The Meeker herald., 1897-03-27
rURQUoIsEMIN
vsry val.able BeIs Bsl.g Worked 1. Nsv


vssy val.able Bsds Bslng Worked In New
MEXICO.
Turquoise is found In Persia, Sax
ony and New Mexico. The Saxony
product Is of an inferior grade, is
found in red sandstone and is 30 SEN
sitive that most of 1t is ruined on the
iapidary's wheel. Practically all of
the turquoise Of the world has been
taken from the mines of Persia and
New Mexico. The Mexican name for
this stone is chalchuitl, and how long
the mines of New Mexico were oper-
ated prior to the Spanish conquest is
a mere matter Of speculation. That
the work was extensively carried on
In dozen different locations is at
tested by the implements unearthed
In recent years which were used by
the Indians before the advantage of
steel or iron tools We're known to them
Near Cerillos, in the southern part of
santa Fe county, there is section Of
mountainous country over two hun
dred acres in extent. every foot Of
which has been worked over In search
OF turquoise. Here 1t was that the big
Chalchuitl mine caved upon Its work
men and buried alive half n hundred
natives who We're worked in slavery
by Spanish masters. 1t was this in
cldent that caused the revolution OF
1851, when the Spanish were driven
out Of the territory and forced to re-
main away for period Of sixteen
years. Striving to obliterate all mem.
ory Of their hateful slavery, the natives
filled up every mine In the territory,
destroyed churches and even whole
towns In their endeavors to wipe out
thA .1rIy ~ t1t
was the largest turquoise mine in New
Mexico in the old days, and so 1t is at
the present time.
Out of some sixty or seventy tur-
quoise claims in New Mexico, about
dozen mines are in operation. The to-
tai output Of turquoise in the territory
was $3.50, 600 in 1891, S175,OOO In 1892,
$500, 600 in 1893, $25O.OOO in 1894, $780,
600 in 1895 and $475.OOO in 1896.
These figures are taken from official
sources, but no doubt greatly underes-
timate the true value of turquoise
mined since 1890. Why this is SO will
appear from the following incident
Last year the owners of the largest
turquoise mine in the territory put in
valuation Of their property amounting
to $3.50. The county commissioners.
knowing that the mine had been in
constant operation, considered the val
uation absurdly low and set about an
investigation which resulted In raising
the valuation from $3.50 to $25,OOO, up
on which the owners cheerfully paid
the levy. This same mine sold In 1893
for $25O,0OO, and, according to the
statement of a former owner, has paid
a million and half year since that
time. In 1895 one stone was taken
out that sold for $4,000. This stone Is
now owned by a New York jewelry
house that also controls four OF the
best mines in the territory.
Recent discoveries have been made,
demonstrating the existence OF valu-
able turquoise deposits, notably In the
Burro mountains near Silver City,
about the Hachitas, and in the Jar
illas as far south as Las Cruces. As
before stated, the Oldest and best
known mines are located in the south
ern part of Santa Fe county, near the
town of Cerillos. Most of the claims
being worked in this section are the
old flIled-up mines OF slavery days.
though sovoralL hauA haan nI'n',Ah Of
late on virgin ground. The greatest
secrecy is maintained. both as to the
location of mines and the method OF
working them. No one is allowed to
inspect n turquoise mine. and en-.
ployes are warned against giving any
information concerning operation up
on pain of immediate discharge. Some
time since Governor Thornton, who Is
very fond of turquoise, asked permis-
sion to inspect one of the mines at
Cerillos. He was refused.
Most of the New Mexican turquoise
goes to New York, very little being cut
In the territory. The ACREAGE Mexican
turquoise miner gets $3.50 day;
Americans get $3.50. The larger
mines work only seven to ten men
each, and in good rock this force can
take out from eight to ten thousand
dollars daily. This was the record OF
one of the mines near Los Cerillos for
month and half last year. then the
pay streak petered out and there was
three months of dead work. There is
undoubtedly n great future for tur-
nuoise mining in New Mexico. but
those now engaged in this industry
knowing that they have good thing,
try to create the impression that the
mines now in operation are being con
Quoted at a loss. This causes them to
maintain the strictest secrecy In eN.
erything relating to the business. They
will not allow photographs to be made.
or consent to allow any one to inspect
the mines: neither will they give any
Information concerning the subject in
general There are not half dozen
peDle In New Mexico who have ever
seen turquoise mined, outside OF those
engaged in the work.
MINING NOTES.