Belt
The first coal mine developed in the Belt area was started in 1877, and coal mining continued in the area intermittently until the early 1920s. The mining left adits (tunnels) that drain acidic water from the mine workings. The acidic water is adversely impacting Belt Creek. The MBMG Environmental Program has been assisting the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (and its predecessor) in assessing the hydrogeology of the mines and evaluating remedial strategies for the Belt mines for over 30 years.
Related Publications and Data
Ted Duaime Hydrogeologist—Assistant Professor
(406) 496-4157 | Email
Gary Icopini Hydrogeologist—Professor
(406) 496-4841 | Email
Steve McGrath Geochemist—Assistant Professor
(406) 496-4157 | Email
Jackson Quarles Hydrogeologist—Professional Scientist
Email
John Roitz Water Resource Specialist
Email
Matthew Vitale Hydrogeologist—Professional Scientist
Email
Office locations in Butte and Billings
Cascade–Belt
Belt Creek with acid mine drainage (aluminum) precipitates
Close-up of acid mine drainage along bank of Belt Creek
Drainage carrying acid mine water towards Belt Creek
Looking downstream on Belt Creek with acid mine drainage along bank (white) and Anaconda Mine discharge (orange)
MBMG nested monitoring wells adjacent to wheat field that overlies Anaconda Coal Mine
Anaconda Mine discharge culvert with flume to measure flow rate
Acid mine precipitates covering probes on in situ monitoring device
ACM-Mine-Fisher-2
Adit (Tunnel)
MBMG contractor inside Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine during installation of drain line
View inside Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine
Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine culvert with gate and warning sign, Belt, MT
Warning sign at Lewis Coulee Coal Mine, Belt, MT
First length of culvert being placed inside Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine, Belt, MT
Culvert with security gate being moved into mine adit
Culvert being moved into mine adit
Culvert with gate installed in Anaconda (Castner) Mine adit
MBMG contractor on top of fallen rock; note mine timbers on right
MBMG contractor installing discharge pipe for mine pool dewatering
Open room inside Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine
Excavator opening Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine
Excavator opening Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine
MBMG contractor inspecting inside Ananconda (Castner) adit
Reclamation
Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine with water drainage and exposed coal waste prior to reclamation
DEQ contractors installing drainage pipe in Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine
Piles of topsoil waiting to be spread on reclaimed waste areas below Anaconda Mine
DEQ contractors spreading straw on topsoil
Anaconda (Castner) Coal Mine adit and reclaimed area