690 TRANS-PECOS TEXAS. 



do not only find these rocks, which are acknowledged the material forming 

 ore bearing mountain ranges, but we find in the rocks and in the mountains 

 built up of such, outcrops and well defined leads of different varieties of 

 quartz, carbon, and other spars, mica, chlorite, talcose, and serpentinous rocks, 

 garnets, .amphibol, schorl, and numerous other rocks generally associated 

 with ores forming the lead. 



We find other signs which, as experience teaches, may be regarded as in- 

 dications of the presence of ore deposits, such as decomposed streaks of coun- 

 try rock, which can be traced over hill and dale for many miles, decomposed, 

 discolored, or highly colored contacts, iron outcrops, which in different coun- 

 tries under different names, as gossan, eiserner, hut, pacos, colorados, almagres. 

 etc., in all mineral districts of the world are regarded very favorable indica- 

 tions of ore deposits, especially of sulphides. 



Still better indications than these abound in the mountains of Trans-Pecos 

 Texas, such as direct outcrops of lead, copper, and other ores containing more 

 or less precious metals; and nearly all of the numerous prospects, however 

 little work may have been done on such, prove more the want of experience 

 of the prospectors and of means than the absence of ore, and are of eminently 

 promising character. 



In the following list of mines and prospects, I enumerate and mention 

 only those located in that portion of Western Texas to which I could pay 

 closer attention up to this time; and in enumerating the metallic contents of 

 the ores I confined myself to naming only such as can be recognized with- 

 out a thorough analysis by their appearance or by hurried blow pipe tests, as 

 I had no other means of determination at my disposal. 



But I dare say that, judging from the character of the rocks, careful an- 

 alyses of the specimens which I collected and sent in from Western Texas, 

 besides the metals mentioned, the presence of bismuth will be demonstrated 

 at least in the Chinatti Mountains, and that the serpentinous rocks and those 

 in contact with them of El Paso County in all probability will show some 

 platinum. If in paying quantities is a question to be decided by prospecting 

 and careful analyses. There is also no doubt of the existence of traces of 

 tin in some of the ores from the Quitman Mountains. I found traces of tin 

 last year in West Texas ores, and an analysis made by Prof. Everhart con- 

 firmed the presence of this metal in some ores from the older rocks from this 

 western part of the State; and I am fully convinced that by rational pros- 

 pecting and careful analyses the presence of tin in workable, I do not say in 

 paying, quantities (this will depend on local conditions and circumstances) 

 will be found in the older rocks of Trans-Pecos Texas just as well as in those 

 of Central Texas, in which, as well as in the granites on Harney's Peak in the 



