The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-01-01
PitchbIsnd Strike In 6ap

The uncoyering Of large depusits - fttrh-
blende that runs SO tar ahead In thsper
csntaee a uranium. from which radi1m
is extracted, Of any such ore eversyet
discovered, will mark new era in unin-
ing rot only in GIpin but also in lower
Clear Creek county, for these two sec
tions are ono and inseparable from 2
mining standpoint The mining OF
uranium ore is now confined almost ex
clusively to portions of Austria. Some
time ago Thomas Walsh put up money
for the school of mines at Golden to be-
gin experimenting and investigating to
find uranium in this state and it row
looks as though his efforts are going to
bring additional lustre and renown to
Colorado. The following is brief do
scription of the find taken from the Dem
yer times. This will give a boom all
through this section, as the discovery
was made within six miles Of this city
and near its northern boundary:
The largest known body OF pitchblendes
ore in the world was discovered in the
German mine, at Central City.on Dec.5
2l. Assays made by Herman Fleck, pro-
fessor of chemistry OF tho Colorado.
School of Mines late yesterday after-
noon and brought to Denver last night.a
show that the ore runs almost treble the1
highest percentage of all uranium ores
ever discovered. The strike means that
the demands OF the scientific aud medi
cal world, backed by bequests and dona-
tions of rich men, for the precious
radium, which sells at s2,6oO,OD an
ounce, will probably be satisfied 1t an
early date by Colorado.
The strike was made by the regular
force of men engaged in taking out gold
ore in the German mine four days be-
fore Christmas The news was at once
telegraphed to Hugh C. Brown of PhilA
delphia, general manager aud director Of
the German Cold and Uranium Mining
company.
MIR. Brown at once opened communi
cation by telegraph with Professor
Fleck at the Golden school and as a re.
suit an inspection of the strike was
made two days before Christmas by two
experts from the School of Mines. Two
assays were made. The first showed
that the ore ran 9.56 per cent uranium
oxide, which is very high. The second
assay ran up such a high percentoge of
believed it was possible. The assay
made yesterday afternoon and brought
to Denver last night ran o5 per cent
pure. The enormity of the strike can
be better realized when it is known hat
30 per cent purity is the world Is highest
record
A few weeks ago George F. Crocker,
owner of the Alice group Of mines, near
Idaho Springs, died from cancer in New
York city He left 81, 100000 to be used
in prosecuting the search for the pre-
cious metals. Thomas +. Walsh, Colo
RADIOS well known millionaire, recently
made donation for the purpose of
arousing interest in similar search for
the ore. A tragic feature of the Crocker
bequest is that the ore containing the
metal which would have saved his life
was hidden in the earth only few miles
from the property he owned.
The German mine is owned by Bishop
Matz of Denver and is leased by him to
some Philadelphia capitalists. Among
these are IL. C.tBrown, prominent law
yer of the Quaker city; w. II. Miller of
lAl rnt rod It.lI II
who was formerly with the Dupont
Powder company, and Robert II. Rich
ards, formerly attorney general of Della
ware.
Superintendent Miller states that
guards had been placed around the mine
and that the ore is being left hanging to
the wall to prevent it from being stolen
The mine in which the strike was
made is being worked as gold mine,
the ore running in values from $3.50 to
800 ton.
The strike is one Of the most import
ant from all standpoints that has ever
been made in Colorado, and will un-
doubtedly create sensation throughout
the country.
1t may be matter Of some interest to
our readers to know the comparative
output of minerals for Colorado for the
years 1908 and 1909 There was slight
decrease in the output OF gold and silver,
while lead, copper, zinc and tungsten
showed decided increase:
1903. 1909
Gold .s22, ,695, ,575.75 S22, ,321, 1862
Silver ...... 4,775,428.O5 4,721 $50 4S
Lead 2,429,67O91 2,674,96 .96
Copper 1881, 1872 81 1,576,s35.S Sc
Zinc .... 1,79S,6O333 2,l77,ns.54
Tungsten. 100000 4OO,O0O.OO
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