The border vidette., 1928-09-22
BIG jim. HARDsHELL AND sANTO
NiNO MINES PRODUCING
Patagonian)


The famous Hardshell silver
lead mine, located near the Big
Jim mine, about 10 miles from
this town, has been purchased
from the Richardson estate by
the BIG Jim Mines, Inc, of Los
Angeles. and work is being
rushed getting the property in
shape for big production. This
mine has a great deal of ore al
ready blocked out. It is the in
tention of the new owners to
treat the Hardshell ore in the
Big Jim mill. along with the ore
from the Big Jim mine.
Mr.. j. j. Burns, who for years
has been mill superintendent of
the famous Ell Tigre mines of
Mexico, has arrived here and is
10 charge of all mill operations
for the Big Jim company. With
Mr.. Burns in charge Of the mill.
operations, it is a foregone con
clusion that successful handling
of ore will result. Milling oper
tions are being conducted on a
moderate scale. and will be in
creased rapidly until capacity
production of 200 tons daily has
been reached. Later, when con
ditions warrant, the mill capa
city will be increased to the ne
cessary point required to handle
the mines output.
A force of men, under General
Superintendent G. D. Pickering,
has been installing machinery
and other equipment at the
Hardshelll for some time. pre-.
paratory to getting out a large
amount of ore which had been
blocked out by former operators.
This mine has a history of big
production and many thousands
of dollars worth of ore was
shipped to smelters between 1879
and the present time. The mine
I is developed by shafts to 800
feet in depth and by more than
I.8, 900 feet of other work. and
embraces % claims covering
about 400 acres of ground. The
lode is from 10 to go feet, wide.
averaging about 80 feet. The
mine has not. been worked on an
extensive scale owing to the fact
that the ore was considered
complex" ia character. That
obstacle has been overcome, it
is stated, by the new method of
selective fotation, lately devel
oped. Mr.. Burns, the new mill
superintendent, is considered one
the best authorities on the treat
| ment of refractory ores. He has
proven that the ore can be han
died with a high percentage of
extraction.
Mr.. A. G. Heating, president
of the Big Jim Mines. Inc. of
Los Angeles, who has been ne
gotiating for the purchase of
the Hardshell for quite a while.
is we'll pleased with the future
prospects of both the Hardshell
and the Big Jim mines.
It is estimated that there are
more than 100000 tons of good
milling ore in sight in the Hard
shell mine, which contains much
high grade that should bring
the value much beyond the esti
mated average. The newer me
thods of milling will save a high
percentage of metals, which also
have a higher market value at
this time.
Mining men here are looking
forward with great interest to
results obtained at the Hard.
she'll.
Santo Nino Operations
Articles of incoration have
been filed under the laws of Ari
zona of the Santo Nino Mines,
Inc. for the purpose of taking
over the Santo Nino mines and
the Gold Dust Mines, Inc, in
the Patagonia district.
The Santo Nino group con
sists of six patented mining
claims. The mine is developed
by a 1,000-foot main working
tunnel. and is considered one of
the rich mines of the county.
The Santo Nino has been pro
ducing steady shipments of ore,
which have been going to the
smelter regularly for the past
wear. All the ore has been of