Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-04-04
PLATINUM.
The Demand for II Iucreasing-Why
Not Test the " Black Sand " Of Snake

Not Test the " Black Sand !" Of Snake
Rlvers
N. Y. Engineering and Mining Journal.l
During the last year or SO there has
been q renewed demand for crude
platinum, or "platinum sand" There
are so many localities in this country
where it has been found, that it seems
reasonable to believe that q regular
platinum mining industry may at
some time be established, perhaps,
independently of placer gold mining.
The placer mines of California, Ore.
gon, and other States and Territories
have shown large number of locali-
ties in which platinum occurs. Small
lots have come into the market from
many of them, aud the number would
have been greater had the miners
known that the crude metal could be
sold in very small quantities. While
aware that tkeir "black sand" con-
tanned platinum, it seemed hardly
worth while to take the trouble to
collect the ounce or so of metal which
might be obtained at cleanup.
Now that hydraulic mining in Cali
fornia has received suoh . setback
from invidious legislation, the guam.
titles of platinum found, or to be
found, are naturally less than before.
Still, the known localities, where gold
mining is still carried on by the by.
draulic process, or by sluicing from
drift or cement mines, are not few.
/ 1t is very possible that some ar
rangement of the Inducements, by
which larger quantity of black sand
would be collected with the amalgam,
might be profitable. Whenever griz-
, zlies are used, the addition of screens,
placed below, might be an improve
ment. The platinum grains are, as
rule, in better shape for concentration
than PARTICLES of gold, and they do
not -four like amalgam.
In cleaning up the main line OF
: sluice in placer mines showing plati-
:, mum, if pains were taken to collect
paratively large amount of the
heavy material-"black sand, "etc.-
r this, together with the savings from
), the Inducements, might be run over
i some mechanical concentrating appa-
ratus, such as vanner, with pro.
}, duction of platinum which would pay
i for the extra trouble.
r But there are possibilities Of find.
n ing platinum in other than gold-min-
n ing regions. Of course, wherever the
:, metals occur together, any method OF
l. saving gold by gravity will also re.
suit in the saving of platinum, il
present.; and wien amalgamation is
q the principal dependence, as in ordi
q nary sluicing, still gravity is mainly
r relied on, even if plates are also used
% to hold or to catch the amalgam, and
~ therefore, any platinum which may be
y present. 1t may be. however, and
very probably, too, that there are 10
j. calities which have been prospectet
,e for gold and abandoned as unpro6t
Of able, which would furnish platinum
to in commercial quantities. The asso
ut citation of the two metals is by III
N means a necessary condition. Tha
it they are in practise found togethe
ne simply means that gravity process
which saves the one saves also tn
other. 1t is, therefore, worth Will
for prospectors exploring new field
to keep an eye open for platinum.
or Within the last few days a note
worthy discovery has been made
platinum has been found in place i
=, the nickeliferous ore of Sudbur.
" Canada, BY Professor F. w. Clark
On This discovery was made ACCIDENTAL
s: in the course Of determinative an
he analytical work upon the ore, whlc
DIS presents other peculiarities. Viii
:. the amount found is OF little or 4
" commercial importance, it has a vel
er. great scientific significance, and
US certainly something new. Platinu
he grains have been found in seconda'
nm rocks, such as recent sandstone
NJ CouSiohC' oscSS oSS's ooS NS
fore, so far as we are aware, in We
av' stuff, although it has long be'
ito, looked for, and such an occurren
nd was to be expected. There is, ther
ted fore, always the chance that actu
~. veins Of platinum bearing material,
"A often falsely reported. may actual
ON be found, and that perhaps some
ex- them may be of q paying grad
sx. The number of localities, and tn
200 wide distribution, in this count
l.. points to such an outcome.
,sd 1t is quite probable that it /
49, never occurred to our placer miners
Snake river to test the "black san
which gives them so much trouble,
go &c - oo,to;oo1 ,>lot;Dun, Yr CT