The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-02-17
MINES ACTIVE on
The VERMILION.
RESUME OF VERMILION RANGE
ACTIVITIES AS SEEN BY
SKILLINGS.

Mining operations are active on
the Vermilion range and large
force of men is being employed,
Ihis district did not greatly feel
the depression, for its large IRON
mines kept right on operating all
through 1921. The shipments Tor
the season from the range totaied
S69.3l3 gross tons, which was much
closer to the normal output than
was the case on any other range.
The Vermilion is living up to It's
reputation as being a steady and
consistent producer.
Pioneer Great Shaft Iron Mine.
At Ely the Oliver Iron Mining
Co., is operating its Pioneer mine
very heavily at the present time,
and is employing a large crew.
This property has led all under
ground producers in the state Tor
so many years that its position as
the largest shaft mine of Minnesota
has never been questioned. :,
The Pioneer is hosting the bulk
of its product at "a" shaft, YER
teal shaft on the North tootwall.
The "A'' stockpile will be large
one when navigation opens. A
small tonnage is also hoisted through
'B'' shaft, an inclined shaft, steel
lined, on the South footwall. The
ore is hoisted from the 18th and
18th levels, at depths of around
100 feet. On the Pioneer 18th
level a Hoar Loader has been used
successfully in connection with the
driving of several ore and rock
main level drifts. In the mining
operations trials have been made OF
the double drum hoist scraper, and
excellent results have been obtained.
An interesting installation was re-
Gently completed on the Pioneer
18th level, when an electrically OPP
Grated hoist was installed which will
handle a cage up some 500 or 60O
feet to the top of the ore develop
ment at this point.
The total force employed at the
Pioneer, including the surface force
is nearly 700 men. Shipments in
1921 were 509,392 tons which was
large increase over 1920. 1t is con-
fidently expected that the 1922
shipment will surpass that of 1921.
The Pioneer mine has a record of
over 100000 tons output to date.
The Oliver also operates the Sib-
ley mine at Ely, but this property
is employing only small crew and
its output is small. The Sibley
stockpile was cleaned up last sea-
son and a shipment of over twice
that of 1920 was made. The Sib-
ley ore is notable as being the high
est grade of the entire Lake Super
Tor district.
Zenith Mine Consistent Producer.
The Zenith mine at Ely is operat-
ed by Pickands, Mather & Co., and
has worked full time right through
the past year. About $50 men are
being employed, mining operations
being carried on day shift and de-
velopment work nights. The ore is
hoisted from the 18th level. The
slicing system of mining is en-
ployed. The Zenith shaft was sunk
an additional IA feet, giving it a
total depth of 1176 feet. The sta
ton has been cut at the bottom,
and the 18th level main and auxil-
larry pockets are in the process of
completion. By next month drift
ing will begin in green rock on the
18th level to reach the ore body,
and development of this level will
proceed for some time. The Zenith
mine has produced 100000 tons
of ore during its life, and the grade
of it has been very high. All the
product is Bessemer. This property