The Oriole Mine Strikes Pay Dirt

According to a statement recently made by Fred N. Davis, president and general manager of the Oriole mine of the Metaline camp, that property will soon be shipping ore to the smelters, and a considerable quantity of ore is already sacked awaiting shipment. Ore was struck months ago, but only within recent weeks has the dimension of the body in which it is contained been sufficient to warrant official enthusiasm. The body is described by Davis as having a maximum depth of 54 feet and as having mineral for both milling and smelting. The initial encounter with ore was 300 feet from the portal of the tunnel. Ore was followed by drifts east and west, 50 feet east and 100 feet west. The strongest promise was held forth at a point 60 feet west, where the chute has a width of two feet. A winze started there has attained a depth of 60 feet, where the body shows its greatest width. Streaks in the chute, varying in width from two to twelve inches, are near metal, their principal elements being lead and silver and their value $70 to the ton, by official estimate. The streaks are inlaid with mineral of a milling grade. The average value of the entire body is placed at $35 a ton. Development of the Oriole is not to end here. Machinery, including a boiler, hoist, compressor, drills and appurtenant apparatus have been installed. A room for the hoist has been chiseled out of the solid rock at the top of the winze; the remainder of the generating machinery will be installed outside of the tunnel. With this plant installed, the company expects to drop into depth at good speed, the plan being to continue the winze to a depth of 350 feet and shoot out levels each 100 feet on the way down, thereby providing avenues of production which may be used at the same time.