Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-19
Direct and By-Products
Add to the Output
YEARLY FINE OUNCES
REACH 53,6O3,OOO
Activity Is Reported in the
Rich Copper Section
Around Jerome

ment, prepared by Waldeman Lind
gren of the United States Geological
survey, addressed to the director of the
mint, the production Of silver in the
United States during 1904 Is placed at
59,6O3,000 fine ounces The various
classes of ores to which production are
traced are given as follows: Silver de-
rived from placers; silver derived from
dry or quartzose ores; silver derived
from copper ores, and silver derived
from lead ores.
1t Is well known that all placer gold
contains a small amount of silver. The
amount derived from this source is very
slight and may be estimated at $4,000
ounces in 1904 of which by far the
larger part Is divided between Alaska
and California, each Of which probably
contributed about 10000 ounces. A
large portion of this silver is never sep
arated from the gold in which it oc-
ours.
According to their age, the quartz
veins may be subdivided into three
groups, the pre-Cambrian, Mesozoic
and Tertiary. The pre-Cambrian
quartz veins of the Appalachian states
yield principally gold, but also a small
amount of silver-probably about 81, 900
ounces. There are a number of veins
in South Dakota and Wyoming which
probably belong to this class, but the
only one producing a notable amount
is the celebrated Homestake mine, in
the Black Hills, to which approximate
ly $4,000 ounces should be credited.
A strongly developed belt of quartz
veins of late Mesozoic age extends
through California, Oregon, Idaho and
Alaska. There are probably veins of
the same age and character in Montana
and Arizona. The total amount of sill
yer derived from the Mesozoic belt of
gold-quartz veins in 1904 was about
100000 ounces. OF this Alaska contrib
uted about $4,000 ounces. California
10000 ounces and Oregon 1901 900 ounces,
while the other states mentioned sup
piled smaller amounts.
The total amount of silver derived
from the Tertiary gold-quartz veins and
allied deposits in 1904 would be approx
imately 11.000,O00 ounces. The produc-
ton was divided chiefly between Colo
RADIO. Nevada and Montana. Arizona
Is believed to have produced about
100000 ounces of silver from this class
of deposits, but the statistics do not
permit an accurate estimate of the
amount. California added 100000
ounces, derived from gold-silver veins
in the belt at the eastern base of the
Sierra Nevada. Colorado contributed
100000 ounces, principally derived
from the San Juan country and the Gill
pin district, but with scattered addi-
tions from many other counties.
1t is a fact, which is perhaps scarce
ly realized, that one-thrd of the pro-
duction of silver in the United States
is derived as by-product from the
smelling of copper ores, the larger part
of which do not contain enough silver
to be classed as paying silver ores.
From Copper Ores
1t is estimated that 1S,6O0, 900 ounces
of silver were obtained in 1904 from
the copper ores of the United States.
By far the largest amount was sup
piled by Montana, and nearly the
whole of this was derived from the
Butte copper ores which occur as fis-
sure veins traversing granitic rocks.
The copper smelted in Arizona usually
carries very little silver. From the
ores of the United Verde and other
smaller sources, however, a total of
100000 ounces was obtained for Ar-
zona. The amount of silver yielded
by the copper deposits of California
is estimated at 100000 ounces In a
preliminary way Colorado has been
credited with 100000 ounces derived
from copper ores
Silver is usually most intimately con-
nected with lead, so that it will not
occasion surprise to learn that nearly
one-half of the total output of silver
is derived from lead ores. The three
largest producers are Colorado, Utah
and Idaho, the first two yielding each
about 100000 ounces, while 6,O00.OOO
ounces were derived from Idaho. In
Colorado the greater part of the pro-
duction still comes from Leadville. The
market price of silver has gradually
increased during the year from 81
cents an ounce in January to 81 cents
In December.
Jerome Mines Active
All mining properties of any impor-
tance in the immediate vicinity of Je-
rome. Arizona. are now active in de-
velopment or in making preparations
for development. Everywhere about
the camp there are signs of increasing |
activity, and almost every day trains
of burros loaded with supplies go to
the various camps
Representatives of eastern companies
visit the Jerome mining field almost
daily in quest of properties that show
indications of developing into paying
producers. The result may mean the
taking over by capitalists some of the
valuable copper prospects that are To-
Gated in the immediate vicinity of
~ IL