The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-25

smelling methods AS mining men wei
know, a zincous ore is one of the mos
/ undesirable products that mother eartk
yields. Zinc is clased with silica, anC
when it runs over to 10 per cent the
miner pays a penalty TO the smelter
/ Up 10 the present time no process has
yet been found which eliminated the
zinc satisfactorily. 1t formed wal
accretions on the inside of the furnaces
and unless great precautions were
taken 'froze" them up until they were
/ rendered practically useless.
I 1t is proposed, however, at the fur
mace now under construction, to take
! ore carrying say 10 ounces silver,
per cent lead. and 80 per cent zinc, and
/ to successfully and economically smell
/ it. BY this method the properties OF
/ the zinc are themselves utilized in the
/ smelling process. thus compelling that
refractory, disagreeable and al
I together baneful mineral to aid in the
work which it has hitherto refused nc
/ perform. 1t is certainly a most strik-
ing example of the ingenuity of man
in Harvesting a powerful force to dc
his bidding.
The values are saved in two forms
the gold in an iron sponge and the
silver and lead in bullion. Metallurgists
will appreciate the good work of the
furnace when it is stated that the Stag
carries so per cent OF silica. IN fact
Mr.. Ruthenburg states that the per
centage of iron and silica in the Stag
of his furnace is exactly reversed in
the ordinary furnace.
While the present plant is a small
one. and custom work is not solicited,
the possibilities of the future are we'll
worth the most thoughtful considera-
ton. No estimate has ever been at
tempted of the great reserves of zinc
Gus ores in the camp. 1t is a well
known fact, however. that in many OF
the large mines of the camp, notably
the A Y and Minnie. there is an al
most boundless supply, that is now of
no more value than a porphyry dump.
In the Small Hopes, the Marian and in
many of the mines of Fryer hill these
zincous ores abound, while the mines
of the Sawatch range would contribute
their share.
While Mr. Ruthenburg is entirely
confident of the practical success OF
his method still aesound business policy
dictates the Inauguration of smelling
operations on a small scale. One fur
mace will be constructed and put in
blast, to treat 80 tons of Zincous ore
per day. When thorough and com
plete demonstration of the success of
the process is insured it is very prob
able that very large smelling plant
will be constructed.
Inc importance OF the enterprise
cannot be ver-estimated. The con-
struction of a smelling plant that can
treat ore which was either thrown
over the dump or permitted to remain
in the mine because it was absolutely
worthless, will be an inestimable boon
to Leadville. and should within a
comparatively short time, almost
double the mineral output.
1t has been stated, in connection
with the new process that it was de-
signed 90 save the zinc, and render it
commercially valuable as spelter.
While the zinc is saved it is not used
as a commercial product for the
simple reason that there is no market
for it. There is only a limited demand
for spelter, and the furnaces that pro-
duce it more than keep UP the supply
consequently there will be no attempt
to market any spelter that may be
produced. In time, however, this may
be done.