Near Helena, Montana, USA.

The Viking, or Orphan Widow Mine has also been referred to as the View Mine. It was last actively worked in the 1940’s at which point it is believed that the entrance was blasted to prevent further intrusion on the workings from the War Act. The mine entrance was noted as “collapsed” in 1976 by the USGS. A 1934 report from the Montana Butte Standard noted that the Viking Mining Company was again shipping gold and silver ores averaging $300 per ton in gold and silver. There is not a lot of other history that can be found on the mine. The survey reports noted that there were limited tailings that had been moved or disturbed in the past 20-30 years. Gold with quartz and granordite host rock was common near the rock face above the collapsed adit. Additionally there were samples of quartz with visible stringers of gold found in the old assay house. These samples apparently never worked. These samples likely came from the culverted adit that was only a few feet from the assay house. This claim is work ready with a great road that runs up to an old cabin previously used by the mining company. The roof and walls are intact but some of the windows need replacement. This cabin could easily be utilized in support of your mining operation with a notice of intent. There is covered parking for 2 vehicles here and you can easily park 5-6 other vehicles around the cabin and in the flats. The old road up to the mine is directly across from the cabin. It crosses a small, flowing river and then meanders up the hill to the mine. The road is flat and in very good condition with exception of some mid sized trees that have fallen across the road and would need to be cleared. As noted above there is running water on the claim, this could be utilized for operations or for drinking water if properly treated. On the claim, near the mines are 3 other standing structures. A large tipple leads straight off from the old mine entrance and to the road below. Survey crew reported that there were good gold ores to be found around and under the tipple. There is also a workshop that is in a frame only form. Someone has stolen the metal walls and so it sits. This would be an easy project to restore with some corrugated steel. The workshop is slightly offset from the tipple, right near the road at the main mine site. Farther up the road, but still on the claim is the last of the structures. This appears to be a workshop or possible assay house. The workshop is mostly intact with a lot of various old tools and a lot of samples. There are a lot of cupels and broken bits of ores in here. Excellent samples of gold in quartz and some silver as well. There is another access to the main mine back at this workshop. A gated culvert is visible from the cabin, but just a hundred or so feet up the hill is an old open incline. This incline should lead into the workings of both mines.