The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-07-21

A NEW AND interesting feat
~ ure has recently been devel-
~ oped on the 600 level of the
Heca mine which may posi-
bly, prove to be an important addition
to its already great and rich known
ore reserves. This feature is a small
shoot of tetrahedrite, commonly call
ed gray copper. Small punches of
this ore have heretofore been found
in the mine. Frequently they have
been broken down with other ore
without being discovered until the
ore had passed through the mill when
an occasional pebble of gray copper
has been noticed in the coarse con-
centrates Little attention was paid
to these diminutive freak deposits in
this great lead mine. but it is differ
ent with the showing that has now
been exposed on the 600. Here there
is a streak of gray copper about six
inches, thick and which the first of
the week had been proved continu-
Gus for about % feet and how much
further remains to be determined
Samples of this ore have been assay
ed showing it to carry an average of
l per cent lead and 16 per cent cop
per- while the silver values varies
from IS to 500 oun 1cs TO the ton. This
rich ore is now Being carefully sorted
and if the shoot holds out a ship
ment of several tons viii be made OF
course it may pinch ont at any time,
while on the other hand it may prove
to be quite an extensive shoot in
length and depth and in that event
even with its few n.hcs in thickness
it will make a substantial addition to
the value of Hecla ore shipments.
Great Star Bin.
Preparation is going forward at
rapid rate for the development of the
Star through the Hecla shaft which
will be accomplished by driving a
crosscut about 5000 feet from the |
2OOO level Immediately following the |
announcement that the Hecla COM /
pany had joined the Bunker Hill in |
this big enterprise the work of con-
structing a bin on a level with the /
collar of the Hecla shaft and along
side the Hecla ore bin was started,
and also the construction of an i'm
mense skip pocket at the 1000 level.
All rock work on the bin was com
pleted the first of this week and the
big opening to accommodate the
waste from the Star crosscut and af-
forwards the Star ore was ready for
the concrete This bin extends
through to No tunnel The waste
rock from the Star crosscut will be
deposited in the bin drawn off in No.
and conveyed back into the Hecla
workings to be used as filing for the
worked out vein. 1t is this operation
that will probably determine the time
required to complete the Star cross
cut If all the waste can be disposed
of in this manner, it is believed that
the Star vein will be reached within
two years If, however, it is found
that other means will have to be de-
vised for disposing of the waste, more
time viii be required, depending up
on the facilities available. The O.-W.
r. & n. company is now taking the
waste from the Hecla, using it for
filling around bridges and other
places along its lines.
lOOO- OF Okt0 TOCkcts
The skip pocket on the 1000 level is
also nearing completion. so far as the
rock work is concerned. This mann
moth chamber that is being excavat-
ed at this great depth will hold when
completed 1000 tons of ore, thus pro- l
viding space for a large accumula- Z
ton of ore which will be available for ,
hosting at all times. The Hecla =
hoist will see busy days when the
star begins production and the plans
contemplate a supply of ore always
available in the skip pocket for hoist
ing. Star ore will pass from the sur
face bin out through No for ship
ment to the mill. q
An interesting Enterprise. Z
The development of the Star by t
the Hecla and Bunker Hill & Sulli- 7
van companies is not only the most z
important enterprise that has been a
in the district within re- y
cent years. but it is the most inter- 7
esting from an engineering and OPP I
Grating standpoint To drive a tun-
mel mile and a half from the bot r
tom of a shaft 1000 feet deep in or T
der to provide an outlet for another f
mine on the other side of a high d. u
vide and TO equip the property with {