The border vidette., 1906-12-29
STRIKE IN ZAMBONA MINE.
Great Antigua Developing Much New
 Wealth.

of the Zambona mine, near Alamos,
 Sonora, Mexico. Development in the
 newer workings has heretofore been,
 for the most part, north of the shaft
 where the main ore shoot of ths mine
 has been quite extensively explored | During the Fall drift was started
 south and at about l50 feet out has opened new shoot of high grade ore.
 Since our article describing the Zambon mine, and published on Oc-
 tober $, the company has, in common
 with other operators in that part of Sonora, been much hampered by the unusual rainfall and resulting floods; roads and streams have been almost impossible, cutting eff to great ex- tent the fuel supply. Mills and in some cases hoists and pumping plants, have been compelled to shut down. The Zambona workings have, for part of this time, been half filled with water; and although the mine is now pumped out, the seasons work, both terrupted.
 Development in the main shaft has now reached the point where the vein enters the great contact zone, as fore casted by Dr. Theodore B. Comstock in his report of August, 1905. This is natter of great importance. promis- ing much for the mine's futurs. Tue vein, as exposed below the 30O-foot level, is formed by the junction of three perallel veins. known as the Zambona, the Santa Ana and the Purisima, each of which was mine by itself. Mir. John Hayes Hammond was, during the eighties, manager of the Purisima mine and took from it great amount of bullion. Since the three veins came together values have steadily increased-and it is consid- cred that, with entrancs into the con- tact zone satisfactorily proven, the high values may reasonably be expect ed to continue to great depths.
 The z lmbona, the Quintera and the Promontorio mines are all great an tiguas, forming together one of the celebrated groups of Mexico. They l were discovered about two centuries | ago by the Spaniards, who worked them until the war of independence. So great was the quantity of bullion extracted that mint was established at Alamos nearby, in which are rec ords of the many millions credited to these mines. The Quintera mine, which adjoins the Zsrnbona property, has been worked by French com pany for twenty five years past. It is opened to 1900 feet depth, and in the lowest levels is new yielding ores rich in silver and carrying high percent age of copper The ZambOna Is opened to 750 feet, depth, is also show ing richer ores in the deep workings than above, and copper values are be- ginning to appear.
 The company's mill has recently been brought up to 100 tons daily ca pacity by the addition of four 5-foot mills to the former 20- stamp mill. There are also twelve
 
 Owing to fuel shortage and excess sive water, milling operations have been confined of late to ores from the old dump, sorted out and discarded as too low grade by former owners. There is a vast quantity of this ore worth from S6 to $l0 ton. From the 5000 tons recently run through recovery of $l6,O00 was made. Dr Coustock's sampling of the main ore body last year shows an average value of 23 3 ounces and gross value of S240,2 together with about Sl35,- 900 worth of ore on the dumps. Since this estimate was made, appreciation of silver brings up these Values to over $45O,00O. In report dated July 10. 1906, Dr. Comstock states that the ore is growing richer with depth. and that during the year much ore had been placed in sight in addition to the above. Ho gives mining and mil ling costs at about S2 60 per ton, which