Vein

A vein is a well-defined body of mineral within inclosed rocks. It has an onward course and a downward course.

See Lode.

A zone or belt of mineral or mineral-bearing aries which clearly separate it from the adjacent

The terms "vein" and "lode," as used by miners, and in the Mining Acts of Congress of 1866 and 1873, apply to any zone or belt of mineralized rock lying within the boundaries clearly separating it from the neighboring rock. Included are all deposits of mineral matter found through a mineralized zone or belt coming from the same source, impressed with the same forms, and appearing to have been created by the same processes 2 A vein or lode is a body of mineral or mineral-producing rock within defined boundaries in the general mass of the mountain.' Those acts of Congress, not being framed in the interests of science, may not present scientific accuracy in the use of terms. They were intended to protect miners in the claims they locate and develop, and are to be so construed as to carry out this purpose. ^ The law assumes that all veins are more or less vertical, and requires that the location of a claim shall be.upon the top or apex of the particular vein. Having discovered a vein, and located the claim so that the top or apex is within his surface lines extended down vertically, the locator may follow the vein to any depth, as far as he can show that it is the same lode or vein. The " top " or " apex " is the end or edge or terminal point of the lode nearest the surface of the earth. If found at any depth, and the locator can define on the surface the area which will inclose it, the lode may be held by his location. No location can bemade on the middle part of a lode, or otherwise than at the top or apex, which will entitle the locator to go beyond his lines. * When a mining claim crosses the course of the lode or vein instead of being " along the vein or lode," the end lines are those which measure the width of the claim as it crosses the lode; and the side lines those • Monongahela Bridge Co. v. Birmingham Ey. Co., 114 Pa. 481 (1886); Act 18 May, 1871. ' The Eurelja Case (Eureka Mining Co. v. Richmond Mining Co.), 4 Saw. 3)8, 311 (1877), Field, J. Approved, Iron Silver Mining Co. v. Cheesman, 116 U. S. 534 (1886), Miller, J.; Stevens v. Williams, 1 Mc Crary, 487 (1879). See also Juniper Mining Co. v. Bodie Mining Co., 7 Saw. 107 (1881): s. o. 11 F. E. 666; 128 U. S. 679. " Iron Silver Mining Co. v. Cheesman, 2 Mc Crary, 195 (1881), Hallett, D. J. 4 Iron Mine •<.. Loella Mine, 2 Mc Crary, 121 (1880), Hallett, D. J.: s. o. 16 F. E. 829. See also Flagstaff SUver Mining Co. «. Tarbet, 98 U. S. 463 (1878); Iron Silver Mining Co. v. Cheesman, 116 id. 529, 534 (1886), Miller, J.; Same v. Elgin Mining Co., 118 id. 196 (1886); which measure the extent of the claim on each side of the middle of the vein at the surface... When there are surface outcroppings from the same vein within the boundaries of two claims, the one first located carries the right to work the claim.' See further Mine.