Badger Pass (Pioneer Mountains) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Badger Pass |
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|---|---|
| Elevation | 6,755 ft (2,059 m) |
| Traversed by | Montana State Highway 278 |
| Location | Beaverhead County, Montana, United States |
| Range | Rocky Mountains |
| Coordinates | 45°14′02″N 112°57′01″W / 45.23389°N 112.95028°W |
Badger Pass is a high mountain pass located in Beaverhead County, Montana, in the United States. It sits at an elevation of 6,755 feet (about 2,059 meters) above sea level. This pass connects the towns of Bannack, Montana and Dillon. You can travel through Badger Pass on Montana Secondary Highway 278.
What is Badger Pass?
Badger Pass is a natural low point between mountains. It makes it easier for people and vehicles to cross a mountain range. This pass is part of the famous Rocky Mountains, a huge mountain range in western North America.
The Badger Pass Mine
Near Badger Pass, there's an interesting place called the Badger Pass Mine. This mine is known for a small "gold rush" that happened in the 1930s. People discovered a special type of sandstone rock in the area that contained gold!
A Mini Gold Rush
In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, people were looking for ways to earn money. The discovery of gold at Badger Pass brought many hopeful miners. The gold-bearing rock was quite valuable, sometimes worth as much as $42 per ton. This was a lot of money back then!
How the Mine Operated
The Badger claim was first made in 1932 by two people named Hurly Leach and D. V. Erwin. Miners dug an inclined shaft, which is like a sloped tunnel, at least 110 feet (about 33 meters) deep. They were digging into a type of rock called dolomite that had been changed by minerals.
The mine was active for several years. It operated from 1933 to 1936 and then again in 1941. During its time, the Badger Pass Mine produced a good amount of valuable metals. Miners extracted about 859 tons of rock. From this, they got around 330 ounces of gold, 123 ounces of silver, and 102 pounds of copper.
