50  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    ECONOMIC    GEOLOGY,  1905. 
Ores. — The  ore  is  a  silver-bearing  galena,  carrying  a  gold  value  of  about  $1.50  per  ton, 
which  is  said  to  increase  with  depth.  An  average  assay  shows  about  10  per  cent  lead  and  5 
ounces  of  silver  per  ton.  This  ore,  concentrated  approximately  6  or  7  into  1 ,  yields  about  50 
per  cent  lead,  25  ounces  of  silver,  and  $5  to  $10  in  gold.  In  view  of  the  long  wagon  haul  it  is 
very  desirable  that  the  concentration  be  carried  as  far  as  possible.  This  results  in  the  loss  of 
a  large  proportion  of  the  gold  values,  probably  as  high  as  $400  per  day.  The  mine  has 
shipped  to  date  about  $850,000  worth  of  ore,  mainly  to  the  smelter  at  Everett,  Wash. 
Plant. — The  concentrating  plant  is  driven  by  water  power,  except  the  compressor  and 
electric-light  plant,  which  during  the  dry  season  are  driven  by  steam. 
The  water  power  is  now  obtained  by  damming  water  in  glacial  cirques  above  the  mine. 
This  storage  could  be  greatly  increased  and  a  considerable  saving  on  steam  thus  effected  by 
improving  the  position  and  increasing  the  size  of  the  dams. 
Future  prospects. — This  property  is  now  the  leading  producer  in  the  district,  and  it  gives 
strong  indications  of  a  considerably  increased  output  before  long.  The  great  lead  on  which 
it  is  located  is  traceable  for  some  miles,  and  is  being  explored  in  several  of  the  numerous 
claims  staked  along  its  course.  If  the  present  development  continues,  a  branch  from  the 
main  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway  may  soon  be  warranted.  Such  a  branch  line  could 
easily  and  cheaply  be  built  up  the  gentle  grade  of  Libby  Creek.  It  would  pass  through 
excellent  timber  land  and  would  greatly  encourage  mining  in  the  district. 
CABINET  DISTRICT. 
Location. — The  Cabinet  district  lies  in  the  Cabinet  Mountains  about  20  miles  southeast  of 
the  Snowshoe  mine.  It  comprises  the  properties  on  Silver  Butte  Mountain  and  those  on 
the  headwaters  of  Fisher  River.  The  former  are  reached  from  Trout  Creek,  on  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railway,  by  a  wagon  road  about  15  miles  long  up  Vermilion  Creek.  Entrance  into 
the  Fisher  River  country  is  by  wagon  road  from  Libby,  some  25  miles  to  the  northwest, 
its  nearest  railway  point. 
SILVER    BUTTE    MINK. 
The  Silver  Butte  property  is  located  on  a  vein  which  strikes  N.  60°  W.  and  dips  30°  S. 
and  cuts  across  Silver  Butte  Mountain. 
The  country  rock  is  blue  Prichard  slate  carrying  some  beds  of  grayish  arenaceous  shale. 
The  vein  averages  10  feet  in  width,  but  an  outcrop  on  top  of  the  mountain  shows  white 
quartz  to  the  width  of  30  feet,  which  can  be  traced  for  about  half  a  mile.  The  ore  is  com- 
posed of  galena,  which  is  scattered  through  lenses  of  white  quartz.  Some  sections  of  the 
vein  show  only  barren  white  quartz,  crushed  country  rock,  and  gouge. 
In  a  concentrating  plant  erected  at  a  reported  cost  of  $150,000,  some  ore  has  been  milled. 
While  temporarily  closed  down  this  plant  was  burned  to  the  ground  and  the  mine  has  since 
been  idle. 
Outlook. — This  property  is  located  on  a  strong  quartz  vein.  The  exploration  work  done 
has  exposed  values  enough  to  indicate  that  systematic  development  work  might  open  up 
sufficient  low-grade  silver-lead  ore  to  make  the  property  a  regular  producer.  Several  other 
locations  are  on  what  appears  to  be  the  same  vein,  but  as  yet  little  work  has  been  done  on 
them. 
FISHER    RIVER   PROPERTIES. « 
Just  across  the  divide  of  the  Cabinet  Range,  in  the  Fisher  River  drainage,  about  north  of 
Silver  Butte,  is  a  group  of  properties  which  were  once  sufficiently  productive  to  have  led  to 
the  construction  of  three  stamp  mills,  but  they  are  now  almost  completely  abandoned. 
None  of  them  were  entered  in  the  course  of  this  reconnaissance,  but  their  general  character 
was  observed.  The  lodes  are  all  in  typical  Prichard  slate  and  have  the  form  of  blanket  veins 
parallel  to  the  stratification.  The  vein  material  is  chiefly  quartz,  with  pyrite  and  gold, 
forming  a  rather  low-grade  ore  which  has  apparently  failed  to  yield  profits  below  the  zone 
of  oxidation. 
a  Visited  and  described  by  Mr.  Calkins. 
