Gilpin observer., 1907-02-07
NEWS FROM THE MINES and MILLS
Morrison Copper District.

In 1872 and for some time thereafter
a Boston company operated a fifty-ton
copper basis smelter in Golden, the
ores coming from the Morrison dis
trict In the southern part of Jefferson
county, and close to the present Den
yer & South Park railroad line. The
cost Of supplies, mining and treatment
was high at that time, while the treat
ment itself was far from perfect, fall
ing 70 CLEAN from the ores more than
seventy per cent. of the gold-copper
values.
The mineralized ore, says the Min
ing Reporter, is of a north-south
length of about fifteen miles, its north.
ern limit being in the vicinity OF Cres-
well and its southern define the Platte
canon. 1t extends east-west from the
Morrison foothills to within the limits
OF Clear Creek county. 1t is drained
by Bear, Turkey, Deer, Elk and Pine
creeks and their tributaries. The re-
gion is somewhat rugged and in prox.
unity to the deep cutting creek bot
toms tunnel developing possibilities
are presented. The bulk of the land
has been held for years under agri-
cultural locations. The several settle
ments and postoffices are reached by
good wagon roads from either Morri-
son to the east or Pine to the south.
Geo.ogically, the region is one of nor
NAL and altered GRANTEES, with occa'
ctn INT nf
eruptives The more important lodes
occur either within or in proximity to
the eruptive masses.
The region was first prospected for
gold in the early sixties. and several
of the twenty-foot and thirty-foot holes
| sunk may still be seen along Bear
creek near Hines postoffce. The lodges
opened carried porphyrite quartz.
more or less iron stained, OF
too small precious metals contents for
| profitable working. At the southern
| end of the mineralized zone, near
| Critchell, there was considerable ac-
tivity in the early nineties when the
| Samrson Qualia and other mines were
worked for their high grade silver
carrying lead and copper sulphide
| ores. From veins of a width of from
two feet to eight feet. ores running as
high as ten per cent. copper, 42.5 per
cent. lead, and 162 ounces of silver
were mined and shipped This high
grade ore occurred mainly as irregu-
| lar stringers and pockets in the lime
| quartz gangue. A depth of $50 feet
was attained in several instances. but
the increase of the copper content and
| the falling off of the lead-silver values,
together with the heavy Cow of water,
soon resulted in suspension of oper-
ations. For the past ten wears the dis
trict has been deserted except for a
few leasers, who are reported to have
made better than wages in every in
stance. A few years ago an attempt
was made to open up copper mineral
lied lodes along Bear creek in the vi.
cinity of Evergreen.
The Augusta property was equipped
with hosting plant and develop
ments were prosecuted to a depth OF
200 feet. when the influx OF water and
the financial shortage of the operating
company caused cessation of work
about eighteen months ago. Malachite
azurite, chalcocite and chalcopyrite
ores were extracted in considerable
quantities, but no shipments are re-
corded. On the dumps there is con.
siderable tonnage of ore. part of which
might be sorted for shipment, and the
bulk of which might be profitably con-
centrated. In the Augusta and paral-
leling lode zones to the east and nearer
Morrison along Bear creek, the bulk
of the development for copper ores
has been carried on. One zone is
traceable for several miles by its
prominently outcropping gossan cap.
ping, which Is of width of from fifteen
to forty feet, and in many places show
ing on abundance of green carbonate
stains.