The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-10-20
Remarks % ouisksiiIyer. i
From the the l Mining and scientific Press.

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- From the Mining and Scientific Press. ''',4 !.
:. At many points in the Coast range Of
California are found deposits Of cinnabar
Of greater or lesser extent. It has, how
ever, been mined successfully iii but few
places. The reasons are that the metal is
seldom found sufficiently concentrated in
the rocks to make mining possible while
in the remaining cases the extracted ores
are of such low grade that they cannot be
prohtably smelted. Occasionally small de-
posits are found that yield very rich ore
60 to70 per cent.-but it is we'll known
that those deposits which are large and
easily mined, are almost invariably COM
posed of ores SO poor-one to three per,
cent. THAT they can barely be operated
with profit when quicksilver is az a less
price than 80 cents per pound. The price
at present being some 40 cents only, we
accordingly see the greater part of our
cinnabar mines closed, the furnaces cold,
and large concerns-that alone remain at
work -making litble,sor no money Per-
haps not more than four or FIVE important
mines are now in operation in California !;
and, though the public constantly hears of
new and great deposits of cinnabar, they
are, as yet, practically undeveloped aud
yalueless, and cannot affect the market
price of mercury This article is written
from the standpoint of the producing
mines.'Gf3 a3l sst:m9@eE 14iisg 5sai3g1g
That quicksilver will soon rise in value
does not seem probable, unless one should
look for the still more improbable occur
renee Of a combination to limit production;
and, consequently, the writer thinks that
mercury will still farther decline in price,
till only those works which can make a
profit when it sells below 80 cents per pound
can afford to remain in operation I'D; I'd +,
1t would appear to be the rule that quick
silver mines grow constantly .r2ss SID II
POORER FROM THE SURFACE DOWN.
Taking the New Almaden, the largest
and foremost mine on this coast, as an
example, we find that in 1850 the ores
worked yielded, on the average, 36 per
cent; in 1868, 10 per cent; in 1866, IL per
cent; in 1870, 5.23 per cent; in 1873, 4.87
per cent.-constantly growing poorer,
while, at this date, the, yield is said to be
not over three and a half per, cent, and
Which is considered as low q percentage
yield as can be made profitable with the
present apparatus, and with. quicksilver
below so cents per pound. The same is
substantially etrne of the balance of the
prominent mines of the coast, and the
effect of the anticipated decline will be
DISASTROUS to their interests. Then only
the small deposits of rich ores could be
worked, which would not half supply the
home demand, and quicksilver would have
to be imported from Europe. In short,
the quicksilver interests of this coast, so
far as developed and well known mines are
concerned, to the ordinary observer appear
to be not only on the decline, but in process
of extinction; and the object of this COM
munication is to examine the whole ground,
to show wherein lies the difficulty in effect
ing cheaper production, and to epdeavor
to point out proper remedy. ...
a .t.s PRODUCTION.
The celebrated mines of the world are
| New Almaden, New Idria and Kedlng g5on,
| in California. The Almaden. has been
worked more or less since the time of the
ancient Romans, and is, without doubt, the
most extensive deposit of cinnabar in the
world. The mine is now under lease te
| the Rothschilds of Europe. In 1872 the
workings were over 1900 feet deep, and
the mine was reported to be in such bac
condition that it was thought it could not
much increase its then production. Tht
ores are poor--about per cent? theil
abundance and the cheap labor of tht
country for their extraction aud smelling
enables the Almaden quicksilver to contro
| the Eastern trade.
The Idria mine has been worked over 40t
years. In 1872 its deepest workings wer
750 feet. For many years it has been il
charge of the Austrian government, ant
all the operations of mining and smeltinI
are carried on with the best talent availabl
and the best known apparatus. Hence
the operations at Idria have long bee
considered as models OF completeness, ant
| works elsewhere have initiated their pro
cesses. The ores average about pc
cent.
The New Almaden mine, in California
has been worked, more or less, since May
1886 to date. From tables furnished b
Mr. J.fB. Randol, the general manager
we learn that the production from 1850 t
close Of 1875 was 595, 1889 TASKS, obtaine
from ores yielding from SO per cent. i
| 1850 to 1856 per cent. in 1875. The averag
| of about four tons of ore is raised from th
mine to each ton smelted, which are han
| sorted. h8s fi5 R94s sDo .y.15s4 54isf af
i Statistics of the New Idria and Redingto
mines are not at hand !; but in general
may be said that the ores of the leadin
mines of California are SO poor that the
do not now yield, on the average, over on
or two per cent. as they come from th
mine. The concentration that is done b
hand must necessarily be expensive. e
rEAA 10 ss-----s.<zp.>---------- sir
& au ae y7e45s Lis Bank Check. 4, rvss.s i
AS a colored man was walking out Of th
postofice yesterday morning with prou
, step, having just been handed a letter /