Gilpin observer., 1912-10-10
LOW GRADE MINES
PAYING DIVIDENDS.

the dividends now being paid from
ores of low grade in the camps Of
settler" Of this region were he alive
today.
"In 1878 the average value Of the
ore mined and treated in Colorado
had to be about 500 per ton to leave
profit, as against the average val
ue in 1899 of $25 per ton, including
concentrates. The average value
has since been much further decreas-
ed, by reason of improved mining
and metallurgical methods and reduc
tion of freight and treatment charges,
bringing still lower grade ore within
the range of profitable treatment.
For every ton of ore running 800
per ton and upwards ever taken out
in Colorado, there are more than
500 tons averaging $40 per ton re-
naming to be taken out. Owing to
improved mining and metallurgical
methods and reduced costs the rela-
1--WE DlOllI is dDoul lut
Usually $40 ore will not stand the
expense of mining, freight and smelt-
ing charges. 1t involves local treat
ment The metallurgical progress in
recent years in concentration, sep
aration and cyanidation has been
great.
Several Colorado instances of up
to-date methods may be cited.
The Tom Boy mine in San Miguel
county, remote from railroad, pays
steady and liberal dividends on ore
running less than $40 per ton. by
means of local treatment, marketing
the separated products, (gold, silver.
lead, zinc, iron) at best prices. The
operations of this mine for the month
of July last show an output Of 10,-
500 tons Of ore, yielding $65,500 or
a little over Sc per ton; expense, $40.
500; profit, $25 900, or 3S per cent
on the gross output.
The last annual output report to
the shareholders OF the Iron-Silver
mine, Leadville, which has been pro-
ducing ore since 1873. shows that
the average value OF the ore mined
and sold for the preceding year
was $500 per ton. yielding net
profit OF s2.47 per ton, although the
ore had to be hand sorted into four
grades.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. mill at
Cripple Creek, from its completion in
1908 up to recent date, had treat
ed 10000 tons of dump material and
low-grade ore from the mine, averag-
ing about SO per ton, at an average
net profit of oyer 81 per ton. This
mill opened the way for the profit
able treatment of millions OF tons
of low-grade Cripple Greek ore prev
iously worthless as unavailable. 1t
in Cripple Creek. and is fully as i'm
portant as the driving of the Roose-
welt drainage tunnel. The Portland
and Golden Cycle mines have since
built similar mills"
The success attending the pains
taking endeavor by Henry p. Lowe
to make a profitable saving from ore
carrying as low as six dollars per
ton is worthy of emulation by other
operators in Gilpin county. The time
is not far distant when the numer-
Gus dumps in this county will be
overhaule1 and treated with a hand
some profit to the shipper. The
Noulton-Adams plant will be large
factor In the solution of our low
grade ores which at the present time
have to be left in the mines or stor-
ed on the dump.
Expensive investigation is often es-
sential in working out a process that
will be best suited to the ore to be
treated. Refore> undertaking the con-
struction OF the new cyani5e plant
just completed at the mine. the Port
land comp ny had its metallurgists at
work for several years at n total ex-
pense of $4,000 in solving the prob
lens presented.