The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-16
HOW TO FIND BONANZAS.

Professor Stewart has written letter
to the Ssn Francisco Stock Report on
the subject cf.weerfc,sl dspressious on
the Comstock lode and the evidences
they furnish Of the existence of ore
bodies beneath, in which he says:
% In localities containing veins OF pre-
cious metals. the surface Inequalities of
the land are frequently sure Indices OF
rloh deposits of ore beneath. This topo-
graphical popularity has been OF infinite
vaiae to me in enabling me to determine
with approximate accuracy the prospec.
tive value of many OF our best paying
mines, and ss philosophy of the matter
is exceedingly simple, / shall repeat it
here. As rule one of the predominant
elements IN all re.benring veins is iron
either as sulphide, q sulphuret, or In
some other form of chemical combina-
ton. Iron, as we all know, oxidizes
with great facility when brought IN con-
tact with organic elements and rapidly
degredates into friabie red and dust.
We further know that slleY Is an abun-
dsnt element IN the formation of nearly
sll the rocks. and also that it is one of
The most obdurate and indestructibie
substances in nature. In this country
silex forms the chief material for the
vein stuff of our ore.bsaring mines, and
we've It not that such veius are always
heavily charged wItu oxiIizable irou.
there wouiI bs slight basis tor Tue .hroi Y
OF erosion amt dislDtegration about which
/ aW writIng, for about the only known
agents for tho reduction Of silt are hot
waller, alkali aud huoric acid. Now il
must be apparent that when slick or
qaar'z Exists without being associated
with IRON or other oxid liable material,
the ob,urats. f.nty mass will resist the
action of erouing elements, and therefore
always maintain an elevated position on
the earth's surface. 1t must be equally
appar, mt that the rocks containing q
large percentage of iron. or other oyidlz-
able substances, will be rapidly dlsin-
tagratsd and washed into deep bas,ns
aud gorges by the erodlng forces. For
many thousands OF years the great ore.
bearing zone of tue Comstock has been
subjected to those mighty eroding
ageuclss Millions of dollars worth OF
gold and silver have been washed from
the iron submits of the original deposits,
and the deep depressions, now marking
the surface, are simply indlces OF what
is LETT OF the primitive bonanzas. Those
familiar with the ComstocK need not bs
told that all of the heavy ore bodies
which have been discovered in that To-.
1caiity. und-riis deep depressions or
basin-shaped channels. The elevated
ridges or divides are generally barren,
simp.y because they are composed OF
obdurato silicious rocks which contain
very little iron or other oxidizable sle.
nents. In addition to the rich ore
bodies which have already been dis
covered under the Comstock depressions
I have substantial reasons for believing
that there are many other big bonanzas
in the great zone which have not ysi
been devslops,f, aud in order to CRAFTY
your 'Subscrlber' will name few Of
them: At tho head Of Seven. mile Canyon
are the CARRIER & Thornton, the 'Soor.
pion. the Sierra Nevada and the East
Sierra N-vada.' all of which occupy
positions in a notably deep depression
and il my theory be based upon tenable
ground, they will prove to be valuable
properties when fairly explored. The
Yellow jacket new shaft and the Formar
shaft OF the Ovesman are both located
upon the TANKS ots deeply sroded gorgt
At the Gold Hill end OF the Comstock
and I shall confidently expect rich orr
developments in both of those mines
l might mention many other unexpiofet
locations where the deep depressious in
dictate fertility below, but have alrsad!
transosnded the limits OF newspaps
communication"