Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-07-14
MINERAL WEALTH,
MOST FAVORABLE REPORT FROM
THE BELT MOUNTAINS.
OPINIONS BY MEssRs. EILERs AND
ENRICH AFTER A FULL AND
DETAILED EXAMINATION.
"I am Satisfied the Belt Mountains Con
tain as Large an Area Favorable
for the Existence of Carbonate
Ores as 1 Ever Saw Eilers,

The Tribune is delighted to see that al
unusual interest is now being manifested
in the Belt mountains mineral region
This interest is shown by lead owners
who are looking forward to future devel
opments with lively anticipations; by
prospectors, who believe this to be one Of
the finest Of fields in which to pursue
their avocation; and by capitalists, who
see here excellent opportunities for IN
vestment. The building of the reduction
works of the Montana Smelling COM
pany at Great Falls, to which point this
mineral region is naturally tributary, and
4 the prospect of speedy railroad connec-
A ton with this place, thus affording mar
i ket for all the ore that may be produced,
1 has led to this renewed activity and given
hope to all who are directly or indirectly
interested in the Belt mountains.
EXPERT EXAMINATION.
4 Desiring to satisfy themselves fully in
4 regard to the extent and character Of the
mineral of this region, the Montana Smelt-
ling company about a month ago sent out
Mr.. Enrich into the mountains with in
structions to make thorough examine
ton of the entire region and to report the
result Of his observations. He was par
ticularly instructed to follow the contact
of the lime with the porphyry formation,
so as to arrive at the extent Of the promi
Using carbonate ore bearing district. It is
#proper to say at this point that Mr.. En-
&rich has been for years Mr.. Eilers' min
Eeral expert and superintendent and that
be has probably no superior in his
3profession in the mountains. We learn
from an auth oritative source that the fol
owing is brief summary of Mr. EN-
ich's report to the company.
MOST PROMISING DISTRICTS.
With Professor Morrison as guide he
listed the camps Of Barker, Nelhart,
Eolf creek, Middle Fork, Carpenter
Peek and made a flying trip to Castle.
sto the general formation he says he
bund q, central granite core, with por-
hyry dykes through it and the limestone
as favorable q geological formation as
eould be desired. Wherever the uplifted
$dges of the limestone have been found,
hineral has been discovered or can be
lastly unearthed.
MIR. Enrich reports very favorably re-
tarding the Barker and Wolf creek dis
ficts, where he found the most work
one on leads showing carbonate ores al
hough the development even in these
districts Is not great. He examined such
pines as the Silver Bell, May and Edna,
ride of the West, and in fact every shaft
tunnel he could find, and followed for
bany miles the contact Of the line with
[orphyry, finding leads Or indications of
hem everywhere on that line, and prov
be- the great extent of the carbonate ore
telt. The veins are generally large and
be ore, while not of high grade, can be
tofitably worked with the cheap trans
ortation railroad would afford. For
tiles and miles around Barker, says Mr..
mrich, there are promising unprospected
teas, and in his travels he found plenty
float along the line of contact OF the
ne and porphyry, and where pick or
lowell had never tlckled the mountain
he.
Of Neihart Mr.. Enrich gives also a
ost flattering account, although he is
IRE among the dry ores that are not so
mpting to smelling man. He says
e veins are numerous, large and we'll
fined, and that he examined number
most promising prospects. Hesays he
uld readily single out few of the
ines that, together, would produce,
pnthly, from 1900 to 5000 tons of 20 to
ounce ore, and much greater quanti-
Ps as development proceeded. OF the
Rnganiferous ores Of this camp he is un-
nted in his praise, as far as quantity is
pcerned. While great many Of the
ds drew his attention and admiration,
particularizes the Dakota, which shows
pc feet Of silicious lead carbonates and
great many thousand tons of fine
in sight-we wouldn't like to say how
Rny, lest our friends Warren and ]. K.
pole (who are the principal owners)
ould get excited over il.
EOn Snow creek he found very prom
ng prospects, the leads being large,
y some Of the ore of very high grade.
nt there is only little development as
y, not enough upon which to base an
innate.
The ores Of the Middle Fort district,
hlch is now coming into prominence,
rry gold rs we'll as silver, and some
PIPER is also found there. So far as de-
eloplnent has proceeded it shows that
g leads lie horizontally, or are what are
lled blanket leads.
VI the Castle district he says that it is
extension of the same lime belt that
Pvers the west, north and northeast
opes OF the Belt mountains, the forma-
On and character Of the leads being
nlewhat similar to those of Barker, but
ore extensively opened in few of the
ines.
WHAT MIR. EILERs SAYS,
Having received such encouraging re :
IT'S from time to time from his expert,