Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-04-22
THE BLACK RANGE.
Detailed Technical Description Of
the District South Of Albuquerque.
FROM MINE EXPERT BROWN.

c. t. Brown, the well known mine
expert and mining engineer of Socor-
TO. is an authority on the geological
formation and mineral riches of the
Black Range district in the Black
Range which extends from southern
Socorro county into northwestern
Sierra county. Fairview is the prin-
cipal camp in the range and It draws
it's supplies from Magdalena, the ter
minus of a branch of the Santa Fe
railway from Socorro. The distance is
about eighty-fve miles between Fair
view and Magdalena, and there is a
daily mail to Fairview from Magda-
lena. Mr.. Brown gives the following
technical description of the district in
'"The Miner and Manufacturer pub
lished at Ell Paso, Texas, which is of
great interest to mining men:
"The district is on the main mineral
belt that follows the east slope of the
Continental divide, commencing on the
south at Cooks Peak, passing through
Lake Valley, Hillsboro. Kingston. Her
mosa. Chloride and Grafton. and final
ly sinking with the Black Range on
the south side of of the San Augustine
plains. The mineral belt of the dis
trict Is from four to eight miles wide
and twenty miles long.
1.-The formation of the north half of
the district is porphyritic. principally
andesite, with occasional belts OF
trachyte and limestone. The forma-
ton of the south half is similar, as a
whole. to the northern portion of the
district, with the exception that locali-
ties in the vicinity of Chloride show
large deposits of limestone, while the
upper portion of Chloride creek is a
p~orphyritic formation, principally an
desite, with some diorite. %phonolyte
and trachyte. Some portions of the
district skirting the summit of the
range continental divide) are capped
with rhyolyte-no mineral veins of
value have as yet been discovered
breaking through the rhyolyte cap
ping.
1.-The veins are contact and clean cut
assures. The mother lode Of the dis
trict can be traced for twenty miles.
Many of the prominent properties are
on that vein. Several lodges run par
allel with the mother lode-many of
them can be traced for two or three
mIIes without a break. 1ne strike is
north and south; dip to the east at 90
to 20 degrees. The gangue in the
veins of the entire district is silica.
The values of the northern portion are
in gold and silver, with gold predomi-
mating. The southern portion shows
more or less copper in addition to the
silver and gold values. Several prop
critics in the vicinity of Chloride have
been shippers of bornite ore. The
Mine Development association is now
systematically developing the New
Era group on the head Of the Chloride
creek, from which they are making
regular shipments (from development
only.) The 200-foot level is seventy
feet below the bed of Chloride creek,
which is the deepest workings. A
steam hoist and pump are now being
installed and the working shaft con-
tinued to a depth of 500 feet.
THE Silver Monument. adjoining
the New Era, has already produced
over 500, 900 worth OF ore-has
shipped that amount, and has $40 900
to 500, 900 in the low grade ore on the
dump. The ore as shipped from this
portion of the camp is sorted to aver
age from 100 to 200 ounces OF silver
and from 10 to 20 per cent copper per
ton.
1.-THE Black Range district was dis
covered in 1880, when a great many
locations were made n some devel-
opment lone on several properties, In
the early days of the camp. Owing to
the great distance from the railroad;
the frequent raids of the Apaches; he
high price of labor and supplies. at
that time, mining was an expensive
business. The camp, like many others.
died-no interest being taken in II
until a little owe a year ago. MOI
withstanding several properties made
good records as producers, considering
s nNf N lie hard
to find a camp with the limited devel-
opment, showing as many shipping
propositions. Prospects with shafts
from thirty to 100 feet deep, show
smelter returns from $4,000 to $4,000.
The Colossal comes next to the Silver
Mountain in production with 800 U
to its credit as a shipper.
''While the district shows a great
deal of high grade ore the great buik
of 1t will not stand shipment. n the
future prosperity of h district de-
pends, to a great extent, on treating
the enormous bodies of medium grade
ore on the ground. The Midnight, st.
Clord II. S. Treasury, Readjuster,
Great Republic groups. and many oth-
ers that can be mentioned, offer great
inducements to the investor. me prop
critics mentioned and many others can
be secured, at present, at hohllha,
prices. The U. S. Treasury shows "a
feet of milling ore Ian ideal CYANIDE
proposition) on the loO-foot ieEel--
yalue of ore about $40 per ton IN silver
and gold. The Readjuster SHOWS oo
feet of ore on the 20O-foot level. aver
aging 80 to 40 ounces silver, and a
small amount of gold.
'eThere is also an opening TOT the
live prospector-some of the nest loca-
lions have been made during the PAST
wear. Altitude of district from o'ooo
10 5000 feet. Timber for mining pun.
noses and wood for fuel are aoundaht
wood can be contracted ror years 70
come for $3.50 per cord. Wa.eL ~
oInndant in All the gulches. With rail-
road communication the Black Range
will be heard from.
Her Sons Lite Saved by chamherlain's