Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-09-27
WONDERFUL
RESULTS
IN SAVING
Cyanide Returns Rich Showing For The
Big Five.


stockholders it is noted that the fed
Grafton has proven that satisfactory
results can be obtained in the use of
cyanide on the ores in the vicinity of
Ward. According to Mr.. Merrill's
statement the success, as proven by
results-results that shine AXE gold,
weigh like gold and sell at the price
of gold-opens a new era in the matter
of extracting values from the ore.
So far as we are able to learn from
the brief but interesting description
given, the ore is not subjected to
either amalgamation, concentration or
stamps. A crusher pulverizes it to
certain mesh and then it is placed in
the cyanide solution. Probably agita-
tion by the pneumatic or some other
process is then resorted to and the
proposition is easy. The values are
precipitated, likely on zinc shavings,
according to the old system, and the
retort is the next thing in order. We
believe it would be a good idea to
have the Big Five make trial of that
treatment on the sulphides here. OF
course the per cent. of silver is strong
er here than in the Ward ores, and
it might be that the loss of this silver
would become a factor of moment in
the treatment of the ores of the Clear
Greek section.
At any rate, we are pleased to note
the success of the treatment at Ward
1t solves the problem there for the
federation and if it results in good to
the Big Five it will result in good to
thousands of low grade propositions in
the country. Here is what Mr.. Mer-
rill says about it:
This morning Mr.. Watson came
into the office and laid on my desk a
gold bar-the result of his cyanide
work at the FRANCES mines. 1t looked
mighty good to me-bright, beautiful
gold Measured, its length is three
and three-quarters inches, one and
one-quarter inches wide and three
quarters of an inch thick. Weighed
it showed up 15.2 ounces Troy. 1t is
eighty per cent. pure gold and twenty
per cent. silver. At the mint it will
probably refine to a value of $160 to
$17O. 1t really looks-so pure and
bright it is-that its value is much
greater, that it will refine ten to
twelve ounces pure gold-raising it to
$500 to S24O. But this they will de-
termine at the mint. It's good enough
in any case.
Il believe l spent the first fifteen
minutes simply staring at it-trying to
realize the truth of what lay before
me, and its Importance. To tell the
honest truth, l never wholly believed
in this matter. AT least, l wanted some
better evidence than theories, opin-
ions and assay tests. l wanted to see
the gold itself, just as you wanted to
see it, and now that 1 have seen it
measured it, weighed it, handled i'll
am satisfied.
1.-TWO things it settles beyond all cav
1.-THE gold is in the ore, and cyanide
will extract it. It's good to know this,
good to have all honest doubts re
solved
1--WE just been talking with Gen.
Frank Hall. the mining man of the
Post Told him what we had done
and showed him the bar; told him
how we had taken raw sulphide ores
direct from the mines, crushed it to
twenty mesh, poured a solution of
cyanide over it and took out ninety
three per cent. of the values.
That saId he, is the most inn
portant advance that, to my knowl-
edge, has been made in years. If
you can treat raw sulphide ores by
simply crushing and cyaniding, it will
work revolution in every camp in
the state
'Well, we have done it, and what
is to follow for us and for the mines
at Ward no one can now clearly see.
But the outlook is mighty CHEEKY.
1T seems that at every point the
work not only meets but exceeds eX-
pectations. Eighty per cent. OF the
gold and hardly more than forty per