NORTH-WESTERN DISTRICT (No. 1). 63

intervals along a considerable distance below the edge of the glacier. Very encouraging values
in gold, silver, copper, lead, and zine are reported in the assay returns from samples taken by
the owners. The area has only recently been prospected and it would seem that the discoveries
warrant a systematic exploration.

Late in the year the Excelsior Prospecting syndicate was formed in Stewart to commence
development of these claims. It is understood that this syndicate is capitalized for $150,000,
divided into 15,000 units of $10 par.

Several other groups haye been staked in the locality, including one group by the Northern
Prospectors’ Syndicate, of Stewart, on which showings of chalcopyrite are reported.

Sartmon River SEcTION.

For a description of the ore-deposits of this property readers are referred to
Premier Gold former Annual Reports and to Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir 132.
Mining Co., Ltd. Thanks are due to D. L. Pitt, manager of the Premier Gold Mining Company,
for the following information: * During 1929 development and exploration
was carried on energetically and a total of 266,972 tons was produced. Of this, 74,617 tons was
shipped to Tacoma, 27,212 tons to Anyox, and 165,143 tons went to the mill. The mill made
14,631 tons of concentrates, all of which was shipped to Tacoma for treatment. Metal production
for the year amounted to a total of 96,636 oz. gold and 2,258,729 oz. silver. This shows a decrease
of over 33,000 oz. gold and a decrease of about 110,000 oz. silver as compared with the 1928
production. As the milled ore showed an increase of about 3,000 tons during 1929, the gross
decrease is accounted for by a decrease of nearly 12,000 tons of shipped ore. It is understood
that this is due to the fact that the smelters to which the ore is shipped have limited the tonnage
they would receive at various times during the year, and production was necessarily curtailed
accordingly.- The decrease in metal value produced is due partly to the reduced tonnage shipped
and partly to lower-grade ore. It is also understood that the year 1930 does not hold any
promise that higher-grade shipments will be made. Tonnage to be shipped cannot be forecast,
as it is dependent on the smelter’s ability to handle the ore.

During the year the mill tonnage increase amounted to an average of about 10 tons a day.
This is due to better operating conditions in the mill and does not represent any increased
capacity due to mill enlargement. At the end of 1929 the mill was treating about 450 tons of
ore a day and it is hoped to maintain that tonnage during 1930.

The usual amount of prospecting and development work was done during 1929, with 8,705
feet of drifting and raising and 4,044 feet of diamond-drilling. Development has been successful
in locating and further opening up new and known ore-shoots. The result has been the addition
of a larger tonnage to the ore reseryes than was recorded in 1928. The annual report of the
Premier company shows ore reserves at the end of 1929 of 419,036 tons, as compared with 456,203
tons at the end of 1928, so that nearly as much ore was deyeloped in 1929 as was mined out. The
grade, however, of the ore reserves given is somewhat lower than in 1928. Most of the new ore
has been found in the foot-wall country of the main ore-zone and in fairly close proximity to the
known ore-bodies.

During the early part of the year dev elopment-work was carried on on No. 5 level to open
up an indicated ore-shoot on this horizon. The preliminary work showed a small shoot of
medium-grade ore which held some promise. Further development of this shoot, however, proved
rather disappointing and only a small tonnage of ore has resulted from this work.

On No. 6 level a vigorous campaign of further development has been pushed into virgin
country by drifting on this horizon. Up to the close of the year, however, no ore-bodies of
commercial grade had been located on No. 6 level. Development on this horizon is continuing.
There has been no construction on the Premier during the year, but the plant has been main-
tained at its usual standard.

This company has absorbed the old Northern Light Mining Company, the
Premier Border shareholders of the latter receieving an equality of shares in the Premier
Mining Co., Ltd. Border Company. During the year a thorough geological survey and surface-
trenching was carried out for the purpose of mapping the mineralized sills

* Net figures for full production during calendar year.

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