Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-03-04
Refractory ores.

2
/ the commencement ofmining operations
in this district. have had many obstacles
to contend with in their search for pre-
cious metal. There has, however, been
no hindrance 50 great as that which
has arisen from the refractory character
of the ores which contain the object OF
their quest the pure metallic gold.
OF course we have not lived and labored
in this district for more than a score of
years without knowing that the gold is
here. 1t has been our fortune, good or
i'll. to have mined and prospected all
over the Black Hills and in many min
ing camps before we came here, and we
can say truly that in all of our varied
experience, we have never prospect d
in district where the veins of gold
bearing ore were as plentiful, or as rich
in the precious metal, as we have found
them in Custer county. Now, that is
saying good deal for this locality, but
it is true, and if it were not SO we would
not have remained here SO long, and if
we knew Of a camp which we had rea-
son to believe had better ore on an aver
age, or offered greater inducements to
the prospector We would go to it, While
we say this on our own account, we have
in our mind score ofthe old time boys,
pioneers OF the country, who have pas.
sed through the same experience. They
believe, think, and feel, in regard to
this matter, just as We do. We are no
longer young men. We are drifting
into the "sere and yellow leaf" The
fruits and flowers Of our youth are gone,
we have no time to squander, no years
to fritter away in useless labor, or base
less hopes. If we have anything worthy
of our waiting, we ought to know it, and
If we don't know it, then it is high time
we did. But says the stranger, "do you
know that you have anything good" we
answer yes, We know that we have How
do you know it, do you always get rich
returns by fire assay" Alas, no, not
always, only occasionally. The fire
assay is all right on certain character
of ores, but we regret very much to
state, that according to our experience,
based upon trials covering long series
Of years, the fire assay test, as applied
to the major part of our ores is not re-
liable. We do not mean to say that the
assayers are not reliable, because we
believe as general thing, they do the
best they can, and give you what they
but the method they have been taught
to use is inadequate to saye the gold
contained IN the rock.
We repeat that it is with regret that
we are compelled to say this as it may
injuriously effect some worthy men in
their business. But as we said before
we have no more time to throw away,
and we cannot afford to be deceived or
to deceive ourselves any longer We
know whereof we speak, and that it Is
"a fact, and being fact, we feel it our
may concern that they may govern
themselves accordingly. But says the
stranger, "If you cannot rely upon the
fire assay, how do you know that your ore
is of value" We answer simply, because
the chemical analysis proves it, and We
have faith in chemistry, and faith ir the
laws which govern chemistry. The
chemist proceeds along the line OF ma
tural law, he cannot proceed in any
other way, and the laws Of nature are
fixed and true. But says the poor pros
pector, u chemical analysis is expensive,
and We cannot afford it. True, but we
must afford it before we can know what
our ore contains, or the best method by
which to reduce it. Without this know
ledge we are lost like so many children
in the darkness, we cannot know which
way to go, or what to do. Then says
one, why don't you send carload to the
smelter and see what it goes. For the
reason that the first thing the smelter
does is to sample your ore and test it by
the fire assay.
And then though you may have had
the same PULP, (Which is the only fair
sample,) tested by chemical analysis,
and got returns of $4,000 per ton, you
would very likely receive certificate
from the smelter, "your ore contains no
value" "Why not then send it to the
cyanide reduction works." because the
same thing takes place. They sam
pie all orescreceived and test them by
the fire assay before they proceed to
treat them by the cyanide process.
Send your ore to the chlorination plant
it is the same. True they have a chem
ist, but he never has time to analyze
your ore. Everything goes into the
cruicible and the furnace. Of course
there is difference in assayers, and
they do not all miss it, which proves
that the gold may generally be saved by
the fire assay when the operator is n
expert in his profession, but these are
few and far between. For even then
You can never be sure. If you desire
to test this matter, do as we have done
repeatedly, pulyerize say pounds oi
of ore in a mortar, mix it well and put
it in sack. Then dip your samples
say ounces each, and send to differ.
ent assayers, and one to chemist, and
when you receive your return certif.
Gates compare them, and then see how
much information you have received as
to Tho a opoount pf oold contained in your