San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-12-06
THE slEIsIlA srOJADA.
4 Few Plain but Pracsic"i Ob'
seryatIons by "a Scientific
It+- ylun.
SIERRA MoJADA, CoAHUILA,
MEXICO, Nov. 8, 1879.

/
Editors San Antonio RxpresG
Surprising that a few notes froT
here may be Of interest to your read
ers. ! send the following;
The Mojada mines are situated in tn
State of Coahu;la, Mexico, about -
miles west northwest Of the town O
Cuatro Cienegas. (27' 3O north lati
tude.) Tho mountain range, 10 or 2
miles of length, is elevated about 200
feet above the valley, consists princi
pally Of limestone OF the trassic, or o
the las formation, the base or under
laying formation being q coarse, rec
conglomcrate or sandstone belonging
to the Permian system, and is made vi
Of fragments of granite, porphyry ant
tyachytic rocks, The elevation of tn,
valley above the sea level is about 4,
900 feet, and hence we have ia thil
latitude q pleasant climate. AS yet
there has been no frost, although somt
northers have shaken our tents to the
foundation.
The deposits, or veins Of silver ore
of which 80 many wild stories have
been spread, are nearly all situated al
the foot of the mountain, on its north
ern slope. For a distance of about l.
800 yards runs a vein, which shows on
the surface a width of from 20 to &c
yards from wall to wall. In the west.
cru portion Of the vein. whose course
is from east to west, with dip or in
clination Of 30' to the south, that is
towards and under the mountain-lron
ores are predominant, carrying copper
ore and cloride of silver. BY actual
working Of ton or two in the smelt-
ing works of Matehuala, the following
results have been obtained: From
Nina Blanca, 1893 per ton; from Jesus
Maria, s3O5; and from La Cruz, 1870
per ton. The first of the mentioned
mines is only about half yard thick,
and of limited extent, running under
the cap rock of small hill, from one
side to the other. The other mines OF
this class arc not enough developed to
form an opinion on. The outcrop of
the Jesus Maria shows width of 30
yards, by so or GO in length, present.
ing splendid prospect. All the other
mines have iron ores on the outcrop,
(gossan) and show principally lead
ores, carbonates of lead, with from 30
to so ounces of silver per ton, and from
% to so per cent of lead. They carry
q great deal of iron ochre and manga
nese, and having at the same time
quartz and limestone gangue. are very
fusible. In some places near to the
surface the lead ores show seams two
yards in thickness. There is no doubt
that these mines will produce much
silver. Il hey are mostly owned by
some 10 Or II companies, and it re-
lures capital to develop them and put
up the necessary smelling works. Such
investments l think not only safe but
lucrative. Water is rather scarce
here, and there are only two springs of
water on the mountain range, which
hardly supply the want of the people
and the beasts. The road from Gle.
nagas here is also with long stretches
without any water. Only after rains
water may be found in distances from
20 to 30 miles. There have been
'ound n good many other veins, but as
hey are opened only to the depth of a
ew feet, it remains yet to be seen if
hey will be counted amongst the pro-
lucng ones or not. AS yet no smelt-
ng or amalgamation works have been
erected. Their half dozen of takonas
,r arrastraL and a small Castili4n fur
lace with handpower bellows for
blast, do not deserve the name of re-
luction works.
There are some 500 or 1000 men
,ere, spectators, idlers and workmen.
We also enjoy the presence of hun
!red soldiers to keep order. which
hey do effectually. Wages are from
DC to 81 per day, but the work done
5 costly in comparison. As yet there
5 no commerce established here. Here
nd there little stock of provisions
$ sold at the price that can be got.
fuel for smelling may be had at the
rice Of 50@75c per 100 pounds of
harcoal. Timber is scarce.
All those who think to pick up the
jumps of gold and silver as the old
orty miners used to do in California.
MI be sadly disappointed, while | do
OF doubt that good workingman can
iake a, living here,
Most respectfully,
&. ScHUcuARD.
ha., A..