C H A PTERV. 



ECONOMIC GEOLOGY OF THIS SWEETWATER DISTRICT. 



GOLD. 



In Chapter I the auriferous schists of the Sweetwater region have 

 been spoken of. It will be remembered that they were regarded as the 

 oldest metamorphic series of the region. In 1807 the first ore-tearing 

 lodes were discovered in the vicinity of South Pass and north of Camp 

 Stainbaugh. The former was called the Shoshone, the latter the Miner's 

 Delight district. Eor a number of years lode-mining and gulch-mining 

 were carried on with varying success. Partly the discovery of other 

 regions promising greater remuneration, partly the speculative tendency 

 which had taken possession of the Sweetwater mining operations, caused 

 an abandonment of the greater portion of the mines. During the time that 

 I visited the districts (July and August), but very little work was carried 

 on and few of the mines only could be examined. At Miner's Delight a new 

 impulse seemed to have been given to mining operations, and some work 

 was just being taken in hand at the time. Information as to the former 

 condition and production of these mines may be obtained from the re- 

 ports of R. W. Raymond, United States Mining Commissioner. 



AURIFEROUS VEINS. 



South Pass City. — This town is located in a narrow gulch on Willow 

 Creek. During the first flush of mining excitement it attained quite a 

 considerable size, but since that time many of the stores and dwellings 

 have been abandoned. The veins were discovered on the surrounding 

 hdls and determined the site of the settlement. 



Cariso Mine. 



The Cariso vein was discovered in 18G7. It is situated on a hill 

 directly northeast of the town, on the south side of the stage-road. 

 Three main shafts have been sunk on the vein, the Cariso, Marshal or 

 East End, and West End shafts. In the West End some stoping has 

 been done. A drift connects the Marshal with a smaller shaft still far- 

 ther east. The main shaft has been sunk to a depth of a little over 200 

 feet, the Marshal to about 90 feet, and the West End to CO feet. Build- 

 ings above ground are still in good condition, as is the machinery. 

 Within the mine some timbering has been done to prevent " scales " from 

 coming down. At the time of my visit the mine was lying idle. It is 

 owned at present by Mr. B. Roberts and superintended by Mr. H. Ridell. 

 I understood that work was to be resumed shortly, upon the arrival of 

 some new machinery. 



Having a strike of about north 43° east, the vein is inclosed between 

 beds of gneissoid schists. A dip of about 75 degrees (from the horizon- 

 tal) is noticeable in the vein. Both strike and dip conform entirely with 

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