Mining History of Yavapai County, Part II

Tip Top: This district is about fifty miles south-east of Prescott in the spurs of the Bradshaw range. The camp has long been noted for the richness of its ores, and is a favorite of "chloriders," or poor miners who get out their "rock " and have it reduced at custom mills. The formation is a micaceous granite, and the veins, though small, are compact and regular. The district has produced more bullion than any other in Yavapai county, and its mines steadily improve in size and richness as depth is reached. The Tip Top is the principal mine of the camp; it was discovered in 1875, and has been worked continuously ever since. The main working shaft is down nearly 600 feet, and the claim is thoroughly opened by levels, winzes, tunnels, etc. The vein averages from 1 foot to 18 inches in width; the ore is a sulfide, carrying quantities of ruby silver, and assaying $300 per ton. A 10-stamp mill and roaster is in operation on the Agua Fria, about nine miles from the mine. This is one of the best properties in the county, and has produced over $1,200,000. The Cross-cut is west of the Tip Top, and is the largest vein in the district. It is traceable across the country for several miles, and located nearly all the way. The Foy, a location on this ledge, shows 2 feet of ore assaying from $75 to $200 per ton. It is opened by a shaft 180 feet deep, and by several open cuts.

The Pearl, another location on the Cross-cut, is opened by a shaft 100 feet deep; it shows a strong vein of high-grade milling ore, and is one of the most promising claims in the camp. The Swilling is north of the Tip Top; it has two shafts, 110 and 50 feet, respectively. It carries a 3 -foot vein of milling ore assaying $50 per ton. The Virginia No. 2 is on Tula creek, about four miles from Tip Top. It shows 18 inches of free-milling ore, ranging by assay from $100 to $1000 per ton. The mine is opened by two shafts, 140 and 80 feet deep, and has produced $10,000 silver. What is known as the Rowe claim is near the Cross-cut; it contains some very rich ore, and is opened by a tunnel and several shafts. A number of tons of ore from this mine have been shipped to San Francisco, averaging from $500 to $1000 per ton.

 

 

The Basin mine is three miles west of the Tip Top. It has been worked for several years—the ore being reduced in a custom mill and has paid a handsome profit to its owners. The mine has produced a great deal of bullion, but the exact, figures are not at hand. The '"76" has a small vein of high grade ore of a similar character to the Tip Top, which assays from $200 to $1000 per ton. Three tunnels— 200, 120, and 85 feet each have been driven on the claim. The Incas is a narrow vein of exceedingly rich ore, assaying from $100 to $1,800 per ton. These are only a few of the claims of this district; there are scores of others which carry rich ore and give every promise of becoming valuable when developed. The ores of the camp are nearly all silver-bearing.

Hassayampa District.—This district is situated about ten miles south of Prescott, in the midst of a heavily timbered and well-watered region. The Hassayampa creek, after which the district takes its name, has been worked for native gold ever since the settlement of Northern Arizona, and has produced a great deal of money. The character of the ores in the Hassayampa region is a gold bearing quartz on the surface, which gradually passes into silver ore as depth is reached. The formation is generally a granite, with some slate and porphyry. The Senator shows more development than any mine in the camp. It has been worked extensively, and has a shaft 200 feet deep, with levels, drifts, cross-cuts, etc. The vein is from 2 to 4 feet wide—iron, copper, and lead sulfides, which have yielded from $25 to $40 per ton. The mine has produced $160,000 in gold ore. It has a ten-stamp mill. The Davis is about four miles south of the Senator, on Slate creek, a tributary of the Hassayampa. It is a large vein of sulfide ore, averaging 5 feet wide. It is opened by a tunnel nearly 100 feet in length. The ore gives an assay of from $50 to $300 per ton. The Davis is traceable across the country for nearly two miles, and several extensions, showing good ore, have been located on it.

The Crook is three miles east of the Hassayampa. Some of the richest gold quartz ever taken out in the county came from this mine. It, is opened by 670 feet of shafts and 850 feet of tunnels. It has a vein from 1 to 4 feet wide, yielding $28 per ton. The claim has produced over $50,000 in gold, and shows good ore in every drift and stope. It has a ten-stamp mill. The Perry is eight miles south of Prescott. It is a strong vein of sulfide ore; has a shaft 75 feet and a tunnel 185 feet. Selected ore from this miue has yielded $400 per ton, in silver. The Pine Tree shows a vein 18 inches wide, giving an assay of $90 per ton. It carries silver and gold, and is opened by a tunnel 850 feet in length. The Savage has two hafts, 40 and 50 feet. It carries 18 inches of ore, worth $200 per ton. The Cash has 2 feet of base ore, assaying $60 per ton. It has a shaft 28 feet. The Consolidated Bodie shows 4 feet of galena and carbonate, assaying $60 per ton. It has two shafts, 100 and 180 feet. The claim is on the east fork of the Hussayampa. The Sumner is a large vein, 45 feet of micaceous iron, portions of which are rich in silver. Assays as high as $2,000 have been made from this mine. The Caley shows 2 feet of gold quartz that has worked $38 per ton.

