Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-08-25
OF ORES.

calculations based on assays made Of the
tailings which are to be found all along
down Gold Canon, that SIG per ton has
been wasted, or rather not been saved, OF
every ton of ore crushed in the canon
since mills were FIRST erected. While there
was plenty of rock, and mills were at all
times well supplied, and received at from
$40 to $50 per ton, they had not that
incentive TO work it as closely as
they have now when they very Otter nave
TO work it close to make it pay, and when
many of our mill men buy rock for their
mills and are therefore induced by self
interest 10 work it as close as possible.
The various classes Of our ores require as
various treatments, and that is something
which they have heretofore seldom re-
ceived but most OF our mill men have
had some favorite process, which, like an
old woman's herb tea in case Of sickness,
they have used in all cases. If ore was
im~pregnatedN with sulphurets Of silver,
copper, or iron, it made no difference, the
same process was used. II it was rich
with bromides or chloridcs, had more
gold than silver, or the reverse, it matter
ed not, the same chemicals went into the
amalgamating pans, and the grinding OF
the pulp was continued for just the same
number Of hours and minutes. Such a
system Of working must necessarily result
disastrously. Yet while there was plenty
Of rich rock, and mills had all they could
do at big prices per ton, rock which would
pay well by careful and proper working,
but would not give profit by the one
process plan, was thrown away for waste,
to lie untouched until a scarcity should
exist and careful and judicious modes of
working should be adopted. Every mill
should have q head ~amalgamator who
thoroughly understands the character Of
the various classes of ore and who is we'll
posted in all the scientific and improved
processes of reducing the ores, so that
proper chemicals car be used whenever q
new class of rock is obtained for working.
It is we'll known that there are many
kinds of silver ore that are known to be
rich, which if worked by our ordinary
mill processes will yield next to nothing
at all and it IL generally understood
that ii a person would know what the
practical result. OF working q mine
will be, he must not attempt 10 base his
calculations on the assayed value Of his
ore, but on the results which arise from
working by mill process. The scientific
assayer generally finds rock to be worth
hundreds, where mills produce only tens
of dollars per ton. And why is it; Evil
IDENTIFY because, understanding the charac-
ter OF the rock, he applies the proper
chemicals, and follows thu most approved
process which science has devised TO re-
luce it and obtain all the precious metals.
The n or two process system Of working
rock is most disastrous 10 this country.
II our mill men once get into the way of
closely working ores after the most scien-
,ifc processes, they will be very likely to
never give up the improved system for the
old manner of working them. If the i'm
provements which are every day being
made are not adopted, it would be as well
that no attempt at improvement were
made at all. But the new process should
be followed, and it is q shame that when,
by the proper application Of known pro-
cesses, eighty or ninety per cent. Of the
value of ores could on an average be
saved where only fifty or sixty per cent. is
saved, merely from a want of knowledge
on the part Of those who have charge Of
the reduction to apply theproper processes
of amalgamation to the different classes Of
rock.