Gilpin observer., 1913-12-04
CONTINUITY OF
ORE SHOOTS

They say that history repeats it.
self, SO why will the old adage not
hold good in mining sense.
Those of us, who have seen our
mines developed from the days when
they were only prospects to the pres
ent time, know that when the mines
of this county were from 300 to 400
feet in depth, and in some cases
deeper, the mines came to what they
termed cap rock, not as some may
suppose covering of the veins of
some sort, but the veins became
pinched and carried much lower val
ues than what was produced nearer
the surface.
Not being familiar with the exist
ing conditions, a great many of the
operators closed down their proper
ties and left the country, but with
great courage and perseverance, Mr..
B. C. Waterman, then operating the
Kansas mine at Nevada, sunk through
the cap and was rewarded by open
ing up larger bodies and better
grades of ore than he had nearer
the surface. Others were quick to
take advantage of the experiment,
with the result that they produced
one of the greatest mining districts
of the world; "The Little Kingdom
of Gilpin.''
While we know our veins are con-
tinuous with depth (at least as far
as depth has been attained, the
continuity of the ore chutes with
out doubt, are continuous and, with
intelligent and conservative manage
ment, there is every reason to be-
lieve that our ore bodies on their
westerly dip Tin some parts of the
easD, on the strike of the veins,
will be continuous and carry as high
values as they ever did and be form
ed in larger bodies, from the fact
many of the veins come together and
form one mother vein larger than
the individual veins nearer the sur
face.
Taking such properties as the fam
Gus Gunnell and Grand Army, with
it's production of over $4,000, 900.
which had an ore chute first uncover
ed at the surface at point two or
three hundred feet east of the pump
shaft and which has been continu-
GUS for distance of 1000 feet west
on the strike of tie vein.
This ore body has been very flat,
for in this distance it has gained a
depth on tie dip or pitch of the
vein of only 1900 to 1400 feet. The
width of this ore chute on the dip of
the vein. was from 500 to 900 feet
for its entire length.
This vein may be considered an
exception to tie general rule as its
ore body has been continuous from
the surface to its present depth with
out having encountered the cap" as
most of the veins in the district have
done.
The Prize and Hubert veins, with
production OF $4,000, 900, each of
which was discovered in the early
sixties and were among the best
producers in tie county had their
experience with the cap and with
the faith and perseverance of the
early pioneers, the owners were
rewarded by opening up enormous
bodies of ore several thousand feet
in length on the vein and several
hundred feet in depth en- the dip of
the vein and recent developments
in the Hubert at the 500-foot level
are producing a better grade of ore
than ever.
The Prize when 1t has been cut
by the Argo tunnel at depth of
140O feet, has developed to all ap-
pearance a separate and distinct ore
chute from that which was opened
at depth of 400 feet and whose
outcrop must be much farther east,
than any of their present workings.
There are other properties in the
district whose conditions are much
the same. as those just spoken Of.
but for lack Of space at this time,
are not mentioned.
The contention is that our veins
are not worked out. but only require
intelligent management in following
the ore chutes on the strike Of the
veins to make them the greatest
producers of high grade ores in the
state.
One of the greatest drawbacks to
the mining industry in this county
has been either through misrepresen'
tation or ignorance in inducing out.
side capital to invest in properties,