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Collection: Books and Periodicals > Mining & Scientific Press

Volume 24 (1872) (424 pages)

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146 SCIENTIFIC PRESS. [March g, 1872. (GoRRESPONDENCE. Mining at West Point. Eps. Press:—West Point is in Calaveras Co., California, a quartz-mining town between the Middle and North fork of the Mokelumno river, eastward from Mokelumne Hill, and 16 miles by stage road; its olevation is about 2,800 feet above the sea. The climate is good and but little snow falls during the winter season. The bed-rock is granite, the lodes are narrow and in most cases rich in gold and sulphurets, and are fonnd to increase in width as they go down to the depth of 100 to 300 feet. Mining and milling at one time seemed to be two separate occupations, but of late they work to much better advantage conjointly. This section of country has been worksd by Mexicans, who, as a general thing, hunt for rich pockets and those near the surface. They seldom go deeper than 50 feet, and when they find water or blasting ground they give up the claim and go after new deposits. In early days there were upwards of 100 men engaged in this class of mining as their regular business. Quartz Mines. _ In the neighborhood of West Pointthere are quite a number of good quartz mines being opened and prospected, some of which have besn idle for years until this season, one great advantage bsing that most of them can be worked and put in a paying condition with a small outlay by the owners. Last summer the little town of West Point was extremely dull and the storekeepers wero anxiously looking for some one to purchase their goods, but now a change has come; the blacksmith has plenty of work and the stores have orders for miles around, which keeps them busy packing their goods to the newly opened mines, Since the advent of A. Bateman, Esq., who took hold of the splendid property known as the Zacetara mine, at Skull Flat, and made it a success, it seemed to have inspired others with confidence that West Point will soon come out, redeem itself, and take its stand among the prominent quartz districts of the State. The Bartolo Mine Being superintended and worked by the energetic J. A. Lefoy, Hsq., stands well, and will be a good property. The record of this mineis extremely good. It is being worked by shaft. There is also the Paine and Mexican Mine, One anda half miles from West Point, which has a good reputation aud is being opened by means of a tunnel, and which promises to soon show some rich devslopments. This mine is to be worked by a San Francisco company. We are in hopes soon to see the famous Billy Williams Mine In working order, it having been lying idle for some time. This mine has a tunnel in to pay rock, the ledge showing ore of a first-class character of from 13 inches to 2 feet in width, and will only require a small ontlay to make ita paying institution. Itis situated one mile from the Zacetara mine. We were told of a new location a short distance from town on the North Fork of the Mokelumne river known as the Woodland Mine. It was discovered by Mr. Geo. L. Swan of this place, and purchased, and worked by a San Francisco company; it makes a good showing. They have a tunnel in 100 feet with good walls anda well defined ledge; they have passed over two chimneys which carry paying quartz in quantity. The ore shows free gold in small quantities, and will all pay a handsome profit for milling. The dump pile shows from 40 to 50 tons of good ore. The Eagle Mine, Just across the rivor, which is the dividing line between the two counties, is a good paying property. Mr.J, B. Pine is superintendent and owner with parties in San Francisco. This mine has been worked by Mexicans in years past, who did not go deep or through the hard granite rock, andas they were discouraged with the result, Mr. Pine purchased the mine aud continued the tunuel through the hard granits, aud is now in some 280 feet with a fine ledge of 3feet in width showing rich sulphurets and free gold. The last crushing made about the Ist of February resulted in a clean up at the rate of $65 per ton. This mine has a 10-stamp mill on the bank of the river which is run by water power. The ledge on which the Eagle mine is located has besn traced across the Mokelumne into Calaveras county fora distance of four miles, and the Woodland mine spoken of above is considered to be on the same ledge as is also the Harris mine. Then there is the Brown mine on the same side, which is being worked by a San Francisco company, and bids fair to be a good investment with a small expenditure of money; they have a well defined ledge of 234 feet which they are working through an open cnt. The mining laws of West Point give 200 feeton a vein toaclaim and require one days work every month to hold it. ‘* Croors.” West Point, Feb. 21. Ophir, Utah Territory. Eprrors Press:—In every issue of the Press I notice items gleaned from the Salt Lake Tribune treating on the different districts of this Territory, Ophir getting its shareof notice ofcourse. But I seldom see an Ophir letter. In behalf of the;intersst of your many readers who have never visited this camp,—minsrs, those who have interests here and others—I will give a deserip. tion of Oquirrh Range And its districts. Oquirrh is a district range, though only abont 