El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-09-21
MINING NEWS
Ell Pasoans Revive Mining
Activity Where Formerly
Only High Grade Ore Was
Mined.
CBv L H. Davis.)

(By l. II. DaVlS-)
Taken altogether, with the splen-
did location, good roads. established
camp, good climate, cheap fuel, assur-
ance of dry mines. ample water availa$
Sle for reduction purposes and extern
sive bodies of profitable grade of ore.
the White Oaks mining district, Of
Lincoln county, New Mexico" says \.
c. Thompson, former general manager
of the Candelaria Mining company, of
$ san Pedro. Mexico, presents an at
Effectiveness for profitable mining IN
vestment seldom found, and should be
styled a mining investment ana not
risk.
fully situated in valley of the White
mountains about 80 miles, north OF
FL Paso and about u miles northeast
of Carrizozo, on the FL PasO & South
western railroad. with when II is con-
nected by Il good wagon and stag
road, and is at an elevation OF about
$500 feet above sea level. The COLO
mines are Immediately adjoining the
town on the west, on what IS known
as the Baxter mountain The coal
mines are Immediately adjoining the
town on the east and IN the same 10
cality is ample water Tor all milling
and ore reduction purposes. Both the
mines and the town are readily reached
lightful trip, and have telephone con-
nection and daily mail service with
the outside world. The town IS SUP
stantiaIly built, with brick stores and
residences, and is ono of the delight
mi spots in the Southwest.
Baxter mountain, the focus OF min
ing operations, is geoloSicalIy or the
cretaceOus age, broken through oy
post cretaceous intrusive rocks -the
cretaceous shales being cut by large
body of monzanite OF a gray color and
of rather fine grain. The ores consist
of z-pyrite in veins that cut the
monzanite, the dikes and the shales-
a. greater part of the production OF the
district has conc from ore in which
the gold is free. In most OF the ores
worked. the gold is associated with
Iimonite or with Oxidized pyrites-
The gold is bright and has a rough
crystalline appearance The ores yield
to very simple treatment The past
production has been made by simple
amalgamation with only a feeble at
tempt at cyanidauon.
Was Discovered By Me1icans.
The camp was discovered and
worked by Mexicans in the early 9Os
and Sos mostly placer mining being
prosecuted in the early stages and
subsequently the quartz veins were
worked by American companies ana
prospectors. 1t is roughly estimated
that the camp has yielded over S3,OOO,-
600 worth of gold. Only one mine has
been developed to any considerable
depth. the Old Abe, and the ore BODIES
still remaining to be developed are
very extensive This is the deepest
fore the only efforts nave apparently
been directed to mining the high grade
ores and no attention has been paid TO
the immense bodies of medium grade
gold ores, which will constitute
well nigh inexhaustibie store for fu-
ture generations. In fact, it is no eX-
aggeration to say that there are great
ore reserves proved up extending from
the surface downward several huhu[eu
feet that can be mined by steam
Shovels, and will afford material for
the modern cyanide process for years
to come. I have made thorough study
of the White Oaks quadrangle and
must say that 1 have never seen
mining district in Mexico or anywhere
presenting so many attractions for le-
Ultimate capital and operations
The Principal Developed Mines.
The principal developed mines OF
the district are the Old Abe, the South
Homestake, the North Homestake, the
Little Mack, the Rita, the Lady Co
diva and the Henry Clay. Besides these
there are several other properties
now in the prospect stage, but show
ing every indication of proving equal
" rich around them
The Old Abe mine has been the
largest producer of the district, and
description of this mine practically
describes the. others, as they are SINH
lar in vein structure and geological
conditions. 1t has a L. s mint record
of over $1,000, 600 production in gold
bullion. 1t has been worked to a depth
of over 1900 feet and and is practically
dry, the only water encountered below
the 1900 foot level being easily handled
with the mine hoist, no pumps being
needed.
'sThe ground consists of one full
sixed claim, called the Robert E. Lee,
and a fractional, claim called the
strikes north, 10 degrees west, and
dips very steeply to the west, and
seems TO vary from a few inches in
width to, in places, 10 feet wide one
body of ore, known as the fish pond,
which was about 20 feet wide and 90
feet long, consisting of a brecciated
mass of shale and monzanite, stained
with iron, produced SIS, Only the
high grade bodies of ore were mined,
and very little drift or prosecuting
has been done, the policy being to fol-
low the known high grade ore shoots
down. There are large bodies of me
dunn grade ore still showing in the
faces. No attempt has been made to
block out ore reserves, the purpose
being to follow and extract the ores so
long as high grade values existed
While it is impossible to state the ton
mage existing OF exposed in faces that
are left, 1t may safely be SAID thaI
with modern equipment the tonnage
would be enormous, practically from
the surface The Old Abe is equipped
with a 200 stamp mill a hoist and an
air compressor.
The Coal Deposits.
Splendid deposits OF a good grade
of coal have been developed within
three miles of the mine by the Old Abe
company on the $50 acres of ground
belonging to it. The coal vein is four
feet thick and has for years supplied