The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-08-02
Ore Shoot 60 Feet
Wide in Lowest
Level
ORE in UPPER WORKS
All Indications Point to the
Profitable Operation
of Mine

! ~ lNCE THE announcement in this
paper last week that the cross
cut from the bottom Of the Ma
tional shaft, at a depth of 535
level, had reached the vein the cross
cut has been extended across it, en-
counterng the foot wall last Monday,
The crosscut goes squarely across the
vein, showing 1t to be about so feet in
width. The first shot into the vein
showed ore of milling grade and this
has been continuous the entire Width
the last or 10 feet before reaching
the foot wall showing decided im-
provement, sufficient to bring the aV-
erage value for the entire shoot to a
point that it Is believed will insure q
substantial profit The ore is black
sulphide Of copper which ihpregnates
the rock, forming generally in streaks
and is also found in the seams and
crevices. The vein formation is much
softer than that in the upper work.
ings and breaks readily. Drifting has
started both east and west from the
crosscut along the foot wall side,
which will result, in making a large
amount of ore available on this level
in a short time. A continuous good
showing of ore is expected in both
directions and particularly in the west
drift, which is extending under the
old workings While there is murh
ore of excellent grade in the upper
workings, the average in the new
strike is higher, which confirms the
theory of the management that the
vein would be enriched through the
teaching process which carried the
values from above.
More Waste Than Ore.
It has long been the opinion of men
who have made a close study of the
National that the ore in upper work
ings could be protitably handled If
more care had been exercised in
breaking the ground to eliminate the
waste. The vein has a dip of about so
degrees and the walls are clearly de-
fined. In breaking the ore under the
shrinkage system great masses of the
hanging wall were broken down This
is particularly true in the stope above
the 1000 level. In the stope above the
500 level the showing is better al
though there are places where much of
! I l., 81, tnl ,.,hiD va
duced the grade of the ore. In this
stope there Is fine showing of ore,
! frequent streaks of copper glance be-
ing in evidence which carry a high
silver value in addition to the copper.
1t Is the plan of the management to
extract the ore above the 1000 in con-
junction with that below and absolute
confidence is felt that the result will
be profitable operation
Prospect for Profit.
The report of the former manage
ment showed that when the National
was last in operation the average cop
per content of the mill feed was less
than / per cent. Even then the re-
turns almost If not quite paid eX-
penses. with the present showing
there should be no difficulty in pro-
ducing mill feed conservatiVeiy
placed at or per cent copper which
will place the property on a profitable
basis AS a matter Of fact it Is be-
lieved more than probable that a
much higher percentage Of copper can
be maintained to say nothing OF the
possibilities of the silver value.
Preparing to Start Up.
The National is equipped in every
particular for resuming operations
The mill is a model in design and con-
struction and is now practically ready
for operation. 1t has a capacity Of
500 tons daily. The electric tramway
from the mine to the mill was damag
ed in one place by landslide. This
| is now being repaired and will be
ready for traffic in few days. Event
ually new and modern hoist will be
necessary which can be installed
without interfering with the opera
ton of the mine The hoist now be-
Hing used is capable of handling goo
tons of ore a day from the presest
shaft level, which is sufficient for the
present requirements. With the com
pletion of repairs on the tramway II
is proposed to begin at once the ex-
traction Of ore and fill the bins at the
everything will be in readiness tt
start the mill and keep it going at full
capacity. te