The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-01-12
GOLD AND SILVER
MINING IN 1911.
Gold And Silver Mining in The United
States in 1911-Preliminary State
ment BY Geological Survey.

ment by OSoto9lCdt OutNSJs
The gold-mining industry was gen.
orally active in 1911, but early figures
indicate a total production for the
United States and Alaska slightly be-
low the output of 1910 The most not
able features of the industry in 1911,
according to H. D. McCaskey, of the
, United States geological survey, were
the resumption of normal labor condi-
tions in the Black Hills of South Da.
lkota, the increased dredge output in
california, development of production
in the new Innoko-Iditarod placer
region of Alaska and the Republic dis
trict of Washington, continued devel-
opment and prosperity of the great
Goldfield (Nevada) and Treadwell
4 (Alaska) mines, normal conditions also
on the Mother Lode in California, i'm
proyement in metallurgical methods
and general increase in activity at
many small deep and placer mines Re
Inewed interest in prospecting was
shown in Colorado, although the gold
output of the state decreased owing
to the gradual exhaustion of several
large ore bodies and to continued small
decrease in production from the great
Cripple Creek camp.
In addition to the yields from pracer
and gold siliceous and pyritic ores,
notable contributions to the gold pro
duction were made from copper, lead,
and mixed ores, particularly in Utah
and Arizona, the mining of which was
also generally prosperous in 1911. Not
withstanding a decreased output of
copper in some states, due in part, as
| in Montana to prearranged curtail-
ment, the total production of copper
was greater in 1911 than in any pre-
vious year except 1909 The output of
lead and of mixed ores was also nota-
bly, heavy in 1911.
Increases in output of gold are indi-
Gated by early figures published by
the director of the mint as follows;
Idaho, $133,361; Nevada, $94,S78; New
Mexico, 1852, ,697; South Dakota, ST.
.O50,167; and Utah, 1897 ,047. Decreases
are estimated at $268S24 in Alaska.
$458,410 in Arizona, S13O413 in Cali
fornia, $l,372,640 in Colorado, $780,
$50 in Montana, $S2,165 in Oregon,
and 1901 ,463 in Washington.
Information from the mines. how
ever, indicates that final figures of pro
duction and of exports of ore smelted
in British Columbia and Bexico will
show increases in gold output from
Alaska, Arizona, and aWshington
The great bulk of the gold produc-
ton from deep mines is derived from
ore treated at gold and silver alalga-
nation mills and yyanide plants,
much smaller quantity being produc-
ed by smelling crude ore and concen-
trates. Nearly quarter of the total
output is stin eoming from grayels of
placer mines, mainly by dredging in
California and drifting in Alaska.
Preliminary figures of the director
of the mint indicate a total domestic
gold output of SOC, 6,233, ,52S in 1911.
against 500, 6,269,l0O in 1910.
According to, estimates made by the
bureau of statistics the imports in
1911 comprised gold valued at S11,15O.-
900 in foreign ore, $29, 300 900 in for
eign bullion, $5,75O,O0O in United
States coin, and $10,O50, 900 in foreign
COMA total of $50, ,250, 600. The gold
exported in 1911 was valued at $780,
600 in domestic ore, $S,050,0OO iii do
nestle bullion. $3OOO0,O0O iaodiaited
States coin, and $2,250,00O in foreign
COMA total of $4,000, 900. The ex-
cess of imports over exports was about
$l5,500,000, indicating marked
change from the conditions in 1910.
when the excess of imports over ex-
ports was SAT- ,696, and also from those
in 1909 when the excess Of exports
was $SS,793855.
The gold imported in 1911 was main.
ly in the form of ore and bullion.