The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-05-07
FREE ASSAYS BY
STATE UNIVERSITY

minerals to the State University and
have them analyzed and assayed with
out cost (section 1902 l405, inclusive,
compiled laws of Nevada) Only citi-
zens of Nevada have this privilege and
/ they may send only such material as
may be taken from within the boun-
daries of the state.
| The president of the university has
organized the State Mining Labora-
tory, a part of the Mackay School of
! Mines, to carry on this work. Pro-
fessor George J. Young is in charge of
the laboratory. Under his direction
the work has been divided in such
way that all assays analytical work
are done by Mr. Walter S. Palmer, all
mineral and rock determinations are
done by Professor j. G. Jones. A
student assistant prepares samples for
assay and analysis and assists in as
saying. No determination are done by
students.
| Material submitted to the laboratory
/ is classified:
| a. Ore specimens. Single pieces or
several pieces of small size.
b. Samples. Crushed material,
pulps or number of pieces of moder
ate size.
c. Rock specimens
Determinations are either qualita
tive or quantitave. 'Quantitative de-
termination signifies that the ordi
nary chemical tests to identify metals
and compounds have been usd. "Quan-
titative determination signifies that
the proportion by weight of the metal
or compound in the sample has been
found. This involves the use of gravi-
metric and volumetric methods of
analysis.
Specimens.
On ore specimens no quantitative
work is done unless exceptional condi-
tions pertain, as, for example, the
Identification of a mineral. The rea-
son for this is that quantitative work
on small pieces means little or nothing
to the person receiving the report and
represents large expenditure of time
and money on tn epart of the labora
tory Qualitative teests ar invariably
made on such material Gold and sill
yer are always determined by fire as
say on specimens and samples alike.
| All minerals are determined The re-
port which is made gives the names
of the mineral or minerals composing
the specimen and the order in which
they are named indicates the relative
order of their abundance; the first be-
ing the most abundant, the last being
least Where the quantity of the min
eral is unimportant it is so stated
Reports as to value from specimens are
apt to be misleading and so, noting
/ that certain minerals are or are not
valuable, the point is left for the pros
peetOr to settle.
Samples.
Where special requests are made for
quantitative work on samples this is
usually done. In the absence of any
special requests if valuable metals,
such as gold, silver, lead, copper or
zine, be persent they are quantitative-
! ly determined If preliminar~ exami-
nation shows no minerals of economic
Importance no quantitative work is
done In general, the laboratory re-
serves the right to decide upon how ex-
tensive chemical examination is to
be made This is necessary in order
to prevent useless amount of work.
1t is very easy for a correspondent to
request a complete quantltative an
alysis. but it may take from five to
twenty hours and represent, in cost to
the state, from so to $50. In the end
the results of such analysis may be of
no value to the correspondent. Again,
| if each correspondent requested com
plete quantitative analysis such
large amount of work would be requir-
ed that almost two months would
elapse in any one case before reports
could be rendered. The laboratory is
disposed to give the benefit of the
doubt to the correspondent and cores
pondents, when they request complete
quantitative analyses, should indicate
reasons for such a request. This will
make our task of deciding easier.
Analyses are done in accordance
with the ordinary commercial methods
and are, unless otherwise stated, un-
checked. They are reported in terms
of 'spr cent or parts per hundred.
The following terms are often re-
ported and are defined as follows:
lsTnsoluble residue" is the residue left
after digesting a portion of the ore in
hydrochloric and nitric acids. 1t con-
sists in most cases of silica (quartz)
and siheates combinations of bases
with quartz).
ssFerrie oxide and alumina'' are
frequently reported under one percent
age, and this means that the iron and
aluminium oxides are determined and
weighed together.
Cline when, reported as such
means calcium oxide.
"Magnesia" when reported as such
means magnesium oxide.
" Soda when reported as such
means sodium oxide.
"Potassa when reported as such
means potassium oxide.
The metals are usually reported in
percentages.
Gold is reported as ''above $5 per
ton in value or "below $5 per ton in
value. - When present in amount less
than 0.02 ounces per ton it is reported
as trace - When a grade gold
ORE is reported this signifies an ore
in value from IS to $40 per ton. A
:" medium grade gold ORE signifies a
gold ore in value between so and $40
,