Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-11-18
Growth of
GOldfield

Goldheld, Ney., November lS,-The.
center Of activity In the development
OF the mines and particularly the pros
poets OF the Goldheld mineral zone
has suddenly shifted to the eastern
section OF the district. Two strikes
ut far o than transient impor-
tance have recently been made In thar
locality. Greater activity In pros
pecting Is also noted In that section,
and what Is known ~ the eastern belt
has sprung into favor with mining
men generally. The two strikes men.
toned were made within the past
week on the Gem claim OF the Moose
Gold Mining Company and the Piute
belonging to prominent local mine
operators. They lie midway between
the Dixie and the Blizzard properties.
and are on a direct line with each.
On the Moose. miners are now sack.
Ing rich ore that has a value ranging
from $500 TO $1,000 per ton. while
on the Piute the ledge matter Is hold.
ing to an average a little above $500
as broken down and hoisted to the
surface without sorting.
These two discoveries are looked
upon as being of greatest Importance
to the district. In view Of the fact that
In the disclosure OF high grade ship
ping ore on the east belt, this section
Of the proved mineral zone Of the
camp will receive at n C thorough
and systemative exploration and de-
velopment. No event or series of
events OF like character could be con-.
sidered Of greater significance or have
a more marked tendency to establish
a greater confidence in the future OF
the district than the ones c~hronicIed.
In the addition Of two shippers to
the list OF producing mines OF the
district. Goldfeld s also gwen added
prestige and the output Of the camp
will show a pronounced increase in
tonnage and value as a result.
The discovery on the Moose was
made az a result Of systematic min.
ing. by driving tunnels, sinking shafts
and extending drifts on the imm4v;e
quartz assures that stand out In bold
relief above the surface Of the ground
and cut through the eorth with an
intrusive appearance that indicates
that they extend to the very center
Of this mundane sphere. Pieces of
quartz that had become detached
during the ages after ages Of erosion
and di~sintegration that followed the
cataclysms resulting in the uplifts Of
this great mineral zone were found
to contain high values In gold, but for
nearly half a year the search for the
lodges from which these came was
prosecuted In vain. Just at the time
when the owners had about decided to
give uD their quest the treasure Vault
was unearthed. and 10y the Moose
gives assurance of %prodigious rewards
to those who have SO persis-
tently hunted for the ore bodies. Al
ready several tons have been mined
and a shipment will soon 60 forth to
the smelters and the property will.
then take rank with the shipping mines
OF the camp. The rich ore vas found
in a tunnel that was being driven
through one of the several hills that
are embraced in the company's hold
ings. at a depth Of thirty feet. In
every characteristic Of formation and
appearance 1t closely resembles the
rich product Of the Jumbo, January.
and other great mines in the heart OF
the zone.
On the Piute the rich quartz was I'M
covered only a few feet beneath the
earth's surface. In this instance 1t
was the %prospector who found the
ore. After many weary days of futile
search. Frank Hopkins. an old-time
desert prospector, came r a low
lying quartz cropping that timidly
jutted above the ground. Picking up
a piece that was easily broken or.
he noticed the tell.tale indications Of
enrichment. A further search opened
the ledge and the first samples assay.
ed gave returns Of better than $500
In gold to the ton. Hopkins had lit.
tie difficulty In obtaining a lease on