Bisbee daily review., 1906-05-27
Ores and Operating Methods Are Reported Upon and Per sonal inspection Made of Every Ore Showing.
Shannon Results Have Lately Shown a Decided Improve ment - An Average of 800 Tons of Ore Treated Daily,
Geo. Walker in Boston CommerciaL) )
 Clifton Ariz May T.

 Geo. Walker in Boston Commercial.)
 Clifton, Ariz., May '.
 Shannon's operating results have lately shown a decided improvement. A total of 21 GOO tons of ore was treat ed at it's concentrator and shelter during the month of April, and it's copper output is understod to have been 1, 1,3S0000 pounds. The shannon mines put out 800 tons of ore the first day of May. At present both fur naces are in blast, and an average of about 500 tons of ore is being treated daily at the reduction works, of which approximately 760 tons come from The Shannon properties and the rest IS custom ore.
 The Shannon operates on a low grade bunchy ore deposit, and, with it's present plant and limited develop mentS, makes it's copper at a relative ly high cost No one knows now, ever did knew or ever will, how much ore there is blocked out and in sight in the Shannon properties. Its ore de posits do not occur in manner that will permit of their being measured The ore is encountered in bunchy veins. stringers, concretions and occa- sionally in very large deposits in a shale which is cut by several pranite- porphyry intrusions. While the ore shows tendency to favor the con tacts of the lime and porphyry, some of the best bodies are found in the former and almost equally good ore in the latter; and. indeed, in many places there seems little or no relation be, tween the ore and the contacts.
 One of the most successful systems of mining ever tried by the company is open cutting or quarrying. Four open cuts are being worked at present and preparations are being made to open the side of the hill at other points. This system is successful be cause it does away with the heavy tim bering expense which seems unavoida- ble in the underground workings, and it makes possible the extraction of all the ore in the area mined.
 These open cuts suggest possible method for the measurement of the Shannon's ore reserves. Of the amount of material broken down in each of the uarries about 90 per cent. Is workable ore, and understand that a commercial grade of ore is shown in an average of about 30 per cent of all underground tunnels, cross cuts and drifts. If it be assumed, therefore, that 30 per cent of the ground above the working tunnel level of the Shannon-Black Hawk-White mine is ore, there are 100000 to B. 000, 900 tons of ore available in this group of properties. No other sys- tenn of measurement will ever convey an accurate idea of the total amount of ore in sight The estimates of ex- perts on the tonnage in certain indi- yidual deposits have, as rule, fallen far short of the mark.
 There are half a dozen modern methods and economical systems of mining that could be introduced into the Shannon mine with great advant- age over that now employed were 1t not for the fact that the whole noun tain is one shattered mass of rock and ore which can not be held up after it is once opened. Every expert that comes along has new idea, but event ually the square sett system is resort ed to, as it at least makes ore extrac- tion possible Timbers are being crushed to fragments all the time by slowly settling stopes. One big stope caved in last week. No one was in jured, and the only damage will be SIudlt iOoo Ol eOOu Oic anu O oll6HL iAA- crease in mining cost on that portion of the ore which remains.
 The caying or top slice" system of mining is about to be given a trial on one of the larger ore bodies It will probably effect considerable saving, in the event of which the prin- cipie involved will be extended to oth- CT parts Of the mine
 The Shannon Is paying about B cents per ton freight on its ores from the mine to its mill and shelter. This is unfortunately high, but it amounts to only about three-quarters of cent per pound of copper produced. Many other mines pay as much comparative ly Shannon has difficult haul and, in a country like this, railroad operat- ing costs are abnormally high. It is probable, however, that the company will eventually be able to reduce this item to % cents per ton.
 Shannon owns a very good mill and smelter. Just trifle too much econ oniy was exercised when they were built, however, and there are some inn- provements that could be made. The plant is now treating 800 tons of ore daily, and with some slight improve ments and more sulphide ores. 1t could be made to handle 1000 tons daily.
 The crying need of the Shannon is more sulphide ores. Fully one-third of fttbe ores that come from it's mines