THE LODE. 289 



exhibiting these cliarncteri sties sliould be thoroughly cross-cut; while, wliere 

 tlie rock is coniparutively firm aud tVesh, di-it'ts or winzes should be pushed 

 on to more promising ground. The country northeast of the Opitir is |)ar- 

 ticularly favorable. As may be seen from the horizontal sections, it jjre- 

 sents a large extent of unprospected contact between diabase and diorite 

 directly adjoining a region of broken and highly altered rock where ore 

 in small quantities has already been found. Ore is not unlikely to be met 

 with in this unexplored area at depths of less than 2,000 feet, and therefore 

 under compai-atively favorable conditions as to heat and water. The mines 

 near the Union shaft are also likely to find ore towards the bottom of the 

 mass of shattered rock in which the 1,900 and 2,.'i00-foot levels are exca- 

 vated. In the Best £ BelcJier ground, too, there are signs of great disturb- 

 ance, though the decomposition is less intense than in the mines north of the 

 Ophir. A drift from the lowest levels of the Consolidated Vinjiiiia would 

 show whether the indications on this claim improve with depth. 



