Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-06-12
STAFFORD.
a Mining District Of Magnificent
Prospect.

o"1rocb6f Of It's kOrmNthOmH-The
quality and Quantity Of the Ores
Deposits Of Immense Extent
n Value.
The Onondags mine is situated in SAT-
ford District, about seven miles west OF
Pslisade on the south side Of the Hum
boldt River from the railroad station
called Gerald. The approach to the mines
from the river is through a canyon, which
rises gradually for a mile and q half. The de-
scent to the river makes the location Of the
mines advantageous for shipment Of ores.
The Onondaga is located in q gulch run
ming nearly north and south and debauch-
ing into the main canyon at right angles,
The formation is Of igneous character.
The country is mineralized for a radius OF
IL or IA miles south, east and west, with
the town Of Stafford as a center and to the
on the north. The trend Of the
veins, as far a. discovered, ia northwest
and southeast. The deposits 20 far have
all been detected by groupings above the
surface. Sufficient work has not been
done TO develop any blind deposits. We
cannot properly use the word ledge as ap-
plioable to the entire district, or with refer
ence strictly to the Onondags. but the
in the Zanoli is a well defined
ledge with perfect hanging and footwalls,
both walls being Of porphyritic structure.
The width Of the deposit in the Onondaga
has not yet been determined, hence we
cannot speak definitely about the nature
Of the rock which includes it, but the sur
face indications are that it is of the same
formation as that in the Zanoli.
THE ORE DEPOSITS.
The Onondaga is composed OF three dis.
tinct ore bodies, separated by heavy clay
gouges, varying in width from three feet
down to az many inches. The ore veins
follow these clay gouges in the direction
of the trend mentioned. Their width and
extent have not yet been determined, but
wherever developed they extend in width
beyond the workings north and south,
The character Of the ore is materially diff.
ferent from that Of any other ore ever YET
discovered that we have had any account
Of. Its gsngue is sulphate Of baryta. heav'
lily charged with iron, and contains steph'
ante principally, intermixed with iron in
the lower working aud with silver carbon
ates ct or near the surface. Ruby silver
also 10 frequently encountered in the lower
workings. The ore varies in value from
5 ounces to 1900 ounces in silver, without
any trace Whatever Of gold. 1t is difficult
to distinguish the rich from the low grade
ore by casual observation. It's value can
not be determined, except by chemical
test. The very rich ore runs in veins
along with the clay gouges referred to and
varies in width from . few inches and
wider, in some places bullying out on botf
to an unknown width. The high and low
grade ores differ but little in appearance
When taken out together for shipment
without sorting their average value al
near as can be estimated per ton is be-
tween 70 and 80 ounces.
REDUCTION.
The ore is very desirable in Salt Lake
on account of the large per cent Of iror
and lime it carries. which makes it valua
BILE as . fux for mixture with low grad,
lead suiphuret ores, such as are reduced
in the furnaces in large quantities in tina
city. With q mill erected on the Hum
boldt, at the nearest point from the mine
it would probably still pay the Onendags
Company to ship to Salt Lake rather thar
reduce at home. The opinion OF Mr.. Ty
son, Of Stafford, who 10 familiar with thu
ores, is that II freight on the E. Il P
could be put down TO what it ia to Sal
Lake on the g. p, and if the managers o
the furnaces at Eureka appreciated it
value as . fux, Eureka could afford Il
offer az good rates, il not better, than ar
had in Salt Lake. At present Salt Lake !
without competition in the market.
WHAT THE DEVELOPMENTS SHOW.
The present developments consist OF al
original tunnel On the Dorth side OF til
center gouge, run in rs feet, and a cross
cut north from near the end Of the tunne
80 feet north and 25 feet south, thus cut
ting the ledge IS feet in width. The cross
cut passes through low grade vein matter
with spots of high grade ore Throughout
the whole distance. The ore body con
tinues beyond both ends Of the crosscut t.
an undetermined extent on the south
Another tunnel has been started or thu
south side Of the above mentioned gouge
Immediately below Tunnel No. 1, and |
extended in IS feet. This tunnel show
high grade ore in the breast and on boil
sides as far as carried. Still another tun'
mel has been started to cut what is supposed
TO be the main footwall OF the ledge which
is we'll defined. cropping out 400 feet il
length and stripped to that extent, show
ing Q vein Of very rich ore varying from
few inches to three foet with ore OF q lowel
grade on the south side extending inde6
nitely. At the northern end Of this de
velopment q considerable amount of or
has been extracted and shipped, varying
from 60 to 800 ounces per ton. The orr
on the tunnel ledge near the northwestern
boundary Of the ledge has been exposed
800 feet, showing . large continuous vein
the whole distance In ore varying from q
to 1000 ounces. At this point, which II
$50 feet from the mouth Of the tunnel AND
500 feet vertically TO the tunnel level
q shaft has been started with which tn
tunnel II to connect. The connection thu
made will determine whether the Onondag
deposit Is merely superficial or whethe
II continues down. The indications Ar
such that there seems but little doubt tina
the vast ore body will be found continuou
to Z depth that can b only . matter 10
speculation. The mine has shipped O.
tons Of ore, which have been reduced Q
Salt Lake with q pulp assay OF 90 ounce
for the frst lot ind rs for the second.
ORE on HAND AND IN SIGHT.
There are now on the various dump
over / .OOe sacks Allied and enough to All 4
least 1000 sacks more, altogether over 20
tons. which will pulp an average OF owe
80 ounces, % determined by assays take
from the sacks when they were being filled
It would be impossible to calculate def
nitely the quantity Of ore exposed. II is
| tremendous mass aud may be safely Sc
down within limits ct 1000 tons, the tots
value Of which is not less than $50. 900.
The mine can be worked by q series Q
| tunnels on the ore veins to q distance G
900 feet, with an uprsise Of 600 feet, an
| can thus be delivered on the dump will
| out the necessity OF hosting or the pump
| ing Of water. This will make the extrae
| ton and delivery Of the ore remarkabl
inexpensive.
FIGURES OF THE FUTURE.
As to the future Of the Onondaga min
we can only say that. il the indications ar
| not deceptive, il will, when fully deve
oped, prove to be worth such an enormou
sum that we hesitate to speculate upon ID
- - III,