ltndgren.J BITTEKROOT AND CLEARWATER MOUNTAINS, MONT. 69 
Musselshell Creek, and Oro Fino Creek. Many quartz veins similar 
in character to those of the southwestern belt are also worked in 
these districts. They are generally incased in schists, more rarely in 
granite. Veins of sulphide ores containing gold and copper occur 
in amphibolite close to Mount Idaho. 
History and production. — The deposits on the eastern slope of the 
mountains have not proved of great importance and have chiefly been 
discovered and worked at a comparatively recent time. The produc- 
tion of all the mines on this side of the mountains probably does not 
exceed $1,000,000, of which the larger part has been derived from the 
Curlew mine on the north and from the placers of Hughe Creek, 
near the head of the Bitterroot River. The important gold belt on 
the western slope was discovered about 1860 and was very actively 
worked during the following years. Oro Fino or Pierce is reported 
to be the earliest discovery in Idaho. It was found in 1860, and dur- 
ing that season 25 men wintered there. The gravel near Pierce was 
not remarkably rich, but jDaid fairly well in 1861 and 1862. ft In 1874 
Pierce produced $70,000. But soon after this the discoveries in Mon- 
tana drew most of the miners away from this place and in 1867 but 
little mining was going on. Since that time, however, the placers and 
quartz mines have been worked each year, although in a somewhat 
desultory manner. The total production it is impossible to ascertain, 
but probably it has not exceeded a few million dollars. 
During late years placer mining has been carried on both in the 
low-stream gravels and on the benches. There has also been consid- 
erable activity in quartz mining and several small mills have been 
built. The output of the placer mines in 1902 is estimated at $30,000, 
and that of the quartz veins at the same amount. 
Elk City and vicinity proved to be of greater richness. Few quartz 
mines have been worked there, practically the whole production being 
derived from the placers. In 1863 or 1864 the white miners began 
to leave this field, which they considered about worked out, and for 
nearly thirty years there were only two or three of them left in the 
district, which was almost entirely turned over to the Chinese. In 
1892 the white miners began to come back and the Chinese simulta- 
neously disappeared, very few of the latter being left now. A certain 
amount of placer work is still done in this vicinitj^ each year, chiefly 
on bench gravels. The bars of the Clearwater River, which were 
worked extensively during the early days, are still occasionally washed. 
Regarding the total output of Elk City no satisfactory figures are 
available, but not unlike ty the production amounts to about $5,000,000. 
After the first few years of abundant production the output fell 
rapidly. In 1874 Elk City (including Newsome Creek and Clearwater 
station) produced $120,000. From 1882 to 1887 the Elk City district 
produced from $35,000 to $73,000 per annum. During recent years 
the output has again increased, due to the introduction of dredging 
Browne, J. Ross, Report on the Mineral Resources, Washington, 1860. 
