The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1908-03-20

Owing to the financial panic in October,
this enterprise suspended operation The
result of the work put on the property in
development, amounting to over $40, 900
in cost, was disappointing in respect to
finding the anticipated lead-silver sui
phide ore bodies. The surface gossens
were also stained with copper carbonates,
but that was thought to be only an Incl
dental mineral. As far as the work has
gone, however, the reverse has proven to
be the case, and while the plan Of tunnel
development underway was not put
through to the coveted point, where one
Of the big ore bodies was expected to be
cut at considerable depth under the big
gest gossen showing, there was some
other work carried on at another point on
the property by sinking on smaller
gossen cropping, which carried its highest
values in lead, silver and gold at the sur
face, and magnificent shoot Of high
grade silyer-gold bearing copper ore de-
veloped.
The ore at this point proved to be
massive chalcopyrite, carrying consider
able zinc blend, which, however, occurs
in course crystals and could be readily
concentrated out. The virtue of this cop
per mineral is the fact that it carries rela-
lively very high precious values in silver
and gold. The main ore streak disclosed
is 5 feet wide, and careful average
sample across this width at the bottom Of
the prospect shaft 30 feet deep, yielded
an average value of $40 per ton in gold,
silver and copper, while thick bands and
masses of very much higher grade ore
occurred. This rich copper sulphide ore
also contains occasional kidneys Of nearly
clean steel galena, which, when assayed
separately, runs 200 and 300 ounces sill
yer, with considerable gold and high val
ues in lead. This showing, made as it
was, on a gossen outcrop that is repeated
and far exceeded at several other points
along the strike of the lode, certainly af-
fords an attractive showing and indica-
ton of very important tonnage Of bo-
nanza smelling mineral. With prelimi-
nary concentration, this ore could be
matted on the ground and produce
shipping product that would run 40 or so
per cent copper, and $500 or $500 per ton
in gold and silver.
The mineral is almost identical in char
acter with that so successfully treated at
the Lost Packer mine in Custer county,
by hot blast pyritic smelter, where matte
worth so per cent copper, 10 ounces gold
and 20 ounces silver, wasmade on a grade
of ore carrying similar combined values.
The Lost Packer ore runs much higher
in gold than does the South Mountain
ore, but the South Mountain ore runs
enough higher in silver to balance up the
difference in total precious values. The
results so far accomplished by the devel-
opment at this point are Of very fatter-
ing nature, and still afford the definite
prospect Of the development Of an extern
sive resource OF high grade smelling min
eral, as this class Of copper ore, under
such favorable geological conditions as
are manifested at this property, can safely
be depended upon to 60 down and may
prove to be associated with higher grade
varieties of copper ore.
There is a prospect that the venture
viii be again taken up by the same com
pany and equipped with an air plant and
machine drills. Their operation during
the past year was hampered by the scare
ity of labor and the encountering Of very
hard rock in the main development tun-
mel they were running; but the informa-
ton gained by the work accomplished
makes the problem of proving the pro-
perty much easier of solution, and its
further development is almost sure to be
rewarded nv the disclosure of dividend