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BIG CASINO 



was located at that point on the south side of the creek, and a shaft 

 sunk. The vein runs entirely in trachyte, which is thoroughly impreg- 

 nated with pyrite. Ore has been found from the surface down, com- 

 posed of galenite, sphalerite, pyrite, and fahlerz. The gangue-rock, as 

 usual, is quartz. On the other side of the creek, the 



OUEAY 



is situated, yielding ore of the same character, running in the same 

 rock. Both lodes have good walls, and are worked for silver. 



Near Baker's Park, on Mineral Creek, about four miles west of the 

 park, is the Silver Court, having- a strike of about north 80° east. It is 

 situated approximately at 1,000 feet above the creek, and shows the 

 usual ores of that region. 



It may be of interest to mention that near Lime Creek, some distance 

 down the Animas, proceeding from Baker's Park, there has been pros- 

 pecting done for chloride ores, in the Devonian limestones ot that region, 

 although without any decided success. Almost all the mountains in 

 the immediate vicinity of Baker's Park, and the regions north of it, 

 contain veins ; frequently, however, without the remunerative metals. 

 They have been found of almost incredible Nvidth, and extending, well 

 defined, for miles. In a country where so large an amount of mineral 

 substance is present as in that which formed the field of our labors dur- 

 ing the summer of 1874, it cannot be astonishing that veins or even ores 

 should be found at any place where the conditions for their segrega- 

 tion and accumulation were in the least favorable. 



Owing to the rugged character of the country, to the sharply cut 

 walls, inclosing caiious of considerable depth, and lastly to the regularity 

 of the veins in course and dip, mining can be carried on at compara- 

 tively slight expense should the veins eventually prove as remunera- 

 tive as their surface indications might justify us in presuming. A well- 

 regulated system of sinking shafts and driving tunnels, either to or on 

 the same vein, would afford facility for the regulation of water and air, 

 as well as for the first transportation of ore, that ought not to be over- 

 looked. Frequently the same vein can be taken in work from above 

 in a vertical direction, while 1,000 feet below a tunnel driven will 

 afford the facilities above indicated, besides furnishing valuable infor- 

 mation as to the constancy of the ore, both in character and distribu- 

 tion. Timber exists in sufldcieut quantities to last for many mines. 

 One unfavorable circumstance is the short duration of the season dur- 

 ing which active work near the surface can be accomplished. After the 

 mines have reached a certain development, so that their interior will 

 be but little affected by the outside influence of atmospheric changes, a 

 great portion of this trouble will be obviated. 



In summing up all that has been observed during the short time that 

 could be allowed for investigation of this interesting mining-region, it 

 becomes necessary not to overlook the difficulties that had to be over- 

 come. Above all, the fact that all the mines were but in their infancy 

 will tend to cast a shadow over the conclusions that may have been 

 drawn with reference to many important features. In consequence of 

 this fact, no reliable data with reference to the vertical distribution of 

 the ore can be given, and, although outcrops along numerous points of 

 any lode may everywhere show favorable indications, nothing but a 

 future development of the new mines can disperse all doubt. Kegard- 



