The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1882-10-06
NEW MEXICO AT DENVER.
A. sssn By ths Reporter for ths Denver RsPub-
uean.

The exhibit from New Mexico EN-
braces among other features.two which
are unrivalled by anything at the expo
sitiun. Its silver glance and horn silver
displays are remarkable for size, purity
and richness of the specimens. and are
OF themselves irrefutable evidence of
the character and value Of at least
portion Of the mineral belt of New
Mexico. The display OF copper ores.
native. sulphldes and oxides Is also eX-
ceptionally good. and the free milling
gold ores. while they do not possess
equal attractions for slrht-seers, are ex-
extremely interesting to mining men.
The exhibit comprises ore from three
hundred and seventy properties; its
weight is fourteen tons, aud the gross
value very nearly approximates $4,000.
| New Mexico Is at the same time a very
old and very new mining country. 1t
has yielded precious metals for centu-
ries, and yet it is within compare
tiyeiy brief period that American
methods and enterprise have been di-
recled toward the exploration of the
mineral resources of a section which
before the United States were u country
paid royal tribute TO the priests and
princes of Europe The Nina del Trio,
near Santa Fe, from which, three hun
dred years ago ore was taken TO Old
Mexico, and Of whi h the records are
still preserved, is represented 10y some
mineral which is in consequence, in
vested with more than ordinary inter
est. The collection of old Aztec min
ing implements, including hammers,
chisels, wedges and other articlesspeaks
Of an age full of mysterious interest to
the present generation.
Perhaps in no respect is the result
of r,cent operations in the mining dis
tricts more surprisingly SHOWN than in
the Lake Valley display. This embraces
IA large quantity of splendid mineral
from the Sierra Grande and Sierra Bella
properties, DOna Ana county. The ge-
UlOgy of this section has been variOusly
described, and the following statement
is upon the authority of Il commissioner.
The ore which lies in blanket or con-
tact vein, is covered by limestone strata
containing dev0nian fossils, aud rests
on a bed Of cherty limestone shale be-
longing to the same age. The upper
layer of the vein is an iron cap con-
taiIirg no silver. Below this the chlo-
ride ore is found varying IN thickness
from one to forty feet. Above and he
low this mass of horn silver IN argen-
tiferous sulphlde of lead, and antimo-
my occurs in lunches, and on the floor
of tie vein a reddish brown material
called sand carhonates and assaying 02i
ounces silver and 80 per cent lead is
found in some quantity. The prop
erty is opened by shaft on the
Sierra Grande over 200 feet deep, and a
level run to connect the two locations
TIE horn silver is encountered at "a
depth of fifty feet from the surface. 1t
is exhibited III massive Jumps. weighing
from ten to $40 pounds. The largest
lump is solid chloride, much of which
is cryStalIized, presenting on close in
specliun very beautiful appearance
aside from its great intrinsic value
which is given as $1,000. Many OF the
smaller pieces are composed entirely of
aggregations of horn silver crystals, OF
violet brown color. and wholly free
from gangue or other apparent impuri.
ties, Several bars and buttons of silver
made from the ore, are exhibited, and
convey TO the uninitiated u startling
idea of its richness. The antimonial
galena presents u bright plumose ap.
pearance, and is of very high grade, as.
saying from 900 to 1000 ounces per ton
The very limited development upon the
four Sierras, of which two only art
represented. makes il impossible to esti
mate the extent and value of the de
posit. The mineral area is said to be
somewhat less than two miles square
and it will probably require extensiv,
opening To reveal all the ore bodies. II
however nothing further were done
the present showing places Lake Valley
in the van as IA producer of horn silver
In ton lots. The richest silver ore al
the exposition, however, is flom tn,
Solitaire and st. Claire properties. They
are very recent discoveries and almos
no work has been done upon them, Sc
1t is impossible to speak of their exten
or value. They are on the Perche, ant
as yet almost nothing is known of them
The ore, which is from the grass roots
and has considerable vegetable matte
sticking to 1T. speaks for itself. Th'
display consists of 400 pounds and con
n tains over $4,000 In silver. The minera
is almost pure argentile, with nativ,
silver, which has probably resulted from
is decomposition. The display s"im
j. mense," and 1t is matter of regret tha
l.