The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-17

mum placers described are wonder(
quartz crystals. the carving of which IN
the shape of nautilus shells and OIL
forms is performed with marvellous art1
Russia.
Much difficulty was experienced by N
kunz in securing admission to the min
because the Russian authorities have
come excessively cautious respectj{
strangers since Mr.. Remnants visit. AZ
foreigner caught sketching is perempton|
given certain number of hours to les1
the country. The workings at MID
Tagilsk are let out by government 81
cesSlon to Prince Demidotf. Outside mind
are permitted 10 dig on their own accounl
but they are obliged under penalty IN 4
what they get to the proprietary concerl
Two years ago a great syndicate bousj
up the entire product of these min
for some time ahead, and set out top1
chase all the scrap platinum existing3
the world. But there proved to be MOI
of the latter than had been counted uN1
and so it was found impossible to coatl
the market. Consequently, after going Y
from 50 to SIS an ounce, platinum has nol
sunk to Sill an ounce. This metallic sa'
stance has never been found in the rocd
where it originally existed-in stu,
biologists say-except in the copper miad
OF Canada, where it was discovered a shol
time ago IN very small quantities and I
an entirely new combination, being mixd
with arsenic.
Speaking of platinum calls to mind II
sands on the beaches of Northern Cd
fornia, Oregon and Washington, Wild
contain that metal, as we'll as gold. in vel
considerable quantities. They are literal
golden sands. assaying often many id
lars to the ton. Since rock has bed
crushed with profit for 90 cents wonl
of gold to the ton, such sands 4
these ought TO be we'll worth working
In fact, they are already workal
TO n considerable extent, though
such unsatisfactory methods that ID
much success has been obtained. Thea
are many difficulties in the way. Own
10 the weight of the metals, the gold al
platinum are found at some little dept
Accordingly, the upper and barren SD
has to be dug away before the rich sn]
can be got at. A very ingenious meth,
has been devised for accomplishing "
purpose, which is in fact jetty system
small scale, so managed that the sand
top Is washed of. But hard
is the barren sand removed q
the "pav dirt got at than
storm comes and washes the refuse j
back again, leaving the labor to be don
over. The sands bearing the precis1
metals are found mostly in and near "
months of streams, by which they hs1
been washed down out of the hills
difficulty similar to that described Va
found by Edison when he wanted to g
iron out with great magnets from besa
on the Long Island coast. One day ID
beach was rich mine and the next %
the mine was thirty miles out at sea.
The great silver mines of the future 81
doubtless located in Idaho, where tn
mountains of the Ceur d Alene region az
iull of lead ores rich in silver. This
probably the most wonderful mineral ai'
trict in the world, only railways beinl
needed to open it up.
The most laborious and regular mimi
for gems is done by ants in Arizona an
Colorado, which, because they object 7
having them inside their dwellings, max
about their nests q glittering spread 9
amethysts, topazes and other yalusel
jewels, which people collect and send
market.