The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-01-20
THE MINING

The weekly mining report published IN
another column contains information relative
to some Of the principal mines of the district
of a most gratifying character. 1t is safe to
say that nine out OF every ten properties
which are at present being developed in this
district are rapidly proving to be permanent
and valuable. The change noticeable i'll the
character of the ore below water level, in
some cases calls for a different process of re-
duction, but is no indication that the mines
will not continue to pay a handsome profit.
In a recently published interview which a
representative of this journal had with Pro-
fessor Clayton, that gentleman gave
the following scientific explanation as
to the character of the ore discovered
at or near the water mark. From the Profess
sor's statement it plainly appears why the ores
near the water level are to an extent lmpov-
erished. while those found above are COM
paratively much richer. Mr.. Clayton eN-
planned the peculiarly by stating that the
formation Of the "Summit Valley Mining
District is a granite country rock that contains
little or no chlorine, hence the silver sulphur
cts, when they became oxydized to sulphates,
were soluble in water. and no chlorine being
present to precipitatc the silver as all insolu-
Bile chloride, the sulphates leached out or
settled down III the vein ~fisSltre and re-depos-
tied the metal as sulphide, or in some cases
native silver. Veins that traverse the Sec
onGary or marine rocks invariably carry
chloride ores above water and sometimes
below wafer level, bat the general rule is that
all silver lodes carry their ore below water as
sulphides, and the various combinations with
anlimUny, arsenic and other base metals.
Native silver in quantity is exceptional n all
mining countlies.'
1t thus appears that the owners OF mines in
which the ore extracted near the water level
is less valuable than thGD extracted from
above, have no reason to be discouraged, for
by prosecuting development in a downward
directionore will be found OF greatly increased
value, certain forms of the precious metal
having leacled below water mark and been
re-deposited at Il greater depth either as native
silver or a silver ~sulpLide. In no cases that
have come to our notice have complaints been
made in which the ore veins at the water
, level have been stated to be less strong and
well defined. The contrary is more o.tenthe
case. In the Gagnon especially does the ore
body adjacent to the water mark give every in
dication of increased permanence and extent.
The only complaint that can possibly be made
to prevent downward exploration is that in
! S,n,a aaSas tln,I0I nv M means in all the
assay value of the ore where water is first en-
cOuntered is found to be less than is contained
in that extracted during surface development.
This popularity is undoubtedly met with in
certain mines of the district, but it is a sadly
mistaken notion to suppose that the character
of the ore at the water mark may be regarded
as Indicating that the ore extracted from a
greater depth will be correspondingly de.
creased in quality as compared with that
taken from the upper workings. To any
practical miner who will reflect on the sub
ject for a few minutes the fallacy Of such &
supposition will become plainly evident anc
if any further proof is required as to the cor
rectness of Clayton's statement, the devel.
Opments recently made in the Alice bonanza
may be relied upon to prove sufficiently con
vincing.
1t therefore appears that the only thin!
necessary to make Summit Valley not onl.
the most prosperous section in Montana bu
one of the largest producing districts on tn
entire coast, is an investment of that amour
:, of capital necessary to push development
below the water level for there can be n
longer a doubt that this already tiourishin|
camp is surrounded by a net work of undis
covered bonanzas. They will give up thei
riches when men cease to be terrified by
slight decrease in the value of the ore at tn
{ water level, which to all reasonable minds
t really an indication of increased wealth BIZ
t low.