Custer Chronicle

In mining and prospecting in this country altogether too little attention has been paid to the formation known as talc. This substance is generally found in the neighborhood of mineral, and common custom has assigned it to the dump. That there are formations that carry mineral other than the general accepted ores is being proved from time to time so conclusively that to say anything is barren is making an assertion that is likely to give the lie on test.

Carbonates, in the early days of Leadville, or California Gulch, as was then called, were known to exist, but were supposed to be valueless, and hence the bonanza camp lay for years undeveloped and unthought of other than for its placer mines. Tellurium is another formation, though known to experts and well posted mining men, is not generally known at sight, and tons have been consigned to the dump by tenderfeet and prospectors because they could not see anything that looked like mineral in it.

Recently at Bonanza, Colorado, some parties working a prospect were throwing this valuable mineral over the dump and other parties coming along and seeing it bought the property for a fraction of what was in sight and on the dump. And now we find the Nellie S. mine, on Printer Boy Hill, Leadville, has been consigning talc to the vast dump that on assay runs from $20,000 to $50,000 a ton in gold. The Polomas Chief, New Mexico, has given us some magnificent specimens of native silver in tale, and now Cuchillos are furnishing specimens that are plentifully specked with silver.

To prospect thoroughly, formations lying adjacent to bodies of mineral should be assayed and hearsay or common custom dispensed with. The fact that we cannot see mineral in rock is no evidence that it is not there, and to presume that we know all about it is to show ourselves enemies to advancement and science.--Mining Review