The mineral field of Yuma county, in variety and extent, will compare with any portion of the Territory. Gold, silver, copper, and lead abound in its mountain ranges. The history of mining in this county dates back to 1858, when Colonel Snively discovered the rich placers at Gila, twenty-five miles east of the Colorado. For nearly four years work was prosecuted steadily at this point, and a large amount of native gold taken out. At Mesquite, some distance south of the railroad, very rich placer deposits have been discovered in the past year, and thousands of dollars have been taken there from. In fact, that portion of Yuma county south of the Southern Pacific railroad, is known to be rich in alluvial gold, but, on account of the scarcity of water, "dry washing" is the only way by which the mines can be worked. The first mining north of the Gila river by Americans began in 1862. In that year, Pauline Weaver discovered rich placers at a point seven miles east of La Paz. The fame of these discoveries spread far and wide, and within a year over 2,000 men were "digging for the yellow treasure in the mountains east of the Colorado. It is estimated that gold to the value of over a million and a half of dollars was taken out. There are yet a number of Mexicans who stick by the old camp, and considerable gold finds its way to Yuma and other points. With the decline of the placer deposits, valuable discoveries of silver, copper, and lead were made in the mountain ranges that run parallel with the Colorado. Some of those discoveries have proven to be among the most valuable properties in the Territory.
Castle Dome District – This location is situated about twenty miles north of Yuma, in the Castle Dome mountains. The district was discovered in 1863, by the eminent geologist. Professor Blake, but owing to the hostility of the Indians, nothing was done until 1869. The mines are about seventeen miles from the river, and surrounding the lofty, natural "Dome," after which the range has been named. The formation is a slate and porphyry. The veins are found in fluorspar and talc. The ores are a galena and carbonate of lead, carrying about $35 in silver, and from 60 to 70 per cent, in lead, with traces of gold. The ores are concentrated, hauled to the Colorado river, and shipped to San Francisco.
The principal mines are the Railroad, Flora Temple, William Penn, Pocahontas, and Caledonia. They are owned by the Castle Dome Mining and Smelting Company, of New York. The Flora Temple has one main shaft 300 feet, and is thoroughly opened by drifts, tunnels, winzes, etc. The vein is about 4 feet wide, and the average yield is 30 ounces silver and 78 per cent. lead. The William Penn has two shafts of over 200 feet each, connected by a level 400 feet in length. It is a strong vein, showing good ore in every drift and stope. The yield is about the same as from the Flora Temple. The Pocahontas and Railroad have each a shaft 250 feet, and are connected by a drift 200 feet in length. These mines show large bodies of fine smelting silver ore, and go about 35 ounces, in silver. The mines of Castle Dome are among the most productive and profitable of any in the Territory. Their proximity to the Colorado and the low rates of freight to San Francisco, permit the mining of ores of a low grade. The product finds a ready market in San Francisco on account of its fine smelting qualities, being used principally as a flux to more rebellious ores. It is estimated that these mines have already produced nearly $2,000,000 and from present appearances they promise to yield many millions more.
Silver District.—This district was first brought to notice nearly fifteen years ago by Colonel Snively, the discoverer of the Gila diggings. As placers were then the only mines which were thought worthy any attention, Snively and his companions abandoned the district and it remained undisturbed until about three years ago. At that time Greorge Sills, Neil Johnson, George W. Norton, and Gus Crawford relocated many abandoned claims and organized the district anew. Since then a great many discoveries have been made, some valuable properties have been developed, several important sales have been consummated, and Silver is to day the leading mining camp of the county. The district is situated on the Colorado river about forty miles above the town of Yuma, and about five miles from the stream. The formation of the country rock is mostly granite and porphyry, the surface showing some traces of volcanic action. The character of the ore may be generally described as an argentiferous galena, carrying rich sulfides, horn silver chlorides, and carbonates. The ore is generally found in combination with spar and quartz. There appear to be three main ore channels traversing the district, having a north-west and south-east direction. The veins are well defined and continuous, showing ore bodies of unusual width. The Red Cloud has the most development of any mine in the district. It is a large vein, 10 feet wide at bottom of shaft, with immense croppings. The mine was purchased from the original locators by the Red Cloud Mining Company, a New York incorporation. The company have sunk an incline following the dip of the vein 274 feet, and have started a working shaft which is down 300 feet. The vein is also opened by several open cuts and drifts. It is said that the yield of bullion has already reached $100,000. There is a 20-ton furnace at the river, five miles distant, which is working satisfactorily.
