The Opelousas courier., 1896-09-19
rIERCUR
Utah's New Ell Dorado Wonderful
Development of the Camp Floyd
Mining District.

S
The Camp Floyd Mining District of Utah,
distant but 40 miles from Salt LAX" City, is
now attracting the attention of tie mining
world as the only western rival VI Cripple
markable history. The town Of Lewiston rose,
tlourished and passed into decay, twenty five
years ago, on the very spot on which Mercilr
has been built within the last eighteen months.
1t was renowned as Il silver camp lin II, by the
development OF the Sparrow hawk ana Last
Chance mines, which produced over 81 900. 900
in white metal. At that time there were 1000
peoplein Lewiston and the district was very
Lively, but the rich pockets having worked ont,
Lewiston's fame began to wane. The next big
strike in the district, one that is yet talked OF
by old timers, was in the Carrie Steele, from II
| pocket in which some parties scraped ont SS3,-
600 in about three months time. This caused
great excitement so much so, that i'll ~ and
'73 the hill was swarming with prospectors.
Then the camp again declined until 10 ana so,
| when it was abandoned. In 1890 attention WAS
called to the McArthur- Forrest cyanide process
and a test of the ore was made in Denver, with
| such elaborate results that the old sparrow
hawk or Marion mine was brought out OF Il
S4o,o 600 or $4,000 Indebtedness and put on a DIV
ldend paying basis. The formation at Mercur
is very similar to the region about Johannes
burg i'll South Africa, except that the Camp
Floyd ore bodies are larger and richer. Geolo-
gists and mineralOgists differ as to the origin
and formation of the ore body, some claiming
three distinct gold bearing veins while Others
seem to favor the single blanket vein theory.
On one point, however, all agree, that no such
gold deposit has ever before been discovered.
In the Mercur mine, recently bonded for 81 500
600, the ore bodies average $1,000 in gold to the
ton, while some assays run Into the hundreds
mark. With the aid of the cyanide process,
this ore is mined and milied at an average cost
OF 50. so to 50 90 per ton, leaving profit OF sl2.m
or Sl2. so per ton. On this basis the mine has,
in the year just passed, paid dividends to the
extent of $500, 600. The adjoining properties,
the Golden Gate, Marion and ,Geyscr are
euually rich. The VEN OF veins have already
been traced from the cluster OF mines at Mer-
cur, to Sunshine-a distance of six miles,
where the Sunshine mine and mill, another
large property, is located, together with nu-
merous claims of less magnitude. In the Mcr-
eur mine alone 100000 tons of ore are now
blocked out with an average value of Sl400 per
ton, making a total value of s., S00,0U0; the
Golden Gate is able to show 100000 tons Of
higher value than the Mercur, while the Sun
shine has in sight more ore than either Of the
above but of lower value. If the discoveries
recently made, twelve miles west of Mercur
and far to the south, are uncoverings OF the
same vein, then there is strong evidence that
the great deposit covers an area OF from 100 to
$50 square miles. 1t is hardly supposable that
all portions OF the vein will yield profitable val
ues, although that is the belief OF many, but II
is quite within the range OF possibilities as no
barren spot has yet been touched. Keeping
in mind the fact that any ore exceeding $500 III
value per ton, can be mined and milied at i
that the Camp Floyd district Will yet be one OF
the largest gold producing camps III the world.
Owing to the nilldness of the climate, pros
pecting can he conducted at all seasons OF the
year, and at the present writing, vigorous
work is being done at many points III the dis
trict The result OF this work will show itself
during the coming year i'll the opening OF the
ore bodies in various localities throughout the
district, and numbers of claims that are now
mere prospects will undoubtedly become pay
iAs mines in the near future. Nowhere at the
speculation which will exceed that OF the camp
Floyd district.
Mercur or Camp Floyd mining district Is best
reached via the Rio Grande Western Railway
to Salt Lake City. For further particulars or
printed matter, apply to +. A. WADLEIGH,
General Passenger Agent, Rio Grande Western
Railway. Salt Lake City.