The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-11-17
EHzE BARKER AND SURROUNDHNG G
H1HNBNsa DISTRICTS.
BY O. G. MORRISON.

FoRT BENTON, NJ. T., Oct. "a, 1881
10 tie Editor Of the Record
The season for prospecting this year be-
ling now practically over, gives me leisure
10 send YOU the following paper. regarding
the mineral districts of the Little Belt
mountains, hoping thnt some portions Of
the article will prove interesting to yous
readers at large.
III viewing The large area now taken up,
the enormous amount Of mineral locations
made, the number Of houses, &c., erected,
aud also the present population of the
gulehee, it is surprising TO think that it is
less than two years since the first quartz
location was made in the Barker District.
At the present time the locations are
portioned off into several districts, all OF
which are elnorganizptl and whose bountl-
aries are very ill-lefinetl. The districts
ought to be definitely fixed Il Il have nat
Hral boundaries in the shape of creeks or
high divides, us it would then be easy to
determine the precise district in which a
prospeetor flntls himself.
The mineral belt OF these mountains NAV
now be estimated at fully twelve miles in
width, and a length which at present iS
unknown; the northern boundary, how
ever, is pretty we'll defined, as the granite
with other attendant rocks dip at the sur
face under Silurian limestone an(l shales,
at=the head of Otter, Arrow and Wolfe
creeks. SonthwartlIy the belt is we'll de-
fined almost TO the summit of the main
range. At present 1t would not be prll-
dent for me to enter into more minute de-
tails. suffieientto say, however, that 1881
has, by discoveries made, shown that the
resources of theSe mountains were un-
known before, and have not the least hesl-
tation IN asserting that such magnificent
discoveries will be made the coming season
as will rival and throw in the shade all |
hitherto made in the Territory; this, too,
not only in new districts, but also In the
center Of old prospects. tNhe month of
last June showed what discoveries could |
be made, with suitable weather and miners
For prospecting, for during that time the
amps Of Dry Fork Of Belt, Dry Fork Of
Wolf, and Montana districts were found I'D |
'apid succession, and the indications are
low, that in place OF one central town
here will be at least four On five large |
mining camps III the near future.
The existence Of gold IN placer deposits, |
md Of silver associated with galella, iii |
hese mountains was known as far back ~
.88zE44 .88z44 By 1aessrs. Barker, Olinger. Hughes
md Afehison, btt since the opening of the
.onntry It Is shown that the following
metals are to be found III this range, either
lative or associated, viz:
Gold: Wolf creek, Dry Wolf, Belt creek.
lsiiloer.s All the districts.
Copper: All the districts.
tn. Head Of Arrow creek.
Lead: All the districts.
Iron lHematite1 Head Of Arrow creek.
Iron sIasnetitt): Wolf creek.
iron lLiinonite1 Head Of Arrow creek
nd Barker.
Zinc: Barker and Yogo districts.
Aati'aoays Barker. Dry Fork Belt, and
Ionfana.
Graphite: Belt Park district.
. IeIlarietza:: Dry Fork of Belt.
!. .BtsmatH; Rarker.elistrfet
AlSo aIagne>is, Arsenic, Lime and Mus
oVfte Mica are y IS generally aissemill-
tel. GoaI is fornd on tile northern
'otln.larF, and will 5yet. be made available
raough Belt creek III ifs immediate vic
nfEY Is allaost destitute Of live timber