Gilpin observer., 1911-10-05
MINES LONG IDLE "a
AGAIN PRODUCING

Prospecting, the hunt for new ore
bodies, has been more active thap
for many years during the past sun
mer in Colorado. Many discoveries
have been reported, and although
only time will tell which Of the new
prospects will make producing mines,
1t cannot be doubted that the net
result of the search will be to con
siderably increase the metal produc-
ing capacity Of the state.
More significant, however. and
more full of promise for increasing
production, has been the resumption
Of operations on, mines long idle.
Many things have contributed to
make these old mines field for pro-
fitable operation. Costs of ore pro,
duction have been reduced by cheap
electrical power. In the most diff
Guilty accessible mining districts.
places where coal will cost from $12
to $18 ton, electric current can now
be bought at the same rates as in
the districts more favorably situated.
The lines Of the power companies
have been extended into nearly every
important mining region of the state.
Creede has been one of the excep-
tions, but probably will net be SO
long, as one Of the power companies,
1t is reported, has arranged to run
its lines into Mineral county.
In costs of getting the metals out
tendant upon the methods employed,
there has been an even more notable
improvement. This has been especial
ly true as the reduction plants that
handle the ores from the Cripple
Creek district. In the other mining
districts Of the state the progress
in this respect has been slower, but
it is gradually bringing them up to the
standards set at Cripple Creek, and
it is opening in many old and almost
abandoned camps splendid oppor-
tunities for making money in ore
production. To the approaching COM
pletion of the Colburn mill in the
Cripple Creek district much interest
attaches. The opening Of this mill
will be the first thorough test on a
commercial scale of the Clancy pro-
cess. which is now familiar. theore-
tically, to all readers OF the techs
nical journals One distinctive feature
Of the new plant is that it will pro-
duce no concentrates for shipment.
The other big cyanide plants in the
district employ concentrating tables
the local treatment by cyanide is
confined to the shines. In the new
Lowe mill at Black Hawk in Gilpin
county, an elaborate system of con-
rrecedented saving from the From
Itenac and Aduddell ores, and doing
it at low cost. 1t shows what can
be done with the great deposits Of
ore that the Newhouse tunnel has
made available in the Oldest mining
district in the state. One reason for
the long idleness Of some of the old
mines, and for the development Of
some OF the newer mines, has been
the lack of market for complex sui
phide cres. In some OF these ores
there is too much zinc to make them
Of value at the lead smelters, and
too little to give them a market at
the zinc smelters. BY methods now
available, the zinc can be separated
from the lead and both readily sold.
| 4 mill in which e,ectro-static separ-
alton will be used is to be built at
once in San Juan county, and will
stimulate large production of ores
that have hitherto lacked a profit
able market.
Cooperative drainage on a large
scale Is another undertaking that is
reducing the costs and adding to the
profits in mining. The Newhouse tun-
mel in Clear Creek and Gilpin coun-
ties has been mentioned. In the
Cripple Creek district the progress
OF drainage through the Roosevelt
tunnel has been slower than anti
cipated. and an extention of the tun-
mel has been undertaken. but another
year will see the stimulating effects
OF greater depths opened to econo-
mical development and production.
An extensive plan for the drainage
OF the downtown district Of Leadvil.e
by pumping is now under conside.a'
ton. and Aspen is already enjoying
n revival OF activity due to the un-
watering OF long submerged ore
bodies through the Free Coinage
shaft.
For one or more of these reasons
there has been multiplication OF