Gilpin observer., 1905-01-12
NEWS FROM THE hINEs AND MILLS
Practical Work for Students.

Practical Work for Students.
About fifty of the coming mine presi-
dents, mill superintendent and mining
engineers OF Colorado, are this week
engaged in operating the plant of the
Denver Ore Testing and Sampling
Company, at 1920 Bryant street, says
the Denver Republican of January 7th.
The experiment is being made by
the department of metallurgy of the
Colorado School of Mines, under the
direction of Profs. F. w. Traphagen,
W. G. Haldane and ]. G. Bailar, the lat
ter being assistants of Mr.. Traphagen.
1t is probably the first time that an
entire plant has been leased by a COLI
lege for the benefit of its students, and
Lne fifty members of the senior class
fairly reveled in their opportunity to-
learn some of the practical workings
of real plant.
1--WE have been so successful in our
experiment since Wednesday, when
we first took possession of the plant"
said Professor Traphagen yesterday,
that it simply means we will have to
have an ore testing and sampling
plant in connection with the college at
Boulder. The boys have profited
greatly by their experience in handling
the mill.
"Of course fifty running one plant
is too great number, but we divided
the students off into squads Of five
apiece, and while there is not enough
work to keep them all busy, at the
same time they are all responsible for
their own particular work and get the
benefit of an equal amount of expert
ence."
1t was apparent from the first ap-
proach yesterday that the building was
not in charge of ordinary workmen.
There was bunch of five husky look
ing young men in front, breaking ore,
throwing it onto wheelbarrow and
taking it over to the dump, where 1t
was consigned to the crusher.
The ore being used consisted of
carload bought from the Old Town
mine in Russell gulch. comparatively
low grade proposition, but at the same
time typical ore formation in Gilpin
county.
The students engaged in smashing
the larger pieces to a working size,
went about their task with will. The
FIVE of them kept ahead of the crusher
most of the time and had opportunity
to work off surplus energy in wrestling
matches between whiles.
The first crusher broke the ore into
pieces measuring about an inch either
way at a maximum. In leaving the
crusher the ore was divided by re-
volving process four-fifths going into
the regular testing department. and
the other fifth going to the sampling
room, a department in charge of Bay
ard Taylor.
The fifth going to the sampling de-
partment is reground in Wallace
crusher. Then it is quartered. coned
and apportioned off. The original to-
tai amount of some two or three hum
dred tons is gradually cut down to
perhaps pound, which is presumed
to represent the average of all the ore.
THE work in this department" said
Mr.. Taylor who is regular employe
of the company. lis of a particular
help to the students. Sample testing
demonstrates the cheapest and best
manner in which different characters
of ore will yield up its values
The work in the sampling depart
ment requires close application on the
part of the students and demonstrates
the nice points of ore treatment
The numerous methods for abstract
ing ore values are well demonstrated
Each of these processes furnished
deep study for the students.
The plant was leased for the week
by the School of Mines. for the benefit
of the students. The proceeds OF the
experiment made will be applied to-
ward reducing the expense of the trip.
The ore assays on the average about
Sc per ton, and during the time the
students have worked about 800 will
be realized.
The subjects taken up for study in
special order will be the treatment of
ore in jigs, the recrushing of the
middlings, action OF the Huntington
mill, work of the Pierce amalgamator
and of the Pierce hydraulic classifier.
The Elspass mill was the central figure
of interest yesterday. the stamp bat
terry and plate amalgamation having
been tested before.
The work has been so arranged that
each student has had opportunity to
observe the workings of all the differ
ent kinds OF ore treatment processes.