The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-12-14
THE MINES.
A F~ab"iousiy Rich Strike Rep,rt.a,.,..
Fell.
Large Bedies OF Ore D-isesxar..
Magma Charta,
encouraging News From Other pa RI, a,
the Hill,
BELL.

his sterling property continues to be work.
Gu with energy and success. The west drift
OF the Whim shaft has attained a length of
Zlo feet. This will connect with the midi.
sh"''' out as the latter has been sunk near
Inc 1oot wall and the drift has followed the
hanging wall, which, by careful measurement
are ~ 1eet apart, it las been necessary to
crosscut the ledge to a point beneath the shaft
III order to make the desired connection. Tn
'ne prosecution OF this work, it has been very
easy TO determine the exact nature and extent
OF Inc ore bodies much better thar would be
possible by a number of short c~rosscuts RIM
AT irregular distances from one another. IT,
has been found that the entire mass of matt.r
oet"eeh the two walls, carries metal in
greater or less proportions and hat for at
least 10 feet of the distance, the ore carries a
UNIFORM assay value of rs per cent. cop
per, with several wide streaks ~assaying high
IN silver. 1t is from these streaks that so
much of the rich silver-copper ore shipped to
Tho east during the past summer has been pro-
duced. The low grade copper ore which car
ries rs per cent. copper and a few dollars in
silver per ton, is not being extracted, but the
time is near, when, independently of the sill
yer produced from other parts of the mine,
its copper ore will render it one of the most
valuable mines OF the country. Thirty
feet of 25 per cent. copper ore is a bonanza
in any country.
But something besides copper is now en-
crossing the attention of the owners of the
property. 1t is known that the free ore of
the Bell was among he richest produced
in the camp, but after the deposits between
the middle and east shafts had been, to a
great extent, worked out and after further
sinking had developed the presence of some
remarkably rich silyer-copper ore in the 100
foot Level, little attention was paid to the work
of prospecting nearer the surface. Sometime
ago, however, it was decided to extend in an
easteriy direction the 60 foot level which had
previously been running only west. The old
shoot was followed for about so feet, yielding
some fine free ore, but at this point the rich
ore played out and little else than worthless
ledge matter was visible in the face Of the
drift. Progress was continued, however, and
after passing through 20 feet of barren rock,
another and far richer shoot was discovered
last Sunday. The ore is fabulously rich and
differs in character from that of any
other mine III the district. It is
popularity supposed That free silver
Is found only in combination with bases.
AT least native silver above the water line
has occurred very rarely in this district. ",
remarkable as it may seem, the Bell is now
producing ore from the 80 foot level, high
above water, many pieces of which are liter
ally incrusted with silver, beautifully white
and pure. The specimens sn exhibition al
the assay Office have been viewed with the
greatest wonder by visitors, who, when they
express doubts as to the possible existence o
native silver in free ore are politely invited
to the ore house where 25 tons of the preci
Gus stuff is laying and constantly increasing
by the hoistings from below. The face ofth
drift from which the ore is being extracted
has been forwarded about 25 feet from wher
the bonanza was struck. The shoot pitche
east and doubtless considerable time will b
required to determine its length. It is prob
ably the richest development ever made il
the territory.
MoULTON.
Some delay in sinking las been occf
stoned during the past few days by the It
moval of tImoers from the shaft, but thes
were delivered Gu Tuesday, and yesterda
three shifts Of men were employed TO sin
the shaft, which will now De put down wit
all possible expedition. A force of men
employed in excavating for the shaft house
the erection of which Will begin within til
next few days, under the direction of NJ
3 Tuttle. The blacksmith shop has been con
pleted. About % men are employed.
MOUNTAIN 10Y.
: At the bottom of the incline, at a depth
2l0 feet, the east and west drifts have bee
extended each to a length of 40 feet, and al
= being driven ahead with vigor. Stopping wi
soon begin, which will double the outpu
j.. About one hundred tons of first AMI secon'
3 class ore are on the dump. Thirteen men a
employed.
MAGMA CHARTA.
5 1t is now reasonably certain that popul
. expectation in regard to the magnitude, pc
manence and richness of this ledge will
fulfilled. From the bottom of the ma
shaft the cros,cuts have been extended nor
IS feet and south 90, and each has encou
tered and penetrated a large body OF OF
The north crosscut has struck the vein viii
the shaft cut at a depth of IS feet, and
one running south has uncovered the mi
ledge on which the Alice and Moulton ha
b ell developed. At a depth of 65 feet
north vein was six feet wide, and at a DEF