Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-08-21

Montana Sapphires.

The report OF Joseph Hyde Pratt
ON the occurrence aud distribution Of
corundum in the United States has
just been completed and sent to the
printer by Director Wolcott OF the
geological survey. In this report
Mr.. Pratt says that the only sys-
tematic mining that has been under
taken for sapphires is in Montana.
Sapphires were first found in this
state by miners who were washing
the gravels Of the bars on the Mis-
souri, river east OF Helena for gold.
These We're first described in 1873 by
j. Lawrence Smith. but il was not
until 1891 that actual mining was be-
gun. During this year a number oi
companies were organized To work
for sapphires.
These bars are located from L. to
Is miles eas. ana northeast Of Helena
and have been followed fora distance
uf about IL miles, from Canyon Ferry
down the river to American bar. At
various intervals these bars have
been worked for the supphires from
Emerald bar To American bar. a
few sapphires have been found as far
down the river as Beartooth, but
sapphires have not been found In
large quantities below American bar.
Above Emerald bar there have been
no sapphires found ON any Of the
bars, but In the gravel Of Maple
gulch, less than u mile above, many
%sapphires have been found by miners
who were washing the gravel for
god. No sapphires have been found
In this gulch, but Kunz has noted the
occurrence OF sapphires that were
found in n dixie about six feet wide,
cut through the green slate below the
graycls. At French bar II dixie was
found about 10 feet above the river
that had grcenisli sapphires scattered
sparingly through 1t. The beds OF
gravel in which the supphires occur
are from 10 to 80 feet thick and rest
for the most part upon slate, In bluffs
that .ise many feet above the river.
Al Emerald bar the beds are nearly
1870 feet above the river and rest ON
granite rock.
Most of the mining has been done
at Spokane and Eldorado bars. The
Spokane bars were extensively mined
II few years ago by an English COM
puny which also controlled the
French, Dana and Eldorado bars.
The company afterward became an
American one, with Frank Spratt of
Helena as manager. Metropolitan
bar is now worked by Robin Bird,
Charles Johnson and John Durrant
Of Helena. Henry Crittenden Of Can
yon Ferry controls the deposits at
Emerald bar.
Most Of the gems obtained from al
the bars during the last year have
been put On the market through the
Helena Lapidary company.
As mining investments these sap
phire deposits have not thus far been
financially successful, partly on nc
count Of the heavy capitalization OF
the companies who have bought the
mines and partly on account Of the
color Of the stones. They are OF the
most part II pale greenish or n green.
ish yellow color, and do not com.
mand avery high pricein the market,
Occasionally pink and yellow ones
have beer found that have cut good
! gems. Stones approaching IA red OF
blue color are, however, extremely
; rare. The largest crystal found Oh
, Eldorado bar. 1t was nearly an incl
. long and an eighth Of ninch In diam
/, eter. Sapphires have also beenfound
at Rock creek, Cottonwood creek and
: Yogo gulch. From these sapphire
: deposits stones Of deeper colors have
been obtained, those from Rock ant
Cottonwood creeks being Ofnll color'
from red Ia blue and those from iogt
g gulch being all blue. The Rock creel
, sapphires are found about 80 miles
/ west Of Anaconda. They were ex
t~ensively worked during last summer
, by Mr.. Knuth Of Helena and william
r Motiit OF Philipsburg. A~ltogethel
I about 200, 200 carats Of rough sap
phires were obtained, Of which abouI
Y 10000 carats were fit for cutting
: The prevailing color OF these sap
: phircs is much deeper and they arr
: much more varied than those found
on the Missouri river. The Rocl
creek sapphires are coming to b.
highly priced by many who are nc
qunintcd with them. 1t can be con