The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-10
GREAT PROPERTIES.
Something of Interest About the Mines at
Gilt Edge.


Great Falls, May 9.-The great sue
cess achieved by the Ammon mines in
I Fergus county, has revealed the fact
that the Judith mines are rich in treas
ure and the Judith hills are covered
with prospects. Men are rapidly enter
ing that district and the amount they
contribute to the business of Great
Falls merchants causes the people of
this city to take great interest in the
camps of Gilt Edge and Maiden. II. C.
Freeman, NJ. E., contributes to the last
issue of the Engineering and Mining
Journal a description of the Ammon
mines, which is of interest to the peo-
pie of Great Falls. where the machinery
for the mine and mill Is manufactured
and whence the gold is shipped. 1t is
as follows:
"Gilt Edge, Fergus county, Mont, is
a small mining town that has grown
up in the last two years from the de-
velopment of the Gilt Edge and Chick
adee mines two miles distant. The
town is IA or Is miles northeast of Lew
istown and five miles south of Maiden,
near the old Spotted Horse mine.
"The mountains here have a north
east course. and are part of the Ju-
dith range. The Gilt Edge and Chick
adee mines are near the foot of the
mountain on the southeast slope. The
gold ore is found in blanket vein.
which lies but a few feet below the
surface and follows the slope of the
mountain to the base, excepting where
gulches have cut down the face to a
lower depth.
The mining is done by starting in
on one side of a gulch at the ledge of
an outcrop, drifting on a level, and
stopping up the slope following the ore,
which is irregularly distributed. but
constant. The miner follows IL re-
gardless of any form or regularity
more than to keep an opening behind
Ia ,I...a~ -.
convey the ore to the main shaft
THE formation is a sheet of porphyry
intercalated in a shaley limestone and
clay band between lodges of solid
limestone. as an overflow from a por-
phyry dyke on the northwest, near or
at the top of the range. The effect of
this porphyry Intrusion has been to
frequently disturb the limestone lodges
and crowd masses of it forward, the
ore in such cases surrounding large and
snail masses, the limestone appearing
like a horse in vein mining. In one
easel noticed the mass of limestone was
so large, and apparently not displaced,
the ore body appeared as two beds
with limestone between. Where the
limestone is displaced and crowded for
ward by the porphyry, irregular mass
es. large and small. are found mixed
with masses OF porphyry and the gold
ore irregularly surrounding both.
THE intrusion of the porphyry ap-
pears 10 nave been In Softer material,
forming a bedding to the upper lime
stone. taking its place and lifting up
this limestone.
Where there Is no dislocation more
than the insinuation Of the porphyry
between the lodges, there is a regular,
thin. laminated limestone lying next
under the porphyry. and which is good
ore OF SIG to $40 per ton. occasionally
higher. The gold lies in the thin Joints
OF the lamination. sometimes very rich
The gold has undoubtedly been de-
posted from solution which has come
up the side of the dyke at the contact
and followed the under side of the
porphyry sheet along the overflow.
'Lumps of porphyry. much discolored
with iron oxide and mixed in with
Jumps of limestone taken from places
where the limestone had been crushed
and moved out of place. We're assayed.
Although their appearance indicated
pay ore. the assays showed them TO be
low grade. and probably all the gold
was in the adhering clay. The ore is
well oxidized. rarely any pyrite seen.
and the gold Is very fine.
Where there is a semblance OF reg
ularity this thin laminated limestone
Is in place. next under the porphyry
sheet, IS to "a inches thick. then a de-
composed brown. softer material. some