Arizona daily citizen., 1901-08-08
The Altar Copper Mines.
fFrom the Jerome Mining Newsl

Since the return of Messrs. Robert
Mitchell and Arthur Cordiner from theil
visit TO the properties of the Altar Min
ing Company in Ai,ar District, Sonora
, Mexico, so many inquiries have heci
directed to them concerning the results
OF their Investigations that they have
decided to give out for publication a
statement ofwhat they saw and learned
for the information of those who pur-
chased the first issue of stock. as well as
the public generally. Accordingly they
have authorized the following, with the
assurance that special care has been OBJ
served to avoid exaggeration i'll every
detail, and give only the exact facts.
This assurance coming from these we'll
known gentlemen is quite sufficient to
satisfy those acquainted with their char
acters and high standing in this COM
munity. For the benefit OF Others, how
ever, it may be added that they are
both old residents of Jerome, and men
in whom their friends and acquaintance
have found reason to place implicit con-
ideuce. Mr. Mitchell, who is metal
lurgist of many years experience, is the
present superintendent ofthe United Yer
dc Copper ,Company's smelter. Mr..
Cordiner is a member ofthe firm of Hoov-
er &. Cordiner, proprietors ofthe Fashion
Saloon in Jerome, and has had much
practical experience in mining;
The properties of the Altar Copper
Mining Company consists oftwo groups
comprising 1873 pertcncncias, ot about
345 acres, all under patent from the
Mexican government. The Montana
Verdi group which contains G2 pertenen-
cias, or about 1856 acres, is situated three
miles from the Altar river, and about 40
miles north. westerly from Santa Ana, Il
town on the Sonora railway Go miles
south of Nogales. 1t is easily accessible
from Santa Ana by splendid wagon
road, and the cost Of freighting to and
from that point is only $40 per ton in
| Mexican money, or $5 in gold. The
Town of Altar, the seat of the district, is
% miles distant in southwesterly di-
rection from the group, by an equally
/ good road. ] he altitude at the Mon
tana Verdi is about 2 900 feet above sea
level Along the Altar river, within
few miles of the property, are number
of productive ranches, and a couple OF
-four mills. TIE face of the country on,
and in the vicinity Of the group may be
said to I've mountainous, though the
mountains are not high or 'steep, and
resemble more rolling hills. Tilstc is al,
abundance of timber suitable for both
fuel and mine timbering within easy dis
I tarce and accessible by wagon. The Al
/ tar river is perennial stream, having
good flow of neeer-iailing water. more
/ than sufficient to supply the ranches
along the banks. Its waters can be very
easily made available for use upon the
Montana Verdi. by the construction Of
ditch to tap the stream short distance
above the mine, and the company is now
negotiating with the owner OF large wat
er rights in the river. for the purchase OF
| a right 10 divert sufficient water to sup
ply the property in this manner for all
| time to come.
| I he group as whole is not especially
rough, being rather undulatlng, but the
surface over nearly the entire area, is
much broken ny almost inuumcrab'e
rock groupings and prominences OF all
shapes and sizes. These CT cfoppiugs do
] not appear to be III ledge formation, but
! project IN the form oi great detached
masses and lyouidefs without any rcgu-
iarity whatever in the manner OF their
emplacement. Everywhere they show
vivid grctu IN color, and examination
shows them to be largely carbonates of
copper, oxides of copper and oxides ot
IRON. Of all kinds and grades. the carbon
ates prcdouinatipg. In the depressIons
| between these masses of groupings, the
surface rs earth which has evidently
| been formed to considerable extent
| from the decomposition of the rock crop
| pings. Judging from its appearance, and
/ is Strcwn over with small pieces of float
oftlie same general characteras the rock.
/ This earth or dirt. however, is very SUI
perficial. and it is only necessary to dig
short distance before rock closely re-
sembling the surface Groupings is chi
eountered. Assays of this surface rock
made after returning to Jerome show
| that il viii ran on an average six per
cent copper, and Mr. Mitchell is of the
! opinion that there is enough of it an
sight to fully Justify the installation at
once of 100-ton blast furnace on the
property and the commencement of
smelling operations on substantial
scale The cost of frcighting to and
from Santa Ana would be more than ov-
ercome by the cheapness of both labor |
and fuel. The established wages OF drill
men is So per day in Mexican money, or
ST. day in gold. Outside men receive |
81 rs per day, S7I2 cents in gold. Hard
wood for steam can be bought for 81. SO |
per cord in gold.
Tke work already done upon the pro-
pertv is not extensive A vertical shaft |
has been sunk to depth ot 65 feet. AM
examination of the walls of this shaft |
shows an exceedingly irregular forpa-
ton and multiform characters OF rock,
VARYING from rich sulphides OF copper
near the surface to a blue slate impreg-
mated to some extent withquartz streak
ed with sulphides at the bottom. Assays |
of the ore taken from the upper part of
the shaft run from to 10 per cent cop
per. 1t is the Intention of the company
to continue the shaft to depth OF 100
feet, and then drift through the ore
body. A large force OF men is now Mt
work. |
1t is impossible for any person to look
over this group, to walk over and among
the masses of mineralized rock and note
that characteristic greenish appearance
everywhere in evidence, without forming
the positive conviction that underneath
his feet lies hidden an immense body of
copper ore, greater perhaps, if the indi-
cations count for anything, than has
ever vet been uncovered. He cannot be
brought to the belief that this copper ore
came from any other source or direction
than below, nor that the visible copper
in the ore was deposited upon the crest
of the hill where the ore occurs, by the
action of any surface stream. Bat
though he will conclude his inspection of
the Montana Verdi with the firm convic-
ton that little development work will