Scratchgravel Hills
Encyclopedia
The Scratchgravel Hills, el. 5233 feet (1,595 m) are a small summit of hills northwest of Helena
in Lewis and Clark County, Montana
. The area has seen increased development and a drop in water level in recent years. The Scratchgravel Hills have alluvial deposits on top of faulted granitic bedrock. There was extensive mining in the area in late 1800s through the 1930s. The northern part of the region has folding shale, sandstone and limestone from the Algonkian (Belt) age. Adjacent granite has altered them into quartz-mica schist and related rocks. The southern and central portions of the region contains quartz monzonite
. Bitterroot
and conifers are common in the area.
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
in Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Flathead National Forest * Helena National Forest * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:...
. The area has seen increased development and a drop in water level in recent years. The Scratchgravel Hills have alluvial deposits on top of faulted granitic bedrock. There was extensive mining in the area in late 1800s through the 1930s. The northern part of the region has folding shale, sandstone and limestone from the Algonkian (Belt) age. Adjacent granite has altered them into quartz-mica schist and related rocks. The southern and central portions of the region contains quartz monzonite
Quartz monzonite
Quartz monzonite is an intrusive igneous rock that has an approximately equal proportion of orthoclase and plagioclase feldspars. The plagioclase is typically intermediate to sodic in composition, andesine to oligoclase. Quartz is present in significant amounts. Biotite and/or hornblende...
. Bitterroot
Bitterroot
Bitterroot is a small, low plant with a pink to white flower. It is the state flower of Montana, United States....
and conifers are common in the area.