Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1901-05-17


from all parts of the country, letters
asking the above and following aues-
tlons. 10 answer correspondents, 70
give reliable, accurate and authentic
information, and to further advance
our great interests, is the object OF TINS
article:
is gold found nj Ilillsboro In quartz
veins or in placers? In both, but priii-
cipally in issure veins. Between two
and three hundred claims have been To-
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 n depth of 500 feet.
What is the nature Of the oref Cop
per ana iron sulphide and some com
paratlyely free milling quartz. with
depth the ore becomes smelling and
concentrating material. The percent
age Of copper in the ore shipped to the
smeltcrs Is from one 10 twelve units
in concentrates sometimes as high as
twenty units. silica in crude ore from
forty to eighty-live. Smelter certih-
Gates show the ore TO carry from Two
10 fourteen ounces Of gold, from three
to sixty ounces silver. The bulk OF the
ore aud concentrates shipped howevart
,swili average about $40 per ton.
Has there been any large produciMn ?
The Opportunity group has produced
Is, 600 tons Of ore and over half mil
ION dollars The Bonanza mine 1000
tons ana 100000. The Richmond 5000
tons ond over $20GGoo These are Shc
largest producers SO fur.
Axe the milling facilities good? Prac-
tically they are not the saving has
ibaen from fifty to seyeniy-hve per
cent. al tie best. A modern custom
min is badly needed aud fortune
awaits the parties WHO viii build one.
Sufficient water ard an ideal concen-
hating ore. with proper appliances
ninety to Inoty-hye per cent. would DO
the saving.
VIII the owners let go easy or do
ihey want the earth? They are feas-
enable people, but they are moi giving
away their mines, or giving bonds on
/ longtime ralubows. During the past
two years some thirty mines have been
sold, mostly around Amlmas Peak, and
the highest price paid was $4,000.
That mihA ms become the largest pro-
ducug and The best paying ID the dis
trict and the owners would now ask
n very large sum. The greatly i'm
proved price OF copper aud lower
smelling rates have Of late been very
beneficial to these mines. With n good
custom mill the progress would be
rapid.
What are ore .srights? From the
mine to the III Paso smeitor from So
to 81 per ton; from mine to mill 70
cents to $3.50 per ton.
What Is the geological formation?
An eruptye country rock, by the ex-
per;s classed rs Andesite; the ore veins
are found accompanying dlkes Of fine
grained fcIsite aud birdseye porphyry
which cut through tine country north
east aud southwest. Most Of the veins
are fairly easy working, on drift con.
tracts prices have been from $3 to ~
per foot. Incline shafts on vein are
cheaply driven, but vertical shafts Ia
country rock have generally been found
very expensive.
Is there much snow IN winter? Not
enough TO swear by; tho climate, win
ter and summer, Is. from miners
point of view, perfect No snowslldes
and no pneumonia for the miner tc
dread.
Is there much placer miningf There
J ls an extensive placer Geld which y
open to locators and there are always
some men at work who make from "
TO 81 per day. An occasional nugge
brings up the average. OF course som'
men are lucklcr than others, here a.
elsewhere. Most Of the gold Is foun'
within a few feet of the surface, TIT
miners scoop up the pay streak dir
! and run II through dry washing ma
chimes. The nearest water Is dislan
five miles and about 400 feet below th'
i gold level Several companies hav'
| been formed 10 work these plaeers oi
J high scale, but the immense cost o
bringing In sufficient water has mad
J the project appear Of doubtful prom
| A new company has recently been OF
ganlzed to exploit this field with a ma
chine Of the Bueyrus type this
} probably the very best method an
likely 10 succeed.