Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-04-11
Vertical Formation System In the Black
Hills.

hoo hduo CiVSc otuuy VI kcoiokiCai Cou
ditions in this section of the country,
points out system of vertical vein for
nation in evidence in the Black Hills
which may have escaped the notice OF
many whose attention has been confin-
ed to one or two particular Districts
His conclusions in this regard have been
confirmed by one of the most eminent
mining experts in the country, who Wis
tied the Hills two years ago and on his
own private investigation without any
suggestion from local individuals, dis
covered the same systematic arrange
ment of vertical ledges here referred
to.
1t is pointed out that there are in the
Black Hills three parallel systems of
vertical lodges which traverse the coun-
try in almost northwest and southeas-
terly direction, but converge somewhat
at their northerly extremities. The
most easterly Of these passes through
the country along line drawn through
Rockerville, Pactola and extending into
the northern Hills takes in the Galena
district. The central belt of vertical
ledges, tracing it from the south, passes
through the Keystone district, through
Silver City, Custer Peak, Roubaix and
finds its most prominent opening in the
workings of the Homestake company in
the north The third or westerly sys-
tenn of veins is found traversing Custer
Hill City, Mystic, Rockford and in the
northern Hills shows up adjoining the
fiat formation of the Bald Mountain dis
trict. These north and south lodges
which follow the formation of the coun-
try are in many cases, of great width
and permanency, sometimes measuring
several hundred feet across, but are gem
orally Of low grade as to their gold val
ues. AS to composition, they are very
nearly uniform, consisting principally of
slate or schist, quartz, iron pyrites and
gold, with small quantities ofslver here
and there.
Besides these three parallel belts of
formation ledges, there are also three
systems of cross ledges, which carry the
| high values found at various points and
give the character to the different vari-
eties of ore in the various camps. The
most southerly of these belts crosses the
country through the district embracing
Custer, Hill City and Keystone. In this,
as in all the other cross systems the
veins are for the most part narrow CON-
pared with the formation ledges but are
usually high in gold and silver values.
They are true fissure veins, cutting the
formation at an angle which gives them
strike in direction somewhat east of
north and west of south, but in some in
stances lying almost due north and
south. The middle system of cross
veins passes through Rockford, Mystic
Silver City and Pactola and presents
numerous varieties of mineral material
in its course. The southern belt has the
tin deposits towards it's westerly extrem-
ity whereas in the east part it is almost
entirely gold proposition. The mid
die cross belt shows gold at it's westerly
end, with antmony, lead and silver at
the center and copper towards the east.
The northerly system Of cross veins ex-
tends as far south as Custer Peak and
includes the Roubaix district in the CEN
ter with the Homestake, Maitland, Two
Bit and Galena across the northerly
edge. This northerly belt is also diver
sified in the character of ore it contains
at various points along it's course. Along
the most southern limit is the gold and
copper of the Custer Peak district, while
the Roubaix streak is noted for its gold
almost exclusively. The northerly tier
of veins of this system show gold in
the west portions, with gold, silver, lead
and some copper in the eastern extrem-
ity.
1t is the prediction Of those who have
observed the existence of this double
system of formation and cross veins,
that the greatest richness will be found
in the center Of the various Intersections
and from what development has been
thus far accomplished at these points,
it appears that there is truth in this
statement. There are nine intersections
in the double system and a few of the
centers OF these have, up to the present
time, received much development. 1t
is not beyond the possibilities that at
some future date, plan Of work will
be inaugurated for the purpose of test
ing this prediction and there is a feel
ing of certainty in the minds of some,
that the theory will be vindicated.-
Pioneer-Times.