, 1901-12-31

The following article is from the
pen Of Prof. w. C. Knight, the geolo-
gist of the University of Wyoming,
and is printed in the Engineering and
Mining Journal in the iseue Of last
Saturday:
Very recently this vicinity was
thrown into quite an excitement by the
report that platinum had been discov-
cred in the Rambler copper ore. Sew
eral times prior to this platinum has
been reported from various places in
the same county, but with the excep-
ton Of the find in the placer mines of
Douglas creek, they all lack confirma-
ton. On this account it is necessary
to call the attention of the mining
world to this unique find, OIL as a whole
they may consider it similar to the
previous supposed discoveries.
For some time the Rambler Mining
company has had some trouble in ad-
justing differences in assays, in set
Elements for its ore. This difference
has usually been in the assay for sill
yer, and never amounted to more than
a few ounces A short time ago the
Denver assayers, while attempting to
account for the variation in the assay
value of the ores, discovered that plati-
mum was present and usually In Thy
ing quantities. Upon receiving this re-
port the Rambler company commenc-
ed to investigate, much to its credit,
and had numerous samples tested from
various parts of the mine and also had
assays run on car lots varying in guam
tity from 20 to As tons. Without ex-
ception this rare metal has been found
in the ores from all parts Of the mine,
but more especially from the blue COP
per ore. Besides the platinum, 1t has
been limited that there are other rare
metals present.
The Rambler mine is located about
SO miles southwest of Laramie, in the
Medicine Bow mountains. at an eleva-
ton Of about 5000 feet About year
ago this property came into prom
inence as a copper producer and has
been one g greatest1lines sas1
discovered in the state. At a depth OF
no feet a huge vein Of oxidized copper
ores was found, which made 1t poSsi-
BILE to commence shipping ore imme-
diately after the strike was made. The
ore was hauled to Laramie and shipped
to various smelters until the melting
snow made the roads impossible. ore
was then stored on the dump. and Ia
ter in the spring sold to the new Grand
Encampment smelter, where 1t has
been matted with ores from the Grand
Encampment mines. Below the x
died ores, chalcocite and bornite
were found, and, still deeper. covelite.
The ores have varied considerably IN
value, but the blue ore has averaged
about 80 per cent Of copper by the car
load. The vein occur in a schistose
formation that is only a short distance
from the Archean granite.
The discovery Of platinum in a vein
is a matter of extraordinary scientific
interest, and especially so when 1t ap-
pears to have q commercial aspect.
About 15 years ago I found a few small
pieces of metallic platinum in a lot
of placer gold that l was refining, and
which had been taken from Douglas
creek. The metal was Of 30 little val
ne that 1t had no commercial import
ance. This find, however, only
strengthens the recent report, and
there is a probability that this region
may prove to be of great Importance
as a platinum producer.
This is l believe the third instance
where platinum has been found asso'
ciated with veins. am not familiar
with the reports from Russia, or 9th
ers, II they have been reported.
1 am not able to state at this time
whether the platinum is found in the
metallic state or ~ compound
There is a quantity being worked at