CENTEAL AND EASTERN NEVADA. 425 



tallized calcspar. In some places the limestone has become highly silicified. 

 The ore, consisting chiefly of chloride of silver, is associated with the quartz 

 and spar. In some parts of the deposit large masses of limestone, spar, and 

 quartz, taken together, seem to be richly impregnated with the precious min- 

 eral, so that the whole may be crushed and amalgamated without assortment. 

 In other places some assortment is necessary to select the pay-rock from the 

 poor; and in the cut exposed, at the time referred to, there were also large 

 portions of limestone, apparently quite barren. The general appearance of 

 the ordinary, or low-grade, ore does not always show any indication of its 

 value to an inexperienced eye, and even those who are most familiar with the 

 rock are sometimes deceived. 



The deposit is probably the most remarkable occurrence of hornsilver on 

 record. In the early days of its development, channels or courses of ore were 

 passed through that were almost solid hornsilver. A lump of ore was shown 

 to the writer weighing several hundred pounds, apparently composed almost 

 entirely of this material. One lot of ore of 22 tons, taken out during the 

 first summer's work, had an average assay value of over $5,000 per ton. It 

 was at first intended to send this ore to Europe for metallurgical treatment, 

 but this being found inconvenient, it was milled at home, netting $96,459 46. 



The character of the ground in depth is not so well ascertained. There 



has been a shaft sunk on the north wall, as already described, to the depth of 



192 feet. This was done more for the purpose of establishing some points in 



litigation than for ascertaining the value of the rock. Short drifts are said to 



have been run northward, through the wail, in solid limestone ; southward, or 



in the "ledge," the drift passed through brecciated limestone with quartz and 



spar, from which specimens were taken that had a high assay value; but the 



mass of ground is represented as being limestone. The rock is apparently very 



poor as compared with that above, but it is believed to be rich enough to pay. 



This shaft was inaccessible at the time of the writer's visit, and, therefore, was 



not seen in depth. On the south wall there has also been a shaft sunk, though 



not so deep as the one just referred to. From it three short drifts into the 



ledge afforded about the same results as those from the north shaft, showing 



large masses of poor limestone, but carrying with it some quartz and spar and 



ore-beariug ground. What the mine may be capable of yielding in depth 

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