The Helena independent., 1894-06-09

Rock CanrK. LITTLE Rocky MOUNTAINS.
June 2.-Ths recent gold excitement in
Dawson seunty will undoubtedly attract
the attention Of prOspsstofs and minine
men 10 the hills and mountains OF the east
sTn portion OF MontanA aa a gold country.
and brief description OF the Little Rocky
mountains may be interesting 10 those who
contemplate coming this way TO prOspee.
or investigate the subject The Little
Rockies trend irem the base Of their east
ern foothills westward for nearly forty
ave miles. vailsffem base 10 base In width
,hsy will average sixteen miles and are
somewhat oblonR in shape. On approach
lag the mountains one 10 siTsok with their
analogy 10 ,hs Black Hills. nor doss this
similarity disappear on entering the meun'
tainL The sedimentsfy formation dips
gently svay from the central nucleus
Of more ancient rock, which rise up
In q multitude Of irregular peaks and eoni-
osl granite bui.ea with broken ridges Of
dull green and gray schlsL These tell tho
experienced pTospsetor that hs 10 In = fAv-
orAbls locality for the precious metals A
belt nearly one mile in width and making
a complese circle OF ths mountains near the
outer edge 10 made up OF the ssdems ntsry
rock. OF which limestone 10 the most abun-
dsnt THIS limestone 10 mostly OF the
variety commonly called siliooss. with here
and there lodges OF dolomits. On tho outer
edge Of the belt the ssndstonss occurs.
while near the inner edge and sometimes
In contact with the granite rocks are the
States Inside Of the secondary belt aud
com posing wholly the central and greater
portion Of the mountains. the mstsmor PHO
rocks arc pushed ur. or the mstamorphio
rocks porphyry 10 the most abundant with
schist holding second place In quantity.
Iron pycitss 10 disseminated throughout
most Of tho porphyrv and where the action
OF the elements have oxidizsd the stone
tts ledges nre colo 'ei . deep red. Tbs
schists are mostly Of the dull green and
dark gray mica and chlotitio variety. with
occasionally strata of hornblendic. They
occur down near the ssdementsry belt. wisA
usually \ ledge OF quaTtzits between IL and
OF the eulehss that traverse the central
nucleus Of mesamorphic rocks carry gold.
while the short side sulchss that only In
tsrssos the Limestone belt ara NOT aurifsr-
ous, q fact that leads one 10 believe that
the gold comes from the metamorphic for
nations. and undoubtedly when the noun
tAina are thoroughly prospeoted and opened
mp the quartz veins that intefseot these
rocks will be found the most valuable. A
sample pan OF dirt taken from bedrock In
Little Alder guloh, and carefully pannsd
down By the writer. gave twelve particles
of geld, eighteen or twenty worn pebbles Of
Rslenite. q small quantity Of magnetic
platinum. oorundum and q few crystals Of
zircon.
The gold 10 oil OF the eulches Is invaria-
bly, associated with galsna aud magnetic.
Speoiuens Of stream In have also been
found in some OF the creeks. All of the
Rulebes on the south side OF the noun
tains have been worked for placer gold
with more or less success. IL Ia estimated
by one who was here during the excite u ent
Of 1885 tbat $4,000 was taken out of Lit
tie Alder gulch alone. This Ia probably an
ovefestimate. as only about one-half of
the Rulch has been wo ked. Where the
touched. All Of the north side Of the
mountain, o. that portion drained by MIX
rivsr. 10 on the Belknap Indian reserve, and
10 consequently forbidden ground to the
prospsotor and pioneer. Nevertheless
enough prospecting has been done on ths
red mans side OF the mountain to fully
demonst ats that ii IL far the richest or.
tion of the district, and why the mineral
portion Of the reservation 10 not opened
for development seems strange, when ID
would furnish employment for 30 many
idle men. FRED l.. WHITEHEAD.