Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-09-07
the DIAMOND DRILL
IT. Real Use ON n
ssaaess illustrative o.
fits OF Ruuuing H.

There has never been q time when 10
much work with the diamond drill mas
bsep done on the Coms.ock as within
the last few weeks. From Utah TO Alta
the Jewels have been scratching holes
into the rock in all directions and
through all sorts Of formations.
The lower levels Of the Ophir and
Mexican have been thoroughly perfor-
a,sd east and west by the diamond drill.
Superintendent Patton was recently
asked by q News representative why 1t
had been applied there so vigorously
He replied that BY its use he had been
sbls to discover the exact location oil the
water courses which range through the
formations Of rocks in and along the
lode. This was its greatest use. IL was
a great advantage. too. sometimes 10 DO
able to drill ahead and ascertain what
danger existed. II any, OF an innn1 OF
water whom running drifts; and noods
were thus frequently avoided.
IA illustrative OF his remarks. Mr..
Patton said that In running the drill east
ON the $500 level and in the joint Ophir-
| Mexican crosscut o large body Of water
had been tapped. He could now con-
| duct operations on that level and on the
levels below that in suoh Q way a. to
avoid that water course. The fow from
II was very strong. and II would give q
srea, deal OF trouble and cause . great
deal Of expense II ever 1t should Do
tapped by Q DRIFT or crosscut. BY aid OF
| tb. drill be would be able 10 CONNECT the
Ophir and Union shafts on the $500 level
without flooding any OF the mines.
Illustrative OF Mr.. Patton's position
is the steady dow OF hot water from tbs
north DRIFT, 1900 level Of Savage. which
cannot be b%ulkheaded. Had that body
been first tapped by q diamond drill
| the flooding Of that mine aud the Hale
L Norcross for four years and the con-
slant and indefinite pumping OF q large
stream Of hot water to ths Sutro tunnel
| level would have been avoided.
Besides, the diamond drill has use as
q prospector. 1t 10 not always reliable
when an ore body or streak OF ore has
been found. especially II the ore is soft.
| For instance, IL q vein Of chloride ore.
| narrow and soft aud rich. 10 struck by
| the diamond drill II will feed the borinRs
OF the drill for q long distance aud give
indications Of several feet OF milling ore.
| Sill il is sometimes Of use a. 1t often
determines whether there is anything in
the prospecting region worth drifting
for.
Although there is scarcely q mine on
the lode which has not . diamond drill,
its warnings are not always needed. Mr..
Reaua Of the Chollar protested against
the drift run from the 240O station Of
the @. n. S. shaft for the Savage in.
cline, In which so much water was en-
countered. He hal studied the water
courses and felt for them with the dia.
mond drill on levels above till he knew
the danger which lay in that direction.
That be has laid out drifts to develop
the Chollar and Potosi which avoid
water courses. 10 proved by running
south on the 2i0O level. .
The above instances are cited ont Of
man on the lode equally illustrative Of
the real use OF the diamond drill. A
new use OF 1t has recently been made by
| the Jacket and the Overmap, In which
mines il has been sent down perpendic'
ularly to quad against water. when
tho Jacket wanted to 60 below the 5000
level perpendicularly. tho drill said,
Thus far and no farther on overIan
no such injunction was laid.