Twenty-three miles northeast from Daggett are the Alvord Mines. The
property has changed hands several times, but is now owned by a party of
Pasadena capitalists, who have under consideration the reconstruction of
their mill, which was burned in September, 1891.
The property consists of six full claims located on one mineral-bearing
zone. The strike of the belt is a few degrees south of west. The mine is
well equipped. The company also owns a millsite at Camp Cady, on the
Mojave River, 9 miles distant from the mines, and valuable water rights
at Paradise Springs, 11 miles northwest from the mines, and a spring
about 1½ miles east of the camp, which is used for camp purposes only.
The mines lie along a broad zone or belt of crystallized carbonate of
lime (calcite), which may be seen for many miles traversing the
dark-colored inclosing rocks. A huge dike of porphyritic rock cuts
across this belt at an angle approaching 90°. The principal
mineralization of the lode occurs east of this dike.
The country rock is described by F. R. Burnham, E.M., formerly the
Superintendent, in his report on the property to the company, as rock
more or less schistose in character, through which, at frequent
intervals, are intruded eruptive dikes. At the east end of the belt is
an accumulation of tufa and basalt. The belt dips south at an angle of
75°. The mineralized portion of this lode extends from the porphyry dike
east through three full claims, disappearing finally beneath the
eruptive rock and desert wash. The dominant point on the lode is 550
feet above the base of the hill.
The entire lode is gold-bearing, some of the iron rock being extremely
rich; gold also occurs in the calcite, though it is usually of a lower
grade than where accompanied by the iron. Iron sulphide containing gold
has been discovered, indicating plainly the origin of the slag-like iron
ores and limonite found on the surface.
To Mr. Burnham’s report I am also indebted for information concerning
the value of the rock, tonnage, and bullion output to date. He has given
arbitrary figures for shipments aggregating $37,000, and an estimate on
$13,000 more, making a total of $50,000. This ore was milled mostly at
the Camp Cady mill and at Hawley’s mill.
An arrastra was used in the early history of the mine. The average
assays made on a ten days’ mill run just prior to the burning of the
mill returned $12 75 per ton. Tailings, during the same period, averaged
$1 25. Bullion produced, $1,430. It was found very difficult to sort the
ore, though it varied constantly in value from $2 to $20 per ton. About
90 per cent of the assay value, it is claimed, was saved in the mill. In
looking through a daily record of assays made in July and August, 1891,
I find them to range from a trace to as high as $1,750, most of them
running from $6 to $18. Mr. Burnham figures 184,000 tons of mill rock in
sight, including all grades, besides large amounts presumed to be
available, but not blocked out for stoping. The value of the ore is
placed at $5 to $6 throughout.
The cost of milling this ore is placed at $2 50, and mining at 50 cents
in large stopes. Should the company now controlling the Alvord Mines
determine to rebuild their mill it will doubtless again become a bullion
producer.