins and facilities can be used in support of your mining operation with an approved Notice of Operation.

Location is ideal, just south of Helena, Montana, USA. Located on good, Forest Service maintained roads. 4WD is required due to some ruts and small water obstacles.

The Jackson Grove claim is a 20 acre lode claim located in the high country of Montana. The claim is written to encompass the old mining camp and the mines that sustained the camp.

Situated under heavy tree cover, the Mining camp consists of a large garage/workshop, a large, ornate cabin and one of the fanciest outhouses we have ever come across. Someone put a lot of work into restoring the area in the last 10-20 years. There are new footings on the patio of the cabin that are marked as 2006. The garage has lost half of the roof, but still has two locked rooms in the back that have solid roofs.

The cabin is stunning, with a solid roof, excellent walls and doors. There are no windows in it, but the old framed windows are fully intact with glass and all, staged in the garage to be replaced by the next claim owner? The outhouse is a marvel of woodwork and ingenuity. It has a washroom built off the back that has a separate entrance from the commodes. The entrance to the commodes has a solid awning and splits inside to separate two sets of facilities. This highlighted by a pitched roof with a vent. It’s something you have to see to believe.

The camp also has a large patio out front with a fire area and some stepped old stone cuts that obviously served a purpose. Roads wander through the camp offering access to the buildings and the mining operations. The primary mine is set just outside the main cabin and an old metal whim that likely serviced this mine has been moved aside.

The vein is a fissure in diorite or gabbro, strikes N. 20 degrees W., dips 35 degrees E., and is from 1 to 8 feet wide. The ore is composed of lead carbonate and limonite, which partly fill the cavities in a fine skeleton of honeycomb quartz. No unoxidized ore was seen.” (Pardee p. 247).

“The Jackson mine is located half a mile south of the Hatta and had produced $25,000 worth of silver and lead prior to 1916. When visited, only the superficial parts of the workings, which to judge from the dumps, are fairly extensive, were accessible for examination in 1916.