Fergus County Democrat., 1907-10-08
New Copper Discovery.

The newest thing in local mining
circles is the incorporation of the
Copper Belle Mining Co.
The properties Of the company are
located 81 miles west and north Of
Martinsdale and it is said by men
who are familiar with the character
Of ore shown thar they have sure
enough mine
Last May Messrs. Henry Parent
and George S. Wells while pros
pecting in that neighbrohood, found
the old dump Of an abandoned pros
pect hole which had been sunk years
ago. The ore on the dump, while
weathered and bleached by years
OF exposure to the elements, still
looked superior to anything they had
seen, SO several samples were taken
and upon their return to Lewistown
were assayed The results were sur
prising and Messrs. Wells and Par
rent took steps to locate the ground,
which was done about June 10.
Upon tracing up the exposed
quartz it was found to be a true fis-
sure vein and, where opened, about
feet in width and is exposed on the
surface for at least mile
Work was started retimbering and
clearing out the old shaft which was
badly caved
AT the surface the vein showed
simply rusty quartz but at IS feet
punches of oxodized copper were
encountered which became richer and
OF more frequent occurrence until
at 3o feet there was nearly two feet
OF good ore. At depth of about
~ feet water was encountered, with
a very strong flow, which explained
why the property had been abandon
ed.
AT this depth the ore changed from
all oxide to sulphide and has
steadily increased in quantity and
value until at 55 feet it was found
impossible to sink further without
machinery.
1t was finally decided to incor-
porate and in September of this year,
articles OF incorporation were signed,
whereby Messrs. Wells, Parent, Ellis
worth, |. Ward and Charles Porter,
subscribed each for 100000 shares of
stock out of a total of one million,
having par value of $l.O0. 1t was
deemed advisable to put 100000
shares on the market at the low
price OF ten cents per share, to raise
sufficient money to develop the rich
body OF ore shown in the shaft. In
the meantime the original stock
holders subscribed sufficient money
to purchase machinery and equip the
mine thoroughly and, accordingly,
last week Messrs. Wells and Parent
went to Butte where they purchased
boiler, hoist, sinking pumps and all
the material necessary to sink to a
depth of 400 feet. This shows con-
siderable faith on the part Of the
owners who express themselves as
being more than pleased with the
showing, made up to date. 1t is
believed by mining men who have
seen the property that it will develop
one of the richest and most per-
manent copper veins in central Mon
tana.
Several assays of the copper have
been made and they show from 5.4
per cent to IS per cent In addition
the ore carries from 10 to IS per
cent lead, with some silver and gold.
1t is proposed to sink the shaft to
a depth of 200 feet this winter, run
nino levels at the 100 foot and 200
foot, blocking out ore which will be
ready for STOPPING and shipment in
the spring.
At the present low price of copper
it is estimated that the ore will re-
turn net profit of SIS to $25 per
ton, above cost of shipping and treat
ing
II the property keeps on improv-
ing in depth as it has with every
foot sunk on the vein so far, it will
rank among the bonanza properties.
From all indications the block of
stock to be placed on the market
will all be taken within a very short
| time as several men who have seen
the ore and are familiar with the
mines of the district, have asked to
have large amounts of stock re-
served for them.
The principal place of business of
the company will be Lewistown and
most of the supplies for the mine
will be obtained here and shipped to
Martinsdale, which is the nearest
railroad point to the property.
Here is to success for the new
company.