Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-04-21
THE BLACK RANGE
MINING DISTRICT
C. I. Brown, the Socono Mining Expert, Gives
a Detailed Technical Description Of That
District in SocoTo and Sierra
Counties.
RAILWAY FACILITIES AND LOCAL
TREATING PLANTS ARE MAIN NEEDS

tion and mineral r'"hes of the Black
Range district in the Black Range
which extends from southern Socorro
county into northwestern Sierra coun-
ty. Fairview is the principal camp in
the range, and it draws it's supplies
from Magdalena, the terminus of a
branch of the Santa Fe railway from
Socorro. The distance is about IS miles
between Fairview and Magdalenaxsand
there is daily mail to Fairvt sdtG
| Magdalena. Mr. Brown gives c.. fQE
| lowing technical description Of the dis
| trict in "The Miner and Manufacturer
published at Ell Paso, Texas, which is
of great interest to mining men,
1.-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 the San Augustine plains.
The mineral belt of the district is from
four to eight miles wide and 20 miles
long
"The formation of the north half of
the district is porphyritic, principally
andesite, with occasional belts of tra-
chyte and limestone. The formation of
the south half is similar, as whole, to
the northern portion of the district,
with the exception that localities in
the vicinity of Chloride show large de-
portion of Chloride creek, is a porphy-
ritic formation, principally andesite,
with some diorite, phonolyte and ira
chyte. Some portions Of the district
skirting the summit Of the range (Con-
tinental divide) are capped with rhyo-
lyte-no mineral veins of value have
as yet been discovered breaking
through the rhyolyte Gaping.
1.-THE veins are contact and clean cut
fissures The mother lode of the dis
trict can be traced for 20 miles. Many
of the prominent properties are on that
vein. Several lodges run parallel with
the mother lode-many of them can be
traced for two or three miles without
break The strike is north and south;
dip to the east at 65 to 70 degrees. The
gangue in the veins of the entire dis
ern portion are in gold and silver, with
gold predominating. The southern por-
tion shows more or less copper in addi-
tion to the silver and gold values. Sew
ide 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 reg
ular shipments (from development on
ly). The 200-foot level is 70 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 continued to depth of
500 feet. s,ss
''Tha Silver Monument, adjoining the
New Era, has already produced over
$1O0, 900 worth Of ore-has shipped that
amount, and has $4,000 to $4,000 in
the low grade ore on the dump. The
ore as shipped from this portion of the
camp is sorted to average from 100 to
| 200 ounces of silver and from 10 to 20
per cent copper per ton.
"The Black Range district was dis
covered in 1880, when great many
| locations were made and some develop
ment done on several properties, In
the early days of the camp. Owing to
the great distance from the railroad;
the frequent raids of the Apaches; the
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 1t until
little over a year ago. Notwithstand-
| ing several properties made good rec
ords as producers, considering the
amount of development, it is hard te
find camp with the limited develop.
ment. showing as many shipping prop.
ositions. Prospects with shafts from
80 to 100 feet deep, show smelter return:
from $4,000 to $1,000. The Colossa
4 comes next to the Silver Mountain II
production with 100000 to its credit al
(a~shipper.
while the district shows a grea
deal Of high grade ore the great bull
of it will not stand shipment, and th
future prosperity Of the district de
pends, to great extent. on treating
the enormous bodies Of medium grad
ore on the ground. The Midnight, st
Cloud, u. s. Treasury, Readjuster
Great Republic groups, and. many 9th
ers that can be mentioned, offer grea
= inducements to the investor. The prop
critics mentioned and many others cal
be secured, at present. at nonina
4 prices The U. s. Treasury shows 2
II feet If milling ore (an ideal cyanid
proposition) on the 1oo-foot leve'77--val
ue Of ,~e about SIC per ton in silver am
gold. The Readjnster shows go feet
!, ore On the 20O-foot level averaging 3
to 40 ounces silver. and small anoun
} of gold.
"There is also an opening foI the liv
prospector--some of the best location
have been made during the past veal
Altitude Of district from 5000 to 800
!; feet. Timber for mining purposes an
wood for fuel are abundant-wood ca
be contracted for years to come 70
$1.5G per cord. Water is abundant i
ALI the gplches. With railroad com
Imunication the Black Range will b
!! heard from"