Semi-weekly herald., 1911-06-29
.LAP[ATA ::
MINES
According To Mining Expert Condi-
tions Are Most Promising

La Platas. Not only on new dis
coveries being made, but mines that
have produced in the past and have
been closed down for long periods are
being re-opened and in many cases
pay ore is being extracted and sack
ed for shipment.
1t is a fact that up until 1909 there
had been more than two hundred ship
pers of ore of value better than
800 per ton, discovered and worked
in this camp. This statement is the
result of the investigations Of one of
the most prominent mining men in
Colorado.
Since 1909 this number has been
added to by probably twenty and at
the present time there are at least
one hundred prospects and undevelop-
ed and developed mines being work
ed, large proportion Of which are ac.
trally shipping ore or preparing foI
immediate shipments. Indeed, there
are very few properties in the dis
trict but what are either accomplishing
pay ore or shipping. Surely this is
wonderful showing when it is consid.
cred that the district known as the La
Platas is only small portion of the
vast mineralized area naturally tribu
tary to Durango
Shipping records have been made
and are being made at present which
should cause this district to be REQ
oenized as having no superior as a
high grade producer in the state of
Colorado.
Wherever intelligent work has been
done as in the Idaho, May Day, lncas,
1Saphattan and a score of others, the
amount and quality of ore exposed and
shipped has been phenomenal. No
camp in the state shows such remark
able continuity of high ore values,
and all this in the face of adverse
conditions too well known for COM
ment.
If the actual gross production in
tonnage and values of this camp could
be secured and published, in compari-
son to the amount of money expended
in actual development, the figures
would startle the mining world.
The expression 'the camp hasn't
been scratched yet" is in this case
literally true. The hills are generally
very precipitous and by far the
greater area is at present almost in
accessible owing to lack Of roads and
trails. Unfortunately the prospector
and early mine owner rarely receives
any help from city, county or state
towards establishing paths to his
property which is the greatest draw
back to the progress of any newly
discovered mining district. Out of all
this large mineral section adjacent to
Durango, the La Plata district is the
only one served by wagon road,
hence its production and greater de-
velopment.
The Copper Hill Mining Company
Lying within one mile of La Plata
and covered by nearly eighty mining
claims, is a very extensive belt OF
copper ore. This discovery was made
many years ago but owing to lack oil
facilities and failure to interest cap
ital in any one of the various groups,
no development of any consequence
had been done until few weeks ago
'swhen Messrs. Bradley and Dodder Sc
cured a bond and lease on the SIX
claims belonging to the Copper Hill
Mining company. Work was com
menced Immediately, resulting in the
disclosure of body of commercial
ore more than thirty feet thick, about
twelve of which is being mined and
shipped to the local smelter. AT the
present writing fifteen or twenty car
loads have been delivered here ana
we learn the average contents is more
than 10 per cent copper besides carry
ing some gold and silver. Ths mineral
is found disseminated through a dixie
of Monzonite porphyry, the minerail-
zation extending fifty or sixty feet n
width. The core of the dixie for q
thickness of about ten feet is almost
entirely replaced by copper and iror
sulphides, the values decreasing to
wards the edges of the dixie.
The property is being developed b!
open cuts employing about twelV'
men. The company is also building
good wagon road from the main coun
ty road to the property to facilitat
the handling of the ore. The import
ance of this discovery should not b
underestimated.
The Crowell Group
This group consists of fifteen claim
lying on the same belt as the Cope
Hill ground A bond and lease ha
Just been given to local parties and
number of men have been put to worl
1t should be matter of great IL
terest to the mining men of this dis
trict to watch the development of th
belt.
Tho Ccr,ctnrL Mine