The copper era., 1903-02-12
MINES AND MINING.
THE STEVENS COPPER co.

THE STEVENS COPPER co.
A representative OF the ERA last
week had the pleasure OF inspecting
the work now being done by the Stew
ems Copper company on its claims, .
in mum Der, situated at Garfield. about
one mile above Metcaf. The COM
pany purchased these claims about q
year ago. and during the time since
then ii has kept . force OF men steadily
employed in development work. The
main tunnel, which will open up the
property by prosecuting all OF the
leads, has now been driven more than
1000 feet. 1t will be necessary 10 con-
tinue this tunnel between 400 and 800
feet further TO reach the contact OF the
granite and mineral zone. The tunnel
will then have a depth from the surface
OF at least 500 feet. aad will cross-cut
the lode from which 1000 tons Of ore
was shipped from the surface workings
years ago, which averaged better than
20 per cent. The entire tunnel i in a
mineralized zone, from which, how
ever, the ulphides have been leached
in the softer formation, but leaving
tracks in the honey-cOm bed quartz,
and the porpyry. In the harder for
nation much Of the sulphldes have
been retained, and also stringers of
glance, making fine concentrating
proposition, which can be handled at
profit on the ground when water is
secured for the purpose. The tunnel
cuts a large number Of veins OF various
widths, which are well defined, and
leave little question as TO permanency.
iron, and carbonates of copper, with
some sulphides. The country between
these leads has been crushed by faults,
but unquestiOnablv the entire mass is
mineralized for fully 900 feet from the
surface of the tunnel, where the for
nation changes to quartzi:e, and has
not been crushed.
4 WINE is now being sunk 400 feet
from the surface of the tunnel. 1t is
going down on vein of iron well inn
pregnated by copper carbonates, and
small stringers OF glance. This WINE
will be cont nued to the enriched zone
below, which is unchanged by atmOs-
pheric action, and where large bodies
OF sulphides of copper and from pyri-
ties will no doubt be found.
The wisdom of driving this tunnel
has been fully demonstrated by the
large number of veins cut which did
not show on the surface, and also from
the fact that it proves beyond reason
able doubt that Il vast tonnage of low
grade concentrating ores can be had
oven at the present depth. But the
main object of driving this tunnel was
to cut at depth the immense mineral
dyke lying nearer the contact which
is rich on the surface, and which gives
promise of opening up immense bodies
OF high grade ore at great depth.
When this lode is reached by the tun-
ncl the Stevens people will have a
right to expect big things, and in this
they surely will not be disappointed,
because the lode can be traced for 5000
feet on the surface, where it averages
several hundred feet in width, cover
ing the surface OF the ground with
iron carbonates and glance. 1t is one
OF the largest and strongest mineral
showings in the entire district, and
lying parallel with the granite wall,
or outer rim OF the district, it is only
reasonable to suppose that the biggest
bodies OF rich ore which occur in the
mines will be found along this con-
tract.
The Stevens mines within them
selves furnish the natural requisites
for smelling, iron, lime, sulphides,
carbOnates, oxides and glance.
While doing the assessment work
on the Olive and East Lynn, G. f..
Stevens, the superintendent OF the
company, made strike which
averages fifteen and twenty per
cent. respectively. On each claim the
shafts are all in ore, which is much
more than paying for the development
work, which is very encouraging to
J the management.
The Arizona Copper company has
extended its railroad above the Shan
non bins and is now erecting large
| bins for its own use for ore which will
be hauled from its Mammoth mine.
These bins will also be used by others,
and the Stevens company has contract
ed a considerable tonnage of ore to be
delivered at the bins for the 4. c.
company, hence another new shipper
is added to the camp. y good wagon
road extends from the ore bins to Gar
field, oyer which the ores from the
Stevens mines can be conveyed at a
nominal cost for haulage.
The work is now being done under
the direction OF c. F. Alsdorf, an e1-
perienced mining engineer, who is in
terested in the company, and he does
not hesitate to say that no believes his
company will develop some OF tbs big
mines OF this great district.
There seems to be no end of labor
trouble at Cananea. There is another
strike on there now. The company is at