San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-11
MINING CAMP
At CUANACEV|
RICH IN NE tai
Gold, Silver, Lead, Copper
and Others Found
in Quantity.
NEED BIG SHELTER
Mines Undeveloped AL
though They Have Been
Worked for Centuries.

Durango, Mexico, Feb. 1O.-Luis
Zubiria Campo, prominent attorney
and mining man, in speaking of the
Guanacevi camp, says it is one of the
most highly mineralized districts of the
state of Durango. 1t is situated on the
east side of the Sierra Madre range at
an elevation of about 1000 feet. The
territory surrounding it is very rough
and mountainous.
Despite the fact that Guanacevi is a
very old camp, the principal mines hav-
ing been worked for hundreds of years,
the mineral veins are considered still
virgin, having been only slightly de-
veloped. The Chamo and Barradon.
the two deepest mines have been sunk
to a depth of about 600 feet. In these,
as well as others, the bonanzas have
been encountered before reaching 300
feet.
None of the mines have been operated
scientifically, due to lack of sufficient
capital for proper development. Most
of the ores have been extracted by the
gambusino, or buscone, method. Aside
from this many of the best properties
have been the victims of purely specu-
latlon. dlscrediting the camp in general.
Geological Formation Varied.
Guanacevi is a region we'll worth the
attention and sturdy of mining engineers
and experts, for its varied geological
formation and the existence of nearly
every known specie of metal. such as
gold, silver, lead, copper, zinc, anti
mony, arsenic, cinnebar, manganese.
iron, sulphur. etc. There are over 600
titled mines in the immediate district,
nearly all of which are capable of pro-
ducing ores at a profit, if properly
worked.
The camp is divided into three dis
tlnct regions: First, the eastern divi-
sion, whose ore values are principally
copper, with gold and silver values, oc-
curing in carbonGSs and sulphiles.
Some lead is also encountered.
Second. the central region, whose
ores are high in silver, with some gold.
Here are located the principal mines
of the camp. The silver is in the form
of sulphides which contains also lead.
zinc and antimony. The gold is found
principally in the long, well defined
vein known as the Chamole vein, oc-
curing in quantity in proportion to the
silver, there being about ten grams of
gold to each so ounces of silver.
Third, the western portion of the
camp or district whose characteristic
ores are black manganese carrying gold
and silver.
Trend of Veins South.
The general trend of the veins is
north to south, dipping to the east,
with the exception of the Santa Cruz
vein, which slants in an opposite direc.
ton. These veins vary in width from
three to six feet. The Barradon is by
far the richest; the Santa Cruz the
| widest, this latter being from six tt
40 feet i'll width.
Much Of the low grade ore is treated
on the ground or at some nearby mill
while those assaying above 60 ounces
silver to the ton, are shipped to outside
smclters. Many methods are employed
in treating the ores in the camp, sucl
as concentration, the old patio method
lixiviation, cyaniding, etc. During thu
past few years, since the termination
of the revolution. fifteen small plant,
of various methods have been installed
Some of them do customs work, but thu
high rate of treatment charges are pro
hibitive for ores carrying less than 81
ounces silver
If Guanacevi had one large, modern
smelling plant, instead of numerous
small ones, it would soon develop int
ShS VI NhC bNSI anu luOSI
camps of the republic.
May Dig Three-MiIe Tunnel.
Hilario Loyoya, the mining king o
the Guanacevi region, has the gigantic
project in view of tunneling through
the mountains south of Guanacevi from
east to west This tunnel is to be ap
! prOximately three miles in length anC
will tap some 200 distinct veins ant
Stringers, some of them at a depth Of
nearly 2000 feet.
Both the Durango-Tepehuanes ant
Parral-Durango railroads have Ions
been considering the extension of theil
lines into Guanacevi. Attorney Estabar
Fernandez, former governor of thu
state, gave liberal concession for con
structing the line from Tepehuanes
Capital was interested and preliminar!
surveys made. but the revolution caused
halt and the franchise lapsed. Abou
two years ago Governor Agustin Castro
renewed the concession in favor of Fred
and Frank Smith, but they have not a.
yNf bnan ahIo 70 kn1iy h.