Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-11-19


from the quartz gaDgne. Certainly pc
fore this question could be answered the
ore would have to be examined in ex-
peaimental mill runs in which ton lots
or even larger quantities could be treat
ed. While am aware OF the import
ance of certain amount OF secrecy IN
the development of q new and untrled
mining proposition, on the other
band | think that considering the
amount Of work that i have done, and
the interest have taken in this invest
igation. that | should be entirely trusted
by you and have complete information
as TO the source, geographically, location
and the extent of this ore body, with
such other data as appears important.
You will readily understand that the
discovery OF any sources whatsoever OF
American platinum is most interesting
to scientific men, and the time must
come when report should be made on
it. When this time does come, j want
the report to come through me. in the
meantime l think you may feel sure
that in my official capacity as govern
ment chemist, ! have no interests to
serve in using any information you send
In any way whatsoever, without first
consulting you and obtaining your APP
proval must, however, insist on
knowing all the details that | haYe ask
ed, therefore await your reply before
giving any farther consideration 10 this
question"
Having thus assured itself that the
ores contain platinum, in what may be
teImed commercial quantities. the Ivan
hoe company is considering the advis-
ability Of attempting its recovery. In
the new mill which is now being built it
is proposed to make experiments with
concentrators in the saving of this met
al Its high specific gravity should
make it easy to save by this method.
But should this process fail to bring
about the desired results, experiments
along different lines will be attempted.
1t is value in the ore that is worthy of
the most careful manipulation, and the
company intends to make practical use
of it.
The IYanhoe company owns large
acreage, and has opened several fssure
veins of quartz. At present the com
pany is installing a small experimental
mill--plant that will have a capacity of
fifteen tons per day. Stamps will be
used in crushing. A large portion of the
gold values are in the free state, and
these will be saved by amalgamation.
Concentrators will be installed, as well
as cyanide department, if the latter is
proved necessity. The company how
ever, intends to use the plant at present
as testing mill purely. Lots Of one
hundred tons will be treated, close check
made on the saying in all departments,
the results carefully tabulated and aa-
alyzed. and upon this foundation it is
hoped to build up one Of the largest en-.
terprises of Custer county. The mill is
b eing built adjoining the hoist, where
the Loiler capacity is sufficient to take
care of the entire equipment-both mill
and mine machinery.
At present tramway is being con-
structed to connect the mill with what
is known as the Chilkoot vein. This
tramway Will be 900 feet long. A tun
mel is also being driven to tap this vein
at about 200 feet depth, giving plenty of
stopping ground for future work. The
shaft is being sunk between the Chilkoot
vein and an ore body known as the
Detroit The shaft will be continued to
500 feet and the neighboring formation
and ore bodies thoroughly explored.
While this work is being done the COM
pany intends to keep the little mill in
operation. and if expectations are real
lied, and ihe large ore bodies anticipat-
ed at that depth are opened at 500 feet,
the mill will be largely increased
and equipped in the best possible man
ner.