The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-04-09
PRINCE CONS. SHAFT
600 FEET DEEP

Operations are progressing satisfac- |
torily at the Prince Consolidated mine
and every department Is working
smoothly.
The shaft has now reached a total
vertical depth of 500 feet from the sur
face. and in spite of the heavy flow of
water encountered the work progresses
steadily. The formation is now a cal
careous shale. in places altered and
stained with iron and oxide of man.
ganese.
TIE shaft progresses faster than the
pumps drain the territory and at times
the extra water coming in from above
increases materially the volume of
water to be handled. Coming down
from above the water adds to the diff
ficulties of the miners breaking fresh
ground in the bottom of the shaft.
The auxiliary hoist which has been
Installed on the third level of the shaft
handles the material broken in the
Shaft. which Is dumped and stored in
big pocket at the station. The men
and supplies are also lowered by this
auxiliary hoist. which Is reserved for
the exclusive needs of this particular
work.
On the third level station the big
150-ton ore pocket is located. into
which the principal tonnage of ship
ping ore now being produced is
dumped. Two-ton 5ide-dump mine cars
are utilized in hauling the ore from
the stope chutes to the station. The
storage pocket is protected by heavy
grizzlies. which prevent the large
boulders from going down and facilI-
tates loading at the pocket chute and
future Ean1ling.
At this time 225 feet of additional
depth will have to be gained before the
drills break into the first orebed. which
has been described as the silver bed on
account of its exceptionally high silver
content. as proven by the diamond
drill holes put down from the sixth
level of the inclined shaft over two
years ago. This bed is soft and friable
and assays $500 in gold and 25 ounces
in silver. The analysis showed a heavy
iron content and low manganese with
considerable silica, the core being
brownish red in color.
The thickness of this bed was def
initcly demonstrated and checked by
the diamond drill, although the cores,
on account of the friability of the OF e.
were much broken up and satisfac-
therefore the values obtained should
certainly be considered conservative.
At vertical depth Of about 800 feet
below the silver bed lies the base bed.
which Is on the contact between the
shale and the underlying quartzite. The
cores obtained from the diamond drill
which penetrated this bed were solid
and the data secured was conclusive.
The ore. which is a zinc sulphide. con-
tains but little lead or silver and as
says over 80 per cent zinc of excep-
tionally good quality
While these beds represent the prin-
cipal objective of the substantial de-
velopment work now being undertaken
the management has great hopes OF
finding large bodies OF commercial ore
in the assures known to exist below
water level. and it is possible thai
greater future profits may be derived
from these resources than the large
profits already realized by the com
pany from mining the veins abov,
water level. While the greater amour
Of interest is being taken in the sins
ing of the shaft to tap these beds tn
lateral development of the fiuxing ore
beds above the water level has no
been neglected.
About 70 per cent Of the mines out
put Is now coming from the Davidson
bed, which is being extensively mine
from the second level and subleve
which is now being completely equip
ped with chutes.
This ore is trammed out from tn
ore-bearing territory to the big pocke
ut the third level station and despit
the increased distance to be tramme
reduced costs are being obtaine
in the handling Of the product Thes
reduced costs are made possible by tn
large tonnage handled and the size {
the slopes carried. Little timber is be
ing used except where it is necessar
for chute lips and manways, as tn
s, ground holds we'll as mined by tn
shrinkage pillar system employed.
Active development Is being pushe
In the Davidson orebody and later'
headings are being run to the sout
and east along the ore zone. An II
cline winze Is giving the managelnel
much valuable data for future prosec'
ton Of work in this sector of the prol
erty.
No mining is being done below Il
third level at this time on account
opment. but the increased lateral e
tensions Of the orebearing territory
southern direction has more tn;
Offset this curtailment of availah
stoping ground. large tonnage
good grade fuxing ore still exists
tn. supposedly worked out shaft pill
Slopes which produced an immen
profitable tonnage in the prewar o
erations OF the mine.
This ore has been made available 4
further stopping on account OF the aba
donment of the old incline shaft a
sufficient reserves Of ore exist in Il
section to supply the needs of the mi
for long period although 1t is TO
expected that considerable portion
this exposed ole will be lost on aceou
OF the necessary caving in of the t
rain above. These large caves are
particularly Impressive sight WI
viewed from below. Protected by
large pillars of ore which support
intervening ground and which la
will be removed, a visitor to the ,
= tal ~ x..