Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-08-08
MOUNTAIN OF RICH COPPER.
The Samples from the Waldo
Fields Make o Splendid
Showing.

Fine samples OF copper ore-ore run
ming as high as 20 and so per cent, were
brought into Grants Pass recently from
the new Mammoth ledge, lately discov.
cred in the Waldo copper fields. This
new ledge is situated nine miles from
Waldo station and north of the devel
oped mines described in The Telegram
few days ago; this new ledge or noun
tain OF copper, hes between the West
Fork OF the Illinois River and Elk Greek
on the east, both streams flowing north
ward toward the Illinois.
Development work in the nature OF a
tunnel driven into the side OF the noun.
tain of copper gives proof Of mammoth
ledge over 200 feet in width, carrying
values ranging from 10 to 35 per cent.
This tunnel has not as yet crosscut the
ledge entirely, nor do tue miners expect
it to do SO, for over 100 feet more, as
the ore shows up better with depth.
Climbing to the summit OF The noun.
tain one will find groupings on the sur
face which indicate length of copper
beneath, 600 feet in width. Such a
ledge stands without a parallel any.
where. All over the summit OF the
mountain is to be seen a decomposed
rock or gossan OF reddish color, which
forms the upper part OF the metallic
vein beneath. Some OF these gossan-
ferrous rocks stand many feet high, like
huge kilns, and give evidence of the in
tense heat that ages ago issued from
that mountain top. These groupings
have been known to exist for several
years, but it was not until two years ago
that the Mammoth ledge was discovered.
The discovery was made by L. NJ. Al
bright, miner of much experience, who
came to Southern Oregon from New
Mexico. With two other partners a
company was formed and several claims
staked.
Since the discovery was made the
owners have been pushing development
work with all speed, as they have a
most encouraging promise OF becoming
the possessors of one OF the worlds
best copper mines. The tunnel tapping
the ledge has been run in oyer $50 feet,
and down to depth Of nearly 2O1 feet,
and after point 40 feet from the sur
face is passed, high-grade copper ore
is found throughout.
The Mammoth ledge, as it has been
named by it's owners, is situated 3s miles
southwest of Grants Pass, and only
about mile instance from the Cres-
cent City and Grants Pass stage road.
The mine lies 2s00 feet above the level
OF the sea, and the tunnel can be seen
far up on the mountain side from the
stage road below.
This new mine is another important
additionto the rich copper producers Of
the celebrated Waldo field or district.
The large lodges Of copper on the Illinois
River haye been known for long time,
but in the mad rush for gold along the
streams OF that and other Southern Ore
gon districts, the less valuable conner
was ignored by the prospectors. But Of
late years these copper ledges have been
developed extensively, and have produe.
ed many thousand tons OF copper since
the erection OF the smelter in that dis.
trict. New discoveries are continually
being made, and the supposed border
line OF the Waldo copper belt is being
pushed out and spread farther and far
ther with each new strike. Just A few
days ago a group Of Montana miners
visited the district, and, surprised at
the magnitude of the Waldo copper
helcs, pronounced 1t the greatest in the
United States, though like the gold
mines OF Southern Oregon, these i'm.
mense copper ledges are practically un.
developed.
The operators OF the Mammoth ledge
are to erect a smeIter and electric light
plant for night work. Nearby streams
on the mountain side can be utilized TO
furnish power for these purposes.
Timber grows abundantly in the vicinity
so that altogether the Waldo region
furnishes every facility for becoming an
ideal copper mining district.-Dennis
stoyall in the Telegram.