Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-06-18
ASSAYING.
The Importance of Assaying All
Rock in a New District.

bnab ne a dispense Win Tue SeFNiCes
of an assayer usually has a record OF
a couple OF abandoned mines in his
wake. Probably the poorest econ
omy that can be practiced in mining
is to divorce actual operations from
the aid of the chemist and assayer.
The successful mines, great and small,
the properties that have been opened
for years, all rely upon the chemist
and assayer. That he is indispensable
ano that to go without him is ex-
travagance Of the most fragrant
character, has been proved time and
time again.
One of the most remarkable in
stances OF the loss involved by not
obtaining the services Of an assayer
is illustrated in a case which occurred
not far from Denver only a few years
back. The company operating the
claim opened a body OF very rich ore,
continuing in it for a couple OF years
and achieving success through
lucky laundering than intelligent
operations. The grade of the ore
declining, the management oil the
company being narrow, it was sought
to curtail expenses by dispensing
entirely with the services of the as
saver, because, as the manager OF
the company explained, 81 know
what will run and what will not. "
This plan was indorsed by the com
pany and the management highly
praised for the ECONOMY practiced.
The grade of the ore continued to
fall; the company went into debt,
and finally, when six cars of ore that
ran SO % we're sent to the shelters,
the property was closed down with
the statement that it was worked out,
Later it was leased, the lessee ad'
vancing payment for the privilege,
the company chuckling at its goot
luck and the other fellows cupidity
Within three weeks after taking owe
the lease the new operators wer,
sending out 1000 tons a month, an'
removed nearly 81, 1000, 600 in tw'
years time, the ore having a%ctuall
been opened up by the company i
its opertions. The character of tn
ore had changed at the time the SCI
vices of the assayer was dispense
with, and in following what he SUI
posed to be the ore, the manager ha
taken the ore itself for the hangin
wall. In this case the ECONOMY
dispensing with the services of til
assayer cost the company a trif
over 81, 400, 900, which was tt
amount of profit the lessees derive
from the operation of the lease.
Another case that may be cited
that of the famous Camp Bird min
of Ouray, Colorado. The history
this mine shows how possible it is fl
even good mining men to overloo
by some error, trifiing in itself,
veritable bonanza. In early da.
this property and adjacent min
we're thoroughly, though super
cially, prospected. The San Jul
country was known as a silver d
trict but on this vein system no silv
minerals of consequence were foun
and although some OF the prospe
shafts had reached considerable dep
there was no increase in the miners
ization, the ore remaining for t
most part granular quartz. ASA
apparently a a few ounces only
silver. Thomas Walsh, the late own
Of the property, was interested III
pyritic smelter at the town of Oura
Needing silicious ore for his furna
charges he investigated and sampl
the prominent dumps of quarts
what is known as the Camp hi
property. His samples were assay
and the reports showed high &C
value, much to his surprise, Fl
however, re-sampled and confirm
this and eventually succeeded
purchasing the property for a SIN
part Of it's value from A. e. ReynolC
Justly considered n of the foremc
mining men in Colorado. The ASA
made for Mr. REYNOLDS MANY yea