The Elk Mountain pilot., 1882-07-27
Continued from First Pare.

ieeteu 'lle measurements that l might
construct the geology of this vein and
which find to be as follows:
The country rock is granite DOT
phyry, overlaid with sedimentary
rocks, or recent coal measures, many
hundreds Of feet in thickness. Fol-
lowing this were recent volcanic erup-
tlons q am informed of lava outcrops
a few miles southwest showing in
place., which fssured this country
rock, the assures breaking through
the over-lying sedimentary rocks.
Their composition being alternating
layers of shales, Goals and sandstones,
all soft ard friable, they fssured with
out any resistance that would replace
them. Some of these assures were of
large size, allowing the passage to
the surface OF the emptlve paste, which
makes portion now of the true fs-
sure-vein filling, is recognized as
feldsitic porphry, and which is always
more or less mineralized. So much
tor generallties now we come to the
Forest Queen surface. Where large
bodies of mineral occur, trough
along the vein will show, or if large
enough, over the largest bodies of ore
in the vein, a basin will be formed.
This occurs from the oxidation of
the sulphides, and the subsequent
erosion Of the surface material from
meteorlc agencies, The Forest Queen
basin of this kind is the largest have
seen. Now take into consideration
the character of tile country rock
along this crevice; it is soft friable
and easily eroded, which would lead
one to look for fragments of sand
stone, metamorphosed to a quartzite
in the vein material, also pieces of
shale changed toa slate; both Of these
are found, and their breaking off has
contributed to the surface enlargement
of the fssure: 1t will not be surprls-
ing, as the workings gain depth, to
find fragments of coal with native sill
yer attached IN the crevice matter. I
am confident there will be.
Now, having learned the structure
of the fissure and the country rock, it
is not surprising that several slips,
slides and dlsplacements of the ore
bodies have occurred tor depth of
20 to 100 feet, and in large bodies, as
the surrounding country rock was
cloded to greater or less extent
along the vein or crevice in places.
That in vein of this width it would
be reasonable to expect good pay
ore body along each wall in place, and
several ore streaks or stringers of large
size will also be contained IN the por-
phry, and that the whole of the cr:vice
material alter 800 feet in depth. will
pay TO treat by some method. If
fact, it would require careful picking
how to find rock shat will not ASSAY
$40 per ton.
Part of the above state;nenfshas al
ready been proved tob be true, and any
one can see it now.
The present cross-cut in the north
drift at tnnnel level will prove the
width Of the crevicc and, which | be-
lievs. from what | have seen. to be
100 feet. 1t will also prove the ex-
,stence of an east ore body which has
never been seen inthe lower workings,
and which, l.. maintain in a crevice
of this width ought to be there, and
which exists III similar veins that l
have examined in other parts Of the
State.
As depth is gained, from what l
have learned of the surrounding coun-
try, between 600 and 1000 feet, the
crevice will pass out of the sedimen-
tary rocks into the true country rock
granite porphry-here it may be
expected she fissure will narrow, but
with no diminution IN quantity or
quality of ore. The quality, l firmly
believe, will be better, as 1.-THE change
of country rock the gangue ought to
change from silica to calc spar. This
will carry more native silver and silver
glance than now shows, as vel! as the
ruby silver holding its own.
This mine now shows more ore Of
high grade in silver than any other
mine in the State. Mr.. Dillingham;
told me after a visit here a few days
ago, that he had seen more ruby silver
together at once than in the whole of
his experience before in purchasing
ores. can say the same, and l am
assured that the showing now is far
beyond what it was few days ago.
As write can look out of the door
and see two Jumps of several hundred
pounds weight, intended by Mr..
Thompson for the Denver Exposition,
full of ruby and native silver, and IN
such quantity as the bulk OF mankind
never saw before.
No man can compute the value of