The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-08-17
THE ELY COPPER DEPOSITS
AS DESCRIBED BY EXPERT


DEVELOPMENT work OF the last few
months proves beyond question that the
ELY. Nevada. copper deposits are among
the most extensive thus far discovered.
To date the mineralixed area of the cop
per camp has been proved for eight
miles east and west. nearly a mile north
and south. With less than three years
active development the several work.
ings of the Cumberland-Ely and Nevada
Consolidated properties alone show an
immense tonnage of IN to an per cent
copper ore blocked out.
While these properties. with the
Giroux. are the best developed. many
others are by no means inactive
The Cum~berland-Ely and Nevada Con-
solidated are building a railroad. a 5000
ton reduction plant. which will be owned
jointly by both companies.
The smelter site at McGill. IL miles
distant and on the opposite side of Step
toe valley. consists of 5000 acres. with
an immense water right. Already ma
chinery IL on the ground for the first
unit of the plant. which Is being in
stalled as rapidly az possible and viii
be ready for operation by December. and
the entire plant should be running by
July. 1sos.s
Thorough n exhaustive examine
lions of the Nevada Consolidated and
Cumberland-Ely ore bodies were made
before the present enormous expendi-
lures were either warranted or author
lied. In August, 1905. J. Parke Chan
ming, after q careful investigation Of the
Ruth and Eureka workings Of the Me-
vada Consolidated. reported over 6.000.-
900 tons of ~ per cent opp ore in
sight, and recommended the erection OF
a smelter. So rapidly were both the
Cumberiand-Ely Inc Nevada Console
dated holdings developed that today the
figures are ~conservatively stated at 3d.
900, 900 tons of ore blocked out in the
holdings Of these two companies alone.
The extent and uniformity Of Ely's
great copper-porphyry deposits are best
shown, because best developed. In the
several workings of the Cumberland-Ely
and Nevada Consolidated properties.
There are other mines in the district and
some prospects which are fast develop
ing into mines, but in none of these Is
development SO far advanced or ore in
sight SO extensively blocked out.
The Veteran Group
In many ways the ore bodies on the
Veteran group Of the Cumberland-Ely
are the most remarkable of any In the
district. At a depth of 3S1 feet In the
main shaft a huge body of ore has been
cut. This has been explored along its
strike for 1000 feet east and west, and
crosscut for 400 feet north and south.
AS yet no wallings have been
ed. The faces of all the workings are
still undetermined. To date over 4,00O,-
900 tons of sulphides, averaging 3h per
cent in copper, are blocked out In this
one development.
FREQUENT lenses Of fine peacock cop
per are encountered here, both in the
main drifts and in crosscuts, and good
showings of chalcocite and bornite are
not Last spring churn drills
were used with very gratifying results
on some of the undeveloped ground OF
the Veteran group. One or these ran
into a splendid body of copper sulphides,
and it is now being opened up. A new
main shaft. ska feet, is going down
several hundred feet west of the present
shaft. Both the old and the new ore
bodies will be worked from this new
shaft. will have four compartments ana
be equipped with a powerful hoist. At
present over 100 men are employed ana
the force is being steadily increased.
For Ine OlSCONCIy II -
able development of the Veteran group
of the Cumberland-Ely full credit Is due
George E. Gum. When Mr.. Gum pur-
chased the Veteran it was outside the
proven mineral belt as then denneo.
After he had driven a tunnel into the
mountainside for fully half a mile
through barren rock, a high grade ore
body was encountered. This has since
proved to be second only in extent to
the great Ruth showing of the Nevada
Consolidated company. and much higher
in assay value.
The "Wedge"
This is one of the latest developments
Of the Cumberland-Ely mines. At the
15O-foot level of the main SHAFT a nne
showing of copper ~sulphides has peen
cut. Drifting is going forward along
tho vein in both directions from the sta
ton for a total of over 200 feet. Cross
cutting has already begun on the west
drift. The ore is uniform in quaiity'