Surprise Mine

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From the California Journal of Mines and Geology, Vol. 47, No. 1, Jan. 1957:

A.L. Foss and the J.L. Osborne Estate, Panamint Springs, California, hold 3 unpatented claims, 2 of which are the Surprise and the Broken Ledge.

The ore minerals are principally galena, cerussite and anglesite, with some pyromorphite (lead chlorophosphate) in irregular replacement bodies in limestone. The limestone beds are contorted by locally trend east and dip about 50 degrees south. The deposit is characterized by the irregularity of the shape and attitude of the orebodies. The tenor of the ore is high.

From a chimney-like orebody in a raise near the end of the 160-foot main adit, 210 tons of ore was mined. This orebody was stoped to within 10 feet of the surface of this raise; its lower extension was intersected by a 50-foot drift driven from a winze connecting with the main adit 110 feet from the portal, and was mined from this level by a 30-foot raise inclined 70 degrees and a 15-foot winze with an appended 50-foot drift. The winze from the main adit was sunk on another orebody. Another adit, 60-feet in length, has been driven 75 feet vertically below the main adit. Underground workings total 450 feet.

The property was located in 1941. One shipment of ore was made by Slater and Osborne in 1942. Subsequent shipments by Foss have brough the total production to 700 tons of ore which has assayed from 20 to 40 percent lead, 20 ounces of silver, and 0.07 ounce of gold per ton.

Ore is transported from the mine to a 48-ton loading bin by means of a 1300-foot aerial tram. Trucks haul the ore to Keeler, a distance of 55 miles, for rail shipment to the smelter.

One man is employed by Foss.