This county was created by act of the legislature of 1881, from portions of Pinal and Maricopa, and is one of the most thoroughly mineralized divisions of the Territory. Native gold, silver, copper, lead, coal, and iron are found within its borders. In the richness of its silver ores, the region now embraced in Gila county has long been famous. With the exception of the Planchas de Plata, no such bodies of pure silver have been found in the Territory. This region was once the home of the Pinal Apaches, who guarded long and well the treasures which were known to be hidden in their mountain homes. As early as 1871, an expedition numbering nearly 300 men, and led by the Governor of the Territory, penetrated this region, but as their quest was for placer gold, they discovered none of the rich silver lodes over which they passed. It was not till 1875, that Globe district was organized and its boundaries defined. At that time the larger portion of the present county of Gila was embraced within the limits of the San Carlos Indian reservation, but the richness of the new discoveries caused the boundaries of the reservation to be narrowed, and the mineral region declared a portion of the public domain.
The geological formation of the county is generally granite, porphyry and syenite. Quartzite is found in several places, and also limestone and micaceous slate. The rolling hills adjacent to Pinal creek show large beds of cement overlying the primitive rock. Water in abundance is found by sinking in the washes and gulches throughout the county, while Pinal creek is a running stream for nearly nine months in the year, and carries at all seasons in its underground channel, water in abundance for the purposes of ore reduction. Of wood, it is estimated there are 40 square miles of pine in the Pinal mountains, besides oak and juniper in large quantities in different portions of the county. The ores of Gila show a great variety of mineral combinations. In the Pinal mountains they are a sulfide, carrying base metal, and requiring to be roasted before being milled. In the vicinity of Globe, Richmond Basin, and McMillenville, the ores are generally free-milling, with some iron and copper. The copper ores of the county are generally of a high grade and easily reduced. Gila county has rich mines, and many of them; it has wood and water in plenty; its climate is unsurpassed; a railroad will soon tap the mineral field; capital is steadily seeking investment, and the future of this region is as bright as its past has been prosperous and productive.
Globe District.—This district embraces the leading mines of Gila county. Probably no portion of the Territory of the same extent has produced ore of such wonderful richness. Tons of this ore, shipped to San Francisco in the early days of the district, have given the Globe country a reputation which has extended all over the coast. Among the leading mines of the district we enumerate the following: The Irene is a strong vein of carbonate ore, in some places 20 feet wide, and carrying a pay streak of about 6 feet, which will go close to $80 per ton. The mine is opened by a shaft 240 feet deep, and a tunnel of 330 feet connecting with the shaft. The mine has well defined walls. It is owned by. the Irene Mining Company of New York. Over 300 tons of ore are on the dumps and a mill will soon be erected. The Alice is a 4-foot vein of free-milling ore, assaying $100 per ton. It is opened by a shaft 235 feet deep, and a tunnel nearly 300 feet in length. The property is owned by the Globe Mining Company. The Centennial shows 2 feet of grey carbonates, worth $100 per ton. It has a shaft 100 feet, and two drifts, one of 130 feet and one of 100 feet. The Democrat is opened by a shaft 33 feet deep and by a tunnel of 30 feet. It shows a 6-foot vein of free- milling ore running from $40 to $150 per ton. It is a strong vein, and one of the most promising properties in the district.
The Stonewall No. 1 is a large ledge with croppings in places 20 feet high. Three distinct ledges are traceable the entire length of the claim. The center vein carries large quantities of horn silver; the others are rich in carbonates. The average of the main vein is 50 ounces silver, per ton. There are two shafts, 50 and 100 feet deep, respectively. The ore body at the bottom of the deepest shaft is 12 feet wide, with good walls. The California shows a vein 5 feet wide, that assays from $40 to $100 per ton. A tunnel has been run on the claim nearly 200 feet, and several shafts sunk, the deepest being 50 feet. The mine is about four miles north of the town of Globe. The Miami is a well-defined vein, carrying 3 feet of ore that has worked $70 per ton. Two shafts have been sunk, 80 and 90 feet respectively. There is a ten-stamp mill attached to the property which has produced over $25,000. The Champion shows a 4-foot ledge of free-milling ore. It is opened by a main shaft 125 feet deep, and by several drifts and tunnels. A ten stamp mill has been erected, and has produced a large amount of bullion.
