The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-01-26
RICH ORE STRIKE
| AT PYRARGYRITE
Report that Ore Running $3.50 to the
Ton In Silver Recently EncOunt.
cred Under Development.

Word reaches this office from what
|may be taken as reliable authority
that while pushing development work
lat the Pyrargyrite mine, the old
IRuby, the miners broke into very
|rich ore chute alleged to run upward
|of $3.50 In silver to the ton. We nave
mo particulars and hope to have the
|report confirmed, as a strike OF that
character would be the making OF the
|mine and an encouragement for re-
|newed mining activity in this part OF
tae county where surface indications,
las we'll as discoveries through the
process of development, have proved
beyond preadventure that rich min
|eral does exist in the mineral zones In
this vicinity that have been indiffer-
|ently worked in past years. We have
seen rich ore, including gold, silver
land copper, taken from properties In
4 the neighborhood of Oroville and
Loomis in past years, but no property
has been thoroughly prospected to
demonstrate the true value OF the
mineral bearing leads.
The Pyrargyrite, or more famil-
iarly known Ruby, is. one Of the Oldest
mineral holdings along the inter-
national line. 1t is located near ChO-
paka. on the northern slope, near the
base of the prominent mountain OF
the same name. 1t was worked at odd
times. but indifferently, until the pres
ent company took it over some years
ago. Even after change OF Owersh1p
progress in the matter of development
was slow. the late Monroe Harmon
devoting a number of years of his
later life in an effort to put the prop
erty on a paying basis. A vast amount
of underground work was done in the
nature of tunnels, drifts, WINES and
upraises and a considerable body OF
ore blocked out, mostly low grade,
although chutes of very rich ore were
encountered, promising ample reward
for the operators. -A.smodern treat
ment plant and mill were installed and
from time to time considerable con-
centrates that ran we'll in values has
been shipped to the smelter.
Some two years ago the mine was
placed in charge of the Dempster
brothers and they have met with bet
ter success in the way Of returns from
operations than any previous manage
ment, perhaps because the ground
work had been laid for production at
minimum cost and in quantity. The
management has given out but little
for publication during their regime
but It is known that the mine has
made such a showing as to encourage
the stockholders to continue 1t In &C
tive operation. So long as cold weather
did not Interfere the mill was KEEP
pounding out concentrates and ship
ments to the smelter have been made
at regular intervals. According to
recent report issued by the secretar!
of the company the returns from thos'
shipments were satisfactory, givini
every promise of eventually placini
the mine in a position to declare divi
4 uends.
With the arrival of winter the mil
was closed down and the Dempster
proceeded to continue underground
work for the purpose Of opening VI
additional ore tonnage to feed the mil
when weather conditions warranted
resumption of work at the plant. 1t
understood that it was while carrying
on this development that the recen
strike Of high grade ore was made
The extent of the strike is not .knowr
but Il need not be extensive at tn
quoted value to insure big returns a
soon as this ore can be treated an
cnaltod