Everybody ia talking copper. The aroma of copper, figuratively speaking,
is in the air and well it may be for the reason that copper mining in the locality of Whitehorse is on the inner threshold of such development, growth and activity as has never before been witnessed in any part of the broad, white North.
A description of the local copper zone or belt is as follows:
The copper zone which is situated adjacent to Whitehorse is known to be about 16 miles in length. Ite trend or line of strike is in a general northwesterly direction. But the lines of strike of the ore bodies often vary from this general
direction a few degrees, thereby showing evidences of having been thrown out of the general trend by eruptive movements, which have caused intrusive dikes of granite, diabase, felsite and other igneous rocks to occur or else by lateral pressure.
Original Formation
The original formation or oldest rocks in this zone are of a sedimentary
origin. The sandsione and conglomerates which lie southwesterly from the copper zone are probably cretaceous, and in these rock occur the local measures. But the limestone which occurs in the zone is possibly carboniferous, although it is almost impossible to determine its age for the reason that the contact with the eruptive rocks has fully metamorphosed the sedimentary limestone or altered it to a crystaline. For this reason it is very doubtful indeed if any fossils can be found to designate the geological period to which it really belongs.
The deposits of copper-gold-bearing ore occur, in nearly every instance, at the contact beween crystalline limestone and felsite, but sometimes, instead of felsite, a massive garnetyte rock occurs in contact with the limestone, while occasionally diabase forms the contact with the limestone at which the ore is deposited.
Probable Future of Copper Belt
The future of this copper-gold belt ore can at the present time be only estimated by a comparison between the geological conditions of the Whitehorse camp and those of other copper-gold ore producers, because the actual development work performed is limited in extent. The deepest workings are about 185 feet and on the Conper King mine, and the ore body in that occurrence shows persistency, with every indication of maintaining its continuity to a much greater depth. The comparison which is the most natural to make is between this camp and the camps on Texada island, which is situated in the Gulf of Georgia between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver island. The geological conditions are similar in both districts and on Texada island the ore bodies have been proven in three mines to a depth of 600 feet in each.
The prevailing type of ore in the Whitehorse district is bornite, carrying gold and silver values with the copper.
Shipments of Copper Ore
Up to date about 3,000 tons of ore has been shipped to smelters. The returns from this ore have been highly satisfactory in every case. The lowest grade ore so far shipped in 100 ton lot yielded $16 per ton in all values, and was shipped without sorting. The highest grade ore so far shipped was a carefully sorted lot of ahout 9 tons, and yielded 46.64 per cent copper, 11 oz silver and $2.50 gold per ton. A shipment of 100 tons from the Carlisle early this winter yielded 41 per cent. copper.
Shipments have been made from the Grafter, Copper King, Arctic Chief,
Valerie, Carlisle, Pueblo and War Eagle mineral claims.
Hundreds of Others Just as Good
The properties above mentioned were all located in the early history of the camp and have until very lately been prospected and worked in a desultory manner, lack of capital being the main hindrance in every instance. Recently, however, hundreds of new claims along the 16-mile belt have been located and even superficial prospecting has revealed the existence of the ledge the same as it has been revealed in the more fully developed properties and today the Whitehorse copper zone is attracting great attention from mining operators, prospectors, and that vast army of mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists and mineralogista who are so vitally interested in the mining industry.
Shipping Facilities Unexcelled
From no point on the entire 16 miles along which the copper ledge is known to extend is the distance to the railroad in excess of six miles and a large portion of it is from but two and a half or three miles. From a mine five and one-half miles distant from the railroad depot one team of four horses has been delivering 14 tons of ore daily all winter. The rates given by the railroad and coast steamship companies on ore from Whitehorse to outside smelters are most favorable, being so low as to be but a small item as compared with the net yields to the shippers.
Smelter a Probability
Already a company has been organized for the purnose of erecting a smelter at this place, the intention being to generate power from the famous Whitehorse Rapids which can be utilized for the purpose at all seasons of the year. The promoters of the smelter scheme are confident of success and there is little doubt but that the work on its construction will be well under way before the close of the present year. The erection of a smelter at this point where vast mountains of rich ore are awaiting treatment will not only put millions of dollars in the pockets of present owners of and future investors in local mining property, but it will cause Whiteborse and all Southern Yukon to blossom as the rose and flourish as the green bay tree.
Heaviest of all investors
While several local copper properties have been working in a small way but with excellent results during the past year, it was the arrival in our midst of Colonel William S. Thomas of Harrisburg, Pa, that gave to this district the greatest impetus in mining circles it has ever known. Colonel Thomas arrived early in February and in an unassuming manner began buying local mining property for the syndicate of American millionaire mining men of whom he is the trusted representative. He found plenty of property for sale for who ever saw an average prospector and locator of a claim who could afford to start development work on a property after locating it? The result is that Colonel Thomas to date has either purchased outright or taken options, principally purchased, upward of 500 claims, all of which are on the copper belt above described.
Has Many Very Rich Claims
In the long list of properties acquired by Colonel Thomas for the syndicate he represents are all the interests formerly owned by A. B. Palmer, Whitney &
Pedlar, W. P. Grainger, E. A. Dixon, C. S. Johnston, H. G. and T. A. Dickson, E. R. Thompson, W. A. Puckett, Ole Dixon and nearly 100 others.
These above mentioned purchases and options comprise such wellknown
and valuable properties as the Copper King, a mint in itself, the Valerie, Rabbits Foot, Anaconda, Empresss, Whitehorse No. 2, and others of equal and probably greater values. The Copper King is the best developed of these mines, having been shafted and crosscut to a depth of 187 feet, proving it to possess massive and high grade ore deposits.
Of the above mentioned properties the Valerie has made recent revelations
which must not pass unnoticed. When A. B. Palmer sold the claim to Colonel Thomas a crew of men was at work sinking a shaft. The colonel continued the work aod the shaft is now down to a depth of 50 feet in which distance three ledges have been struck, two of which show valuations in copper, silver and gold of $60 per ton while the last ledge struck, and it is nearly five feet wide and of unknown extension, gave to Government Assayer Robert Smart $10.70 in gold, $1.70 in silver and 15.74 per cent, copper, making a total value, with copper at 23 cents per pound, the present price, of $85 per ton for the ore as it is
taken from the shaft.
Surface indications on the Rabbits Foot, Anaconda, Empress aod others are
really better than were surface indications on the Valerie.
Colonel Thomas is here only for the purpose of buying claims. What the plans of his principals are as to the development of the district he does not know as it is a matter with which he has nothing whatever to do.