The Golden Eagle is a large vein of free-milling ore. The mine is thoroughly opened by shafts, drifts, tunnels, etc. A ten-stamp mill reduces the ore. The bullion yield has already exceeded $80,000. The Julius is six miles from Globe. It has produced some exceedingly rich ore, and over $10,000 has been taken from it. Fifteen hundred pounds of ore from this mine, worked in San Francisco, yielded $5,000. The Rescue is one of the first discoveries in Globe district. Several tons of ore shipped to San Francisco went over $1,000 per ton. One ton yielded $3,000. The vein is 4 feet wide, chloride ore. There is a tunnel 84 feet and a shaft 80 feet. The Emeline has a shaft 50 feet. It shows a compact vein of free-milling ore, 18 inches wide, which will average $150 per ton. The Chromo is one of the oldest locations in the camp. The ledge is made up of numerous spar veins, from a mere thread to 45 feet in width. The ore is found in these veins, and assays from $5 to $100 per ton. The ore is a chloride. The Centralia is one mile from Globe. It is in a limestone formation, showing many beautiful fossils. There is a tunnel on the property, of 100 feet. The ore shows a carbonate, impregnated with a sub-oxide of iron. No extensive workings have been made, but the claim shows a fine prospect. It has produced ore that has worked $224 per ton. The Townsend is owned by the Townsend Mining Company, The vein is from 2 to 8 feet wide, gold ore. Small quantities worked by arrastra process, have given over $50 per ton. There is a tunnel on the property 150 feet in length. There are over 300 tons on the dumps. The company own a five-stamp mill. The Fame has a small vein, about 1 foot in width, of chloride and sulfide ore that assays from $80 to $600 per ton. It has a shaft 50 feet. The Independence has a shaft 120 feet, and a drift from the bottom, 30 feet. The vein is from 3 to 5 feet in width. The ore is a chloride, carrying malleable silver, arid assays as high as $600 per ton. Selected ore has worked 584 ounces, silver. The mine is eight miles from Globe. The Anna is a large vein upon which but little work has been done. It has produced ore worth $170 per ton. The Cox and Copeland claim, seven miles from Globe, has produced several thousand dollars in native silver. Among the many other valuable claims in the vicinity of Globe, and within a radius of ten miles of the town, are the Bluebird, Buckeye, McCormick, Turk, Andy Campbell, South-west, Alice, Doudona, Florence, Empire, Imperial, and scores of others.
Richmond Basin.—The camp is situated on the western slope of the Apache mountains and about fourteen miles north of Globe. Wood and water are plentiful. The veins are strong and well defined. This camp is famous for the native silver nuggets which were found on the surface. It is estimated that over $80,000 in pure silver was picked up in this locality. The McMorris, the leading mine of the camp, is a vein nearly 8 feet wide. The ore is a native silver, silver glance, and bromide of silver. The main shaft is down 400 feet. An incline has been sunk 300 feet, and a tunnel driven 100 feet. There are three levels aggregating 700 feet. The mine has been one of the most productive in Gila county, and the yield up to date is estimated at $400,000. Steam hoisting works have been erected and also a ten stamp mill. The Silver Nugget takes its name from the " planchas" which were found within its limits on the surface. Some of these lumps of silver weighed five pounds. The ore of the Nugget, is free-milling. The vein is large, and is opened by two shafts, one of 160, and one of 100 feet, and a drift 180 feet in length. The ore is worked in a five stamp mill. The East Richmond is a 9-foot vein, has produced very rich ore, and is opened by two shafts, 100 feet and 80 feet, respectively. The West Richmond is an extension of the McMorris. It shows a vein 8 feet wide. It has a shaft 96 feet, and one of 35 feet. The Dundee is a 4-foot vein that assays $60 per ton. It is a fine looking prospect. La Plata has a ledge 7 feet in width. A shaft has been sunk 60 feet, and a tunnel run 120 feet. It is an extension of the McMorris, and has been sold for $60,000. The Cora, South Plata, Rifleman, Belle Boyd, and a great many others in this camp, show every indication of developing into valuable paying properties.
