El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-24
NITRATE BEDS
F0UNDAT R0DE0
Believed by Mining Men the
New Discovery Has Great
Commercial Value.

Lordsburg. n n, April 24--That the
state Of New Mexico has sodium nj
trate deposits Of commercial import
ance is believed by many. now that the
extent Of the nitrate discoveries near
Rodeo is becoming known, says Asa
o. Garland, United States commissioner
at RodeO. n NJ
The nitrate deposits were first dis
- covered in 1913, but little attention was
paid to them until the fall OF 1914,
when active prospecting commenced
Since then several thousand acres have
been located as mining claims and some
development work has been started
Where Deposits Are Found.
The nitrates are found on the west
ern slope Of the PelOnciliO mountains
on the eastern side Of the san Simon
valley. near the town Of Rodeo, N NJ,
and not FAR from the Arizona line
Their Importance can be judged from
their extent The OutCroppings can be
traced for a distance OF nearly so miles
north and south with a width OF from
one to four miles. and are Of unknown
depth. At Rodeo, these outcrOppings
are so extensive that they form the
yellow cliffs that fringe the eastern
side OF the valley and which consti-
tute such a prominent feature Of the
Until recently. little work aside from
the necessary location work. has been
done on these claims On those owned
by Frank Jones and A. James there has
been enough work done to show that
the nitrate contents increase with
depth. On these claims the nitrate
bearing body lies at an angle OF about
45 degrees with a foot wall Of an unde-
fined porphvry and a hanging wall Of
quartzite- At this place the ore body
shows a thickness Of over 100 feet and
has been developed for about one mile
north and south The nitrates are dis
semiuated through the rock and where
cavities occur in the rocks. collect into
Jumps Of nearly pure sodium nitrate.
some Of them being as large as mans
head
within Easy Access.
Most Of these deposits are Of very
easy access. being situated on the ~
PasO & Southwestern railroad and
within easy distance of the track In
the vicinity Of RodeO they are situated
parallel to and above the track for a
distance Of about seven miles. with SUI
ffcient slope TO the track TO enable all
ore to be run TO the rails by gravity.
A good part OF the ore can be mined
with a steam shovel and in a number OF
cases there is no Gaping 10 be stripped
before beginning operations
Excellent sites for reduction works
can be had adjoining the railroad at
Rodeo. Water is found there in unlim-
tied quantities and the railroad facili-
ties are Of the best ROdeo is the lead
ing AA4REAAA1 anu 7.-NN-E pm ~ 49,
san Simon valley. Some OF the nitrate
deposits are within two miles Of the
station with a dOwnhill haul to the
track The land is level and there is
plenty Of It
Good Mining Country.
Generally speaking the country is
well adapted to the mining industry
The climate is mild and healthfuL The
altitude tempers the heat Of summer
and the winters are open and pleasant
The san Simon valley is one Of the rap
idly developing sections Of the great
southwest The excellent supply Of
water makes its agricultural future Sc
cure and insures an abundant supply
Of produce to all mines that may Oper-
ate in its vicinity.