The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-09-16
AMONG YKE LEDGES
ABOUT RICH GOLD CREEK
Some of the Many Valuable Gold Prop
critics In That SectiOn-Am0unt
of Development Work.

NOW tnat the placer season on MID
die Fork of Gold Creek is practically
concluded, the miners in that section
are directing their attention to quartz
mines on the headwaters of the creek
Development work on the several quartz
mines in this promising district will be
vigorously prosecuted this winter and a
scene Of great activity will be witnessed
on the head of Gold creek. Within a
radius of five miles, the most promising
gold and silver properties nearly all
adjoining each other are grouped in a
semi-circle, and 10 other section in the
state outside of Butte can show up such
favorable indications of minerals bear
ing gold silver and copper, as the dis-
tlict referred to ON the head OF Gold
creek. Little attention was paid to
quartz mining in that section until
about fours ago, when valuable placer
mines We're discovered not more than
three miles from the present scene OF
activity. During the summer of 1898
placers, and The average returns have
been about Sl2 TO the man ever since.
1t is certain that this golG came from
somewhere in the vicinity. as not over
three miles from the placer deposits is
the watershed between God creek and
the several tributaries Of Boulder. The
quartz mines are situated on this di-
vide and partly on the slope each way
and that a promising future is ahead
for this section. 10 one, who ever saw
the country, will doubt Tor Il moment.
Mineral is cropping out everywhere and
every bit OF it will pan.
Nearly centrally located il this min
eral belt is a group OF claims owned by
the Gold Ore Mining cOmpony. Of Ia
coma. Surveyors have been at work
on this group the past week and six of
their claims will be patented in the near
future. Considerable development work
has been done Oh these properties and Il
force of men has been employed, for the
past two years. The pIilcipal 1llnuel
driven on the vein is about 800 feet
long and is in ore all the way, with sew
4 ~
splendid lead. The ore contains princi-
pally gold and silver although lead and
copper is found in some OF the rock.
| No ore has been taken out other than
necessary than driving the tunnel and
from that alone about 200 tons are now
on the dump which would pay well to
work without any sorting whatever.
The company came iutO possession CT
the property by purchasing several
claims OF Emil Spec, a miner who had
great faith in the district but who was
not permitted to ENJOY the rewards Of
his industry very long and has since
gone to prospect the unkIown beyond,
while the adjoining claims have been
located for the company by their agents
The formation is of soft granite and is
easily worked Part OF the ore is free
milling, while some Of il is base, but
will concentrate very nicely About
four men are employed right along.
Messrs. Hankins and Doody, OF this
city, own three claims adjoining those
Of the Gold Ore company and are devel
Op1ng promising niue. he princi-
pal shaft is an incline, following the
lead down to depth of about - feet,
while another shaft about 40 feer
deep and several tunnels show the lead
to extend through the entire three
claims. They are sinking another shaft
on the vein and the prospects are eX-
ceedingly good. A large amount Of ore
has been shipped from this property and
we'll sorted shipments have netted re-
turns OF $13O per ton. The lowest as
say from this property was SIS IN gold
per ton while some have been away
up. Two men are steadily at work and
this is one of the mines that has paid
expenses for deveoping right along.
The formation, like in most mines
in this district, is of soft granite, and is
easy worked.
Adjoining this property on the south
is a group of several claims owned by
by Carl Bergsaand, well known min
ing man of Philipsburg Two parallel
leads, about 80 feet apart, are here eZ
posed, and the nature Of the ore, to-
gether with the course Of the veins,
would indicate that the same leads
found on the Hankins d Doodv prop
critics. The main shaft is about s. feet
deep and crOsscut both leads, which are
found considerably nearer each other at
that depth than at the surface 1t is
believed that both leads are from the
same ore body, and should they con-
tinue down at the present course to a
depth Of $50 feet, a large lead will be
found. Mr.. Bergstand has three men
employed, driving a crosscut tunnel,
which will tap the lead at depth of
! 15O to 1860 feet from the surface, near
the point where the main shaft is To-
Gated. The tunnel will be over 250 feet
long, and it is the intention to stope
and take out ore as soon as the lead Is
reached A JO-foot shaft at another
point, and several smaller ones also
about 1870 feet of tunnels, show the lead
to be continuous and permanent. The
ore contains principally gold and silver
with small percentage of copper and
lead. Some shipments from this mine
have netted $40 per ton, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the ore has to be
hauled by wagon for twelve miles over
mountain road that would not be mis-
taken for bicycle track. Consider
able ore now on the dump proves to be
worth S96 per ton, according to an aver
age sample carefully taken by a mining