The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-16

MONTANA SAPPHIRE NINE.
One of the Most Remarkable De-
posfts of Gems in the World.

Fergus county, Montana, possesses one
of the most remarkable mines in the
world-the Yogo sapphire properties-In
that the precious stones are round in
regularly formed veins like gold. silver
ana other valuable metals, whereas nsr IN
opals and the other buried treasures are
found in pockets or clusters. Conse-
quently description of this UNIQUE mine
and its mode of operation will prove in
teresting
The sapphires are found scattered all
along the lead or vein, and, as in any
kind of mining. there is much dead"
work, as well as frequent rich strikes.
Last month, for instance. five blocks of
ground We're worked; from one 10000 car
Of equal dimensions only "a carats were
taken, and the cost of working the block
from which the 10000 carats were Sc
cured was only about .one-tenth that Of
working the other four blocks from which
5000 carats were realized.
The sapphires are found In. perpen-
dicuiar lead Of dry clay. with wall rock
nation is mined II is thoroughly washed
and the gems extracted and picked over.
They are Of all sizes and various degrees
continue very rare. So far the company
has worked down only fifty or sixty
feet. but prospecting has heen done to
depth three times as great, and there
deeper they go the harder the formation
becomes, requiring greater exposure to
cause disintegration. All dirt that is
worked over this year will he exposed
through the late fall and winter to the
actions of the elements, causing disfnte-
grafton, and next year II VIII be washed
over again in the sluice boxes. and there
may be extracted as many gems as were
found this year.
Through the summer many gems are
thrown aside as culls, but men are left
they devote their spare time to sorting
over the culls. There would. however,
be no danger in leaving the mines I'M
guarded through the winter. for nature
protects them. After the water freezes
no one can extract the sapphires from
their hard ciayey bed.
The company secures its water from a
point twelve miles distant from the mines.
conveying 1t by bitches and fumes. The
supply of water this season has been
smaller than usual. owing to light
essary at any time TO SUSPEND operations.
About forty men are constantly employed
at the Yogo mines.
large. and some particularly fine stones
have been secured. The largest stone yet
found at the mines was discovered early
In June OF this year. and II weighed nine
teen carats. The demand for the sap
phires is constantly increasing, and the
supply is sufficient, despite the fact that
many individuals are ALSO engaged In
mining them at various spots along the
Missouri river. In addition to the Togo
mines
All INC STONES are SH1ppeU utFect TO
London. where many Of them are cut.
while others are sent to Antwerp for
that purpose But about half of the pro-
duet finds Its way back to the United
States, several large American com~aries
having contracts with the English firm
to which the mining company sells It's
product. The duty on the cut gems Is
only 10 per cent. The actual mining
season is from April Is to October 81, or
until the water freezes.
There Is no indication that the mines
are playing out: on the contrary they
seem to be getting richer. As a bypr j.
duct, considerable corundum is being
mined, but this will he valueless until
railroad shall have been built to the
mines. Fergus county being the only one
In the state unacquainted with the iron
horse. Corundum Is worth fl0 per ton in
London, ard is used in the making OF
emery wheels. etc Thousands OF tons
OF the mineral are now lying on the
dump awaiting cheap transportation. and,
even should the sapphires become ex-
hausted, the railroad would make the
mining of the latter a most profitable un-
dertaking.