The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-04-10
THE NATIONAL ORE BODY OME.
THING 0F ITS GREAT POSSIBILITIES
WHAT COPPER BEDS CONTINUE WEST
couRsE-FurURe OF coEuR
PRODUCTION

The great strike In the National
mine has given rise to much specula-
ton in the copper belt as to the ex-
tent of 1t and what may be expected
in future development. That it was
encountered at 1900 feet depth; that
1t is 70 to 80 feet wide, and known
for $50 feet In length, and that the
ore is Of a safe pay grade--this much
has been determined definitely by
work and tests already accomplished.
Seems Independent Of Other Ore.
1t Is claimed by some familiar with
that territory that the late ore body
found has no connection with any ore
opened by the upper workings or with
any surface showing on the ground.
But much Of this is, of course, speeu-
lation, Further facts as to the extent
of the ore body in any direction, and
the work Of the diamond drill may
have brought important disclosures,
are known only to the management
and only so far as the ground was
.prospected.
it6 Possible Extent.
Granting that the newly found
copper BEDS" as they are called. are
entirely new, what is their extent? A
well informed mining man of Mullan
said the other day: IF they continue
west, which is into the big mountain
and toward Burke. there Is hardly
limit to the production OF the enlarg-
ed copper belt" In line with It's
half from the National, near Burke,
there is evidence OF 1t.
Relation to Other Property.
The relation Of this deep ore body
to other ground in the immediate To-
cality il subject Of much comment
The Copper King is adjoining ON the
west. The long crosscut tunnels Of
the two properties. each 1000 feet or
more, are parallel for some distance.
the National being 900 feet lower than
the other. An extension of the. Cop
per King tunnel from 500 to 1000 feet
would encounter the National copper
beds extended west 1000 feet.
Work Contemplated.
IT is said the 20 to so feet Of ore in
the National will easily furnish mill
feed running per cent copper and s
ounces silver. This would probably
be reduced to about a 80 per cent
shipping product. New air arrange
ments and preparation for extensive
work are being made. The Deadman
gulch water right is being improved
for wash water for milling purposes
1t is said arrangements are now be-
ing made for the erection Of a 500-ton
concentration. George Huston, the
well known Mullan geologist, with
small machinery on the ground, Is
making some practical tests to find
the best method OF reducing the ore.
Possibilities Of Copper Output.
The facts that this copper find is
the deepest so far opened in the camp,
that its average ledge width is prac-
tically double the average heretofore
mined in the country and that its
grade Is equal to the average profit
able shipments from other properties
for years past. make 1t a matter Of
tremendous Importance. Should the
so-called copper beds continue to be
found east and west there is no cal
chlatng the possibilities of produce
tion in the future. The copper output
of the Occur dAlenes may soon equal
that Of silver and eventually reach
that Of lead. And one enthusiastic
Mullan man recently advanced the
opinion that rival of Butte is now
In the beginning.