The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-12-07
RErORT ON N

The Hon. Clarence King, director Of the
United States geological survey, in his recent
annual report, gives some very interesting
statistics in regard to the famous Comstock
mine of Nevada. He says that in point OF
and yield it is second to none in
the world that during the last twenty years
1926, OOO, 900 worth of bullion had been ex-
tracted; that the length Of the shafts and
galleries is 25O miles that the number OF
men employed in the mines on the LIST OF JAN
uary last was $500, earning wages of "a per
DAY. At the same time there were $40 men
employed in the matchmaking mills. In
cluded in Mr.. Kings report is that of Eliot
Lord. special agent of the census. He has
not fully completed his work, but presents
the report Of his reconnaissance of the San
Francisco, Eureka and Bodie districts. 1t is
a learned disquisition on the geological fol-
nation of that country. Here is what he
says in regard to q mine situated IN one Of
the above named districts. 1t is of much in
terest to practical miners, and we give il:
"Next north of the grampian Is a granite
mountain, and cutting both the metamorphics
and granite are dykes of tertiary volcanic
rocks, which cover the country for a long dis
lance to the east. Among the volcanic rocks
which l have identified mlcroscopically are
hornblende, audesite, augite audesite, trac-
nyte and rhyolite. The audesites crop only
to a slight extent, but there is reason to be-
lieve that they are extensively represented.
At a short distance from the surface the gran
tie metamorphic rocks and volcanic rocks all
.lor- ono ou;o -as,,c hr,f IN tI,a - 81 wilma
of the district horn silver is in contact be-
tween metamerphic and volcanic rocks, at the
fost of grampian mountains. At the surface
of the east wall of horn silver is trachyte,
but large masses of audesite certainly under
lie the trachyte at a short distance to the east,
and it is probable that it forms the east wall
at a short distance underground. The walls
are exposed IN only one or two places in the
mine, and not to a sufficient extent at the
time of my visit to enable me to make a sat-
isfactory determination. The horn silver is a
vast ore body, nearly, orquite, without waste,
and the estimate of 100000 tens in sight did
not appear to me excessive. The ore is essen
TALLY angleslte, with occasional small masses
of galena and disseminated particles of ruby
silver and horn silver. 1t also contains sele-
mum in some forms. Thesmine is absolutely
dry even at the o0O-foot level"
Va "sAs A-SnNiN SShSuo WIN
reports sthat he will submit a volume on the
mechanical appliances used in mining and
milling on the Comstock lode" The object
of this work is to present to the mining world
an insight into the magnitude, cost and ex-
tent Of such machinery as is now to be found
in use nowhere in the world except in the
Comstock. He proposes "to present an ex-
position of the California battery aud pan
mills, giving full drawings of the machinery
and framing as a whole, with the details Of
all the important parts. In a second part
of his report will be found in "detail, the re-
suit of the experimental determinations of
the work accomplished by the various appli-
ances lii use, so far as it is possible to deter
MIN it," Mr.. Eckert's report will doubtless
pr, We of great advantage to those engaged in
silver mining. From it may be understood
to what extent certain mechanical appliances
may be successful in large mining undertake
ings.
We have at the present time two gentle
men-Nessrs. W. F. Wheeler and Carl For
syth-employed by the government as assist
anu mining experts, Wuose uuLY III part Is u
collect certain data in regard to our mines,
These, when compiled, will form a work of
much interest and practical benefit to our
miners and mill men. All assistance in the
line of their duty should be cheerfully ex.
tended to these gentlemen by mining men.
that they may be able to present a full and
exhaustive report of our mining interests.
We apprehend that when our 100 known
mines are swelled to three or four hundred
by future developments of present prospects,
we will be able to show a greater annual out.
put Of bullion than the Comstock ever did in
its palmiest days. Butte can do this with less
expense than attended mining On the Com.
stock during its earlier development. 1t has
the advantage of the experience of men who
have devoted years to silver mining, and the
enterprise to plant only such machinery ant
use such aid in mining as that experience
suggests. We confidently predict that at the
next census in 1890, Butte will be reported a
the largest and richest mining camp in thu
world.