ransome.] LODES OF SAVAGE BASIN. 207 
at any one point in the workings, a compass reading which represents its average 
course. This is, however, as may be measured from the surveys plotted on the 
map, N.41° W., while the dip averages 77° to the southwest. The limits of the 
narrowly cleaved zones, which have been filled by ore, are fairly well defined, and 
it is only occasionally that stringers accompany the main lode, separated by any 
considerable amount of wall rock. Such stringers have been found, however, at 
as great a distance as 10 feet from the main vein. The width of the main lode is 
variable, but is generally from 4 to 7 feet. It sometimes attains the width of 12 
feet, and in one place pinches to less than 1 foot. This vein presents more the 
character of a solid filling between two walls than most of those seen in the district. 
The linked-vein type is very well shown in some places, but is subordinate. 
Angular fragments of the country rock are frequent, and are especially well 
shown in the faces of the stopes and drifts on account of the whiteness of the 
surrounding quartz. Figure 73 shows such a fragment included in the quartz. 
As before stated, the angular character of these fragments is one of the strongest 
pieces of evidence that the ore is the filling of open spaces, unaccompanied by 
molecular replacement of the country rock. 
The vein minerals are remarkably few in number, and. with the exception of 
the quartz, do not appear to bear much relation to the values, which are almost 
entirely in gold. The quartz is by far the largest constituent, is white, and may 
be described as coarsely saccharoidal, with the spheroidal arrangement of crystals 
noted above. It is remarkable that much of the quartz which is commonly 
referred to as " bony," and is ordinarily barren of values, is. in the Tomboy vein, 
rich in gold, and often contains free gold visible to the unaided eye. Accompany- 
ing the quartz there is much blackish, soft material, which has been determined 
as peroxide of manganese. Although no manganese carbonate has been found in 
this vein, its general occurrence in neighboring veins makes it probable that it 
was formerly present, and the oxide is in part the result of its decomposition. 
The vein, on the whole, presents an unusually decomposed appearance, as does the 
wall rock in contact with it. Much white, clay-like material, usually of a sticky 
consistency, from its saturation with water, is of universal occurrence in the 
vein. This is, indeed, present in such quantities as to give considerable difficulty 
in the milling of the ore. It is usually known as -talc." Doubtless much of it 
is merely material residual from the trituration of the country rock along the 
fissured zones. Some is, however, of more definite composition, and chemical 
tests prove it to consist largely of finely divided sericite— one of the potash micas. 
Kaolinite has been shown to occur with it. its presence being probably due to 
surface decomposition of portions of the wall rock included in the lode. The 
greater or less amount of this material in the vein does not appear to bear any 
relation to the value of the ore. 
Calcite, and probably siderite, occur. The occurrence of fmorite has already 
been described at some length. Iron pyrite is present in small amount, and the 
gold values do not appear to be associated with it to any extent. More often 
than otherwise it occurs associated with galena and zinc blende in a narrow 
streak, which crosses from one wall to the other in the vein, and is fairly con- 
tinuous through the workings. Small quantities of eulphurets are, however, 
Jisseminated throughout the vein. The gold is more than three-fourths free, its 
total value being about $20 to the ton. The concentrates run $40 to $45. The 
?old averages 0.735 fine. The gold has not been found in the iron pyrite except 
n small amount. Much of it is extremely finely divided, and hitherto difficulty 
las been experienced in saving it at all. 
Since Purington's observations were made, the lower tunnel has 
Deen extended through the main lode to what is known as the "North 
/ein," or Iron vein, some 300 feet beyond. The main lode was cut 
