Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-08-25
raE ConsrooK LRpar.

THE COMsT0OK LEDGE
From the third volume Of the Re
ports OF the United States Geological
Exploration Of the Fortieth Parallel,
under direction Of Clarence King, we
CLEAN the following items Of interest
relative to the great Comstock ledge:
The vein has been clearly traced for
a distance Of about four miles, and like
the range In which 1t Is located, bears
almost due north and south. Mining
claims occupy Its entire length, for
E,OOO feet; but on either extremity,
and more particularly the northern
one, the explorations made, so far, are
not very extensive, as it has not proved
very productive. Those portions of the
vein which may be considered fully de-
veloped, and which have been Of q
highly productive character, are en-
braced within about two miles and
even within this limit, the ore bearing
rock has not been found continuous,
but in disconnected bodies with long
Intervals Of barren rock occurring be-
tween them. The vein, on the surface,
varies in width from 200 to 800 feet,
but, In It's downward course, the walls
rapidly approach m another, until,
In some places they almost unite-a
thin layer Of clay only remaining be-
tween them. Chimneys, however, are
found to exist here and there, which
are supposed to communicate with the
subterranean source Of the vein itself,
these chimneys being viewed as the
vents through which the matter FORM
Ing the ledge was forced up during the
period Of volcanic activity which pro-
duced 1t.
The three known chimuey-openlngs
OF the lode are styled the "Gold Hill,''
the Virginia -" and the "Ophir."
Explorations on these chimneys have
been carried on to a depth Of over
1900 feet, resulting In the immense
aggregate yield of 800, 0OO, 1000, during
the brief period of nine years, or ut the
rate Of $l1. ZOO, 900 per annum. The
aggregate yield of the "Ophir" group
Is estimated at 81, 800, 900 the "Yir-
ginia," $4S, 900, 900. aud the "Gold
Hill" at about az, 600, 900. These
figures have been taken from the off,
cial returns of the various mining COM
panies, but do not cover the consider
able sums which must have leaked out
in the form Of mill cleanings and bat
terry scrapings, and which would swell
the total product to several millions
more. Great as the yield has been,
the vein contains anenormons quantity
Of non-productive rock. According to
the Atlas plates accompanying the re-
port, not more than twenty-five per
cent. Of the actual face Of the lode has
been occupied by argentiferous bodies,
and Of that it Is estimated that not
more than one five-hundreths of the
vein material has been charged with a
workable per centage of silver.
Forty-siN claims, varying from ten
to two thousand feet In length, were
originally located on the Comstock
lode in 80 and go. Since that time
many of the smaller ones have been
consolidated. Extensive operations
have been conducted on them all, In
most instances realizing large profits
to the Adventures. Many Of them
have earned q worldwide reputation,
and hold prominent positions OH the
stock exchanges Of Europe and Amer
lea. The most important n e are the
Gould Il Curry. Savage, Hale u Nor
cross, Chollar-P otosi, Crown Point,
Empire, Belcher and Overman. Shafts
lave been sunk to the depth Of 1900
feet, ut an average cost Of about $50
per foot. In the bonanzas, or ore
bearing portions Of the ledge, the ore
Ia very finely, almost imperceptibly
distributed through the mass, and with
a general uniformity. The character
of the quartz forming these ore bodies
Is usually soft, granular and some
times friable, and can generally be
worked without the aid of powder,
although blasting has to be resorted to
occasionally.
As to the continuance in depth Of
this great lode uufavorable opinions
have been often freely expressed, and
prophecies made Of its final eXhaus-
ton. To a great extent, the answer
to the question rs to whether 1t Will
continue productive with increasing
depth, still remains q matter Of mere
conjecture. The fact that the vein
material Is matter entirely foreign to
the country rock forming its walls, Is
strong evidence In Mr.. Kings mind In
favor of the opinion that its source lies
beneath 1t, and that, at least, in the
chimneys leading from that source, ore
will be obtained for an indefinite
depth. The peculiar disposition OF the
bonanzas in the ledge lead him to be-
heve also that there Is more than one
! chimney or vent, and the fact that
there are no unfavorable indications
pointing toward flual exhaustion, he
accepts as a favorable indication OF Its
continuance In depth.