Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-06-08
Tin Reduction.

The Chicago Tribune of May 30th has
the following. which should have gen
eral publicity, to the end that the er-
roneous impression which has obtained
in the east, that the presence of mica in
the tin ores of the Black Hills presents
an obstacle in the way of tin reduction
may be dispeled.
In view of the conflicting statements
regarding an alleged difficulty in sepa-
rating the tin ores Of the Black Hills
from their mica amalgam the Tribune
wrote recently to Mr.. X. b. Hughes,
editor of the Rapid City Oak Journal,
asking definite information in regard to
the matter. Rapid City is near the tin
stone district of the Black Hills and is
also the seat of the Dakota School of
Mines, and it seemed that the facts
could be learned there. Mr.. Hughes
referred the inquiry to Professor Car
penter and Holman. of the school OF
minSe 60, .cply, and the Tribune is in
receipt Of the following statement from
| them:
RAPID CITY, Dakota, May 27.-Dear
Sir In reply to your request permit us
separation of Black Hills tin stone from
the accompanying mica, quartz, etc,
further than that which existed in the
minds of certain experts. These men
have from time to time devised or in
troduced certain patent machinery to
meet these imaginary difficulties. The
newspaper cutting which you inclose
is also incorrect in another detail, mas
much as we have originated no process"
When the question came up for treat
ment at the school of mines we used
only screens, jigs, and buddles, which
are among the oldest and best known
ore dressing machines in existence.
These were found to do the work 20
well that little or nothing was left to be
desired.
The Cornish methods of hand-dress-
ing would, We doubt not, prove equally
successful but far too costly when the
price of American labor is considered.
In fact the tin separates so easily from
the inclosing rock, even with coarse
crushing, and besides, has SO great
specific gravity as compared with the
accompanying gangue, that almost any
concentrating machine, built upon ra-
tional principles, will save it.
The Dakota ores, however, unlike the
Cornish, cannot be stamped, but must
be crushed by rock breakers and rolls,
but even here no difficulty exists, for
owing to the crystalline nature of the
rock, these give an almost perfect sepa-
ration. We might state also that STAN ps
have been abandoned and replaced by
breakers and rolls in Australia
Respectfully,
FRANK K. CARPENTER,
Dean and Professor of Mining.
II. .. HOFFMAN,,
Professor of Metallurgy.
Messrs. Carpenter and Holman bear
the reputation Of capable, reliable men,
and fr'm the facilities they have had
TO study the tin ores at the Dakota
school of mines they certainly ought TO
know what they are talking about. 1t
seems that the alleged difficulty does not
exist, and no patented or other mysteri
Gus processes are needed to reduce the
Black Hills tin ores, and the problem
in treating them is but little greater
than that of separating wheat from
chah. The only question is as to the
extent and ,ichness of the Black Hills
tin deposits. Surely it will not long be
ielJ ildltcT lOT dispute WuelueI lIlc
deposits will Justify the establishment
of large plants and working on an ex-
tended scale. If half Of what has been
claimed regarding the Black Hills tin
deposits be true there would seem to be
no reason why vast industry in the
mining Of tin ores and the manufacture
of tin plate should not be speedily estab-
lished, If the deposits are anything
like what is claimed capital could hard
p ask better investment than in tin
mining in the Black Hills. That sec
ton is uncommonly rich in mineral
wealth, having many valuable silver
and gold mines Zone of the latter being
the heaviest producer in the United
States), and there is good ground for the
hope that the tin deposits also will
prove of great value.