 

 

The Grosvanor has a 8-foot vein of gold and silver ore that assays $27 per ton. It is opened by three shafts. The Madison shows 1 foot of black sulfides of silver worth $200 per ton. The Delaware has a 50-fout shaft, with 2 feet of ore, carrying gold and silver. The Montgomery, Peacock, Often, Railroad, Nevada, Connecticut, Constantine, Glenn, Fox, Kautz, Silver Trail, Jim Davis, United States, Storm Cloud, Fremont, Sterling, Nifty, and hundreds of others, are located in the Hussayampa district. It is impossible in this brief sketch to give more than a passing glance ut the many valuable properties in this camp, the most delightful summer resort in the Territory.

Walker District.—This district is about seven miles east of Prescott, and embraces the headwaters of Lynx creek, the richest gold bearing stream yet discovered in the Territory. It is estimated that over $1,000,000 has been taken from this creek since its discovery in 1863. Lynx creek is blessed with an abundant supply of wood and water, and a delightful climate. The veins carry gold and silver. The Shelton is a 4 foot ledge of carbonate ore, impregnated with iron pyrite. Assays go as high as $600 per ton. The ledge has a shaft 30 feet and a tunnel 100 feet. The Pine Mountain is a 2-foot vein of carbonate ore, assaying $120 per ton. It has a shaft 20 feet. The Gray Eagle has a tunnel 70 feet. It carries 4 feet of carbonate and sulfide ore, assaying $80 in gold and silver. It has produced $4,000. The Mount Vernon carries 10 inches of rich gold quartz, worth $200 per ton. It has produced $15,000, is opened by several shafts, and a tunnel 100 feet in length. The American Flag shows 18 inches of base-metal ore that has worked $50 per ton. It has a 50-foot shaft, and has yielded $3,000. The Hidden Treasure shows a ledge 12 feet wide, assaying from $27 to $200 per ton, gold and silver. It is opened by a shaft 50 feet deep.

The Accidental is thoroughly opened by shafts, tunnels, drifts, etc. It is a rich vein, carrying gold and silver, and has produced over $50,000. The Mountain Lion is a promising looking claim, carrying gold and silver. It has a tunnel 135 feet in length. The Orion is a 4-foot vein of sulfide ore, assaying $ per ton. A shaft 42 feet deep has been sunk on the ledge. The Hirshel has a 6-foot vein of carbonate and galena ore, assaying $50 per ton in silver, and $15 in gold. It has a shaft 65 feet deep. The Capital is opened by a tunnel and several open cuts. It carries 2 feet of horn silver  chlorides, assaying $80 per ton. The Real del Monte, Empire, Mark Twain, Champion, Henry Clay, Pointer, Boston, Eureka, Eberhardt, Alturas, and scores of other valuable locations, are in this district.

Turkey Creek. —This district is about twenty miles southeast of Prescott. The ledges are principally silver-bearing, in a grainte and porphyry formation. The camp has plenty of wood and water, and a climate unsurpassed in the Territory. The Tuscumbia is situated on a northern spur of the Bradshaw range. It is opened by a shaft 100 feet deep, and a tunnel 250 feet. The vein is about 18 inches wide, assaying $200 per ton. A five- stamp mill has been erected, and some $25,000 in silver has already been taken out. The Goodwin is from 4 to 6 feet, between smooth walls; the pay streak is from 1 to 3 feet, assaying from $50 to $800 per ton. The Holmes claim, on the Goodwin ledge, shows a vein from 1 to 4 feet wide, assaying from $60 to $1,000 per ton. The ore is a rich antimonial silver. There is a shaft 85 feet, and a tunnel 160 feet. It has yielded $2,800, in silver. The Hatz and Collier claim is a northern extension of the Goodwin. It shows a vein from 2 to 4 feet, that assays from $50 to $500 per ton. It is opened by several shafts and tunnels. The Continental is a large ledge, carrying a rich pay streak. It has a tunnel 200 feet in length, besides several shafts. The Peerless is a large dike, with a vein of rich ore. It has a shaft 90 feet. The Succor shows a 2-foot vein of galena ore, some of which assays $200 per ton. It has a shaft 100 feet. The Gold Note shows a good body of rich galena ore. It is opened by a shaft ICO feet deep. The Morning Glory is a large ledge of gold quartz. It is opened by a shaft 100 feet deep and by a 100-foot tunnel. The Trinity carries from 6 inches to 15 inches of sulfide ore, that assays $100 per ton. It has a shaft 80 feet. The Compton has a shaft 48 feet, and carries from 1 to 2 feet of antimonial silver ore. The Bully Bueno, Town Site, Adirondack, Lincoln, Nevada, McLeod mine, Richmond, Kendall, Franklin, and many more, all show ore of a high grade.

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