The Butte daily miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1885-18??, 1886-01-01
CLARK's CoLUsA.
A First Class Mine and a
~ Model Plant.
Great Improvement in the Method
Of Handling Ore.
An Outpul Winch Cuts " Large Figure
in the Price of Montana Copper.

An Output vvl,scI, Cuts " Large Figure
in the Price of Montana Copper.
The Original Lode mining claim, OF Butte
which has produced 30 much copper. and
has greatly added to the renown Of this
section, has a most worthy represei ia tive
in Clark's Colusa. whict, is situated imme
diately between the Montana Colusa and
the West Colusa. Its returns are very
large, being more than ,OOO, 900 pounds al
pure copper per month, while enough, ore is
shipped in it's natural state to increase the
aggregate by % per cent. tits hard to con.
ceiye OF n better showing where the
size OF the plant and the small amount OF
development are considered. me ore Is 80
rich and SD easily extracted that any
further opening up Of the mine IL rendered
unnecessary until the furnace capacity shall
be materially enlarged, which will proba-
bly, be done during the present year. Until
recently operations were confined to the
ground above the 200 level but the i'm
provements made in the furnaces has in
creased their capacity to 80 tonsper day,
and now work is being prosecuted in all
parts Of the mine, and preparations are be-
ing made to continue the shaft to much
greater depth. The ore taken from the
ledge il OF the same general character as
that hoisted from the other shafts on the
vein, with the exception that it carries Il
higher percentage of metal and contains
less arsenic. 1t is Of the sulphide order,
with some iron pyrites and quartz, although
as a rule it is remarkably clean and partic-
ularly adapted to concentration, reducing
in the ratio Of two and one-half tons OF ore
to one OF concentrates. The ore is hoisted
and shipping-i.nd the amount now on the
dump is estimated at about $4,000 tons,
averaging from II to Z per cent ofcopper,
all OF which will be concentrated.
INTERESTING HISTORY.
Clark's Colusa was one OF the first
mines purchased by Mr.. Clark in this dis
trict, in 1872. In 1873 he sunk Il shaft on
it to the depth OF fifty feet and shipped the
first copper ore in considerable quantities
from Montana. 1t was conveyed bv wagons
to Corinne and thence by rail to Baltimore,
aud the enormous transportation rates
prevailing at that time absorbed about all
the profits.
THE PROCESS or TREATMENT.
In July, 1854, !. concentrator was built
near the mine.
In July last the first blast furnace
was built. the second being built
in October. For economy, salts
factory results and convenience the
present plant OF tlark's tulusa has no
superior in the Trrritory,and it will be very
difficult to improve ulOnlt II. All vi the I'M
provements contained in the other Turn
aces have been added to it, and now it
does more work at less cost than anything
OF its size at present in operation. Sell
dumping cars, upon double track tram
way, convey the ore nearly IL quartcr OF Il
mile to the sn,clters, discharging the ore
upon revolving screens, the cOarser rock
passing throus q, the breakers, and the whole
being carried to large Cornish rolls. Then
the elevators convey it to the top
Of the building, where it is again passed
over revolving screens. which separate it
into four sizes. after which it il sent to the
jigs, each III which treats the size delivered
by its particular screen. The latter, us
now used by the Colusa, are Of copper.
the old iron ones, have been found to be Il
great deal more durable, and naturally the
cheaper in the long run. Seven double jigs
are in constant use, upon the classified ores
doing excellent and clean work. A Hunt
ington mill receives what is known as the
middlings. whence, together with the shines
they are conveyed to Ritlinger tables, where
the separation OF the heavy and light par
ticles is accurately performed by u simple
lateral motion OF the machinery. The tail
ings are still further treated OH foul
amount to about so tons per day
OF which 40 tons are treated in thu
calcinera, while the other 10 tons are ship
ped East. The treatment in the calcinin,
furnace is materially hastened and i'm
proved by an arrangement not in use il
other copper reduction works, but which
has here been found to give the most salts
factory results. After being passed through
the ca1ciners the ore is properly fluxed AM
reduced to matte containing 60 per cent
copper, in the blast furnaces, which are tw'
in number, and have capacity Of 80 ton
per day. There is now in course OF cor