The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1908-04-02
THE GOLD BELT
Development Progressing With Good Re-
suits on Copper and Gold Claims.


suits on Copper and Gold Claims.
A representative of the ERA made
a trip to the properties of the Gold
Belt Development & Reduction COM
pany last Sunday and while there was
given the privilege of going through
the mines.
1t is well known fact that the
Gold Belt was extremely fortunate in
securing good management from the
start and the company has made one
of the best showings of any new COM
pany that has ever been organized in
this district. The camp now COM
prises number of well kept build
ings and box tents, frst-class board
ing house and an unlimited amount
of good spring water. A first-Class
wagon road, great portion of which
was built by the company, makes it
possible to reach the camp and mines
by wagon.
A 15-horsepower Fairbanks, Morse
gasoline hoist and substantial gal
lows frame has been installed on the
copper shaft, which is now down to a
depth of 325 feet At the bottom of
this shaft, which is being sunk to the
north of the ore body, gold values
have been obtained. A crosscut is
being run south at the 250-level. This
has reached a distance of 125 feet,
about 20 feet of which passed through
shale, which formation is now under
going change. This, crosscut is be-
ing run under the surface workings
from which the company realized Sl8-
600 net last year from shipments of
high grade manganese copper ore.
That this ore body extends to depth
there is little doubt in the minds of
mining men. The copper vein pitched
to the south and at go feet depth it
will probably require more than 100
feet to reach it, although a change
in formation at 125 feet is most en-
couraging. At the 325-level, a cross
cut to the north has just been started
which will no doubt strike a good
body of copper ore at almost any
time. That large body of copper
ore exists on this property there is
little doubt and it would not be sur
prising if this did not make one of
the big copper mines of that district.
There is also d good body of leach
ing copper ore exposed on the south
west side of the claim, in addition to
which is large amount of low grade
Manganese copper ore on the dump
and in the upper workings. The COM
pany has shipped 100 tons of pay ore
from the copper claim SO tar this
year.
An inspection of the gold shaft
convinced the writer that the Gold
Belt company has the best gold mine
that has ever been developed in the
Clifton Morcnci district. In fact it
is the only one which has been worked
with good values at depth. The shaft
was continued to a depth of 200 feet,
where water was struck in sufficient
volume to supply the needs of a So
stamp mill, in reality a blessing for
the company in the future. Sinking
has been discontinued temporarily
and station made at the 100-level,
from which a crosscut, now 40 feet
long, is being run. Several small
veins of pay ore have been cut, and
an S-inCh vein. running $40 to the
ton, was encountered in the face of
the crosscut last Sunday morning
This lead carries milling ore at least
4 feet wide. 1t is expected to strike
the main ledge in the next 100 feet,
as it dips at an angle from the sur
face. At this level a drift has been
run a distance of 300 feet east along
a gold vein to s feet wide that will
average better than SIS to the ton.
In fact good values have been proven
in all prospect work that has been
done. A 15-horsepower gasoline hoist
is also in opera tion on this shaft.
The writer will venture the asser-
tion that the Gold Belt has enough
ore in sight to pay for a 5O-stamp
mill several times over, and the wal err
for it's operation can be secured from
the shaft. Arrangements are being
made tor the erection of mill in the
very near future. when the company
is bound to assume the position of "A
dividend payer. At least 1000 tons
of gold ore is piled on the dump, be-
sides which a low estimate of 5000
tons is blocked out in the mine. This
ore will average SI5 to the ton, maxi
ing a total of $4,000. 1t is estimated
that the mill will cost about $4,000.
The ore is free milling and can be
mined and milled at a cost of 81 so
per ton, leaving an estimated profit
of $40 so per ton, or 1868, 900 on the ore
now actually ready for treatment.
No shipments of gold ore have been
made to date, as the management of
the company prefer handling it
themselves Others who visited the
mines Sunday and were similarly i'm
pressed were: George Green, j. d.
Baldwin, Frank Webster, and J. w.
Riley, all of Metcalf, and Reece Web
ster and D. 2. w. Eylar, of Clifton.
BaptiSts Will Build