Gilpin observer., 1905-05-11
Zinc in Colorado.

Judged by market quotations and By
the increased activity of agents for
zinc smelters, this metal is going up.
The reasons for the advance are not
apparent to such observers as the San
Francisco Mining and Scientific Press.
for the production has been remark
ably stimulated in the last two years
by the successful Introduction of sew
eral types of electromagnetic separa-
tors, which afford clean product of
zinc blende from complex ores. with
this great increase in production the
natural inference would be a falling
market. while the reverse is the case.
For many years the Joplin, Missouri,
field has practically controlled the zinc
market, but the now large and steadily
increasing production of the Western
mines has become an important factor.
Last year the state of Colorado pro-
duced about $4,000,00O worth of zinc,
and other Western states and British
Columbia large amount"
In the Joplin field zinc is the prin-
cipal mineral sought, and all the ex.
pense of mining is directly chargeable
to that metal, lead being subsidiary,
and precious metals being wholly alb
sent. In the West, however. the zinc
is in most cases a by-pfUduct, Incl
dental to the mining for lead, copper,
gold or silver, and the expense of pro-
duction may therefore be considered
as confined to the cost of concentra-
ton. transportation to the smelters
and reduction charges. Formerly the
zinc present in the ore was in many
cases charged penalty by lead smell
tiers, and in consequence many mines
carry about three to five per cent. zinc
were unable to ship that class of ore.
and it went to the dump. Hundreds of
thousands of tons of zinc-bearing ore
were thus accumulated, and this is
now being treated or will be treated
in the future. while the present out
put of the mines producing this class
of ore is treated as it comes daily from
the mines.
The revised mint report for 1903
credited eight counties in Colorado
with values from zinc ore. These
We're Clear Creek, Chaffee. Gunnison,
Hinsdale, Lake, Mineral, Saguache
and Summit. The total for the year,
using the New York quotation for spell
ter as basis, reached s5,141, $50. For
1904, with the st. Louis quotation as
basis of value, Mine Commissioner
White credits Colorado with $3,313,7S7
for zinc, and his list of producing coun-
ties includes Chaffee, Clear Creek, Do
lores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Lake, Min
eral, Ouray, Pitkin, Saguache. San
Juan and Summit. The New Years
News. with the St. Louis quotation
$100 per ton-as a basis, placed the
states zinc product for 1904 at $3,3S7,-
9S9, very close to the total adopted by
Commissioner White.
To the counties already named Gil
pin and Eagle must now be added,
while the activity of agents for the
Denver, Canon City, Pueblo and out
side companies dealing in zinc ores
means largely increased shipments
compared with previous years. There
is also general improvement in the
concentration plants, and hence profit
in sight on material not heretofore
available. If worked to their apparent
capacity the zinc-producing mines of
Dolores county, including the Rico dis
7trict, could produce this season. from
that metal alone, from s2.500.O00 to
$3,000,000. The contemplated merger
of large mines and mills in that sec
ton is not yet under way. as some of
the capital involved is employed in ex-
tending the Moffat railroad.-Denver
News.