ransome.] NORTH STAR GROUP OF LODES. 163 
tunnel, which, judging from the dump, has not cut the lode, is in 
massive andesite. 
According to information received from W. H. Thomas, there were 
several small veins near the surface, which came together in the 
deeper workings. The plan of the workings (fig. 12) indicates that 
the lode is of rather irregular character and that the general dip is 
northeasterly, at angles varying from 10° to vertical. It is often 
assumed that the Aspen lode is the northwestern" continuation of that 
branch of the North Star lode upon which are located the Slide and 
Mayflower claims. But, as elsewhere pointed out, it is more likely 
that they are distinct. 
The ore of the Aspen is chiefly a heavy lead-silver ore, consisting 
of galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, tetrahedrite, and a little 
native silver in the upper workings. The gangue is quartz, with con- 
siderable green fluorite. The tetrahedrite is said to have occurred in 
pockets or bunches in the other ore minerals. One trial lot of ore, 
consisting of 1,000 tons, is reported to have run 110 ounces of silver 
and »*><> per cent of lead, no returns being made for gold. The Aspen 
ore was smelted in the old Greene smelter, north of Silverton, as long- 
as that pioneer plant was in operation. 
It is commonly stated that the Aspen ceased working on account of 
the poverty of the ore in the lowest workings. It is probable, how- 
ever, that good bodies of ore will yet be found, and that the mine will 
again become productive. 
NORTH STAR 1 (KING SOLOMON) GROUP OF LODES. 
General. — The prominent North Star lode crosses Little Giant Peak, 
northeast of Silver Lake Basin, very near its summit. Its general 
course is a little more northerly than that of the Silver Lake vein, or 
about N. 48° W. The dip is northeasterly, but nearly vertical. 
Northwest of the peak the lode continues through the Terrible, Slide, 
Mayflower, and Argentine claims, down into Arrastra Gulch. It is 
often supj)osed that the Grey Eagle- Aspen lode, on the south side of 
Arrastra Gulch, is part of the North Star lode. But the connection, 
if it exists, which is doubtful, is concealed by the talus in the gulch. 
It seems more probable that the Aspen is a distinct, essentially par- 
allel, overlapping lode. Southeast of Little Giant Peak the North 
Star lode continues through the Dives, Shenandoah, Mountaineer, 
and Lookout claims into Mountaineer Gulch. 
North Slur {King Solomon) mine.— This mine was first regularly 
worked in 1883, although it had been exploited intermittently for 
three or four years previous to that time. Since then it has been pro- 
ducing steadily up to a year or two ago. The total product since 1883 
1 There are two North Star mines within the quadrangle— one on Little Giant Peak, com- 
monly spoken of as "The North Star of King Solomon, 11 and the other on the north base of 
Sultan Mountain. The former will be referred to in this report as " The North Star (King 
Solomon) mine." 
