The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-02-10
KOOtehQji's Mineral Industry.
From Inspector Bells Report For
the Year 1904.

From Inspector Bells Report For
the Year 1904.
The chief industry Of kootcnal
County at present is based on its
magnificent forests of timber which
are producing choice lumber pro-
ducts at the rate Of 100, 600. 600 feet
a year, all OF which is manufactured
within the county and shipped to
outside markets at good profit.
The mineral resources OF this
county, however, are extensive and
varied. They have been developed
sufficiently to demonstrate their size
and staying qualities to very eonsld-
cradle depth at several points, and
include gold, silver, lead and copper
deposits of large size and good val
ucs, and | think are destined to cut 4
very important figure i'll the total
metal output Of Idaho at no distant
date.
The Cnur dAlene lead bearing
series OF altered sedimentary forma-
tons show wide development in
this county and contain many fine
veins that in some instances are be-
ing extensively developer with graf
flying results.
Among the best developed and
most promising properties OF the
Pend d Orcille mining section are the
following: The Minerva Mining
Company's property, situated near
Granite Creek on the east side 0!
the lake, is opened on well defined
flssure vein in quartzite that varies i'll
thickness from one to eight feet in
clean cut walls carrying 4 frcc-tale
gouge, condition that may be re-
| lied upon to carry its ores to great
depth, and the vein is plainly trace.
able by surface workings through the
property for nearly 1000 feet in the
direction OF it's strike.
This property has several hundred
feet Of adit tunnels or drifts run OF,
the vein, to which economical meth.
cd Of development and drainage the
steep pitching vein coursing down
the steep mountain slope especially
lends itself. The ore is conccntrat-
ing variety of lead-zinc sulphides,
with some high-grade gray copper.
and makes. fine product that runs
we'll in all the metals mentioned; sew
eral good ore shoots hspc been open
ed up and various practical tests Of
the mineral have been made with re-
suits showing as high as S20l per
ton in combined values.
On the opposite side Of the lake
the Blacktail District has some very
f1attering ore showings, and extern
sive plans Of development under way
The B. r. & B. Company Of this dis
tlict own an extensive group OF
claims that are well developed, and
expose clean cut fissurc carrying
high grade silver bearing gray cop
per orc.
The tunnel is i splendid piece Of
work. 1t is crosscut drain tunnel
driven through the country rock Of
blue slate l,S40 feet, and taps the
vein at vertical depth of 400 feet
and 72o feet on the dip, where it was
found in the same clean cut, normal
condition as near the surface, and
containing thirty. inches of high
grade ore. A raise has been put
through which connects with an up
per tunnel and with the surface, and
q number Of intermediate levels are
being started for the purpose Of
blocking out the ore preparatory to
stopping, and the mine should soon
be in shape to make an important
production.
The ore Of this vein is high-grade
gray copper i'll a siliccons ganguc
and requires sorting, but we'll defined
pay strcaks OF very clean mineral
are encountered three to ten inches
in width. that average 500 ounces