The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-09-26
Eureka Con. and the Richmond, Ore
Producers for 80 Years, Are
Still Undeveloped.
PRODUCT EXCEEDS s35, 600, 600.
Business Disagreements of Friendly
Companies and Water in Lower
Levels Responsible.

The mining situation on Ruby Hill,
Eureka district, continues without any
marked development. Ore is being pro-
duced daily, as it has been for more
than 80 years, but no extensive mining
has been recently attempted. Drifts
aud slopes, -cross-cuttings and up-raises
have been made, good ground has been
blocked and ore shipments made by the
tributers, but no greater depth has been
attained than 1900 feet, the 14th level
being the lowest, above which, to
the 18th, water is found. The source
of the water is believed to be a spring
in the limestone, no water level having
been discovered in the mine. Prac-
tically, mining conditions, prospects for
opening mineral bodies, remain as good
or better than before in reserve ground.
No adverse report On Ruby Hill mining
operations has been made. No mining
engineer or m~ineralogist visiting Eu-
reka district, and many have come emil
nent in scientific metallurgy, has re-
turned a report unfavorable to continu-
ed extensive development of either the
Eureka Con. or Richmond properties.
The present inactive policy of these
big concerns is directly traceable to dis
agreements between themselves, dating
back ten or twelve years. At that time
a water channel was encountered in the
lower levels of the Eureka, necessitat-
ing pumps. With these installed and
a remodelled plant, costing upwards of
$500, 600, the plant was started. The
results showed the machinery, though
built from special designs, was a prac-
teal failure very d~iscouraging to
the management, and when the OPP
Grafton of their expensive pump was
found to drain Richmond levels, they
suspended work. while in ore at the
lowest developed portions of their mine.
And, though apparently IN friendly
terms, they have been unable to perfect
an harmonious business agreement,
whereby their respective properties
would be financially benefited.
The owners of the Richmond, which
is an English company working under
United States incorporation, have, it is
believed, refused several advantageous
offers for their mine from the Eureka
management.
AS might be expected, failure of these
big producers to continue extensive
mining operations, or attain greater
depth, has had an effect that was for
years a serious drawback to the mining
industry in Eureka district.
The Ruby Hill mines are in a lime
stone ledge, between a quartzite and
shale formation, with a strike slightly
to the west of north. The foot wall is
a compact body, while the hanging wall
is shattered. The average dip is prob
ably rs degrees. The ore is an argent
iferous carbonate of lead, having nod
ules of galena interspersed, as we'll as
considerable decomposed arsenical py.
rites, which are gold bearing. Large
masses of iron oxides alternate with the
richer vein matter. From one.third to
a-half the values have been in gold.
This mineralized limestone belt ex.
tends through a district approximately
twelve miles long by four in width,
along which are such well-known pro.
ducers as the Eureka Con. and the
Richmond al the north, and running
in a so~utheasterly course are the Jack.
son. Ruby underberg, Diamond, Alex.
andria, Silver Conner and many others,
all which have taken out pay ore at a
depth of less than 100 feet, and some
have secured hundreds of thousands Of
dollars from little more than surface
workings. %
Under these conditions, numerous
opportunities for investment can be
found throughout Eureka district.
A few thousands spent in developing
some of these properties would bring
good returns, and they are certainly
worth investigation. AS a consequence
of their proper development, mining in
Eureka district would receive a sufic.
lent force to bring a return Of old .time
prosperity and fame to the camp as the
mining center of Eastern Nevada.
The State Board of Commissioners
are entertaining the proposition of a
Reno firm to furnish 14O. 900 gallons If