50 miles in extent, flanked with the Wahsatch range on the east, and the West mountains on the west; with 20 miles miles width of valley intervening on each side. To convey to the reader a more definite idea of the location of the several districts aud towns, I will make Salt Lake City the starting point. Leaving the city from its west side, crossing over Jordan bridge, and continuing in a ‘southwesterly direction for 13 miles, brings us to Chambers’s place, at the north end of the mountain; 3 miles of up grade now brings us on the west side of the range and in full view of Gréat Salt Lake—a few more miles and the town of ‘‘ H. T.,”—thence to Tooele, (dinner station), the county seat of Tooele county, distance from Salt Lake City 28 miles. Up the Canon back (east) of the town is Tooele district; no mining of consequence is going ou here. On tho east side of the range, nearly opposite to this district, is Bingham Caton; distance from Salt Lake City about 27 miles; direction south, and the only district on the west side of ths. range. From Tooele a few miles and we lose sight of Salt Lake, but only to come in view of Stockton Lake; to Stockton, 10 miles. All of this distance by the old overland road, and all the way quite picturesque. Stockton is a pleasantly situated town; its smelters and hardy men give the first evidence of amining town community. Itis one of the oldest, if not the oldest district in the Territory. They have apparently well defined ledges, though generally low grade. From here we go up, tp, up past the mouth of Dry Cafion, to Hast Canton 9% miles. Here we encounter mills, smelters and arastras until we reach Ophir, Two and one half miles further np. Ophir isa mining town, but includes among its 450 inhabitants some very fine families. This district takes in three canons: East, Dry, (on the north) and Silverado (on the south side). It contains more mines, and in a greater variety, than any other; but having been struck, as they were, by a class of poor and inexperienced miners, it is sadly wanting in development, yet many of the mines are developed sntiiciently to prove that we have defined leads and vast bodies of rich ores. I will mention some of our mines at another time. In Dry Canon Some very good mines are opening np. Several heavy companies are carrying on miniug to quite an extent. Some of our best base and best chloride leads are here. On Silverado Hills Have been found the richest ores in the
country; though, as is usually the cass, they have not extended to any depth; there is now, however, a chance of an exceptiou to this rule, as one of the Silverado mines abounds in hornsilver at the depth of 50 feet. Six miles from Ophir brings us to . Camp Ftoyd District, which also abonnds in rich ores. There is another small district at the terminus of the range. These cations all cut the range at a right angle and run up in an easterly direction, The Mineral Belt, From the extreme sonth nearly to the north end, seems to be a continnons mineral belt varying in width from 1 to 4 miles. From the middle of the senth end of the range wood is plenty, and will be for years fo come, for all milling and smelting purposes. Up the cation a few miles above Ophir, is plenty of lumber of fair quality. Water is plenty and very good. Thus, you see, Nature has anticipated and kindly supplied our wants. Our mills and smelters are nearly all closed at the present time, Walker Bro.’s mill has a large qnantity of ore aud wood on hand and contemplate a longrun. The English Company are making preparations fora heavy season’s business, judging from indications. Old winter has been very severe, bnt its white locks are growing ‘‘beautifully less” and he is dying a uatural death, Lupiow. Ophir, Feb. 21st. Banner District, San Diego County. Epitors Press:—A few items from this place may be interesting to the readers of your journal, The present actual mining population is abont 150. There are three quartz mills, two of them run by steam power and the other by water. There are two boarding houses, three stores and three saloons. Ten mines are at present taking out quartz, and anumber of other Cos. are sinking shafts andrunning tunnels. Cordwood is worth $3.50 and $4.00, delivered at the mills; mining timbers, 12 and 22 cents per lineal foot delivered at the mines; lagging, 14 cents each, delivered. Lumber scarce, $60 and $70. They charge at the mill for crushing rock $7 and $10 per ton. There is plenty of water all the year round for milling purposes. The Mines. : The Golden Chariot mine has let a coutract to sink a shaft 100 feet deep; I do not know the figures. This Co. is having 45 tons of rock worked at the MceMechan mill which is expected to pay largely; the last rock worked from this mine paid $182 per ton. The Redman Co. have leased the Bailsy mine and have a force of men getting out rock, which will keep the millrunning steadily. At the Kentuck mine ths ledge looks well at present, the last two crushings averaged about $50 per ton. The Madden mine is producing better rock than at any previous time since its discovery. The Antelope Co. struck the lsdge in the cross drift two days ago; the quartz looks very well, and a wide vein is in sight. The tunnsl of the Big Blne Co. was in yesterday 280 feet. There has been 50 or 60 tons of rock worked from this location, paying $112 per ton; there is no defined