Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-04-21
LARGE DEPOSITS GOLD
ORE In ORIOLE NINE

especially in Josephine county. has of
late attracted wide attention in the
mining world, through the uncover
ing of large deposits of gold ore in
the Oriole property, in the Galice
mining district.
Placer gold has been successfully
mined in this region since the early
SOS of the past century and the pro,
duction has reached we'll into the mill
lions by that method.
Systematic prospecting for the
source Of this placer gold, however,
has but fairly started, and the show
ing thus far made has been uniform
ly satisfactory; so much so that
several large companies have been
organized and the eve of extensive
lode mining Is now at hand. Aside
from the splendid showings made
at the Almeda, Golden Wedge and
other properties in the Galice dis
trict, the Oriole property deserves
especial mention, due to the phenom-
enally rich character Of some of the
ore encountered, as we'll as the mag
nitude of the lower grade milling
ores.
The great ore zone of the Oriole,
as now proven, attains width of
210 feet, the hanging wall being a
sheer quartzite and the foot wall
metamorphic slate. The vein fill
ing is composed Of quartz stringers
and nodules of quartz, interbedded
in soft, slaty material. The gold val
ues are intimately associated with
the quartz and exist chiefly pyritic
and other sulphide forms. The high
grade ore is perhaps valaverite, ow-
ing to its extreme mixture and al
most absence of silver values.
There are practically two-thirds Of
mile in development, consisting
Of tunnels, drifts and cross-cuts. The
fourth tunnel is now being driven
into the ore body, which will open
the vein nearly 600 feet below the
apex Of the hill through which the
vein passes. This tunnel will be 937
feet in length before intercepting
the vein, and will definitely prove the
dependable extent of the deposits, as
we'll as the physical character OF the
ore and place the company in pos
ition to determine the kind and ca
, tacity of plant to be installed for
the commercial treatment Of the ore,
The Oriole property consists OF
nine mining claims, covered with q
virgin growth of fir and pine timber
sufficient to meet. all mining and
building requirements for the next
quarter Of a century.
The company also holds valuable
water rights sufficient to operate
every kind Of machinery and mil
during the greater portion of the
year. The present equipment con
sists of an air compressor, power
: drills, sawmill, assay laboratory, two
: blacksmith shops, electric lights, {
commodious two-story boarding
house, bunk house, and numerous
b, minor essentials.
; The greatest optimism Is expressed
: by all who have seen the propert!
. and inspected the immensity of tn,
ore body. Should values increase a
. the fourth level in proportion t
: what they have In the upper levels
- the property is destined to becom,
: one of the great gold producers II
the country. It would seem by thu
opening OF this great property tina
the Galice district is now on tn,
p verge of a real and substantial min
ing boom, such as has not been ex
perienced since the discovery ant
exploitation OF the placer deposits II
pioneer days.
Several shipments of the highe
grade OF ore have been made by th'
Oriole Gold Mining company to th'
Tacoma smelter, all OF which hav,
retted handsome returns; the las
: recent shipment OF 20h tons nettet
the company $3,724.13.
. The people Of Grants Pass shoult
spare no effort TO encourage the In
dustry of mining. lne development
now going on In the Galice district
right at our doors, overshadows al
most every industry tributary L
Grants Pass. Investments made II
the district are certain to pay hand
some dividends to the investors AM
they will, to large extent, add {,
the commercial industry OF Grant
Pass, whlle,at the same time, II vii
make a home market for our agrlcul
tural products. The value OF gol
| production in any section can hard
| ly be overestimated. The mining o
gold in California for the ten year