The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-11-13
Staley's Mining Properties

A mining transaction of considerable
magnitude and of special bearing on the
industry in this section has recently
been under negotiation. Mr.. Heary
Drukker, of Amsterdam, Holland, re-
Gently made a special trip to Idaho
Springs to inspect the Humming Bird
Mining and Milling company's group of
claims composing about 125 acres, and
spent few days here last week with
Richard F. Staley. manager of the
company. After thoroughly examin-
ing the properties and all their work.
ings, he found everything so satisfac-
tory that he entered into contract
whereby Mr.. Drukker secured An
option on 206,O0 shares of treasury
stock of the Humming Bird M. & NJ. Co
at tssventy-fivs cents per share, makinga
total of $3.50, 600. The first payment Of
this amount is to be made on or before
January 15, 1910, and the balance is to
be made in five payments, the last fall
ing due August l, 1910. The coming
spring should see the Soda creek
property of the Humming Bird com
pany and the Big Chief up Spring
gulch fully equipped with modern min
ing machinery. From present indiea-
tions and conditions the Big Chief
should be big producer in the near
future. Assays taken from the shaft
sunk on this claim, from grass roots to
the bottom, depth of 49 feet, show
values ranging from one to 5o7 ounces
in gold per ton. The ore is free mill
ing. The dirt on the dump was recent
ly tested at the Allen mill and gave re-
turns of approximately Sc per ton on
the plates. Several sacks of the rich
ore from this claim have been saved
that contains values from 81 to SIS
pound. In prospecting, the owners
have opened three different smaller
veins that at depth will unite or form
junction with the main vein. These
veins are from two to twelve inches in
width and their present assays show
values from $50 to $37. so per ton, prin-
cipally gold with smelling ore contain
ing lead, copper and zinc. The Big
Chief is in first class mining section
of the district. Among its big neigh
bors are the Stanley and the Centurion
group Of claims, the Donaldson, Lord
Byron, Kitty Clyde, Fraction, Metro
politan and many others. 1t is the CEN
ter Of a mining section that has pro-
duced many million dollars worth of
the precious metals. 1t runs into the
Metropolitan near the shaft of the
latter. The property is most favor
ably located and it has the reputation
of having very high grade gold ore.
The Humming Bird tunnel on Soda
creek will be driven at least 900 feet
to the center Of the mountain and will
cut one of the largest porphyry dykes in
the Idaho Springs district. The tunnel
is now in distance of 500 feet and the
vein il from 2 to 10 feet in width, the
ore being principally low grade. Small
ore shoots have been opened up that
run from $24 to s37 per ton, while
cross lead was encountered at 225 feet
in from the portal that showed ore as
saying AZ ounces in gold, 33 ounces in
silver and 25 per cent. copper. Ashaft
was sunk . depth Of 13l feet near this
lead and level was run IS feet from
the collar of the shaft to cut this cross
vein below In the present breast OF
this drift there is ore that assays l.38
ounces in gold and 1.30 ounces in silver
per ton.
The tunnel will cut six veins that
ahow on the surface all Of which look
promising and all showing gold and
silver values in the out sroppings. The
tunnel on the Eloiss vein will be driven
40 feet additional to cut vein that
measures six feet in width on the sur
face and that il running in the direction
Of the Quito on Chicago Geek. Assays
taken from the surface of this vein run
from So 90 to SIT. 90 per ton in gold, the
entire width Of the vein averaging $3-0O
psr ton. The level that has been start
ID on the Saphira vein will bs extended.
There il q small streak Of ore in this
that shows assay values a. high rs $9l
q ton in gold and copper. The company
eontemplates sinking a shaft on the
Gardner Placer to bed rock near the
junction Of Barbour and Soda Creeks.
The work on these properties has been
done in an economical and mine-liks
manner and the money Of the investor
has been made to count in the process
of developmnt.
Fred Osterman came near meeting with
a fatal accident on Monday at the Lin
coin mill up Clear Creek. His coat got
caught in the shafting and wound it
.,onnd his neck until it got SO tight