McMillerville.—This group of mines is situated about twenty miles north of Globe, about six miles east of Richmond Basin, and almost eleven miles south of Salt river. Nearly all the locations are on one immense fissure, traceable across the country for twelve miles. The country rock is porphyry and syenite. Wood and water are abundant. The Stonewall is the leading mine of the camp. It is a very large vein, impregnated with chlorides and native silver. A stratum running into the main vein, and from 1 to 2 inches wide, is almost pure silver, and has yielded many thousands of dollars. Steam hoisting-works have been erected on the property. The main shaft is down 600 feet, and there are over 700 feet of drifts, etc. A 5-stamp mill has been erected, and the total yield of silver is said to be $300,000. The Hannibal is the first extension north of the Stonewall, the vein being of the same size and of a similar character. It has a shaft 160 feet, and 200 feet of drifts and cross-cuts. The Washington is the second north extension of the Stonewall. Its shaft is down 100 feet. The Centennial and the Virginius are the third and fourth extensions of the Stonewall, north. The former has a shaft 25 feet, and the latter shows several feet of ore that assays $80 per ton. The R. E. Lee is the first extension south of the Stonewall. It is a large vein of free-milling ore; has a shaft of 90 feet, and a drift 75 feet. The Henry Clay and the San Francisco are also on the same vein, but have little development. The Democrat and the Little Mack are on a spur which runs into the Stonewall vein. They have both produced very rich native silver ore, the total yield being estimated at $85,000. The North Star is north-west from the Stonewall. It shows a ledge from 3 to 8 feet wide, and has produced ore that has gone as high as $1,000 per ton. The mine is opened by a 120-foot tunnel and a 60-foot shaft. The Concord and the Nevada are promising claims. The former is over 20 feet, and the latter about 10 feet wide, with a tunnel 200 feet in length, and shows ore going from $5 to $60 per ton.
About sixteen miles south from Globe, on the southern slope of the Pinal mountains, is a group of mines which show large veins and high-grade ore. They are surrounded by a fine body of timber, and never-failing springs of water. The South Pioneer is the most prominent mine in the group. It is a 3-foot vein of sulfide, rich in native silver. Assays from this ledge have gone as high as $20,000 per ton. Work is pushed forward steadily, and hoisting machinery and reduction works will soon be erected. The property is being opened by three shafts, the deepest at this writing, being 80 feet. The Pioneer is one of the finest-looking properties in Gila county. The Great Republic shows a 2-foot vein, assaying $150 per ton. The ore is the same character as the Pioneer. The mine has a shaft 80 feet deep. The Missouri mine is also a fine property, carrying a strong vein of sulfide ore, with beautiful specimens of native copper.
Copper.—Gila county contains some of the finest copper properties in the Territory. The Globe copper mine is, about one mile from the town to which it has given its name. It was the first mine located in what is now Gila county. It is a large vein, and has been taken up for several miles. The copper ore is a high grade, carrying $25 in silver. The True Blue is one of the most promising copper properties in the district. It is opened by several shafts and tunnels, and shows 3 feet of ore that gives an average of 30 per cent. A smelter of 30 tons capacity is nearly completed on this property, which is situated about three miles from Globe. The O'Doherty is another large vein, carrying high-grade ore, and opened by a shaft 50 feet deep. About eight miles from Globe, at what is known as the Bloody Tanks, is another group of copper ledges, on which a smelter of 30 tons capacity is now being erected by a New York company. The Chicago, New York, Old Dominion, and Buffalo are owned by this company. The veins are large, and the ore is said to be of a high grade.
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