Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-01
GOLD PRODUCTION GROWS
STEADY INCREASE THROUGH
IMPROVED MINING METHODS. /.
New and Better Ways of Digging
the Metal and Recovering Values
From Ores and Quartz.

Last year gold production increased
While in the previous year there was
decrease in all sources of supply except
the Transvaal. this auriferous region
which has been in process of development
for two decades. continues to turn out "A
greater sum annually and to hold the
record as the greatest producer in the
world. The marvellous fruitfulness of the
region is indicated by its unprecedented
yield. in lSSS. the year of its discovery
which was due to the stumbling of a
pony over a bowlder in the Rand-which
bowlder revealed To the riders a deposit
of gold-thc output was but little more
than 4 per cent of the total gold produc-
ton of all countries: now the output is
~ per cent. Then Australia yielded - per
cent of such productions. now the percent
age is H.. The United States increased
its output in the last decade 10 81 per cent
of the worlds yield. now the percentage
= -. Other countries show more or less
augmentation In the early years of the
decade followed by late decreases: the
Yukon field in Canada. after producing
annually 1.oO0.o00 ounces for five years, To
1907, now yields barely One-third that
average: Mexican, Russian and Alaskan
mines show increases in 1905, compared
with 1907, and the latter seems to give
promise of large augmentation when al
luvial deposits of the metal shall be
prosecuted Explorers of gold fields, prof
iting by their own experience. or that of
others who may be possessed of"more or
less accurate knowledge. are peering into
every crevice of rocks, every shallow
stream and every place where gold may
reasonably be expected to be found: some
after weary ploddng become discouraged
and abandon the search but the quest viii
continue by some one and some time 1t
will be rewarded with success.
Four Billion Dollars.
Statistics show that from 1854 to 1907
inclusive the value of the worlds QUIZ
put of gold has been four billion dol
lars: adding the estimated stock at the
end of 1898, the visible product was
valued at six billion dollars. Measured
by troy ounces. Australia produced
thirty three millions. Africa forty-three.
the United States twenty-four. Canada
six. Russia nine. Mexico three and one
half and other producers six millions:
thiS makes d total of 124l2 million ounces
in little more than twenty seven
years. Judging by the progress in re-
cent years it is believed that the de-
veIopment will be as great in the future
as in the past In the early period oil
gold discoveries alluvial deposits were
chiefly worked through the employment
of sluices or other forms of hydraulic
mining, and in California 81 per cent
of the gold product for many years
after the discovery of the metal was
obtained through these processes, ana
but l. per cent was the result of min
ing or the procurement of quartz its
crushing and the extraction of gold by
reduction. In the TranSyaal quartz
mining was the process from the begin
ming: now, as veins are apparently eX-
hausted. drilling in search of new veins
is prosecuted with more or less success
and as the drill discloses the locality of
the vein digging and blasting uncov-
erS the treasure. In Alaska, as above
noted alluyial deposits were work ed
and these have thus far been almost
wholly relied upon; the rock, which is
believed to be the source OF such de-
posits. will now be attacked. In the
Yukon the method of working the
frozen earth. just below the surface
has been attended with only compare
lively meager results; now new pro-
cesses have been employed. shafts hay,
been sunk and the presence of ,he
metal has been disclosed.
Uses of Machinery.
The bringing of the metal to sight,
either by digging. blasting or crushing, is
the first and usually the most 1aborious
process Powerful machinery is needed
to disintegrate the mass, and then treat
ment is resorted to in order to secure
the metal In former years when veins
were rich and near the surface quartz
mining was most successful: when the
yield by this process decreased so that
such mining was attended with less prof
liable results. quartz deposits accumu IA ted
at the mouth of the pit and they were
regarded as comparatively worthless until
new processes were devised for reduction.
The cyanide was the most effective of
such processes, and ii is now generally
employed. 1t is. however, expensive and,
therefore. can only be used when condi-
tons are promising. Whenever the pres
ence of gold in reasonably profitable de-
posits is indicated IL will be brought to
sight, even though the effort may have
discouraeing results, for the miner has
been taught firmly to believe that the
pay streak or disintegrated fragment
that is disclosed is the certain sign tina:
in its vicinity are the larger deposits,
which, through volcanic. atmospheric or
other action, have been lodged in the
quartz. AS gold is the only one of the
precious metals which has d fixed value,
ana is everywhere convertible into money.
when 1t is offered for sale, the search for
Gold is never ceasing. and it is prosecuted
with vigor even when its procurement is
most difficult. Every obstruction which
nature has interposed to defeat the pur-
pose of the miner has been overthroWn;
even where mining has been demonstrated
10 be Improbable the search therefor
has not been abandoned and localities
that have been famous for prolific yields
and have apparently been exhausted have
been re-exploited in the hope of new dis
coVericS.
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Tho pernefna1 Smile