The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-05-04
NO. a..

rocks, is no way detrimental to the per-
manancy and value of the property.
The mineral currents which deposited
the ore, have invariably left we'll de-
fined traces of their passages, and the
slightest care in working the mine will
always permit the, following of these
indications. and invariably lead ex-
ploration work to the next succeeding
chamber of ore. This being the case
the entire wealth Of the property can
be disclosed and worked out with as
much certainty as the ore ehimneys of
assure veins? The cost of extraction
is also lessened in this character of ore
deposits, and taken on the whole the
ore is fully as desirable as assure veins.
The ore of the Cuchillo Negro begins
at the very surface, and continues
downward the entire distance of the
workings showing seemingly stronger
and better nearest the surface of the
incline than anywhere else The ore
carries copper as carbonates, oxides and
some glance. 1t also averages twelve
to fifteen per cent. in lead, and forty
ounces of silver to the ton. The lead
ores are found occurring mostly in ga
lena, although sulphates and carbon
ates are also found. About fifty tons
of ore were on the dump at the mine,
and about seventy tons were stacked
up at the company's works near Fair
view.
Like most experimental enterprises
of this character, the Black Range
Mining and Milling company, own
ing the Cuchillo Negro mine, have
been guilty of numerous erroneous
movements, prominent among which
was the premature erection of a small
smelter for the production ofcopper ores.
and ill-advised location for the same,
being situated at place where it is
necessary to haul the ore over the Gu
chillo Negro range, and increasing by
six or eight miles the distance from the
railroad to the smelter, when it might
as well have been placed nearly dozen
miles nearer shipping pont, with all
the present advantages.
The smelter plant consists of a water
jacket blast furnace Of about ten tons
capacity, and equipments to cores
pond. The furnace was started up a
few weeks ago, by an agent of the
manufacturers, but want of skill and
knowledge, so the writer was inform
ed, proved it but partial success.
While in operation it produced some
thing over 5000 pounds of copper mat,
containing about $4,000 worth of silver,
which wa forwarded to Pope, Cole &
Co., of Baltimore. During the report
er's visit the smelter was idle, but Col
onel Mutton, the manager, expected to
start it up again in few days.
So far the galena ores have been
thrown in with the copper,but hereafter
it is calculated to sort out the lead ore,
which usually exist in solid Jumps Of
galena, and dispose of them to some
other works, or when considerable
amount has been accumulated, smelt
them separately and produce base
bullion.
Southwest Of the Cuchillo Negro
mine is the German copper mine, the
property of the Dempster mining CON-
pany. The mine is located on avein in
porphyry having northeast course
and dip to the southwest of about
fifteen degrees. The width of the vein
is four feet, with pay streak of few
inches to the entire width of the shaft.
The shaft is down one hundred and
fifty feet, and the dump shows an ac-
cumulatlon of about fifty tons of ore.
The mineral presents afne appearance,
consisting of copper glance, carbonates
and oxides, and running fairly well in
silver. Work is still in progress on the
shaft, and continues showing improve
ments in the ore bodies.
Deposits in limestone and contact
veins partaking Of the characteristics
of the Cuchillo Negro are quite numer.
Gus in the vicinity Of the above mine,
and a number Of good properties are
being opened. Among others is a pro-
perty owned by Mr.. Mcpherson, of
Hilsboro, which shows some six feet of
fair ore There are in addition many
others which the reporter did not have
time to visit, but which are are merit
orious and promise to make fine mines
with further development. The alb
sence of a good ore market and other
disadvantages for the section' prove
serious obstacles In the way of its rapid +.
development. With energetic wad
and the dsplay offaiIssized dung -
ore a. the Riaes. thee. aaSilIiari %
kpfoitable ming VIII soAn De- supplied
when U camp and surrounding sec.
- &'l doubtless be heard from
more frequently and favorably.-A. F,
/ IWeunsch, in Santa Fe New MEXICAN
A snow-white hen in Arkansas hatch.
al ont 6va hlAok ohipknhc and killad