Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-05-06
Place and Value of Small Scale
Ore Tests.
By Ernest H. Simonds in Mining and
Scientific Press.

miner dllufpIOuuCer VI precious lIlSIdlS
are more numerous and diversified, if
not also more complex and difficult than
are the problems which confront most
other classes of business men; and for
their correct solution not only the re-
suits of scientific investigation, but, es-
pecially, the methods by which these
results are obtained are of the greatest
value. Progressiveness, and eagerness
to investigate, knowledge of the results
of scientific progress and ability to make
use of them are more valuable to any
one in our pursuit than in any other.
The miner has the same problems of
management as those of every business
man, to which are added the problems
of engineering; but, besides, he has to
deal with problems of geological struc
ture and of the metallurgical treatment
of his ore, the correct solution of which
is generally vital to the success of the
whole enterprise; and one problem or
the other is often more difficult to solve
than any problem of engineering or of
management. Moreover, if we seek
the points in the management of mine
where the largest losses of profits are
likely to occur, we shall find them, first,
in the expense of useless dead work in
developing. the ore, and secondly, in
preventable losses of values in the tail
ings. Here the largest economies are
possible and here the largest successes
are achieved. Again and again, clear
insight, not before obtained, into the
manner of the occurrence of ore bodies
in relation to the surrounding rocks or
of the condition of the valuable metals
in the ore in relation to the other min
erals present has turned failure into
brilliant success.
The first requirements for the certain
attainment of desired results is COM
plete and accurate knowledge of ascer-
tainable facts, that is, full and accurate
data In order to make. clear the place
of small scale tests in obtaining data in
relation to other methods of testing, let
us first see what other methods are
available.
There are three general methods of
making ore tests which are used by diff
ferent persons and under different con-
ditiohs, each of which has both advan-
tages and disadvantages. These three
methods are:
l. By working parcel of the ore in
a mill of a neighboring mine. p,
2. By sending carload or less of
the ore to be worked at metallurgical
laboratory or testing works, accurate
samples and weights being obtained of
the ore and products of the test.
8. By making small scale tests in
the laboratory, followed by the erection
(before the entire plant is built, and the
experimental operation at the mine, for
as long as may be necessary to work
out the percise details) of one complete
unit.
Let us consider i'm some detail the adj
vantages and disadvantages of each OF
the't three methods. AZ
l. The first method, by working IN a
local mill, is cheap one, since the val
ue extracted will help pay for the work
and this method yields useful confirm
atory results in cases where it turns out
that the ore is similar to the other ores
of district which are being treated
successfully. If sufficient ore is milled,
as can easily be done in such test, to
get the plates into good condition and
the machinery working well and to- OBJ
tain enough bullion and concentrates sc
that unavoidable errors in the cleanup
have only small influence on the re-
suits, the results may be quite conclu,
sive. An instance of this was when one
of the mills of the Jackson, Cal, district
was used to test the ore of another mine
a mile away, which was being reopened,
before the lstter's mill was built . But
if it prove that the old mill is not adapt
ed for treating the ore undergoing test,
it may give little information as to
what method may be used with success.
For example, had the Black Oak ore, at
Soulsbyville, CAL, been tested in mill
at Tuttletown, CAL, the owners would
have learned simply that the ore was
not free with coarse crushing and would
have received little help toward working
it with. the high degreeNof successrwhich
they have now attained. Another cir