Gold was first discovered in Montana in 1852, but mining did not begin until 1862, when gold placers were discovered at Bannack, Montana in 1862. The resulting gold rush resulted in more placer discoveries, including those at Virginia City in 1863, and at Helena and Butte in 1864.[25] In 1867, the Atlantic Cable Quartz Lode was located.Montana has a rich mining history, and the state is ranked as the 7th largest producer of gold in the United States by the US Geological Survey. The vast majority of gold districts in Montana are in the western part of the state, near the border of Idaho. The geological conditions are more favorable in the rugged mountains along the Continental Divide than the flatter two-thirds of the stateMontana has a rich mining history, and the state is ranked as the 7th largest producer of gold in the United States by the US Geological Survey. The vast majority of gold districts in Montana are in the western part of the state, near the border of Idaho. The geologic