The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-30
CALIFORNIA TIN MINES
Attracting the Attention Of Practical Tin
Men In England.
II Is Said the san Bernadine Uepos-
it's Are the Largest Discovered
Anywhere On the Ameri-
can Continent.

Ii is not perhaps generally known that
the most important discovery Of tin ore
on the American continent was made In
California twenty-seven years ago. With
the exception of a small quantity of what
Is known as stream tin, in Durango, Mex
leo, and some scattered deposits OF doubt
full value in Dakota, the San Jacinto tin
mine, situated in San Bernardino county.
Is the only mine in his country of known
value.
The Chronicle says: Although the mine
has been known since lsGi, there haye been
difficulties i'm the way of the successful
working Of the ores until recently. one of
which was the cost of transportation.
The introduction Of railroads and the
improvements made Of late years in the
methods Of concentration Of ores, to-
gether with a better price for tin, nave di-
rected the attention OF practical tin men
TO the deposits in this state, and il is
highly probable that within "A short time n
new and very important industry will be
added to those already in existence.
Negotiations have been concluded
whereby the San Jacinto tin mine will
pass into the hands of n number OF Eng
lishmen who have had a wide experience
in the treatment of all kinds of ores in
Swansea, Wales.
IL is understood that they will at once
| put up the necessary plant 10 work the
mines and bring over experienced men
to handle the ores. They are confident
of success and the ores are pronounced
far above the average i'm richness of those
worked in the old country.
There . per cent is considered n fair
average. while the San Gin ore is said
to run as high as 6 per cent.
The formation of the country where the
| NINA 10 SitIntR1 ia Urnnits.- similar tn that
where the best tin mines exist. Within IA
region OF a few miles there are over fifty
veins bearing ore with nearly parallel
strike and dip.
Should this enterprise prove successful
il will rave n very important bearing OF
the aimed goods business of this state. as
an enormous amount of tin plate is i'm
ported annually TO supply the demand of
The sheets can be produced in this
country cheaply, and the process of tin
ming is a comparatively simple me-. The
ore is said by experts to have all the char
acteristics of a permanent deposit.
Tin is one Of the oldest of known met
ais, and the IN for tin between
the ancient inhabitants of Cornwall and
the Phoenicians Is so old that il was in ac-
tive existence during and even before the
epoch OF the Grecian myths. Thirty cen
turtles ago Phoenician vessels sailed
through the Pillars of Hercules in search
of the then ARE metal, which the mines of
Spain failed to produce in quantity suf.
ficient to satisfy the demands of an ex-
panding civilization.
The modern consumption Is so enor-
nous that the prices have gradually been
advancing. Should the industry assume
large proportions i'm this state IL will Gre
ate n demand for sulphuric acid u lead
to the production of a large amount of red
oxide of iron, which Is extensively used
for painting iron vSssels and other con.
structions of iron.
The treatment of tin ores is similar in
many respects to b treatment Of the sill.
yer bearing lead ores.
They require roasting or calcining and
concentration, after which they are re-
duced in either a reverberatory or ordi.
binary smelling furnace.
The pro ,ess is followed by refining "a
remove as completely as possible the
metals reduced and alleged along with il,
The tin having been reduced to a state
of purity is then ready to be used for GOV.
ering the hin sheets of iron, which take
the name of tin plate, after having first
been made perfectly clean and free from
rust by means of sulphuric acid, and then
dipped in the bath of molten tin at n high
temperature. The affinity of iron for tin
is SO great hat the point at which the
metal adheres is said To be an actual al
10y.
Should this new enterprise prove as sat
~isfactory as il is anticipated. il will un
doubtedly Leaf Others to prospect thos,
portions Of the state thai seem favorabI,
for the deposits, "a M time the lin
mines of California may prove To be al
most as valuable as her gold mines ant