THE SILVER MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Is 5 miles south of Oro Grande. There are a number of claims, the principal one being the Amazon. The formation is similar to that about Oro Grande. In a large dike of diorite occur the ore bodies of the Amazon Mine, which produces copper ores of a fair grade. Several holes were sunk to various depths, ranging from 15 to 30 feet, by the Mormons who settled on the Mojave River years ago. Recently a shaft has been sunk to the depth of 61 feet, and a drift run north 40 feet. The ore is principally copper-iron sulphide (chalcopyrite).
The ore in this mine occurs along slips or fault planes. This peculiar class of deposits has been described under the head of the Tiptop Mine, Lava Beds District, in this county, and as the essential features of this mine are similar to those of the Tiptop, repetition here will be unnecessary. I found a greater mineralization of the limestone in this district than about the Oro Grande, though no prospecting has been done here for lead ores.
GEM MARBLE QUARRIES.
Twelve miles northeast from Victor are the Gem quarries, that produce variegated marbles of great beauty. Shades of yellow, chocolate, black, pale blue, crimson and gray, cream-colored, rose, and white. The markings are such as to produce beautiful effects. The croppings are strong, and the surface material is apparently not at all injured by the exposure of centuries to the elements in a region where nearly all rocks decay and disintegrate rapidly. The outcrop stands boldly above the adjacent country rock from 10 to 20 feet. The entire ledge or belt is made up of bands or beds ranging from 3 to 6 feet in thickness. These strata are separated by thin seams or fractures, but it is reasonable to presume that this separating line or joint will disappear as depth is attained. The rock is all susceptible of a high polish, and it withstands a tremendous crushing force. It was said by the owners that this had been determined at 28,000 pounds per square inch.
The quantity is large, the variety abundant, and the beauty approaches that of rare onyx. With these unusual conditions surrounding the deposit, its marketing should become an industry of no small importance. The difficulties of transportation are not insurmountable.
LIME AND GRANITE QUARRIES.
Near Oro Grande and Victor several lime quarries are in operation, constantly giving employment to quite a large number of men. Lime is burned in large kilns, which finds a ready market in Southern California. Granite is also extensively quarried near each of these places, and used for building material, curbing, and paving blocks in Southern California cities. This industry employs, all told, about one hundred men.
THE KENT MINE.
Three miles from Hinkley Station, on the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, between Barstow and Mojave, is located the Kent Mine, a vein covered by two claims. A shaft 80 feet deep and some superficial development have exposed the ore, which varies from 3 to 10 feet in width. The gangue is a rather fine-grained, granular quartz, containing galena and lead carbonate. Assays in gold and silver are obtainable anywhere in the vein. The highest grade carries lead 70 per cent, gold $25, silver 24 ounces. Some of the ore assaying low in lead contains gold and silver in paying quantities.
The property is in a prospective stage only, but is promising. Water can be obtained near the mine, and fuel is but 8 miles distant. The owner bonded the property in May, 1892, and it is at this writing being developed by the prospective purchasers. The ore is of such character that by sorting a milling ore may be obtained, the high-grade lead ore making a very good smelting material.