The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-06-23
Distribution Of Ores In tie COmstock
Vein at Gold Hill.

/ We ind the following very interesting ar.
ticle in the shape of a leader in late number
of the Virginia City Union:
The occurrence of ore in "chimueys," and
of barren portions beneath them, ceases en-
tirely at the divide between Virginia and
Gold Hill The great wealth of the mines
south of it consists in the continuous ore-
bearing character Of the lode for length of
fifteen hundred and forty feet, from the Alpha
mine to the middle partof the Y elbow Jacket,
and of other extensive portions farther south.
The vein is by no means ore bearing in its
entire width; but the ore is concentrated in
continuous sheets, the principal enc of which
is very near and parallel to the eastern wall,
and but little interrupted in its entire length.
Its widest places, are from forty to fifty
five feet, aud in the Imperial, Bacon and
Empire mines, and again in the Yellow jacket.
In most places it commenced at from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty
feet below the surface; and in many mines
il is still worked attheir lowest levels IL is
wider in the three first mines because they
are uuited into one mass. South OF the Ern-
pire it forks into three branches, the two
western ones continuing In an irregular way
Besides this very extensive eastern body,
there is another one in the Gold Hill mines
farther to the west, which extends from the
outcroppIngs down to fiom one hundred 10
two hundred and fifty feet in depth, and dips
at an angle of so to.60 degrees to the west.
1t was worked out in the early and most
hourishlng time of Gold Hill, and considera-
Ole amounts were extracted, as its width was
from twelve to twenty-five feet, and the ore
very rich particularly in gold. 1t continues
in length, without interruption, for about
five hundred feet. A similar body was worked
out in the Yellow Jacket, the Crown Point
and the Belcher. 1t was not quite continu.
Gus, but at each of the three places was sew
eral hundred fee: in length. Everywhere it
dips to the west at about sixty degrees. and
at some depth, which, as we recede from the
northern Gold Hill mines, slightly but con-
stauLly increases, hattenS out to the west, th {
bottom being nothing but clay in horizontal
layers. Also its southern portion was re-
for its high yield in gold aud for its
rich ores in general, but its width was here
only from SIX to twelve feet. The southern
most continuation of this body was found in
the OVerman mine, where it is likewise rich
in gold, but is limited in extent.
The upper portion Of the Gold Hill mines
are but little explored, aud even at lower
levels the works were Gever extended to the
western branch of the vein. When the bot
tom of the first deposit was reached and its
wealth found to terminate ia clay, the owners
of the mines became discouraged but ex-
plorations from that claYey bottom toward |
the east, brought them to the place where the |
real wealth of their mines is accumulated |
and will probably last for long time to
come The eastern bodies were first found in /
Gold Hill proper, then in the Yellow Jacket,
the Kentucky and Grown Point, while the
Belcher and Overman mines have not yet
succeeded in fndng them.
Another subject which we have TO consider,
in connection with the mode of distribution
of the ore, is the change in its yield. 1t is a
matter known to every Washoe miner that, in
general, it has decreased. The deposits of
The Ophir and Mexican, and of the Gould
Curry, were the richest. The former yielded,
IT an average, one hundred and seven dollars
per ton the latter seventy to eighty dollars,
the imperfect processes of
extraction were formerly applied. Ores of
six hundred dollars to the ton were then no
rarity, and considerable shipments could be
made of such as yielded from two thousand
10 three thousand dollars to the ton. 1t would
now scarcely be possible to collect one ton
IF such ore excepting when old works, in the
highest levels, are being oVerhauled Ores
of three hundred to four hundred dollars are
1ow of sEare occurrence as formerly those
IF fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars.
rhe yield of the middle and low grade ores
IIso has considerably diminished and, by
ar, the majority of the ore which is being
extracted at this day contains, at an average,
lot more than thirty to thirty-two dollars,
While the general average of all ores will not
,e more than thirty seven dollars to the ton.
This decrease applies for the total amount of
ire extracted; bat it is equally true of every
ingle mine. The quantity of ore extracted
las remained stationary for long time past,
md is now about twelve hundred and City
ons daily. But the methods of reduction
lave improved, and thsir expenses been di.
therefore ores of lower grade than
ormerly can now be worked proftably.
During the early period of the working on
he Comstock lode, the proportion of gold
nd silver changed considerably. But as a
reater depth is being reached the proportionl
# gold is agsin on the increase.
r = II q L