BUTTE

BELL DIAMOND

The Bell Diamond headframe was constructed in 1898. Bought by the Anaconda copper in 1895. The diamond mine itself was named for the configuration of the claim stakes in 1879. It eventually linked up with the bell line which was 1/10 of a mile away and all the order was brought up through a single shaft and head frame.

The mine, dug to the 3500 ft.level, shutdown in 1938

EAST SIDE OF BUTTE

Headframes are surrounded by residential neighborhoods, with a rainbow and the continental divide in the distance.

THE KELLY, MINE AND HEADFRAME

The Kelly was the last mine to be developed in Butte. It was built in 1949 and closed in 1980.

The Kelley has three shafts and two headframes, the larger the tallest on the hill. Even the mining process itself took on new proportions with block-caving mining techniques, which increased production to over 15,000 tons a day.

LEACHATE

Copper leacahate combines with water at the surface.

HOME AND APARTMENT BUILDING, E. GRANITE ST.

Much of the east side of Butte was sacrificed for the huge open pit mind that began in the 1950s. This landscape shows the edge of the pit behind the homes. Obviously, it became an area of low real estate values, but true to the Butte character, people remained after the complete closure of all the mining operations in 1983. The photograph was taken in 1989.