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Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology

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Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology

The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology is the State Geological Survey, and the principal source of earth science information for the citizens of Montana.

09/14/2026

Montana Seismic Activity Roundup for August 2026!

This month brought 116 earthquakes to Montana (almost the same as July)! The largest had a magnitude of 3.2.

Wondering what you're looking at?
--- Circle size = magnitude
--- Circle color = depth

Montana averages 7-10 small earthquakes every day, so this is just another month of normal seismic activity in the state. But it's good to stay informed about what's happening beneath your feet!

Want to know if there are active faults or earthquakes near you? Check out the "Geohazards / Earthquake Studies" section of our website under Montana Geology!

Data: MBMG & USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

09/11/2026

You asked, we listened! After a video about our Anaconda Research Collection got such an amazing response, we knew you wanted to see the rocks in person. Now you can!

Join us on September 18th from 5 - 7 pm for a special reception featuring specimens from the ARC and the work of MBMG geologist Kyle Eastman at the Mineral Museum!

Can't make the reception? No worries - the collection is on display through November 1st. Come explore Montana's mining heritage whenever works for you!

Want to learn more about the Collection? Read our fact sheet here:https://mbmg.mtech.edu/pdf-publications/FS52.pdf

09/09/2026

A beautiful place to work! Our team recently joined the NPS, USGS, and DNRC to install groundwater monitoring wells in northern Yellowstone National Park.

These wells will track groundwater levels, temperature, and water chemistry over time - helping us understand what's happening beneath the surface in one of the most geologically active places on Earth!

📸: Alan English

08/27/2026

BTS from summer fieldwork at the Big Hole River! Our team has been out measuring groundwater levels and gathering data on this critical Montana resource.

The Big Hole matters for farming, fishing, and recreation - but low flows have been a challenge in recent years. Our research is investigating ways to help keep this river flowing during dry periods.

📸: Josie Grigsby

08/24/2026

Montana Geology: 41 Geosites for the 41st State is now live!

Explore 41 incredible geosites across Montana from your couch! MBMG's former Mineral Museum Director Steven Quane guides you through stunning geology with 360° videos that make you feel like you're actually there.

From famous spots to hidden gems, this free video series is perfect for geology lovers, virtual travelers, or anyone curious about what makes Montana's landscape so special!

Explore the full series: https://doi.org/10.59691/LHUT3885

08/17/2026

67 years ago, Montana was transformed by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake near West Yellowstone.

On August 17, 1959, the Hebgen Lake earthquake triggered a massive landslide in Madison Canyon that killed 28 people, partially buried the Rock Creek campground, and dammed the Madison River to create Earthquake Lake. The earthquake caused dramatic ground displacement—up to 18-20 feet of fault scarps that remain visible today on the Hebgen Lake and Red Canyon faults.

This event remains a powerful reminder of Montana's seismic activity and the importance of earthquake preparedness.

The image below is from our 2024 calendar; you can view the full text here:https://mbmg.mtech.edu/pdf-calendars/2024calendar.pdf

Learn more about our MBMG Geohazards program here: https://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/MontanaGeology/geohazards/Earthquakes/about.asp .tab=0

Tour Earthquake Lake in virtual reality via our "41 Montana Geosites" series on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zxoy_9PmIHU?si=RleQtN6spee8H35m

08/13/2026

Butte 100 Mountain Bike Races race day is monitored by more than just timers and volunteers; our seismic station at Limekiln Ridge (LRM) sits right along the course!

This year, we captured something pretty cool: hundreds of mountain bikers passing the station created a clear, distinct seismic signal that our instruments picked up. You can clearly see every hour of race day, from the moment the race started, when the first rider reached Limekiln Ridge, to when the last rider passed through.

For comparison, we have data from the same time window in 2024, when the race route didn't pass by Limekiln Ridge as a consequence of the intense fires nearby. Notice how different the signal looks!

Pretty amazing what our sensitive seismic equipment can detect!

08/06/2026

Montana Seismic Activity Roundup for July 2026!

This month brought 117 earthquakes to Montana! The largest had a magnitude of 2.7.

Wondering what you're looking at?
--- Circle size = magnitude
--- Circle color = depth

Montana averages 7-10 small earthquakes every day, so this is just another month of normal seismic activity in the state. But it's good to stay informed about what's happening beneath your feet!

Want to know if there are active faults or earthquakes near you? Check out the "Geohazards / Earthquake Studies" section of our website under Montana Geology!

Data: MBMG & USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

07/23/2026

Throwback to summer fieldwork at the MBMG! Nothing beats a day in the field, especially when you get to bring your favorite "rock hounds" along!

07/13/2026

Happy International Rock Day!

Our MBMG team opened their desk drawers and scoured their bookshelves to share some interesting geological treasures with us! Each one tells a story about our state's incredible geology.

What's YOUR favorite Montana rock or geology spot? Tag us in your summer geology adventures!

📸
1: Liddi - A piece of the Anderson-Dietz coal from the Spring Creek coal mine near Decker, Montana. Coal is an economically important rock in Montana, but also, up close, you can see why it's such a good aquifer as well. (Peep the 10 years of service pen from Tech as well!)
2: Susan B. - Bismuth sample and a really cool rock of unknown origins
3: Gary - Agates (check out that amazing rainbow! Learn more about Montana agates on our YouTube channel!)
4: Denise - Pebbles from Placid Lake from the Belt Formation. The redder rocks are from layers that have oxidized. The greener rocks are from more oxygen-deprived layers. The layers in these rocks were deposited more than 1 billion years ago!
5: Susan S. - Obsidian
6: Andrew - “Clinker Hemlock” from the Powder River Basin, but this is the more typical red. In this case, there was a branch of what appears to be Hemlock preserved in the shale, which was then preserved in the resulting clinker. A clinker is formed by coal burning and cooking the overlying shale, creating a low-grade ceramic.

Address

1300 W Park Street
Butte, MT
59701

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(406) 496-4180

Website

http://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/

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