A former Ag-Au-Cu-Pb-Zn-Sb occurrence/mine located in secs. 7, 8, 9, 16, 17 & 18, T8N, R14W, MPM. 6.2 km (ca. 4 mi) E of Black Pine Ridge (coordinates of record), along the South Fork Lower Willow Creek (approximately 14.5 km NW of Philipsburg), on patented mining claims within National Forest land. Owned & operated by the Inspiration Resources Corporation (100.00%), New York (1983) (Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company is 50% controlled by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company, Ltd., Toronto, Canada). Owned & operated by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company) (100.00%), New York (1990). MRDS database stated accuracy for this location is 100 meters.

The mine complex is approximately 14 km NW of Philipsburg. The property is accessible year round. The property is made up of 57 patented mining claims and 12 patented millsites containing approximately 1,027 acres and approximately 127 unpatented claims (updated May 1997).

Mine chronology of significant events:
1882 — discovered;
1885 — few tons of ore put through the Hope Mill in Philipsburg;
1887 — combination mining and milling company purchased holdings of the Black Pine Mining Company;
1888 — combination mill built;
1888-1897 — operated continuously until low Ag prices and mined out oxides closed the mine;
1937 — shut down;
1974 — mine reopened;
1985 — (January) mine shut down;
1986 — (March) mine shut down;
1987 — (May) Inspiration reopens the mine;
1988 — mine closed because of low Ag prices.
1990 — ASARCO LLC purchased the mine in 1990 and operated intermittently until 2000. ASARCO mined high grade silica ore with various oxide minerals from the Tim Smith Vein for use as flux at the ASARCO East Helena Smelter.
2009 — ASARCO deeded the property to the Montana Custodial Trust.
2018 — The mine and the surrounding 1,000+ acres was reclaimed and is no longer accessible.

Mineralization is a polymetallic deposit (Mineral occurrence model information: Model code 85; USGS model code 22c; Deposit model name ; Polymetallic veins; Mark3 model number 46), hosted in Neoproterozoic rocks of the Missoula Group (quartzite), and rocks of the Precambrian Spokane Formation (red shale). The orebody is fissure vein, tabular, strikes N30W and dips 25S at a thickness of 1.2 meters, a width of 1,070 meters, and a length of 1,070 meters, over an area of 162 ha. The primary mode of origin was hydrothermal. Primary ore control was bedding. The degree of wall rock alteration is unknown. The deposit consists of 4 fissure veins in quartzite. The Combination vein was the main producer. It is 0.5 feet (ca. 15 cm) to 4 feet (1.22 m) wide, explored 1,900 feet (ca. 579 m) along strike and 2,200 feet (ca. 671 m) downdip. Its strike length may be GT 5,500 feet (ca. 1,676 m). The vein is cut and offset by a system of normal strike faults. The vein follows the bedding plane of the quartzite nearly everywhere. Little work was done on the Upper, Tim Smith, and Onyx veins. All 4 veins are similar. Controls for ore emplacement included northerly-striking sedimentary horizons. Local alteration included oxidation. Local rocks include rocks of the Missoula group.

Local geologic structures include 2 systems of faulting on the surface. One set strikes ESE and dips N; and the second set strikes ESE and dips S. Granodiorite outcrops 1 mile (1.61 km) N of the mine.

Workings include surface and underground openings and operations. There are 8 vertical shafts, 3 tunnels, drifts, inclines, and crosscuts (1906). All surface openings are closed except the Lewis shaft and Combination adit. 10,732 feet (ca. 3,271 m) of bulldozing. The Combination vein was developed 2,400 feet (ca. 732 m) down dip and 3,300 feet (ca. 1,006 m) along strike (Alder, 1974). Flotation Mill.

Production statistics:
Year: 1897; Period: 1885-1897: 62,199,999 grams of Ag [1888-1897] - Production was 2,135,000 ounces (ca. 81 t) of Ag, and 1,411 ounces (ca. 53 kg) of Au (Anon, 1963) ($1,496,862.00 — period values).
Year: 1989; Period: 1885-1989: Ore mined: 1,339,000 metric tons.

Production history details: Ag: 174,863,770 grams; Au: 93,310 grams; Cu: 4,843,459 metric tons; Pb: 117,934 metric tons; Zn: 12,247 metric tons.

Resource/reserves data: Type: In-situ; Estimate year: 1997: Total resources: 1,180,000 metric tons of ore (USGS Open File Report 2004-1038). Silver: 192.00 grams/metric ton (1997).

Note: "The boleite attributed to the Black Pine mine actually came from the bricks of the Bi-Metallic Mill (Red Mill) in Philipsburg, Montana and are a reaction of the lime from the mortar in the bricks with the copper and silver left from the milling, smelter process. These specimens were found in the 50s or 60s and made their way into collections as boleite with the location as Black Pine, Montana." (Brent Thorne information)
(See http://www.mindat.org/loc-211568.html and https://www.mindat.org/mesg-160567.html).

In the Summer of 2023, a unique discovery was made by Alex Day and Paul Senn of Montana regarding UVC fluorescence in a small percentage of the quartz crystals. Crystals with this trait come specifically from the sulfide zone of the mine and equate to approximately 38% of specimens. Currently, the find is being investigated by thin section work at the school of mines in Butte, Montana.