Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-03

confident that it will easily bring $780,
600, or $25 per pound"
j. ID. McNickle is the owner Of six
claims situated one mile west of Camp
Wesley, near tie Reynolds ranch in
Pennington county, which exposes large
vertical veins of quartz ore. containing
a high per cent of sulphides that yields
in gold from $50 to $50 por ton of con-
centrates. so We are told by a mine
owner from that neighborhood. Al
though there is considerable rock from
which native gold can be discovered,
the main body of the matrix is a con-
centrating proposition. If reports that
are given out recently from these differ
snt camps, west Of Rockford. are sus-
tanned by men looking for that class of
property, there is no reason to dis
believe that mining enterprises will be
~inaugurated whenever investigations
are made by those hoping to find a safe
investment in Understanding Review.
DEMEREAU MOUNTAIN MINES.
Parties coming in from Pringle report
a marked change in the tunnel being
driven into Demereau Mountain near
that place. The tunnel has now been
driven into the mountain, from the
east side about l73 feet, and IN its pro.
gress has cut four ore veins, averaging
in width as follows: First vein, 4 feet,
second vein IS feet, third vein 90 feet.
fourth vein 7 feet. Each of these veins
are enclosed in walls of granite on the
one side, and hornblende and horn
blendic slate on the other. The ore in
the different veins thus far encountered
are very similar in character, and give
returns by fire assay of values varying
from STAG to $1,000 per ton in gold.
The ore is q sulphide, and in addition to
the gold contents carries considerable
copper III form of copper pyrites, but
the per cent of copper has not as yet
been ascertained. No lead, or silver to
mention has thus far been obtained.
The change referred to is the striking of
another granite dyke at the depth of
about 40 feet, when Immediately there
gushed out a stream Of water which is
still running in sufficient volume TO run
a 40 stamp mill. The water Jas revealed
by tasting) is strongly im%pregnated
with iron, and deposits a yellow sedi-
ment as it flows out Of the tunnel. This
dyke of granite, as indicated by works
on the surface. forms the east wall Of
what is known as the Paymaster vein,
which, though not so large as some of
the others, is presumed to be of a much
higher grade, as the ore Yielded by
assay at the surface S72 per ton in gold.
This granite dyke is not a large one, and
probably six feet further will carry the
workmen through into the vein. The
floor of the tunnel is at an elevation of
about $50 feet above the level of Beaver
creek, and it was not supposed that a
water vein of so much power would be
found at that height. However it will
he welcomed by the owners Of the prop
erty az it is advantageous in affording
plenty of water for hosting works and
other useful purposes on the ground.
As the driving of the tunnel is still in
progress, we may expect a further re-
port of interest in a few days.
CoPPER n GOLD,
The following communication from c.
w. Robbins, relating to the mineral
resonrces Of French Crench, will be of
interest to CHRONICLE readers:
SOUTHERN QUEEN COPPER MINE
March 80, 1897.
EDITOR CHRONICLE AS the name of
your paper indicates, / presume you are
ready and anxious at all times to receive
and report the happenings and doings
Of the people ali oyer the county. and
particularly in the development of its
mineral u
We came down here on the 4th day
December, Mr.. James Demereau, Mr..
Chas. Ostiom and myself, our purpose
being to reopen the Southern Qusen
Copper mine, in which We are Interest
ed, and on which we have a lease for
one year from the other co-owners,
namely: Mr. VIM. Tarrant, VIM. Rosen-
baum, II. Keimer and A. T. Feay. The
property, consisting Of a group Of six
claims, il situated about a mile above
the mouth Of French Greek canyon, on
a small tributary of that stream on the
south side. The property has been
worked to a considerable extent some
ten years ago, since which time it has
been idle, and the old workings, consist
ing of a shaft 40 feet, and a drift 100
feet. had been neglected and allowed to
cave, so that it wal deemed best to sink
a new shaft, which We have done to the
extent of 35 feet, and are now engaged
in drifting to strike the contact which
carries the ore. This drift has been run
about % feet and it is expected to strike
the pay shute in about IL feet further.
The highest grade copper ore ever pro
duced in the Black Hills. in any consid-
quantity, has been taken from
this mine, and several car loads, I I'M
derstand, were at n time shipped TO
Chicago with profitable results. The
pre- consists of a carbonate of copper
n~alachite. whilo the larger portion 10
almost a pure copper glance. which will
yield in smelter about 70 per cent metal
lie copper. The mine 10 situated about
10 miles east from Custer. in Custer
county. and We hope, in the near future,
be able to report a profitable ship
nsnt. and q continuous production Of
he metal which il now very much in
!
In addition to the copper there Il ~