Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-08-03
PLATINUM PROSPECTS
RESOURCES OF UNITED STATES
UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Geological Survey Invites contribu-
ton of Samples from Owners
Of Placer Deposits for
Examination.

Owing to the increased demand for
platinum, especially in the electrical
industry, the United States geological
survey is about to make an examina-
ton of the platinum resources Of the
United States, says Electricity 1t Ia
proposed to collect the heavy sands
from all placer mines in the United
States where evidences Of platinum
have been observed. The samples thus
obtained will be used In determining
the best methods of extracting the
various minerals which have economic
value. 1t Is hoped that the separation
and sale Of these useful minerals, such
as magnetic, zircon, gold, platinum,
etc., will in many places become a
permanent and profitable industry.
Az a preliminary step to this in
vestigation, the survey invites the
owners of placer deposits to contrib
ute for examination samples Of mate
rial likely to contain platinum. These
samples, which should be sent by mail,
must weigh not more than four pounds
each. 1t is suggested that the gravel
oe concentrated before 1t Is mailed.
Careful note should be made on the
package, or in letter accompanying
it, Of the total quantity Of original
gravel which the concentrate repre-
sents, in order that an accurate Idea
may be obtained of the value OF the
gravel for the purposes under invssti-
CATION. The sand should be dry when
mailed and great care should be exer-
cised to pack it securely, preferably In
canvas bags, for transmission through
the mails. Each package OF sand
should be accompanied by exact infor-
nation as to the name and post office
address of the sender, the name OF the
mine or claim from which 1t came, and
the state, county, city, village or dis
trict in which the deposit IS located. ~
After the survey has made an ex-
animation of these samples, experts
will be sent to all localities where pre-
liminary tests give evidence Of pIati-
mum. The expert will report on the
size of the deposit and superintend the
collection of representative samples
for concentration. Experiments In
the concentration Of platinum sands
will probably be carried on IN connec-
ton with the exhibits Of mining ma
chinery at the Lewis and Clarke cen
tennial at Portland, Ore, between
June 1 and October 10 of this year.
Native platinum has been found
most frequently In gold-bearing sands
On account of its weight 1t remains
in the sluices with gold and other
heavy material. 1t is most readily dis
tinguished by the following character
isucs:
Cd Its great weight In panning II
remains behind even gold in the pan.
ca Its white color. It Is whittier
than lead and Is distinguished from
amalgam by its smooth surface, where
as the surface Of amalgam as seen IN
der a good glass is rough.
Platinum seems to be more general
" distributed through California than
through any other state. 1t has been
found in Butte, Del Norte, Humboldt
Mendocino, Placer, Plumas, San Luis
Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz,
Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama. Trinity and
Yuba counties. Curry, Coos, Lincoln
and Josephine counties in Oregon have
nroduced platinum. 1t has been dis
covered in Nez Perces county, Idaho