The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-09-30

sition and area Of the three ore beds. .
In all that has Ueen written, the
term "ore bed" has been freely used
and it is the usual term about the
two mines and with those who know
the district. In many places the ore
is an actual replacement along bed
ding planes, not only in the mora
nearly fiat lying beds of the Prince
workings but also in the steeply in
rlined beds south Of the V.g.''a
Louise boundary line Yet while one
may recognize the appropriatere ss
OF the term for some parts Of the Big
Bed deposit, it is really in a wey mis-
leading and conveys false impress
sion, belittling this truly magnificent
orebody whose true cross section as
actuallydeveloped by the Virginia
Louise mine workings, is shown In
the accompanying sketch. The diff
ference is a material one when tom
mage is considered, as it more than
doubles the amount.
Character of Ore.
1 The ore is a manganiferous limo
mite carrying lead and silver. The
average silica content varies in the
/ different beds, being least in the ore
of the uppermost, or Davidson bed,
where it averages but 6.24 per cent
contrasted with 1915 per cent in the
Brown ore from the fourth level
The Silver content is quite constant
approximating one ounce of silver
! to each unit of lead The iron in the
ore varies from 20 per cent to 32
to 11.S3 per cent with 1.5 to 5 pei
cent lime. A baeis ore of this char
actetr is greatly needed by the big
smelters to offset the dry, or silicious
silver and gold ore, but its value de.
Ponds upon the amount of excess
iron and manganese over the silica
content.
Not only is the price paid for ths
ore based upon the excess, but Their
is practically no market for neutra
ore of this character. In the past
the shelters have made practically
| no allowance for lime, but while tn
ore usually rams quite ljw in tina
element, it is of vital importance t
| have this lime included with iIo
and manganese in future contract
in calculating te excess of basic ma
etrial on which the smeltetr return
based. This is ore fully DISGUISE
laater in the report. The averae
composition of the 74,641 tons
ore shipped by the Virginia Louis
Mining company is:
II Silver, 2.92 DUNES per ton; lea
| 3.46 per cent: iron. 31.53 per cen
manganese. 1912 per cent; insol
BILE, 1908 per cent; lime, 4.61 p
cent; zinc, 3.03 per cent.
This shows an excess Of iron al
manganese over insoluble, Of 80.
per cent, or if lime be included,
it should be. of 3S.1S per cent.
Mine Development Work.
II The property is developed by
perpendicular shaft, 475.3 feet de,
located a few feet south of I
northern boundary of the ira
From this shaft extensive workir
: J have been made. These levels ,
- as follows:
Collar of Shaft, $3.50 feet alb,
sea level.
First level-153 feet below col
or 5,676 elevation above sea level
Second level-268 feet belowe
lar; lis feet below the first level
Third level--320 feet below (
lar; feet below second level.
Fourth level-399 feet below {
lar; 10 feet below third level.
Fifth level--450 feet below I
lar; 81 feet below fourth level.
The workings connect with tn
of the Prince mine on the fou
level; the 80 level of the Pri
mine (new shaft) is the second IL
of the Virginia Louise.
Ore Reserves.
In estimating ore reserves, l
confronted with the question w
is commercitl ore in this mine?"
order to estimate the amount Of
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