The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-16
THE CARBONATE DISTRICT.

A Region of Good Surface Showings and a
Good Field for Investment.
The country lying west of Belt creek and
extending from Tiger butte on the north
to the parallel which passes through Nei-
hart On the south-over fifteen miles-is
perhaps the most bro ken region in the Belt
mountains. The mountains are m ore
abupt, more broken and have been covered
with timber, and are difficult to prospect.
The fires last summe cleared away much
of the timber and now prospecting will be
much easier. Notwithstanding the difficult
ties a number of men have forced their way
into the region and found many surface
indications of mineral. Only in a few
places have they followed up the indica-
tions, but have been rewarded by finding
some prospects which are a surprise to the
old timers.
The region is we'll watered and has sew
eral sparkling streams which flow into Belt
creek. The principal mines are near the
divide between Logging creek and Tender
foot and Pilgrim creek and %Tillinghast.
The claims are up near the summit, and in
the winter season the snow is deep-inter-
fering with work.
THE EXCELSIOR GROUP.
Near the divide between Logging, Pill
grim cIcoh anu 1enuerIoOt is located a
group of claims, some of which have been
worked more h any others in this dis
trict and are valuable propositions.
The Excelsior was located by Boiling
and Burgnardt in 'sS. Burghardt sold
to j. E. Williams and Getz and Henry now
own the Boiling interest. The lead is found
between maRnesia lime and porphyry. A
shaft was sum thirty five feet on this claim
in 's9 and the sides were ore all the way
down. The ore consists of an iron stained
carbonate, q carbonates, chunks of ga
lena and occasional large chunks of liver
colored iron. At the bottom of the shaft
the lead did not appear as favorable 20 the
owners decided to run Il tunnel lower down
the mountain to tap the lead or ore body.
Mr.. DouRherty, who has been running this
tunnel, finished the work q few
days ago and is now in Barker.
body. At this depth the lead looks we'll.
but no cross-cut has been made, and its size
has not been determined. This claim
showed ore from the grass roots, and the
assays, which gave 30 ounces silver and II
per cent. lead, have been very satisfactory.
there is a large body of ore in the claim,
and this will no doubt prove u valuable
mine.
Near the Excelsior is the Hope, owned by
Henry, Getz d Peterson. This claim had
GOOD surface showings, and n shaft was
"" NV Soe IA AcHth oI ELEVEN IBeb
q cross-cut was made aud the lead found to
be eleven feet wide and composed of liver
colored and honeyoombed quartz. This
quartz assayed III both silver and gold. At
about twelve feet the lead turned oil to one
side n = strata of lime was encounter
cd. The shaft was continued on tho con-
tact, but no ore was encountered. At
thirty-ive feet Il cross-cut was made in the
lime and when two feet in, the lead was
again encountered, but the croas-cut was
not continued through the lead. 10 its
width, without depth is not known.
Between the Excelsior and Hope is n frac-
ton owned by p. Petersen. A discovery of
ore was made on this ut the surface. A
shaft was sunk and ut u depth of Re, en- feet
the ore body was found to be four feet
wide. The ore il found between walls of
porphyry. and in the center of the lead is a
kind of brown or black iron bearing pock-
cts OF black sand and showing native
gold. Three assays were made. the first gave
nine ounces of silver and thirty dollars in
gold; the second gave eight per cont. cop
per, 1884 ounces silver and 800 in gold; the
third gave ~ ounces silver and $3.50 in
gold. On each aide of tha atraak of iron In |