The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-28


The recent discovery of a large ledg
of copper ore in Unaweep canyon,
short distance over the Utah line il
Colorado, not far from Grand Junction
is causing quite stir in mining circles
and especially so as it is believed b!
some that the Unaweep discovery il
an extension of the find in Parade,
valley, which clearly derive theil
source from the La sal mountains il
this state.
The Denver Republican, in an article
on the Unaweep copper discoveries
says:
The recently reported copper discov-
cries in the western part of the state
and especially those in Unaweep can
yOn, are showing. far better results
than were expected and there is now
good reason for the belief that a great
copper district will soon be developed
and shipping. One of the peculiarities
of the district is that shipments will
commence at the very start of the dis
trict, the first carload reaching here
this week
The size of the district cannot vet
be determined, but it is believed that
the veins extend southwesterly from
Unaweep toward Paradox valley and
the La Sal mountains. so that the three
new camps practically constitute but
one district. The principal vein in Una
weep, known as the Last Chance vein,
shows strong on the surface, with gran
lite walls u feet apart, and can be
traced for miles in the direction of the
other camps mentioned. The fOrma-
ton in the three camps is very nearly
the same.
Unaweep canyon. on account of its
proximity to the railroad, attracts the
greatest share of attention at present,
and its claims of values will be largely
determined by the results from the
treatment OF the first carload of ore,
which is expected to reach here to-
morrow.
Norman Cameron of Boston. who
went to the new camp ten days ago,
with the view of investing. and who.
with W. NJ. Downing. an attorney of
this city, has acquired considerable in
tereStS in the camp. was in the city
yesterday, and is enthusiastic in his
belief in the value of the camp.
REPORTS FULLY CONFIRMED.
4 was somewhat skeptical regarding
the truth of the first reports said he
but as l had advance information
from J. S. Clark, formerly of Denver
who now runs the Grand Junction
foundry, and is thoroughly reliable,
was convinced a month or more ago of
the value of the new camp. But now
that l have been all over the country
thoroughly with an expert and have
examined every shaft personally, I can
say that not Cne-half the truth had
been told me. I cannot understand how
FOR years the intelligent mining men
of the state should, in their efforts to
secure gold and silver pass by the
magnificent copper propositions found
in UnaWeep. 1t is true that % per cent
copper ere. which, after deducting all
expenses, will net but n small profit,
does not appeal to the imagina ton like
20 ounces in gold, but TO-DAY 1 would
prefer to have a good copper mine with
even Is per cent copper than the best
gold mine in the state
When | arrived at Unaweep I found
two townSites. three saloons, one dance
hall. no hotel, one grocery and pro-
vision store, and about 500 people, all
excited to an undue pitch. But there
is enc popularity which they tell me
is seldom noticed in new camps-dur-
ing the daytime there is hardly a man
around the streets. All are out work
ing. The people are scattered all over
the district for miles around. Coming
down to the railroad the other day. ]
saw six wagons coming in, each con-
tanning a fun camp outfit and all the
members of the family.
LAST CHANCE GROUP.
4 think the best property so far de-
velOped is the Last Chance group. in
which Mr.. Downing and l are inter
ested with Mr.. Clark. We have a 40
foot shaft a little way of the vein. the
material from the shaft being of an in
e.
shaft with a 20-foot drift in solid ore.
our vein is between granite walls, and
is u feet wide. On the west side is a
Stag, next comes lime and
spar. and next to the other wall our
pay streak, which has widened from |
six inches at the surface to Is inches /
at the bottom of the shaft. The ore is |
heavily stained with carbonate of cop /
per- but the values come from the OK /
ides OF copper. copper glance and cop /
rer pyrites. In the center of the pay .
ore is a streak two inches wide which |
seems to have been roasted by nature /
into n copper matte.
One of the best of our specimens ran
50 per cent in copper, Is ounces in silver 1
and 81. 10 in gold. The average is about
% per cent in copper. and our poorest
specimen, which was not from the pay
streak at all. ran s per cent. The gold
and silver values vary. though we have
cad as high as SIS in gold. We are
cow shipping this stuff, and our first
,arload will tell US with tolerable ac-
,uracy what we may expect in the fu-
-ure. We intend that it shall give us a
rue average Of what we call our pay
re We estimate that it win run 20
ser cent. and that value viii give US
fair margin.
of course, at present all our eX-
,enses are very heavy. We have TO
,aul Is miles to Whitewater and %
niles to Grand Junction. where we sc;
competition that helps us
ONE. though ultimately it viii be
necessary to erect snelter at the
amp. Such a plant will give US eco
lomical treatment and enable us to
,roduce almost unlimited quantities of
hat part of the ore which runs about
0 per cent. / have Boston capital back
f me in the smelter proposition, and
ust as soon as 1 can demonstrate the
alue and quantity of the ore, the
melter will be forthcoming"
MINOoK AND LITTLE MINooK. :
.Iaska Gold Camps That Are Looking