The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-06-26
Strike LARGE
Ore Vein at
Silver Butte
To Install Mill With IS
Ton Daily Capacity for
Handling Crude Ore
WORK UNDER WAY AT
OTHER PROPERTIES

A newly discovered ore body at
the Silver Butte Mine, operated by
Billy Curtis and Associates, is arous-
ing considerable interest throughout
the Libby section and in mining
circles generally. The ore was dis
covered by drilling with a diamond
drill operated by Albert j. Koebel
& Son who have the contract for
drilling at The Silver Butte.
The vein is a parallel ledge and
the diamond drill showed a core of
over 10 feet of very good ore only
a short distance from where the
tunnel had been discontinued by
the old timers, who had visions of
opening up the vein but gave up
just few feet short of realizing
their dreams.
1T is the same old story" re-
marked Mr. Koebel, ''of the miner,
the next few feet and the vein
will be there In this case, it really
happened. It is to be regretted the
Old Timers didn't reach the objec-
tive they had visioned, and drove
tunnel into the mountain a dis
lance of 1000 feet, only to discon-
tinue within so feet of success. 1t
requires a strong heart such as only
a true miner has"
The Silver Butte, silver, lead
and zinc mine, has been idle for
many years until Billy Curtis de- |
cided to take over. Andrew Prader
of Spokane, who has had many |
years of mining experience, has
managed the property and brought
It from a hole in the ground to
point where no doubt, it.. will be-
come an asset to those interested,
as well as giving Lincoln county
an industry capable of operating
for many years.
The length of the new ore body
has not been determined as yet.
Drifting to it will start at ence.
The depth is approximately, $50
feet up at an angle of 80 degrees to
the level above which is 200 feet
This should assure a large tonnage
or ore in this one shoot, the man
agement says.
The diamond drill has been reset
and a new hole started south to
explort another vein near the !
SnowShoe fault Indications in this
hole so far, are excellent as miner {
allied cores are showing at present.
Should this diamond drill hole dis ]
close the continuation of the upper I
vein, many more tons of ore will {
be developed, adding years of opera 7
tons to the project
Considerable activity is anticipated
at the Silver Butte Arrangements i
are under way to operate the saw =
mill for the production of lumber
to build modern homes for housing
the families of the crew. The mill
at the mine is being enlarged to
treat rs tons of crude ore daily.
Diamond drilling will be continued
for some time TO explore more r
ground More levels are expected 7
10 be opened up as explorations Il
Considerable more depth
nay be had by driving a lower =
unnel, which is ideal at the Silver Il
Butte. Ample water for milling pur- N
,oses is available throughout the 81
rear. The property Is reached byisi
/ good road from Libby, and also II
rom Trout Greek, and with small Il
expense. mine authorities state, II
hese roads may be used the year
round Il
Mr.. Curtis while in the Western j.
Jews office yesterday, stated he is n,
veil pleased with the diamond drill di
esults and is making every effort hi
o speed up operations at the mine A
fe leaves soon for Malta to care M
or his ranch interests but expects
D return in the near future with W.
crew for large scale operations. n
Other mining properties in the
ection are receiving considerable -,
ctivity this year. v. A. Harpole, -
,eer Lodge, is hauling machinery r
nd building a new road up the 81,
Vest Fisher to the Way-Up Mine W
hitch is a gold property. yHarpole L,
working in conjunction with the % 90
-olden West Mining Co., and the W.
.oebels are expecting to diamond ii
rill for both outfits. n.
Ivor Anderson, Clarks Fork, Ida, e. -.
reported to be opening the Tip 90
op mine, also on the West Fisher III
ear the Old Brannigan Mine. e
-----~u7ar-zaua-aarr--s'---