The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-01-31
COL. LA FAVE TELLS IF GOLD CAMP
 IN G|LA CO.
Old Time Prospector and Miner of Clifton in Fl Paso Last Week Tells of New Find Near
 Payson.

The Fl Paso Times says:-Accord ing to A. La Fave, a mine owner ot Clifton, Arizona, now in Fl Paso on business, promising copper and gold district exists near Payson, in the northwest part of Gila County, Ari- zona, which is rapidly coming into prominence. Payson is village most of the inhabitants being farmers and ranchers. It is located 100 miles northwest of Globe, 75 miles south east of Winslow and 125 miles north of Mesa, which are the nearest stations, with which it is connected by stage lines.
 Free Milling Gold. Most of the ore in the mines near Payson is free milling gold quartz says La Fave, with veins of fair width Only a few of them have been developed to any depth, and the workings are mostly in the oxidized zone. One property, however, called the Golden Wonder, has been devel- oped to the sulphide zone, or water level, 15O feet dep. The ore taken out down to this point yielded good sum of money, being treated in Q stamp mill and saved by amalgama- ton. The values thus saved averag- ed $50 gold per ton. But there was great loss. as the tailings carry from $10 to SIP gold per ton. This is due to the presence of sulphides carry ing gold values that could not be amalgamated, and the owners intend to install concentrator and ship the concentrates to a smelter.
 Many Copper Ledges.
 Around Payson there are also many veins of copper. These ore bodies are in a species of granite-porphyry or monzonite, intruding through the limeStoneS and quartZiteS. The form ation resembles that in Victor in the Cripple Creek district, Colorado, as there are phonolites, andesites, mon zonites and other igneous rocks.
 Eighteen miles west of Payson is a rich copper belt in the Mazatzal range of mountains, between Horse creek and Sheep creek, forks of Tonto creek which is tributary of Salt river. Here a large group of copper claims are being developed by MT. copper camp. The outcrops are prominent, consisting of oxides and carbonates of copper, with numerous punches of copper glance appearing as depth is reached. The formation is composed of what are locally called the "Pinal schists' slates and mon zonite.
 One Great Copper Zone.
 The Mazatzal district lies midway along the great copper zone that reaches from Jerome and the United Verde camp southeast to the Globe Miami camps, distance of over 150 miles, unquestionably on one of the most persistent copper areas in the southwest. The Mazatzal district will, in time, develop into a strong rival to it's neighbors on the extreme ends of this wonderful copper belt.
 Payson is in the heart of the Ton to National forest. The general alti- Iuu0 Ol Iudl I0SlOH IS dUOul O,OOU feet above sea level, and is well wa tered and timbered and has a Splen- did climate. It will soon become a great fruit and farming country, where everything can be raised with out irrigating.
 Ancient Civilization.
 There are many evidences on every hand of the existence many ages ago of a civilized race, skilled in agricul- ture and the arts. Ancient ruins are found on the high mesas. Great trees have grown on ruins as old as those of Central America. These an cients understood the art of making copper implements and pottery of re- beautiful design. Altogeth- CT that country is still primeval w;l- derness and sparsely settled, owing to it's present isolation from railroads.