The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-19
THE CAMP FLOYD DISTRICT.

who have not investigated, but the
estimate is not at all unreasonable. In
the Mercur mine alone 100000 tons Of
ore are blocked out in sight, of am
average value of S14 per ton, making a
total valuation OF S2,S00,000. Captain
DeLamar paid 81, 100000 for the mine a
few weeks ago. The Golden Gate, also
owned by DeLamar, shows 100, 600 tons,
of higher value than the Mercur ore.
The Sunshine shows more ore than the
Mercur but of lower value, while the
East Golden Gate shows up we'll, and
these mines are mere specks upon the
vast area.
Discoveries Of the same vein have
been made twelve miles west of the
Mereur and far to the south, and
there is strong evidence that the great
deposit covers from 100 to $50 square
miles. 1t is hardly supposable that all
portions of the vein will yield profit
able values. although that is the belief
Of many, and it is quite within the
range of possibilities, as no barren
spot has yet been touched. Five-dol-
lar ore can be mined and milled at a
profit, and very little Of less value has
been discovered.
The Camp Floyd gold field is truly one
Of the worlds wonders. 1t contains
riches
surprising the widest dreams Of any
treasure-seeker and all has been
brought to the knowledge Of the world
by the persistence of those Nebraska
hog isers." 1t is not at all astonish-
ing that townsites are booming, or that
the district is now teeming with such
life and activity as to give it the re-
semblance of a California gold camp
in the rip-roar;ng days of 40. Nor is
it to be marveled at that the local
min he. bot cd
the subject of shares.
word or two about the geological
features of this great vein will interest
those who have given attention to min
ing. The formation of the district is
limestone. After sinking through the
lime a strata of slate and shale 2 feet
thick is encountered. Beneath this lies
the vein. a decomposed, silfcious ore.
II to % feet thick and widening out to
60 feet in places. The ore carries a
small percentage of cinnibar, or quick
silver which gives it a bright red APP
pearance, and which also prevented its
treatment by the old processes. The
ore assays all the way from 81 up to
$780, but SIS is a good average. Be-
meath this ore body there is another
strata of slate, and then 100 feet of
lime and a sflver-bearing vein is found.
Then more lime. and no one knows
Wnat lies DelOW. lnlS SILVER vein car
ries from 10 to 200 ounces per ton and
Will undoubtedly yield profitable re-
turns, but there is so much greater
profit in the gold vein that no one
thinks of working the silver.
How the gold was deposited in the
Camp Floyd vein, and whether a fissure
or blanket vein, are questions for the
geological sharps-and they can not
agree-although the courts will IN
douibtedly be called upon to decide the
matter of fssure or blanket vein. If a
blanket, locators have the right to work
straight downward within the limits
of their side and end lines only; if a
fissure. they can follow the vein on the
incline. or dip, beyond their side lines.
There are many places in the district
where forces from below or erosion on
the surface has left the vein exposed,
while in other localities it is a hundred
or more feet beneath the limestone cap,
but 1 am aware of no instance in which
it has not been found at no great depth
simply by sinking for It and, moreover,
it yields the values wherever found.