Atlantic Cable Quartz Lode

Atlantic Cable Quartz Lode is a Montana historical marker in Deer Lodge County.

U.S. 10A, MP 20, west of Anaconda

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This mining property was located June 15, 1867, the name commemorating the laying of the second transatlantic cable. The locators were Alexander Aiken, John B. Pearson and Jonas Stough. They were camped on Flint Creek and their horses drifted off. In tracking them to this vicinity the men found float that led to the discovery. Machinery for the first mill was imported from Swansea, Wales, and freighted by team from Corinne, Utah, the nearest railroad point. The mine was operated with indifferent success until about 1880 when extremely rich ore was opened up, a 500 ft. piece of ground producing $6,500,000 in gold. W. A. Clark paid $10,000 for one chunk of ore taken from this mine in 1889 and claimed it was the largest gold nugget ever found.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1868 · Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and part of Montana (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1869 · Oregon and Washington Territory. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1908 · Philipsburg, Montana (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1947 · Butte, Montana (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1958 · Butte, Montana (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and part of Montana, 1868, covering the location of Atlantic Cable Quartz Lode, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Map of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and part of Montana, 1868, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Montana Department of Transportation, Montana's Historical Highway Markers, marker texts reproduced with the Department's written permission.

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