The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22

burden, TO lessen which It is necessary to
concentrate" the ores before shipment,
a process by which the worthless vein
matter is eliminated and the valuable
part of the ore is retained in greatly re-
duced bulk and weight
Extracting the Gold.
II there are no metallurgical works
within reach, where the concentrates can
be marketed or reduced at a reasonable
cost to the miner, some proper means OF
extracting the gold must be provided at
the mines. so as to get product that is
marketable, and none IS more so than gold
in the form of bullion.
The practical question Is how to convert
the vast stores Of gold bearing pyrites,
which are to be found IN the Southern
States into gold bullion, and much scien-
tifc knowledge and great ingenuity have
been brought to bear upon this subject
during a long series of years, with the
results that to-day sulphuret ores can be
mined and reduced at a cost which but
little exceeds that at which free-milling
ores can be mined. crushed by stamping
and amalgamated.
Professor w. c. Kerr, State Goelogist
of North Carolina, stated in 1880 that most
OF the simple and effective appliances
then in use everywhere for washing
gravels, such as the long tone, the sluice,
the rifle box, etc, were devised and used
in the Southern States and were carried
thence to California by the trained miners,
who emigrated in body to that newer
and richer field.
1t is therefore less surprising that at
the Phoenix mine in North Carolina and
the Halle mine in South Carolpa we find
in use what seems TO be the cheapest and
most effective method Of extracting gold
from sulphuret ores yet devised-known
as the "Thes process" which has been so
long in use there under the supervision Of
the inventor as to demonstrate, beyond a
doubt, that Il meets all the requirements
Of the case in that region.
In reviewing a paper which was read
by Professor Thies before the American
Institute Of Mining Engineers, in Octo-
Der. 1890, the Engineering and Mining
Journal said:
"The COLONIZATION process for the ex-
traction of gold from its ores has been
greatly improved within recent years,
and now promises to be adapted to the
treatment Of low grade. non-concentrata-
bic ores. In fact with recent improve
ments the cost OF chlorinauon, taking
account Of the higher percentage Of gold
extracted, will, on ores OF moderate
grade, compare favorably with amalga-
nation. The great drawback TO chlorl-
nation heretofore has been it's limited
capacity. except with an enormous and
expensive plant"
Valuable Ore Lost.
The sulphuret ores Of Virginia and the
Carolinas are of low grade, and must
no cd ~ fn ka
chlorinated at the mines. The TANNERS"
heretofore used for that purpose are not
as efficient as they should be, and some
of the fine particles Of valuable ore
are lost in concentrating; but some i'm
provements have been made in the
methods Of concentrating, which will,
It is believed, prove valuable by increas-
ing the percentage OF gold In the con-
centrates without adding materially to
the cost Of the appliances, and without
any increase In the cost Of operation.
There can be no certainty, however,
OF attaining so desirable an object. until
the new methods have been fully tested
and the southern gold fields are not the
place for experiments. Moreover, tests
made in the shops and laboratories OF the
North and West are not 10 be accepted
as entirely satisfactory, even when made
with ores from the southern gold fields,
and unless mine owners can obtain
satisfactory results with well known
methods it will be safer to let their
mines remain unworked rather than to
experiment with new methods that have
not been fully tested, under the condi-
tions which exist at their mines The
party that offers new methods should
bear the expense Of proving them.
Some Of the remarks with which the
State Geologist concludes his report on
the gold mines of North Carolina. are
equally applicable 70 Virginia, and are
worthy OF consideration.
He says: 1T is doubtful II there be
any "bonanza" mines in the State. and
those who venture into mining In North
Carolina with such an expectation are
likely to be disappointed. But there are
localities where judicious investments at
reasonable prices and well planned enter
prises. with adequate capital, may hope
20 find opportunities for steady work
and a just expectation Of moderate and
long continued dividends"
"a more thorough acquain-
tance with the nature and occurrence
Of ore bodies viii cut off a great source
Of waste Of capital. The introduction
Of cheaper and better explosives and
machinery will also tend to the same
end: this is particularly true OF efficient
concentrating machinery
In North Carolina gold has been observ-
ed. says the State Geologist, in four differ
ent geological positions:
First 1t is met with in the mass OF
the gneissold, granite and hornblendic
rock.
Second. In quartz veins. often associated
with iron pyrite, chaicopyrite, galenite
and other minerals.
Third. In ore beds contemporary with
the strata OF the rock in which they are
found. as in chiorite and taicose schists,
aigitttes. quartzites, etc.
Fourth. Loosely in the soil and decom-
posed rock. especially in gravel deposits.
resulting from the destruction of the
above first three formations.
Gold occurs In Virginia In the quartz
veins with iron pyrite etc. as at the
Phoenix mine In North Carolina. and In
the gravel beds resulting from the des-
truction OF such formations. These quartz
veins are what Mr. Hanna. OF the United
States Mint at Charlotte, n. c.. calls 1.-THE
ores OF the future" or the deep lying sui
phuret ores" TO what extent Il may BE-