The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-12-24
Facts About Copper.

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Edward D. Peters, the copper ex-
pert, who has been employed by an
Australian syndicate to develop
some newly discovered copper
mines Tasmania. The find is 10.
Gated in the woods about seventy
miles from the coast, and is said to
be extensive and valuable.
DR.. Peters is a young man, but
he has made a high reputation in
the field Of metallurgy. He was
educated at Friebnrg, Germany,
and served for q time as Territorial
Assayer of Colorado. The largest
copper smelling works in this
country were built by him. He is
the author of a book called "Mod-
ern American Methods of Copper
Smelling" which has reached fifth
edition, and is a text book in all
English-speaking countries.
In talking about the copper in
dustry before he sailed, DR.. Peters
said that all the accessible copper
mines in the United State have
probable been found. A copper de-
post cannot keep itself concealed
unless it happens to lie at great
depth. Ordinarily it is traced by
the stain it leaves on the surround
ing country. Copper ore will dis
color water, and on this account
but little more experience or spe-
cial training is needed by pros
pector than the ability to recognize
the tint of copper when he sees it
in q creek and to follow the stream
to the point where it comes in con-
tact with the ore. The thorough
ness with which the United States
has been traversed by mining men
and metallurgists leaves little scien-
tiic doubt that all existing copper
mines lying anywhere near the sur
face of the ground have been opened
up.
"The copper districts of the
said DR.. Peters, "are three
in number. They are located near
Lake Superior, at Butte, Mont, and
in Arizona. The Lake Superior
mines are poorest in the quantity
of their product, but they pay the
best. The ore is in the form of
granules of metallic copper, like
nuggets of gold. Crushing and
washing is the only process needed
to produce pure copper. The Cal
umet and Hecla rhine has paid $35,-
O0O, 600 in fifteen years. 1t yields
4 per cent copper in the form Of
granules. Fifty cents per ton for
stamping covers the milling costs.
In Montana the ore is combined
with sulphur, antimony and arsen-
ic, and it requires long series Of
smelling operations to secure pure
copper, so that ten per cent ore
there is no more profitable than 4
per cent ore at LeA- Superior. The
Montana mines have, however, an
advantage in the fact that one-third
of an ounce of silver goes with ev-
cry per cent of copper, paying all
working expenses.
"The product Of copper in Amer
lea has become overwhelmingly
great, and ifit had not been for the
electric business, which has ab-
sorbed the surplus copper for its
wires and dynamos, the price would
now be so low as to make mining
unproftable. The aggregate output
of copper from the Lake Superior
and Montana districts is 100000
600 pounds and from Arizona.
500, 100000. The needs Of electri-
cal science absorbs more than twice
the whole previous production Of
merchantable copper.
1t appears that the Indians were
copper prospectors, and that they
the Lake Superior mines.
Their excavations may still be seen.
They usually dug until they dis
covered a mass of copper too great
to move, and then they dug some
where else. The early American
prospector found one place where
a boulder of metal 200 tons in
weight blocked the aboriginal way.
They had hacked at it with their
rude implements, but it's size and
toughness discouraged them and
they left the find where they had
come upen it.
"In spite of such difficulties, !"
said DR.. Peters, "the Indians mined
a great deal of the metal. Arrow
heads made Of Lake Superior cop
per are scattered all over the coun-
try as far south as the 1sthmus Of
Panama. This shows the wide
spread commerce Of the aborigines.
At Panama the Superior metal met
the copper Of Chill coming north.
The Indians used the product for
utensils Of war and peace and have
left many curious relics Of their
art"
Speaking Of the copper mines at
Santa Rosalia on the gulf coast OF
Lower California DR.. Peters says
they have never been made to pay.
The property is owned by the
Rothchilds, who operate 9 line OF
orc steamers between Santa Rosalla
and Frances. F. Chronicle.
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