The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-09-04
ABOUT THE
RARE METALS
interesting information That
May Prove Valuable to
Miner and PrOSpeCtOr

away some rare ana NdludDle mlneTdl
which, could he identify il, would rem
der an otherwise worthless claim a
veritable bonanza. Even when ne does
learn from the assayer or chemist that
he is getting one or more of the rare
'iums," in his ore, he IS at a loss as to
what to do next The Mining Reporter
OF Denver has taken the trouble to
look into this phase of mining very
carefully and has collected some in
toresting information.
Few mine owners and prospectors,
says the Reporter, have any clear idea
of the difficulties, delays and expenses
attendant upon introducing into the
market any rare mineral. They reaS
frequently in the newspapers of a fab
ulous value that has suddenly been at
tnined by some mineral, which, up to
that time, was comparatively unknown,
and for which there is no local market
and then they jump to the conclusion
that their ore. which in most cases is
exceedingly low-grade and the treat
ment of which requires an ex-
pensive. tedious and complicated pro-
cess, has attained a marvellous value,
often rendering it difficult, is not i'm
possible, either to sell the property to
advantage, or to negotiate terms upon
which it may be placed in operation.
II the owners of rare minerals eoulG
realize that the customer for such
minerals are exceedingly few, they
would be very eharfy of sending indls-
cr,minate samples Of their rare mia-
erals to people whom they do not per-
sonally know, thus creating confusion
among purchasers and depreciating
prices. A striking example of this has
occurred during the last five years in
the tungsten market.
Five or six years ago. when the
properties of tungsten for hardening
steed were discovered, was not diff
cult to obtain price up to So per unit
for a concentrate as high as 60 per
cent; but the sudden drop and the
present low price this mineral brings
has been entirely occasioned by the
people who had deposits or thought
they had sending samples and offer
ing them discriminatory, instead of
carefully nursing the market bringing
it only TO the attention of direct con-
sumers.
If this had been done, the owners OF
this mineral could have quitely work.
Ell off large quantities at a high price.
There was no occasion for the de-
cline, as the demand for and use of
this mineral has very largely increas-
eli during this time The miner is
not in position to watch the market.
He does not usually know the con-
sumers of rare minerals, and if, in
stead of an indiscriminate offering or
his samples, he is careful TO secure
the services of some firm or agent who
does know the market. he avoids plac-
ing the consumers in the position of
bidding against themselves, as has so
often been done; while the consumer
site still and laughs while the prices
drop. playing one dealer against the
that the miner is obliged to see his
golden visions fade and be Obliged to
go down. down. down, to lower prices.
The miner should understand that
his raw material as taken from the
ground, usually requires an expensive
treatment, either by concentration or
chemical reduction. and that in itself
it has very little commercial value.
If he would be contented to sell a
mine carrying an ore which our local
smelters can treat. for a price of, say
$4,000. he can certainly no more read
lily sell a property carrying rare
mineral which no local smelter will
treat and for which the market is sub
ject to wide fluctuations, with usually
a very narrow consumption
There is undoubtedly a fair demand
fir high-grade concentrates or ores
carrying the different salts of molyb-
denum. bismuth, antimony, uranium,
yanadium, tungsten and similar rare
minerals; but in order that such MIN
erals may command any permanent
market at fair price, the mineral
must be properly prepared and the
supply held in such eoatrol as not TO
crowd a very narrow market
1t is to be regretted that our Colora-
do millmen are giving 50 little atten-
tion to the careful preparation II
these rare minerals Many CT these
are not amenable to the use If water
many require peculiar grinding; and
many contain other deleterious sub
stances which render the mineral it
self of little value.