146 EEPOET UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



It seems as if a new start were just now to be made, and it is to be 

 hoped that careful management and proper treatment of the ores will 



demonstrate the fact that these metalliferous veins are entitled to some 

 consideration. 



Seminole Hills. — Near Sandy Creek, on the eastern slope of the Semi- 

 nole Hills, gold mining was carried on for a short time several years ago. 

 All the mines are now abandoned and could not be examined. The 

 veins, upon which some work was expended, are quartzose, and run 

 through the metamorphic granites of this region. From the ore found 

 on some old dumps it was seen that it consisted of pyrite and chalco- 

 pyrite intimately associated with quartz. A stamp-mill and a num- 

 ber of other buildings have been erected on Sandy Creek, but are now 

 left to decay. So far as we could leam, the ore when first struck was 

 quite rich and promised excellent results. A company was formed to 

 work and mill the product of the mines, but after a brief experiment it 

 was found that the rich ore had merely formed a " pocket," and that its 

 continuation did not pay. The mines were therefore abandoned, and no 

 work has been done there for a number of years. 



GULCH-MINING. 



Wear South Pass City. 



Gulch-mining is carried on with varying success in the vicinity of the 

 Sweetwater. Early during the summer season a considerable number 

 of streams that later are dry contain a good supply of water. During 

 that time it is utilized for the purposes of washing out the gravel and 

 "dirt." Near South Pass City some washing is done on several small 

 creeks. At the time I was there a good "jxrospect" had been struck on 

 Willow Creek, within the limits of the town. In Cariso gulch sluicing 

 and washing has been carried on for a number of years. The creek 

 there is dry during several months, and water is supplied by a ditch, 

 two miles in length, which connects with Willow Creek. It is stated 

 that the miners obtained from $3 to $5 of gold per day. In Hermit 

 gulch, and several others, gold is washed to a small extent. The trouble 

 that miners have to contend with in this region is the want of water. 

 As a rule, they can work only one or two months during the year in the 

 majority of the gulches. 



Wear Atlantic City. 



In the Buckeye gulch a large amount of work has been done during 

 the past year. Two small dams have been constructed to regulate, if 

 possible, the supply of water. Several small deposits were being washed 

 during July, but the water was beginning to get low. The gold is 

 found, generally, in very minute flakes, and unless precautions are taken 

 will float off on the water. Coarse gold is comparatively rare. 



Near Cam]) Stambaugh. 



In the vicinity of Camp Stambaugh I saw more work going on than 

 at any other point. On Rock Creelc extensive preparations were being 

 made to wash the gravel by hydraulic power. Ditches to lead the water 

 to convenient points, and others to cany it off, had been constructed. 

 Gulch-inining has been carried on there for a number of years on a small 

 scale, but the miners proposed to obtain larger profits in the future than 

 heretofore. A good water supply promises the carrying on of work 



