Sunshine Cheered By Drilling Results

Sunshine Mining & Refining Friday reported encouraging results from drilling in the West Chance area of the Sunshine Mine in Big Creek, Idaho.

Drilling from the 3,100-foot level of the mine revealed significant silver and lead deposits in the West Chance area. The ore recovered from the drilling yielded 67 ounces of silver per ton, well above the 25-30 ounces per ton that other Sunshine ore currently produces.

Deeper down at the 4,200-foot level, another drilling produced ore that yielded 127 ounces of silver per ton. Harry Cougher, vice president for Sunshine who manages the Big Creek operations, said the results were extremely encouraging.

Cougher has double shifts continuing the drilling to get a better idea of where the richest parts of the vein are. Sunshine is contemplating plans to start a drifting operation at the 2,700 level to start mining the vein, he said.

Cougher said Sunshine will know much more about the provable amounts of silver reserves in two weeks. Company officials discuss plans to mine the area on a weekly basis, he said.