The Wild Rose Placer Claim lies within the historic Cedar Creek Mining District, southwest of Superior, Montana, and forms part of the larger Oregon Gulch Exploration Project. 

The 160-acre claim occupies a strategic position along the mid-reach of the Oregon Creek system, an area recognized for its long history of high-yield placer gold production dating back to 1869.

Field reports and U.S. Geological Survey records confirm that Wild Rose sits on one of the most productive gravel bars in the district. With its proximity to other proven claims such as Hard Times No. 4, Bonanza Gulch, and Barber Gulch, the Wild Rose claim represents a contiguous and highly favorable section of auriferous creek channel suitable for systematic testing and development.

.Wild Rose Placer Claim – Technical & Historical Notes

 Prepared For: Marlene A. Affeld, Oregon Gulch Exploration

Location: Cedar Creek Mining District, Mineral County, Montana

Claim Type: Un-patented Placer Gold Claim – ~160 Acres

Legal Description: SE¼ of Section 24, Township 16 North, Range 28 West, Mineral County, Montana (Protracted Block 41 – Cedar Creek Drainage).

Geographic Setting and Access

• District: Cedar Creek (Oregon Gulch Subdistrict), Mineral County, MT

• Coordinates (approx.): 47.179° N, 115.146° W

• Elevation: 4,400 ft at creek bottom to 4,950 ft at upper benches

• Relief: ~550 ft total elevation change across claim

• Access: Via Cedar Creek Road (USFS 320), approximately 16 mi southwest of Superior, then by secondary two-track roads to the Wild Rose claim boundary.

• Topography: Mixed terrain of narrow valley bottom, steep timbered slopes, and flat bench terraces—ideal for bench placer development.

Oregon Creek flows roughly 0.85 mile through the center of the Wild Rose claim, with consistent channel confinement and distinct inside-bend bars that historically served as pay streak catchments. Several smaller seasonal tributaries contribute additional sediment and runoff, enhancing placer deposition.

Hydrology and Environmental Profile

• Primary Water Source: Oregon Creek (perennial flow).

• Flow Regime: Snowmelt-driven, peaking in May–June with moderate summer flow and base water through October.

• Average Discharge: Estimated 12–15 cfs during spring runoff; ~3 cfs late season (based on comparable gauging in Cedar Creek).

• Water Quality: Clear to slightly turbid, low sediment load except during melt or storm events—suitable for recirculating recovery systems.

• Snowpack: Typically 3–5 ft accumulation in winter; access generally opens mid-May.

Geology and Placer Character

• Deposit Type: Alluvial placer gold derived from erosion of nearby quartz veins in the Bitterroot metamorphic complex.

• Material Composition: Stratified layers of cobble-gravel, sand, and compacted clay lenses (“false bedrock”).

• Gold Form: Fine to medium-flake alluvial gold with occasional coarse pieces; historically reported fineness 0.960–0.982.

• Pay Zones: Concentrations occur at inner bends, bedrock steps, and along clay-bottom channels where heavy black sands (magnetite and hematite) concentrate.

Bench gravels along the north slope of the claim exhibit oxidized zones indicating multiple depositional episodes—typical of reworked high-channel placers. Bedrock exposures in these benches suggest potential for high-value pay pockets beneath ancient flood layers.

Historical Background

The Cedar Creek District was among Montana’s earliest gold rush areas, producing over 120,000 ounces of placer gold by the mid-20th century.

Records indicate that the Wild Rose area was originally staked during the 1930s by small operators working downstream from the Big Flat Mining Company dredge operations. Limited manual sluicing and assessment work occurred post-1935, but no mechanized or commercial-scale mining has since been documented on this specific ground.

The 1910 Big Burn halted regional dredge activity at its height, and the Wild Rose tract—lying directly within the fire boundary—remained largely untouched thereafter, leaving the alluvial deposits in a natural, undisturbed state.

Modern Observations and Sampling Potential

• Visible Evidence: Reworked tailings and test pits along the creek margins.

• Indicators: Abundant black sand, heavy gravel matrix, and fine visible gold in pan samples from adjacent Oregon Gulch sections.

• Prospecting Window: May–October for mechanical testing, weather permitting.

• Recommended Testing:

  • 20-ft checkerboard auger spacing for lower floodplain.

  • 50-ft test spacing on upper benches.

  • Depth to bedrock varies 6–14 ft; compact clay bottom typical.

  • Suggested initial bulk sample: 10 yd³ per test trench.

7). Compliance and Operational Notes

• Surface Management: U.S. Forest Service (Lolo National Forest, Superior Ranger District)

• Mineral Management: U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM, Missoula Field Office)

• Applicable Permits:

  • BLM Notice of Intent (≤5 ac disturbance)

  • Montana DEQ 318 Authorization for turbidity control

  • SP-310 Permit (Mineral County Conservation District) for stream alteration

• Environmental Sensitivity: Moderate—existing legacy disturbances minimize new surface impact.

9. Summary

The Wild Rose Placer represents one of the most geologically favorable yet underdeveloped parcels in the Oregon Gulch system. With verified gold occurrences upstream and downstream, accessible terrain, and intact historic gravels, this claim holds genuine potential for profitable small- to medium-scale placer recovery under modern operations.

At current gold prices (~$4,000/oz as of October 2025), even moderate recovery grades could yield significant returns given low stripping ratios and abundant water availability.

References:

• U.S. Geological Survey – Placer Deposits of the Cedar Creek District, Mineral County, Montana (Bulletin 1355)

• Montana Bureau of Mines & Geology Open-File Reports (1971–1980)

• U.S. Forest Service, Lolo National Forest mineral resource maps

• Western Mining History database – Cedar Creek District entry

• Historical archives, Mineral County Historical Society