Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1901-05-10

from ull IartS Ol tile country, ttt'is
asking the above and following ques-
tions. TO answer correspondents, TO
give reliable. accurate nnd authentic
information, and to further advance
our great interests, Is the object of this
article:
Is gold found at IIillsboro In quartz
veins or in placers? In both, but prin-
cipally in fissure veins. Between two
and three hundred claims have been 10
lated on these veins which show pay
ore at the surface and the work done
on these varies from mere assessment
holes to the principal mines that have
been developed to depth of 500 feet.
What Is the nature of the ore? Cop
per and iron sulphide and some com
pnratiyely free milling quartz. With
depth the ore becomes smelling and
concentrating material. The percent
age Of copper in the ore shipped to the
smelters Is from one to twelve units
twenty units. Silica in crude ore from
forty to eighty-five. Smelter certiii-
Gates show the ore to carry from two
10 fourteen ounces of gold, from three
TO sixty ounces silver. The bulk of the
ore and concentrates shipped, however.
VIII average about $40 per ton.
Has there been any large production
The Opportunity gronp has produced
23, 900 tons of ore and over half a mil
ION dollars. The Bonanza mine 1909
tons and 100000. The Richmond 5000
tons ond over 100000. These are the
largest producers so far.
Are she milling facilities good? Prac-
tically they are not-the saving has
been from fifty to seventy-liye per
cent at the best. A modern custom
mill Is badly needed and a fortune
awaits the parties who will build one.
Sufficient water and an ideal concen-
tratlng ore, with proper appliances
ninety to ninety-iive per cent would be
the saving.
VIII the owners let 60 easy, or do
they want the earth? They are reas-
enable people, but they are not giving
away THEN mines, or giving bonds on
longtime rainbows. During the past
two years some thirty mines have been
sold, mostly around Amimas Peak, anG
the highest price paid was 1000.
That miK.. >as become the largest pro-
ducing and the best paying in the dis
trct and the owners would now ask
a very large sum. The greatly i'm
proved price of copper ana lower
rates have of late been very
beneficial TO these mines. With n good
custom mill the progress would be
rapid.
What are ore .raights? From the
mine to the lei Paso smeltcr from so,
to 81 per ton: from mine TO mill IS
cents to s1.5o per ton.
What Is the geological formation?
An eruptive country rock, by the ex-
perts classed as Andesite; the ore veins
are found accompanying dikes Of fine
grained felsite and blrdseye porphyry
which cut through the country north
east and southwest Most OF the veins
are fairly ensy working, on drift con
tracts prices have been from So to 50
per foot. Incline shafts on vein are
cheaply driven, but vertical shafts in
country rock have generally been found
very expensive,
Is there much snow In winteri Not
enough to swear by; the climate, win
ter and summer. Is. from miners
point Of view perfect No snowslides
and no pneumonia for the miner to
dread.
Is there much placer mining? There
Is an extensive placer field which Ii
open to locators and there are always
some men at work who make from 81
to 50 per day. An occasional nugget
brings up the average. OF course some
men are luckier than others. here as
elsewhere. Most OF the gold is found
within few feet Of the surface. The
miners scoop up the pay streak dirt
and run II through dry washing ma
chimes. The nearest water Is distant
1--WE miles and about 100 feet below the
gold level Several companies have
been formed to work these piacers on
a high scale. but the immense cost OF
in sufficient water has made
The project appear of doubtful profit.
A new company has recently been or
ganized to exploit this field with ma
chine Of the Bucyrus type-this is
probably the very best method and
likely to succeed.