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Minerals and Geology
The Kootenai National Forest is underlain by the Belt Supergroup. Rock in these formations is over 800 million years old, and was created when sedimentary layers deposited by a large inland sea lithified, or hardened, into rock. Exposures of the Prichard formation of the Belt Supergroup are found throughout the Kootenai. Stone from this formation, composed primarily of metamorphosed silts and muds, is sought after for use as building and landscaping stone. The Montanore ore body is located in the Revett formation of the Belt Supergroup.
See the following webpages for more information on Minerals and Geology on the Kootenai
- Geology Overview
- Prospecting
- Libby Recreational Gold Panning Area
- Rockhounding, Metal Detecting, Fossil & Gem Collection
Mining Projects
The Kootenai National Forest would like to know your concerns, questions, and suggestions regarding the activities being proposed under the Libby Exploration Project. Montanore Minerals Corporation (MMC), a fully owned subsidiary of Hecla Mining Company, proposes to conduct further mineral exploration activities at the existing Libby Adit site located approximately 20 miles south of the town of Libby in Lincoln County, Montana near the Cabinet Mountains of northwestern Montana. Access to the Libby Adit site is via existing National Forest System roads. Project surface-disturbing activities would be conducted on private lands owned or controlled by MMC, while underground construction would occur beneath public lands administered by the US Forest Service
- Scoping Letter [PDF, 252K] - 9/6/2022
- Scoping Extension Letter [PDF, 188K] - 10/5/2022
- Figure 1 - Location Access [PDF, 1.9MB]
- Figure 2 - Proposed Project Facilities [PDF, 1.5MB]
- Libby Exploration Project Plan of Operations [PDF, 54.7MB] - August 2022
- Legal Notice [PDF, 2.4MB] - Missoulian - 9/10/2022
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Troy Mine Revised Reclamation Plan describes the land, people, and resources potentially affected by the proposed revised reclamation activities. The purpose of the proposed revision is to return lands disturbed by mining to a condition appropriate for subsequent use of the area.