The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1888-09-05

must 90 over $4,000 per ton, as it take
about that sum to pay the expense ofsack
ing, hauling to railroad, railroad freigh
and the smelter charges for reduction
While there are few mines in the dis
trict that can produce ore that will leave
profit after raying all charges notably
the Grubstake and Boaz, still the ore
from the grea: majority of the leads will
not pay to ship, hence their only chance
to realize from their mines is the arastra
or stamp mill and as the class of ore
adapted to these primitive methods is
pretty we'll exhausted, bnt little revenue
can be derived from those sources. There
is no doubt, but that development in
MANY of the veins would produce ship
ping ore leo called especially below
water level, as find the pyrites as a rule
are high grade and SO far as can be e1-
amined seem to be in quantity, but the
policy of shipping is very questionable
If 1t can be possibly avoided,
From all the foregoing it IS apparent
that some other means than those refer
red to, must be devised to treat the ores
Of this and other camps.
Early in the year the new mill 1t this
place was started up. Like all new
machinery and methods there was much
altering and changing until finally the
machinery was properly speeded and
adjusted. Close observers saw from the
start that, this process possessed merit
and was something almost entirely new.
From the orusher the initial point In the
operation of reducing these ores. to the
final action of the settler, the machinery
was entirely different from anything In
use in this Territory.
I have had every opportunity to fully
examine and try this Walker Carter pro.
cess. ! have made great many tests
and have fully satisfied myself that It
will as operated here; with only the
amalgamator, produce on the same class
of ores from Is to So per cent better yield
than can lie made by the arastra or
stamp mill.
In the month OF July ores from the
waste dumps Of the following named
mines we're treated. Golconda, Mohicap
Red Chief and Red Bluff. These waste
dump ores assayed from $500 to as high
as Sll 90 gold per ton as shown by the
assay book from the mill samples. The
yield in gold bullion was 90 plus ounces,
which is worth according to the assays
of said bullion by L. B. Olds over 81 800.
The actual cost of producing this bullion
was $594.00. The same class of ore
treated In the arastra or stamp mill
would not have paid the expense of haul.
ing and treatment. This shows a fair
profit on the very low grade ore of this
camp and it is easy to figure the probable
profit on an ore carrying $500 gold per
ton, or more.
1t Is very clear that the Walker.Csr
process saves the gold lost in both the
arastra aud stamp mill. This saving is
effected no doubt by the use of the ANAL
Ramator. The fact of continuously
yaporizing mercury through the ore
and upon eondensing the vapors. the
gold no matter how fine 1t NAV be, is
brought in contact dry with the mercury
in the best possible condition to form the
compound of amalgam. Gold in associ.
citation with tellurium is freed from the
tellurium by the volitilization of the
same caused by the heat maintained 10
vaporize the mercury-the gold particles
thus set free are then easily saved. There
remains to collect and save this finely
divided mercury the result of fvaporizing
in mass of very fine ore. This is very
easily and perfectly accomplished by
bringing this fine quick in contact with
the mercury and amalgam in the bottom
Of the pan. Referring to my remarks as
regards the saving over arastra and stamp
mill, | will cite one case in point. was
shown the result of 10 tons of ore treated
from the Golconda mine-assays Of orig
inal ore-tailing assays and the bullion
returns. The saving effected was nearly
30 per cent. The ore from this finely
developed properly will not yield its
gold in paying quantitses by either the
stamp mill or arastra.
The operation of this mill is confined
at present to class of ores wholly or in
part oxidized from natural causes. To
enable this plant to treat all classes Of
dry ores that can be produced in this
section, roasting furnace is indispen.
sable. In my last letter referred to
the Walker-Carter automatic muffle
roasting furnace. Since then l have
made careful inspection and study oi
the same as shown by the very elaborate
drawings and plans furnished me. The
conviction forces itself upon me, thai
this furnace will do the work claimed
for 1.-THE cost of perfectly roasting ore
being governed of course by the price OF
labor and fuel-but ranging from 81 90 te
tl.50 per ton. The capacity of each
furnace being about ten tons of pyritei
in "a hours. The samples Of roasted
ore shown me seem perfect, all the dus,
is in the ore thereby proving the furnac'
dusts but very little.
Ali property is valuable in proportion
to its usefulness and production, ant
mines are not exempt from this rule. o
what real value is mine that coul,
show 1000, 900 tons of ore Gin sight
carrying $1,000 or more gold per ton, un
less that value can be extracted at a fai
profit. The great questions always to b
considered in all mining ventures are
does the ore exist in quantity-its aver
age value and by what means can l ez
tract that value at profit. The correC
estimation of these three elementar
propositions decide the fate of all invest
ments in this industry. No one will den
, the soundness of these statements.
l believe the Walker-Carter process
5 will be greatly instrumental in causin
( capital TO invest in the class Of IL ines q
ready discussed, because it has prove
y beyond doubt that an ore carrying 81
|, gold per ton can be made to pay. Beyon
:, reasonable doubt nine dollars in gol
q can be produced at an expense of fiy