Amador ledger., 1904-01-29
MINING NEWS HERE
AND ELSEWHERE
News from Mines of the Eastern Sec
ton of Amador County. = Defender
Still in Prosperous Condition.

OLD GoLD.-While all prospects dc
not make mines, it goes without say
ing that, as rule, the latter has never
been obtained before the former. The
largest and best paying mine on the
mother lode in this county was at one
time mere prospect, and no doubt, in
years to come, the same will be said oil
the country off the mother lode in the
eastern part of Amador county.
Among the promising prospects there
located about 2 miles north OF Pine
Grove, and owned by the Cranmer
Bros. This property has been develop
ed to the extent of shaft, 100 feet
deep, which is tapped by tunnel 30C
feet. The values are found in an iron
stained quartz, and also in tale The
owners are taking out a little pay rock
right along, which is treated in a small
mill equipped with two 1000-pound
stamps. At present, as only develop
ment work is being done. the mill is
not kept going steadily, but as progress
is made the ore is sorted and milled.
The mill will handle tons of ore every
"a hours
ELEPHANT PLACER. AS the prin-
cipal industry in Amador county, OF
l h4 1rIa
part of the balance of power, but in
summing up the output of the county
the gold taken from it's beds of gravel
cuts no insignificant figure. This
particular part of the industry is for
the most part located along the streams
in the vicinity of Volcano, where, al
though the gravel was washed fifty
years ago, the pay dirt is as rich as
when first discovered. Just recently
Messrs. Bradshaw, Santirfo and Baroni
have leased strip of ground, contain
ing A acres, on the Elephant placer,
that was left untouched when the prop
erty was last operated. They expect
to operate with one hydraulic pipe,
equipped with 6-inch nozzle. The
gravel ranges in depth from ! to feet
and as it prospects well they anticipate
good cleanup. Owing to the state
law requiring the permission of the
debris commission before any mining
of this character can be undertaken,
they cannot commence work till that
body passes upon the same. which is
being looked for now daily.
MARsINO BRos.-Among the oper-
ators in the placer industry, probably
these gentlemen are the largest at the
present time. They are now, and have
been for some time, working ON 10 acres
of ground right on the edge of the town
of Volcano, in what is known as the
lava BEDS" The lava beds'' are
large areas of gravel completely cover
ed with heavy layer of lava Owing
to this lava covering it is impossible to
work with the hydraulic process. In
addition to this covering of futy like
rock over the gravel, it is streaked
through at intervals with thin stratas
of cement. This latter contains much
good pay, aud after coming in contact
with the open air slakes so that wash
ing is possible. Sometimes, however,
it is stored till quantity sufficient has
been acquired, and crushed in STAN d
mill aud the gold saved on plates. The
Marsino boys now have two hundred
foot tunnel in on their ground, and are
now running cross-cuts in order to
easily work the gravel, In working
this ground the gravel is taken out in
cars aud stored till sufficient has ac-
cummulated to begin sluicing After
the tunnels have been driven, cross
cut is run on either side at its breast,
and work is commenced toward it's
mouth. In this way the waste is thrown
behind the miner, while nothing but
pay dirt is taken out. Owing to the
nature of the lava covering no timber
| ing is necessary in the tunnels, and, in
fact, very little timber is used in min
ing the gravel. Where dirt has to be
mined at so great disadvantage, it is
needless to add that it must necessarily
be very rich to make pay. But, ac-
cording to ]. A. Marsino, there is
good pay in these beds all the time,
and occasionally streak is encounter
ed that runs to handsome figure in
deed. Thirty-fve cents is no un-
common thing, and Is cents is quite
frequent.
CHRISTENSEN CLAIM. - This old
property, which has in the past pro-
duced large amount of placer gold, L,
has recently passed into the hands of
the Grillo Bros, and last week James
Grillo and another man began the con-
tinuation of the 500-foot tunnel, with
the view of opening up new territory.
This property is supplied with Hunt
ington mill and a good water right, and
it is expected when. sufficient pay dirt
has accumulated to run most of same
through this mill. In addition to this
placer enterprise the Grillos own a
quartz claim, known as the Columbus,
located about 81 miles south of Vol
cano, which they will likely take up
and give some attention to this spring.
AS yet the Columbus is only a pros
pect, but of so good a nature as to al
ready justify the erection of 5-stamp
mill by the former owners However,