, 1901-01-28

Fergus county, Montana, possesses
one of the most remarkable mines in
the world-the Yogo sapphire proper
ties-in that the precious tones are
found in regularly formed veins like
gold, silver and other valuable metals,
whereas in other communities dia-
monds. %sapphires, opals and the other
buried treasures are found in pockets
or clusters. Consequently a descrip-
ton of this unique mine and its mode
of operation will prove interesting.
The sapphires are found scattered all
along the lead or vein, and, as in any
kind of mining, there is much dead"
work, as well as frequent rich strikes.
Last month, for instance, five blocks
OF ground were worked; from n TO-
600 carats were extracted, while from
another of equal dimensions only IA
carats were taken, and the cost of
working the block from which the TO-
ooo carats were secured was only about
one-tenth that of working the other
four blocks, from which 5000 carats
were realized. The sapphires are found
In a perpendicular lead of dry clay,
with wall rock on either side, and, as
this clayey formation is mined, 1t Is
thoroughly washed and the gems ex-
tracted and picked over. They are of
all sizes and various degrees of excel
ience, but the amethystine gems con-
tlnue very rare. So far the company
has worked down only fifty or sixty
feet, but prospecting has peer done to
a depth three times as great and there
are sapphires all the way down. The
deeper they go the harder the forma-
ton becomes, requiring greater ex-
posure to cause disintegration. All
dirt that is worked over this year will
be exposed through the late fall and
winter to the action Of the elements,
causing disintegration, and next year
it will be washed v again in the
sluice boxes. and there may be extract
ed as many gems as were found this
year. Through the summer many
gems are thrown aside as culls, but
men are left at the mines all through
the winter, and they devote their spare
time to sorting over the culls. There
would, however, be nc danger in leav-
ing the mines %unguarded through the
winter, for nature protects them. After
the water freezes no one can extract
the sapphire from their hard clayey
bed. The output for this season will
be very large, and some particularly
fine stones have been secured. The
largest stone yet found at the mines
was discovered early in June Of this
year, and it weighed nineteen carats.
The demand for the sapphire is con
stantly increasing, and the supply Is
insufficient. despite the fact that many
individuals are also engaged in min
ing them at various spots along the
Missouri river, in addition to the Yogo
mines. All the stones are shipped d.
rect to London, where many Of them
are cut, while others are SEM to Ant
werp for that purpose. But about half
Of the product finds its way back to
the United States, several large Amer
lean companies having contracts with
the English firm to which the mining
company sells its product. The duty
oA tAS u 6Shio o ohiy Az Pei SSh@
The actual mining season is from April
is to October 81, OF until the water
freezes. There Is nc indication that
the mines are playing out; on the con
trary, they seem to be getting richer.
AS a by-product, considerable corun-
dunn is being mined, but this will be
valueless until a railroad shall have
been built to the mines. Fergus
ty being the only n in the state I'M
acquainted with the iron horse. Co.
rundum Is worth f10 per ton in Lon
don, and is used in the marking Of
emery wheels, etc. Thousands Of tons
OF this material are now lying on the
dump" awaiting cheap t%ransporta-
ton, and, even should the sapphires
become exhausted, the railroad would
make the mining of the latter a most
profitable undertaking.