lead, but bodies of quartz here and there in pockets and nodules, apparently having no connection and lying in all conceivable shapes. It is possible these nodules are allfrom one chimney, but it has not yet been found. Wilson’s steamjstamp mill started up day before yesterday, and works admirably. Quartz. Our Mines on the London Market. The Alta takes the following extract from a private letter written by a gentleman who left here for London early in December last, with the intention of placing one of our California mines on the English market: e *T had on reaching London (on the 3d,) first-class letters of introduction to many of the leading honses in the mining business, and after making inquiry I decided not to use a number of them, as this kind of investment is in snch bad odor that itis rather throwing away weight to make use of people who do not understand that some of our American mines are not swindles.* I set to work as soon as possible, explained all, and gavo the whole affair as good a character as I could, but fouud plainly in about ten days that this mine business is so utterly run into the gronnd in London, and such an outrageous amount of swindles passed off of late, that it was sheer waste of time to try it any further. I had from excellent authority that pressing the matter now would be useless, as people would not touch American mines on any account. ‘We were just two months too late. Some man in particular has floated quite a number lately, many of which are quite worthless. People are not only shy but indignant, and you see a broad grin stealing ovor their faces_ when you mention the word ‘‘mine.” In fact, I think I could at present sell the most barren portion of the Sierras for Agricultural purposes more easily than the best mine on the Pacific Coast.” Characteristics of Mineral Veins. Prof. Smyth in one of his recent lectures before the Royal school of Mines in London, remarked as follows: One of the most important questions connected with the deposit of minerals in true lodes is whether the country or rocks in which they occur produce any effect on their metallic character. If we take the opinions of the most practical and obseryant miners of different districts we shall find that they lay stress not only on the facts that ores of particular sorts are found in certain rocks, but much more than that, for they say that ores in abuudance are to be met with more frequently in certain vatieties of those rocks. Thus, it is not enough to say that a rock is granite, but rather what is its physical condition, and in that respect granite is extremely variable. Again, it is important to know whether particular classes of rocks have bsen more subject than others to open and admit the miuerals introduced into them, or whether the agencies by which the minerals were introduced may themsslves have produced the changes observable in the containing rocks. Most of the crystalline or igneous rocks contain ores of one sort or anothsr, aud also that granite is most noticeable of all, as being, as it were, the great parent of tin ores, and as contaiuing not unfrequently gold, silvor, copper, lead, antimony, and iron. If we look at the geological map of Cornwall and Devon we shall see great bosses, as it were, of granite protruding from the clay-slate, and that all the more important groups of mines occur very near (that is, within two or threo miles) to the edges of these granite bosses. Of course, there are exceptions, but even in those cases it may bs the granite is not far off below, although it is notseen at the surface. There was a not uncommon impression years ago, and indeed it is held by some persons even now, that granite is unfavorable to copper ore; but there are many notable examples of very important copper mines in ths granite, and that opinion, therefore, is not of much value. As to tin, there is no doubt but that the larger portion of the mines for that metal are in the granite or its immediate neighborhood; and in some cases, where the shafts are sunk on the killas, they reach the granite in the depth below. Schist, mica-slate, and olay-slate are all rocks yielding ores in large quantities of different kinds. Limestones are extremely prodnetive of lead ores. Timestones also are productive of silver ores in Chili and South Australia, and are noted generally in those countries for their argentiferous lead. In this country, however, the limestones in some districts are important as producing iron ores of an excellent quality; and, again, in Belgium and Westphalia they yield valuable ores of calamine, In Spain there are several valuable mines of lsad in a particular kind of limestones. Syenite; porphyry and greenstone are all worthy of a great amount of study, as in certain conditions they yield ,large quantities of valuable ores. The character of a lode in the neighborhood of a crossing is frequently found to be greatly different from that which is found in other parts of the same vein, and itis worthy of mention thatthe rarest metals, snch as cobalt and nickel, as well as silver, are freqnently fonnd near these crossings. Jessz Mryers leaned against a shaft revolving three hundred times per minute, ina Muncy, Ind., slaughter-house. He was undressed in about ten seconds, but, strange to say, he was not at all injured. His coat, pantaloons, and yest weredoubtless made of shoddy.