Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite
Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Vermiculite Mountain Mine (Libby Vermiculite Mine), Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USAi
Regional Level Types
Vermiculite Mountain Mine (Libby Vermiculite Mine)Mine
Rainy Creek Mining DistrictMining District
Lincoln CountyCounty
MontanaState
USACountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
00624390017272041299933.jpg
Vermiculite

Vermiculite Mountain Mine, Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
02227240017272041306934.jpg
Vermiculite

Vermiculite Mountain Mine, Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
00624390017272041299933.jpg
Vermiculite

Vermiculite Mountain Mine, Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
02227240017272041306934.jpg
Vermiculite

Vermiculite Mountain Mine, Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
00624390017272041299933.jpg
Vermiculite

Vermiculite Mountain Mine, Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
02227240017272041306934.jpg
Vermiculite

Vermiculite Mountain Mine, Rainy Creek Mining District, Lincoln County, Montana, USA
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
48° 26' 0'' North , 115° 24' 27'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
48.43361,-115.40750
GeoHash:
G#: c2tgtc4f4
GRN:
N33W56
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
Dfb : Warm-summer humid continental climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Libby2,645 (2017)12.1km
White Haven577 (2011)12.8km
Pioneer Junction959 (2011)13.6km
Troy877 (2017)35.7km
Happys Inn164 (2011)43.7km
Mindat Locality ID:
166206
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:166206:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Commodities (Major) - Vermiculite; (Trace) - Feldspar
Development Status: Producer
Host Rock Unit: Missoula Group
Structure: Northwest Trending Faults And Folds In Rocks Of Belt Supergroup, Northwest Trending Syncline In Wallace Fm. Of Belt Supergroup.
Host Rock: Pyroxenite


According to Sanchez (2008) the vast majority of analyzed amphiboles are winchite or richterite.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


5 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite
Formula: [Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
ⓘ Richterite
Formula: Na(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Tremolite
Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘ Vermiculite
Formula: Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
ⓘ Winchite
Formula: ◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘTremolite9.DE.10◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘRichterite9.DE.20Na(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘWinchite9.DE.20◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘMagnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite9.DE.25[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
ⓘVermiculite9.EC.50Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Unclassified
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ RichteriteNa(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Hⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ RichteriteNa(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Oⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
FFluorine
Fⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ RichteriteNa(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Naⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Naⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ RichteriteNa(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Mgⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Alⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ RichteriteNa(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Siⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ RichteriteNa(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Caⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Caⓘ Winchite◻{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
FeIron
Feⓘ VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O
Feⓘ Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2

Other Databases

Link to USGS MRDS:10070453

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

North AmericaContinent
North America PlateTectonic Plate
USA

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Boettcher, A. L. (1967), The Rainy Creek Alkaline Ultramafic Igneous Complex near Libby, Montana, Journal of Geology: 75(5): 526-553.
Johns, W. M. (1970), Geology and Mineral Deposits of Lincoln and Flathead Counties, Montana, Montana Bur.......
Sanchez, Matthew S., Gunter, Mickey E., Dyar, M. Darby (2008) Characterization of historical amphibole samples from the former vermiculite mine near Libby, Montana, U.S.A. European Journal of Mineralogy, 20 (6) 1043-1053 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1866
Quick NavTopCommoditiesMineral ListRock TypesOther DatabasesOther RegionsReferences
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 3, 2026 15:49:04 Page updated: August 18, 2025 23:14:17
Go to top of page