Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-05-29

The sapphire mines Of the Iogo
mining district are now recognized
as being among the most valuable
gem mines of the world, and the
stones produced from them, rlyalling
in radiate chatoyancy the famed sap
phlres Of Ceylon and second In value
10 the diamond only, have become
equally IA desirable and almost as
popular as an article OF personal
ornamentatiOn as the latter gem,
The great vein In which the magma
holding these gems lies Is In Itself a
most attractivea and interesting study
for the geologist.
Beginning at the western extremity
Of the known vein, n and a hall
miles west OF Yogo creek In the mass.
I've bodies ofgrey limestones, the vein
continues almost due east along o
but slightly deviating line Of more
than five miles, for which distance II
has been exposed, and one cannot but
marvel at the tenacious persistency
OF the course il follows and the re-
markable regularity both In size and
commercial value Of the matriX body
composing it.
Not only the unusual length and
regularity OF the vein, but the fact
that il il true assure boldly travers-
Ing a massive rock formation In
which assures Of this extent are sell
dom found, and bearing gems not
previously known to occur In veins,
adds peculiar interest to 1t from Il
geological standpoint.
The eastern, or lower, end Of the
vein is seen in a small basin on the
eastern slope Of the Little Belt range,
about ten miles west Of the town of
Utica and two miles north Of the Ju-
dlth river. Here the New Mine Sap
phlre syndicate have their lower
workings, and from this point to the
top OF Yogo hill, three miles distant,
can be seen the great cuts, shafts and
other workings that expose the vein
for thas distance.
From the top uf logo hill and con-
tinuing west across NOgO creek the
American Gem Mining company, of
which Mr.. Patrick j. Sweeney is the
superintendent, has located the vein
for 0ne and n hall miles, md for the
greater pGrt OF that distance ii has
been tapped by various cuts, shafts
and drifts, which, taken with the
work OF the New Mine syndicate,
makes a total distance Of fully four
miles that is actually exposed.
The New Mine Sapphire syndicate
IL operating the properties first dis
covered Oh the vein and they own
claims for about four miles along its
strike, three niles OF which Is extern
,ivcly developed 10y surface workings.
Through the courtesy OF Mr.. G.. Ham
ilton Walker, tie resident manager,
the writer was permitted to inspect
the entire workings OF the properties
and to witness the methods by which
the gems are secured from the corun-
dun magma in which they occur.
BY far the greater part OF the work
iDgs Of the New Mine syndicate has
been executed upon the surface and
much OF il has been done with the
hydraulic and by ground sluiclng.
The company conveys its supply OF
water through Il ditch and flume
about ten miles in length, from YOgu
creek, and acomplcte sluicing system
extends over the entire length Of their
present workings, In addition tn
which Is "A pipe line for hydraulic
work reaching to all parts oithe vein
undergoing exploitation.
The oldest workings on these mines,
which were begun In 1896, arelocated
about one mile East Of the summit o
Yogo hill, and here are several great
open cuts on the vein, n OF which,,
200 feet in length and has al extreme
depth Of ninety feet. Just east o.
this cut Is the "Blue Diamond" cut
having n length OF nearly 1900 feet
and varying in depth from twenty tc
fifty feet, with a width OF from eight
to twenty feet. In addition to these
are several other large cuts, and .
tunnel in one place has been driver