Mohave County miner., 1910-06-04
Some Mines Eccentric.

troubled the early day miners was the
finding of new pay shoot or chimney
after the original deposit was worked
out. Many instances are recorded in
mining history where the pay shoot
seemed to have entirely pinched out,
although up to the point wnere the ore
ceased to exist it was found in great
and rich quantity. This popularity
was especially notable in limestone and
dolomite, where the ore was found in
large bodies in chambers, or cave-like
receptacles. Apparently there was no
connection between the first ore body
with another, and to anyone unskilled
in the mining business and the pecul-
iarity of ore deposits, on the exhaus-
tion of the first ore shoot the mine
would appear to be worked out, but
this was far from the truth, as was
proved in more than one instance.
One of the first big mines in Colo
RADIO that seemed to have been worked
out was the Moose. 1t was big pay
ing mine, rich in silver and lead and
the owners we're anything but willing
to abandon the property, although
there was not a pound of ore in sight,
and so far as could be seen there never
would be any more. The manager in
charge had sunk below the last speck
of ore and was hammering away in
country rock, hoping that some time,
as soon as possible, the rich streak
would be again found, but continuous
development in that direction failed
of satisfactory results. Finally, with
expenses piling up and no ore in sight,
the owner of the mine sought the as
sistance of a well known practical min
er and prevailed upon him to attempt
the solution of the problem of finding
the pay shoot. He accepted the offer,
went TO the Moose mine. which was
no easy proposition in the midst of
winter, with snow deep and mountains
high. Arriving at the mine he at
once began a thorough inspection,
which was continued for nearly three
weeks, but no clue could he obtain as
to the probable course the ore had
taken, if there was any more left in
the mine. Finally he had to admit
that the problem was beyond his pow
ers and he gave up the search and re-
turned to Denver. He there met his
employer, and gave detailed account
of his efforts, stating that he could
find no indications that would in any,
wise give a hint as to what direction
to drift, or whether it was better to
continue sinking in the hope that in
that way the ore could be rediscovered
in another chamber. But the owner
of the mine was not satisfied. He
believed in his friend, the miner, and
thought that he, if anyone, could turn
the trick and put the Moose again in
the producing class. After much pur-
suasiOn the miner was again induced
TO return to the mine and make
another effort to find the lost ore. He
did so and on this occasion adopted a
different plan from the one pursued
in the first instance. Instead of going
down below where the last ore was
found in the shaft, he began his ex-
animation at the very point where the
last ore was taken out. By careful
examination of the walls he was re-
warded by finding a minute seam of
red oxide of iron and lead leading off
laterally from the shaft. He directed
the miners to cease sinking and cut
into the side of the shaft, following
the small seam. The result was that
within few feet the ore was found as
rich and plentiful as ever, and the
Moose mine was big dividend payer
for years after.
A similar discovery of a lost ore
body was made by the late Prof. Clay
ton in the Ontario mine, in Utah. |
Like the Moose, the Ontario had come
to the end of its ore, and things began
TO look blue for the future when Prof. !
Clayton was called upon to display his
skill. The first thing he ordered was
the thorough cleaning out of the tun-
nels and drifts, then he went into the
mine and made careful examination
Of the vein enclosing rock. He was
rewarded with the finding of minute
seam, as was done in the Moose. order
ed the miners to follow the streak. !
and not long after the Ontario was
producing its usual quota of rich silver
ore. The mine is credited with a pro-
duction of $1,000 OOS in dividends.
The discoveries by the Colorado
rrninore q Nd nlcn h. Drnf C1lnu...-- = j |