Gilpin observer., 1913-04-10
EXIST IN THE QUARTZ HILL
SECTION - SCIENTISTS ARE
TURNING THEIR ATTENTION
TO THIS COUNTY FOR THE
RAREsT OF ALL METALS.

The mining of pitchblende and ur-
anium ores commercially in this
county is commanding the attention
of the most noted scientists in the
world. Our pitchblende ores are much
higher in uranium contests than any
locality, viz. Austria, is high grade
pitchblende found. The mines are
located at Joachimsthal, and nave
been noted for their uranium depos-
its for years. The Austrian gov
ernment, realizing the importance of
radium, which is extracted from these
ores, has bought up these mines and
is working them as a government
monopoly.
Twenty or more years ago, a con-
siderable tonnage of uranium ores
were mined in a number of the mines
of Quartz hill i'm connection with the
gold ores of that locality. The de-
mand for the ore was limited, MAX
ing the market value uncertain. At
oninCS, LuuCu uhuCunly was SHCOulpc-
cred in finding a purchaser as the
market was easily glutted. The mansa~
facture of sodium uranite, used for
painting ON glass and porcelain, also
in making flourescent yellow ''uran-
ium glass was about the sole uses
of the metal With the uncertain and
unsatisfactory returns for the shipped
product, miners gradually abandoned
the mining of DIT for the gold sulphide
and made no effort to sort or sep
arate 1T from the gold bearing ores.
The worldwide importance of the
metal today has awakened the mem
ory of many of our old time miners
as to their knowledge and experience
with the blue-black mineral which
proved a bugaboo in their mine op
erations. State Mime Inspector, w.
H. Parenteau.. who has mined in this
county for the past forty years, re-
calls an experience, had by lessees
on the Rails County lode sorie 30
years ago. A large shipment of what
was supposed to be Lead ore was
sent to the Black Hawk smelter. The
ore proved valueless, the shipper get
ting no returns. This ore was mined
on the 400-foot level of the Rails
County mine and was six inches in
width. After running the drift for
some distance i'm the hope that the
character of the ore would change,
it was abandoned in favor CT other
portions CT the mine that gave cash
returns. The ore had every appear
ance of pitchblende, but miners in
those days knew little of this rare
and most valuable metal
Many others had like experiences,
the ore was often termed blackjack
and thought nuisance. Not until al
ter Cornish miners arrived in the
camp at a later date, was the ore
Identified The northeast portion OF
Quartz hill, including an area from
the Wood to the German mime, and
extending from the Egyptian to the
Calhoun, is the principal source OF
production.
The ore is found in small shoots
or kidneys in connection with the
gold ores of the district and, like
the gold ore shoots, continues DOWN
ward to unknown depths. To Nine
Culie is given the credit for the dis
covery Of the activity of the
ore in 1898. Since then, radium has
been perfected, pitohblende being the
sole source o. this new and impor-
tant element. One ton Of Gtlpin
county pitchblende is equal to rs tons
of carnotite ore in uranium contests
as the caEnottte ores seldom exceed
one per cent of uranium. This gives
a faint idea aus to THE immense value
OF our pitchblende deposits. Three
radium products are obtained from
pitchblende as follows: First, sui
phate Of radium; second, bromide o.
radium; and third, chloride of ra
dunn The production of radium salt.
Is confined solely to Europe at the
present time. our pitchblende haN
ing to be sent there for treatment
Nne-tenths of cur Legitimate profit
is lost i'm the transaction, and evei
at that some OF the high grade orr
has sold fer as high as $4,000 pc
ton.
With a chemical laboratory Install
ed IN the state, At would stimulate