Gilpin observer., 1905-09-07
COLORADO MINERAL.
Specimen at Portland Assays
$4,000 to the Ton.

mems on exhibitidb at the Fair taken
from Colorado mines, the richness OF
which fairly dazzles the leader:
"Those OF US who live elsewhere than
in the state of Colorado have been won't
to believe that place producer Of min
eral wealth alone. This idea seems to
have become prevalent, probably because
OF the tales OF fabulous riches daily un-
bosomed by Colorados mountains. A
visit to the Colorado exhibits at the
= Lewis and Clark Exposition will, how
ever. show that the state is one remark
ably rich in agricultural products.
in order to impress this fact upon
visitors to the Exposition and thus upon
the world at large, Colorado has erected
a special agricultural pavilion. 1t stands
on Lewis and Clark boulevard, a short
distance north and east Of the Missouri
building, and contains large exhibit Of
choice grains, grasses, vegetables and
fruits, revealing a land OF remarkable
fertility.
"Colorado's real greatness though, is
shown in the mineral exhibit in the Min
ing building. The exhibit is finely plac-
ed and has attracted wide attention
since the opening OF the Fair. In cir
cular case, directly in the center OF the
display booth, is an exhibit Of pure gold,
worth hundreds Of thousands OF dollars.
Gold in prodigal heaps dazzles the eye
and makes the onlooker catch his breath
as he realizes the value of the precious
stuff lying before him. or the various
kinds OF gold to be seen are crystallized
wire gold, which is found only in the
seams Of gold bearing slate native to
Colorado and South Carolina nugget
gold, placer, leaf and moss gold. The
rarest form OF gold, as it is mined, is
shown in piece Of "eiectrum," a bit Of
ore in Which the gold looks like cheap
tinsel.
among the specimens OF gold from
Cripple Creek is one which assays Sl70,-
600 to the ton, and is known as tellu-
ride. Telluride gold looks more like sill
yer or lead ore, having the dull white
color peculiar to both metals. Sylvanite
gold is also shown, assaying $4,000 to
the ton. and found in large quantities in
the Cripple Creek district. The most
interesting part Of the entire display are
the samples OF pitchblende and carnot
ite, from which the commercially invalu-
able radium is secured. Colorado is one
OF the few places in the world where this
precious stuff is obtained. AS The pitch.
blende, black common looking piece Of
earth rests in the case, it gives off rays
which under "a hours exposure, will
photograph any article placed near
it. The same is true Of carnotite, a yell
low earth much resembling ochre in
color. This stuff will photograph ar
ticles with 36 hours exposure. Speci-
mems OF articles thus reproduced are on
exhibition 10 the same case With the
wonderful earths. When one remem.
bers that radium is almost priceless, the
latest price being over 100000 per
ounce, the magnitude OF the carnotite
and pitchblende fields in Colorado is
brought to mind with stunning force.
Native silver in many forms is to be
seen, but the most remarkable specimen
is nugget weighing 397 pounds. This
huge boulder Of wealth would, il coined
into United States silver dollars, make
$3.50 Of those willy and elusive wanted
pieces OF metal. The mass is 90 per
cent. pure and is the largest known piece
OF silver in the world.
There are also on exhibit in this
treasure. trove OF Colorado, numerous
specimens OF other pro ducts Of the earth,
such as iron, lead, copper, zinc, and lastly,
asbestos. the only absolutely fire proof
thing known to man. In case located
at one end OF the exhibit is q collection
OF gems found in Colorado that would
pay q kings ransom and then leave
goodly amount for worthier purposes.
Turquoises, beryls, garnets, land speak.
ing Of garnets, there is ono on exhibit
which is said to be the largest gem Of its
kind in the world, weighing In the neigh.
borhood Of ten pounds, and about as big
as q muskmelon), topazes, amethysts,
Thompsonites. pendote, tourmalines, zir.
cons, sapphires, (of which there are sew.
eral exquisite specimens), and chryso.
phrase, a very rare gem.
"No better or more fitting illustration
OF the mineral wealth OF the state is
found than in the delicate little repro.
duction Of the Pueblo Mineral Palace,
which is mounted in case just outside
OF the mining booth. 1t is an exact
replica OF the building in Pueblo, show.
ing the precious stones, the gold, the
silver and the baser metals used in its
construction"