The record-union., 1897-04-01
GREAT PEODUCBR OF GOLD.
What NeYada County Has Done for
California.
Upward of $500, 900, 900 Contributed
to the Worlds Production
of the Metal.

of the Metal.
Especial Correspondence of Record-Unon.)
NEVADA CITY, March 29.-Nevada
County, it is estimated, has produced
something over $500, ,000 600 in gold.
1t is still the largest producer OF any
county in the State. Hydraullc mining
is credited with a great part of the goid
production-placer, drift and quartz
mining the balance
Mining has always been the principal
industry, and will continue to be
for an indefinite period. The area OF the
mineral belt of the county exceeds that
of any other county. The quartz veins are
rich, and have been proven to be perma-
nent and they improve in size and Value
as depth is attained Some of them have
been worked profitably since 1893, and
are profitable producers to-day-in fact,
are richer than ever.
The principal quartz mines are IN
Grass Valley, Nevada, Washington,
Bloomfield, Eureka and Meadow Lake
Townships.
Grass Valley Township has always
taken the lead, with Nevada Township
a good second. 1t is estimated that
100000 600 have been extracted in the
Grass Valley District from it's quartz
mines. Nevada comes second, but just
what amount of bullion has been pro-
duced am at present unable to state.
The ledges in Grass Valley are not
large, averaging from eighteen inches to
two feet. In Nevada District they are
larger, varying in size from two to ten
and twenty feet.
The Grass Valleys ores are free mill
ing. as high as 80 and 80 per cent. being
recovered in free gold.
Nevada District ores are more highly
mineraliZed, and though not rebellious,
the gold contained is more intimately
combined with the sulphurets. Many
of the mines have chlorination works in
operation, while all the sulphurets from
the other mines are either reduced at
the local reduction works, or are sent to
smelters elsewhere.
Washington and Eureka Districts,
like Grass Valley, have free milling ores
in most mines, no effort being made to
save the small percentage of sulphurets
the ores contain. The famous Meadow
Lake District ores are all more or less
rebellious, which accounts for the camp
tOfG lOI d lllIu VI d CcHt
One of the principal mines of Nevada
Township is the
CHAMPION MINE
1t is situated on Deer Creek, one mile
west of Nevada City. 1t consists of
consolidation of eleven claims and has a
greater extent of territory than tiny
mine in the county. The ledge forma-
ton in these consolidated claims is 100
feet wide, with a ledge on both foot and
hanging walls. There are four distinct
lodges running parallel throughout the
claims, varying in size from four to
twenty-four feet. The company have
two quartz mills closely adjoining each
other one of thirty stamps, each weigh
ing 500 pounds, which crush two and
one-half tons to the stamp. and one of
forty stamps, each weighing 1000
pounds, which crush three and one-half
tons per stamp There are twenty
seven concentrators in the two mills
There is a chlorination plant capable of
reducing four tons of sulphuretS per
day AS this does not work all the
sulphurets coming out, the balance is
shipped to the Selby Smelling Works at
San Francisco for reduction. The ore
from the mine contains about per
cent. of sulphurets, which yield from
$50 to S160 per ton.
On account of the percentage of lead,
silver and copper containe1in the ore,
the sulphurets require careful treat
ment, but it is successfully done at the
works.
All the machinery is run by water
power. under 300-foot pressure, using
twelve Peiton wheels
In the Champion proper the incline
shaft is down to- 000feet, the ledge at that
point being from ten to fifteen feet in
width. This shows the permanency of
the lodges owned by the company.
The Wyoming which is a parallel
ledge, on the footwan of the large for
nation. was formerly an extensively
worked mine, and was a large gold pro-
ducer 1t was a short time ago pur-
chased by the Champion Company.
There are two veins in the claim which
unite with depth. They were originally
opened by tunneling from Deer Creek,
and the tunnel was run 1900 feet which
affords excellent drainage.
The Champion Company are now TAX
ing out ore from the Wyoming through
the tunnel, through which it is brought
directly to the mill.
The MerrifieId claim, belonging to
the company. is on the east or hanging
wall OF the formation. The ledge varies
in width from two to twenty-four feet.
This ledge was originally called the
Merrifieid mine. 1t was extensively
worked and was a large producer of
bullion. The management intend to
reopen the lower levels and extend the
works into virgin ground this summer.
This will necessitate the erection of
additional milling facilities.
The Champion Company also own
what is known as the Spanish mine,
which is an extension OF the Merrifield
stamp mill, a vein from three to six
feet in thickness, and prospect of be-
coming a very valuable property There
are known to be two shoots of ore in this
mine one 120 feet in length. the other
150 feet. being in the neighborhood of
800 feet apart. On account of the char
acter of the ground the cost of mining
does not exceed 81 per ton The con-
centrates when reduced produce from
$50 to $40 per ton.
All these claims are on what is called
the mother lode OF this district They
are on the contact between slate and
granite.
The Champion Company employs. al
togther 220 men, the miners receiving
SO per day. The surface improvements
have been either remodeled or newly
1.,,f1