The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1866-09-29
Quartz Mining.

A history Of the early efforts at quartz mining in
California, would prove interesting, and of much
value to those who might wish to engage in that
sometimes hazardous, but generally profitable busi-
ness OF COURSE the experience of the emigrants
was very limited, and the old Mexican ara stra was
the ne plus ultra of the science and fortunate was
the company who secured a scie ntifc Mexican TO
superintend its construction, and run the machine
vague idea seemed to obtain among the early ad-
venturers that while placer mining was uncertain,
and must ultimately become exhausted. quartz min
ing was permanent, and certain to produce for
tune. With this view many who had failed to find
the bed rock pitching, or to strike pocket in pa-
Ger diggings made sure thing on fortune by To-
eating quartz claim and setting to work to crush
out fortune.
Butte was one of the first counties to unpertake
quartz mining, and the rude attempts then made
are well remembered by many Of our pioneers
The amalgamatng pans in those days consisted OF
a large circular vat, some eighteen inches or TWO
feet in depth into which several casks of quieksil
yer were poured, the crushed ore suiced IN, and
loose mules put in whipped around, unit their drl-
yers were out of breath. This operation was soon
found 10 be too expensive the hoofs of the poor
mules usually dropped off from the effects of the
quicksilver and forced the conclusion upon stock
holders that their machinery out to soon to
successfully work quartz paying but $40 or $50 e
ton Quartz miniug has, however, been carried on
with varying success in the county since lS4s and
so. With few exceptions the shafts on the lodges
have not been sunk to depth sufficient to more
than prospect, much less fairly develop ledge and
successfully prosecute the business of quartz min
ing. Most of the ledges have been merely scratch
ed over in the hunt for rich pockets and abandon
ed All of them will pay Tor working, with the
improved machinery now employed, and afford
prospect of striking richer ore as the work goes
down upon the ledges. There are few successful
quartz mines whose shafts and tunnels do not pen
citrate hundreds of feet into the earth How many
such does Butte county contaip? And where are
any such that have proven failures? :? The Columbia
ledge was successfully worked for years and at
great depth. 1t was only abandoned after cave,
that buried two unfortunate hundreds of feet in
the earth.
Viewed in any light we may the quartz mines of
Butte county, are yet unprospected, and her many
lodges are believed TO lie rich as those of other
counties, whose fabulous yields have given wealth
and importance to other localities. Recent discov-
cries on abandoned lodges show that all may yet be
proftably worked and that good reason to the of
contrary ever existed but that arising from the de-
sire prospecors to find fortune on the surface The
useful amagamating machinery invented since the
attempt to work quartz mines in California, have
reduced the process to a certainty, with anything
like reasonably rich rock. In mills now going up.
care is being taken give the mines fair working
test and there will be no more failures, and no
more abandonment of valuable lodges. The sue
cess Of the Sherman mine, some three miles from
Oroville will demonstrate the value of the quartz
lodes of But e county and assist greatly in bring
ing capital here to work them. Just now this vast
resource of the county is lying nearly unproductve
The knowledge obtained of them at early day
with the rude means then at hand for working
them, was incorrect, and in the prevalent uncer
tainty nexperts and swindlers proposed unsound
schemes. squandered the capital caught by them,
and by the losses they caused made people afraid
to invest in mines of almost nexhaustible richness
ltis perhaps, impossible to unite honest and tai
ented men in such enterprises and keep out rogues
and ounces; but practical efforts Will do much to
sweep away the eobwebs of visonaries and stock
iobbers. and inspire confidence in mines producing
favorable prospects. Capital Is ever seeking IN
vestment and the way to secure it is to demon
strate the richness and extent of our numerous
lodges The enormous frauds perpetrated on cap
italists by unscrupuous wild cat SPECTATORS
will be forgotten proofs of the real wealth of the
quartz lodges of the county shall become known.
and both labor and capital will seek investment
where the best profit is TO be obtained, and will
soon open up our many inexhaustible treasure
chambers.
Had quartz mining in Butte been conducted with
as much prudence and persistence as it has been in
Nevada county, many undeyeloped mines
would have given ii an equal if not greater fame.
Ii is not too late TO accomplish this and experience
though always costly. is never valueless. Those
who have quartz lodges, should eNpend labor upon
them sufficient 10 demonstrate their value and,
having done so, will find no difficulty in obtaining
purchasers or capital TO work them with. There is
a growing confidence in the permanence and profit
ableneSs Of quartz mining. The Improvements IN
machinery and processes for amalgamating, have
caused many an abandoned ledge TO be successfully
revoked, 10 great advantage and the end of these
Improvements has not yet been realized. There is
not county in the State that can derive greater
benefits from this class Of mining than Butte, or
that can offer safer mere speedy returns for cap
ital invested in them, and we hope our people will
demonstrate the fact. by proving the richness of
our quartz lodes 1t will then be found mere diff
cult 10 keep capital from getting control of them.
than il has been heretofore to raise capital upon
wild cat stock.