122 SURVEY OF COLOEADO AND NEW MEXICO. 



feet in average. An incline was begun by Dr. Steck, connectiiig the 

 two shafts, and was broken through recently under direction of the 

 captain miner, Mr. McVhee, after whom the new shaft is named. 



The ore is comj)osed of iron, copper and arsenical pjn^ites, galena and 

 malachite. The pay streak is of good size, and the vein is what is called 

 a chimney vein, — that is to say, it widens out everj^ twenty feet or so 

 into a chimney, which " pinches up " again a little further on. 



There are quite a number of these chimneys connected together by 

 narrow veins. This is a characteristic feature of this mine, and is con- 

 sidered a very favorable sign. I would especially notice here the ad- 

 mirable condition in which everything about the mine is kept. Though 

 not yet extensive, the work which has been done reflects the greatest 

 credit on the superintendent and the captain of the mine. 



Altogether, about four thousand tons of ore have been taken out and 

 piled near the mouth of the shaft, against the time when the mill 

 shall be completed, and it can be transported thither for reduction. Its 

 average assay value has been $26 per ton, while an ounce of gold 

 obtained by panning has often reached $19 50. 



Since Colonel Anderson's administration, $35, 000 have been expended 

 on the mines and mill. 



The transportation from the mines to the mill will cost seventeen cents 

 j)er ton. 



The Bralim lode. — This was discovered last April by a x)rofessional 

 prospector of Sante Fe, employed by the company, after w^hom it is 

 named. The strike of the vein is northeast, and at the surface the dip 

 is 75°, but at a depth of thirty-eight feet it dips but 45° southeast. 

 There are three shafts upon it, the discovery shaft being now forty feet 

 deep. 



Some fine specimens of ore carrying native gold were obtained from 

 the extension shaft. Between the discovery and extension shafts is the 

 air shaft, from which the richest quartz has been obtained. 



Levels are being driven both ways, outw^ards from all these shafts. 



The following may be interesting, as giving an idea of the expense of 

 working mines on this scale in this country : Two engineers, at $90 per 

 month; four feeders, at $3 50 per day; two amalgamators, at $5 per day; 

 forty miners, at $2 25 joer day, (Mexicans ;) common laborors, at $45 per 

 month; chief mechanic and foreman of mill, at $205 per mouth; one car- 

 penter, at $5 per day ; three cari^enters, at $90 per month ; two black- 

 smiths, at $110 per month ; captain miner, $180 per month. 



The true name of the old placer mining district is the Eeal Dolores. 

 The new placer mines are situated on the north face of the Tuorto 

 Mountains and should properly be called the Eeal de San Francisco. 

 Some litigation has arisen between this company and the New Mexico 

 Mining Company, on account of a dispute as to the boundary of the lat- 

 ter's part. 



The nucleus of the San Lazaro IMountains is a granite, which exhibits 

 itself in the mountain, to the north of the settlement, in high conical 

 peaks. To the south of the settlement is a mountain composed princi- 

 pally of metamorphosed sandstone, which is everywhere intersected by 

 trap dikes. 



]^ear the mill is an igneous conglomerate. This rock consists of a 

 matrix of calcareous matter, in which are breccia of various rocks and 

 large rounded masses of syenite. The boulders of syenite appear to be 

 of singularly uniform size and are strewed over the rock with remarka- 

 ble symmetry and regularity. 



About three miles north of this settlement is a high hill at the north- 



