The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-12-22
TEEE BARKER AND SUEeROEa gpHNes
MINING DISTRICTS.
BYsO. c. MORRISON,

9 FoRr BENTON, AEEgaT., Oct: 90, 1881
To the Editor Of the Record:
This, the pioneer district of these noun
tains, had its first location made on tn
ssAmador" and MAY Wilson, !" Dccembe
10th, 1879, by Messrs. Barker, Olinger an
Hughes. The existence of these lodes
however, was known five years previou
TO this, by the discoyerers, but its living il
such close proximity to the Judith Basin
then unsettled, and also its distance from
any civilized community, made minin.
here hazardous venture. Two year
have hardly elapsed since this first loca
ton and now there are over four hundred
locations, in Barker alone, which cover AZ
area Of almost ten square miles.
The main body Of locations are situate
on Gold Run and GaIena creeks and THEN
tributaries. These two creeks are situate
III basin which is bounded on the east
north and west by high, bald mountains
the watershed being to the south and pass.
ing into the Dry IFoi,k.of Belt. Other To-
cations, which have been made on the
western slope Of the Dry Fork OF Surprise
Big Dry Coulee, headWaters Of Otter, and
lower Dry Fork Of Belt, are also included
in the following description. .5
The resources of the Barker District are
truly magnificent, and lack nothing for
the formation Of the largest mining camp
III the Territory. There is an abundance
of timber for mining, building and fuel;
plenty Of good material for brick, unlim-
tied amounts Of building stone and marble,
mountains of limestone, from which the
finest kind of lime has already been burnt;
f1uxes IN abundance both lime aud 1ron !;
ore of all grades fIomsthe finest sulphates
and chlorides Of silver down, and sim
eerely believe the largest number of silver
bearing lodes in the Territory, crowded in
the same area.
The outskirts of the camp also contain
valuable deposits of coal in immense guam
titles. The latest discoveries of these de-
posits are on Dry Fork of Surprise creek,
by John Madden who has developed five
footvein. Also on. Otter creek near the
mouth of the Big Limestone, and in close
proximity to Ed. Mann's station. Here is
shown seyen-foot vein Of very similar
character and formation to that of Castner's
on Belt. These deposits will undoubtedly
affect the future Of these mining districts.
as the forests, though large, will not last
many years for such an immense amount
Of mining as will be seen in the nesr fu-
ture.
The character Of the rocks in the imme-
diate vicinity of the camp is extremely
varied. Passing along the road up the
Dry Fork, we first find dolomite forma-
ton Originally Silimian limestone), this
on the east side, then changes to Talcose-
Sehist, and then again to granite, though
on the west the dolomitic formation still
continues. Arriving at Galena creek the
dolomite is still prevalent for short dis
tance, and then granite is the formation all |
over the basin. The high mountain on
the west, together with Old Badly at the |
head Of Gold Run, appear to be the
nothern centres of upheaval OF this part of |
the mineral, and the Baldy range at the |
head Of Dry Fork to be the centre. It ap-
pears TO me beyond doubt that the origin |
Of the mineral deposits Of the Barker and |
districts cannot be placed in
the same epoch with that Of the mail, |
range. [ look to the volcanic trap and /
basalt OF Sheep: creek, Deep creek as
bearing out this theory. These volcanic
rocks exist tnow on the surface, and from
their position would imply that locality to
De the centle Of disturbance, to which the
elevation Of the main range must be at
5ribu.ed. Butas the lodes of the ssMon-
ANA" and ssBelt Park sink before reach
ng this part, and as al the Baldy range
show loleR on their SUBMITS, it must be
AIKEN IS s certain proc. Of another up
1eaval.
The vein formation Of the Barker has
lot yet been determined. Out of over four
hundred locations, not one blind lode has
~ 0S11A 1AoA A3&aS H0CClI Shllt
leep mining on any location that would
'1aetly determine the stability and
strength Of the vein. Thus, any theory
ldvanced could only be made on.a surface
,ase. Apparently we have a series of f
feins coming from almost due south from
he main Belt, which on arriving in thisI7
district are again crossed BY Iodes eon.;lS = :
rom the south west. These two series 81 +;
learage have again been altered in this /
'ieinity by the elevation OF the three peaks,
nd has thus made veins Of an east and i
vest direction. After a close study of !
his camp, have concluded that the main /
ode of this camp has not yet been struck, !
nd the probability is, that5it is q blind
ode in the ridge between Gold Run and
salena creeks, because each side Of the Ii
iage show large number Of spurs rum
ing n. w and 8. n. which must come @
rom some large vein not yet found T.
ELTo BE CONTINUED.