The Black Rock shows an immense outcrop, and appears on the surface to be nearly 200 feet wide. The property has been sold for $135,000, A shaft has been sunk 100 feet, following the foot wall, from which very rich ore has been taken. The purchasers of the property are pushing the work of development with energy, and the prospects for the opening of a valuable mine are not excelled anywhere. The Pacific adjoins the Black Rock, and is owned by the same company. It is a vein similar to the latter, showing fine ore. The Iron Cap has a shaft 200 feet deep, the vein between the walls in the bottom being fully 50 feet wide, showing good ore. The mine is owned by the Iron Cap Mining Company. The Silver Glance has produced some very rich mineral, and is one of the finest properties in the district. Like all the other veins, it is large and well defined. A tunnel over 200 feet in length has tapped the ledge nearly 150 feet below the surface. The Nellie Kenyon adjoins the Red Cloud on the north. The vein in some places shows a width of 30 feet. The ore is a rich galena, combined with a fluorite gangue. By assay, the yield is 40 ounces in silver. The mine is comparatively unprospected, but gives every promise of becoming valuable. About a mile to the eastward of the above mines is another ore channel, showing some fine-looking properties, among which are the Hamburg, Caledonia, Yuma Chief, and several others. The Caledonia has a shaft 100 feet, and carries a large vein of smelting ore. East of the last-mentioned group, about one and a half miles, is the Klara camp, in which is located many promising looking claims. The Klara is a vein over 30 feet wide, seamed throughout with ore. The property is being thoroughly opened by shafts and cross-cuts. The Mamie shows an ore body 15 feet wide, that gives an average assay of 40 ounces of silver per ton. The North Star is from 12 to 40 feet wide, and carries ore worth 30 ounces silver per ton. The New York, Great Republic, Southern Cross, and many other locations show large veins, although but little work-has been done upon them. Silver District has a desirable location. Its veins are among the largest that have been discovered in Arizona. Its immense outcroppings show true fissures. Its ores are easily reduced, and of a good grade. With all these advantages, there is no reason why it should not take a foremost place among the bullion-producing camps of the Territory.
Montezuma District is five miles south of Castle Dome. The veins are large, many of them being 40 feet wide. Assays as high as 500 ounces, silver, have been made from several of them. They carry gold also, and copper. Very little work has been done in the district, but the surface prospects are most encouraging.
Ellsworth District is about sixty-five miles from Sentinel station on the Southern Pacific railroad, in the north-east corner of Yuma county, and near the line of Yavapai. The mines are situated in a rolling, hilly country, covered with a sparse growth of grass. Mesquite, ironwood, and palo verde grow on the hills, and water is found in sufficient quantities for the milling of ores. The formation of the district is a granite and porphyry. The veins are large, with bold outcroppings. The ores of Ellsworth district are a quartz gold ore, carrying some silver. The camp has a good situation, and will undoubtedly become one of the leading gold camps of the Territory. The Oro claim has a shaft 70 feet, besides open cuts and tunnels. It shows 5 feet of quartz that has worked $20 per ton. The mine is owned by the Oro Milling and Mining Company. A five stamp mill has been erected on the property and $10,000 has already been taken out. The Nabob has a shaft 75 feet and a body of quartz 4 feet wide. Assays from this claim have gone as high as $350 per ton. This is one of the most promising mines in the district, showing large croppings and well-defined walls. The Argenta has a vein 4 feet wide, some of which assays as high as $180 per ton. This claim carries a great deal of galena, rich in free gold. The Socorro has a tunnel 50 feet in length. It is a 4-foot vein carrying ore that goes $25 per ton. The Richards and Ells claim is opened by a tunnel 100 feet in length. It shows 4 feet of ore, worth $20 per ton. The Last Chance has a 20-foot shaft and shows an ore body 4 feet wide, that assays $29 per ton. The General Grant is down 20 feet, and has ore that goes $240 per ton. The Hawkeye, K, Peacock, Ellis, Oskoloosa, Oro Grande, Turtle, and many others, all show good ore and large veins. But little work has been done on any of them, but what has been done is sufficient to prove their value.
Plomosa District.—This district is about thirty-five miles east of Ehrenberg, on the Colorado river. It has been known since 1862, and has some large and rich bodies of copper and silver ores. A great deal of placer gold was taken from this neighborhood in early times. There is plenty of mesquite and palo verde growing on the hills, and water for milling purposes is only eight miles distant. The formation is granite, slate, limestone and porphyry. The Miami is an immense outcrop of ggold quartz, running through a hill which is seamed with parallel veins its entire length. This ore body is about 300 feet wide. It has three shafts, 60, 50, and 40 feet, respectively. The ore is silver, carrying some copper. The Apache Chief is a vein 6 feet wide, assaying well in copper. A large amount of work has been done on the claim. It has a shaft 225 feet and a tunnel 100 feet, following the vein. The Pichaco shows 4 feet of galena ore that goes $50 per ton in silver. It has two tunnels, 100 feet each, and three shafts, the deepest being 100 feet. There are many other claims in this district well worthy of inspection by those looking for desirable investments.
Harqua Hala District is situated about thirty miles north of Ellsworth, and about the same distance as the latter from the Colorado river. It contains several large copper ore veins, which show every indication of permanency. The country rock is granite. The veins average from 5 to 15 feet in width. Ores from this district have worked 37 per cent copper.
Bill Williams Fork District.—This district is near the southern boundary of Mohave county, and extending west to the Colorado. The ores are copper and of a high grade. The Planet, the principal mine of the district, was discovered in 1863, and has been worked at intervals ever since, yielding over 6,000 tons of copper ore, going from 20 to 60 per cent. The ores from this mine have been shipped to San Francisco. The claim is opened by many shafts, drifts, and tunnels, and shows large bodies of ore. The Centennial and the-Challenge copper mines, near the Planet, are also fine properties.
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