The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-05-18
The Copper Mines Of Butte, Montana.
Van Wagenen in Engineering and Mining journal
April 2S

:
April 2s.
Ire almost new district of Butte, in
Montana, produced last year 800 tons OF
copper ore, carrying on an average 35 per
cent. of that metal and Is ounces of silver
per ton. When it is remembered that tho
district is but two years old, and that it
lies 300 miles away from any railroad, this
yisld will not seem small.
Late issues of the Butte M5ner give the
following information regarding the copper
mines of the district, and the revival of
work this spring upon them. In conse-
quence of the isolation of the town, some
OF the mines are not yet sufficiently devel-
oped to continue work without cash mar
ket for ores, are shut down in the winter,
and remain so until transportation opens in
the spring. The Miner says:
(Here follows extended extracts from the
Miner.)
The ores of the district are oxides (main-
iyt the red oxide) and copper glance. On
nearly all the veins carbonates are fopnd
On the surface which disappear as soon as
depth is gained. In few there is pre-
ponderance of sulphide. The veins are
quite numerous, and cut across the country
like huge dikes, in places traceable by the
colored outcrops for hundreds of feet at a
stretch. They average from three to twen-
ty feet in width, and carry very regular
seam ofpay. which rarely disappears en-
tirely.
Butte is, next to the Clifton district on
the border Of New Mexico and Arizona.
the most prominent tcopper-producing camp
IN the west Its growth has been very rap
i'd, owing to the existence of very good sill
yer mines in the same veins, and that point
In its development has been reached which
precludes the possibility of any permanent
retrogression. Sufficient depth has been at
tanned to demonstrate the permanence to
the de posits, and to give great confidence
to anyone investing capital i'll this exploit
alton. While it will yet require several
years to SO open the mines that their pro-
ductlon will be constant, and beyond the
influence OF hard winters, such as periodi- !
cally come to the more northern Rocky |
Mountain towns, there can be DO question
that the district is one of permanent val
ue.
Within the last few years the develop
ment OF base metal districts in the West
mas become one OF the most important feat
ures i'll its history. We have be come ouite
accustomed to new and rich discoveries of
the precious metals, and the excitement
which attends these has, in measure, hid
den the less brilliant but equally valuable
discoveries of lead, copper and iron depos-
Its. In time it is not unlikely that the
value OF the latter metals produced on the
coast Will approximate to that of gold and
81 YET and alGe9digg If se5ser year Je
value OF pig-iead and argentiferous galenas
shipped East--exclusive Of silver con-
5aiDed- to about $4,000 600, while the
yield of copper was about 81, 900, 0oo.
The production of the Batte mines this
year promi ses to exceed 1000 tons of 80
Der cent. ore. The proportion of silver
carried in the ore is reported to be decreas-
ng as greater depth is attained, which
would be rather a favorable circumstance,
inless it increased to high figure. 1t is a
pity, however, that the Butte ores must be
more than g. 900 miles overland
It an expense of about $50 per ton. before
hey arc smeted. This, expense comes, of
course, ont Of the pockets of the miners
md makes the profits of the producers so
mall that the mines are opened slowly and
developed under great disadvantage.
There is most favorablesopening in this
amp for the erection of copper-smeltng
works. We think anyone who looks over
he field will not be disappointed or dis
;ouraged by the showing.