Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-08-16
STRIKE
M0LYBDEN|TE
Made by Frank Owen, Manager
Of Water Company, in Santa
Fe Canon
SIX MILES FROM TOWN
Concentration Works to Be Erected at
An EARLY Date-.-Clalms to Be
Worked TO Large Extent.

Frank Owen, manager of the Santa
Fe Water and Light Company, has
been engaged during the past six
months. in working ore deposits situ'
ated about six miles from this city, In
the Santa Fe Canon for god and sill
lyer Some of the assays obtained by
him of the ores found there were sat
Iisfactory, but in pursuing the work,
he struck recently vein of molybde-
mite, which is metal in demand and
used for the hardening of armour
plate au,- in all steel processes for
the purpose of tempering and harden
| ing Steel 1t is rare metal in the
United States. During the year 1903,
! only 1-10 of this metal used was pro-
duced in the United States, while the
demand was more than ten times
that much; the deficiency having been
| imported from Germany where con-
siderable deposits of this ore exist
and are worked with great profit. The
| finished metal molybdenite is now
quoted at $2.95 per pound. Assays
made of the molybdenite in the de-
posits located by Mr.. Owen in the
Santa Fe Canon, by responsible assay
ers in Eel Paso and Denver, demon
Strated that the ores sent for assay
ing carried on an average Z per cent.
When it is remembered that ore con-
tanning l per cent of this rare metal
is considered sufficiently rich to be
worked for commercial purposes, it
can easily be imagined what large
deposit of this ore carrying per
cent will amount to, if found in any
quantity. Mr.. Owen has a well de-
fined vain averaging eight feet in
width and assaying, as said above
per cent. This is as rich pay streak
of this ore as has ever been diScov-
cred, either in this or any other coun-
try. The country rock surrounding
This alone would justify the erection
and operation of large mill and
considerable force of workmen for re.
duction purposes. Mr.. Owen has To-
Gated under the United States mining
laws, strip of land 200 acres square
in addition to the big pay streak, and
the country rock, smaller veins and
pockets running In molybdenite. Wat
er and fuel for reduction purposes are
abundant, in fact, all the conditions
for reduction of this vast deposit OF
this valuable mineral, are of the most
favorable, as transportation from San
ia Fe for concentrates of the ore can
be had directly to Pueblo, FL Paso,
Omaha, Kansas City or New Jersey,
and Pittsburg smelters and iron works
If necessary.
New York capitalists, who have
sent experts to examine Mr.. Owens
strike, have agreed to put up the
necessary funds for the construction
of concentrating works, which will
likely be placed right on the proper
ties containing the mineral. A small
force of miners has been employed
since January 3lst, developing these
claims and is still at work. Mr.. Ow-
en- expects specialists and mining en-
gineers to arrive in Santa Fe within
the next four weeks, and after an
other examination of the property,
active work on the construction OF
concentration works and development
of the mining claims located by him
will commence on large scale. Ii
was known amongst Mr.. Owens
friends in this city, for several months,
that he was doing development on
the claims, but he himself until re-
Gently. had no idea what was really
coming and what was in store. From
examination by experts, who have
been here and from assays made by
responsible assayers, he is convinced
that this time he has struck 1t
rich" This find will not only prove
very lucky thing for Mr.. owen, but
will be of great benefit to the CONNER
cial interests of this city. From fifty
to one hundred men will be employed
and as the property is located but
six miles from town, any one at all
acquainted with the situation can
easily determine for himself what
great benefit for the Capital City the
working of these mineral claims will
be- All proper legal steps have been
taken for the primary location of the
claims in the name of Mr.. Owen and
associates, and within a short time,
necessary arrangements will be made
to apply for patent and to obtain such
from the general land Office.
Molybdenite has the appearance of
graphite, except that 1t is a little
lighter in color. 1t can be used even
in its raw state on iron or steel for
polishing and hardening the surface,
and strengthening those metals. 1t is
quite soft and can be picked out of
the rock in which it occurs with a
knife. The deposits in the Santa Fe
Canon located by Mr.. Owen run In
granite and gneiss. 1t appears in well
defined veins at times. and at other