Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1913-01-08
BIG INCREASE IN
PRODUCTION OF
IDAHO Minerals
Geological Survey Estimates
the Metal Output Of the
State for the Year 1912 at
$21, 900, 900.

Washington, Jan. SIN 1912 the
metal output of Idaho, according TO
preliminary estimates by G. N. Gerry
of the United States geological survey,
was valued at nearly 21,000,000, an in
crease of about 10 per cent over the
value for 1911. Increases were made
in the production of copper, lead and
zine, while the output of gold and sill
yer slightly decreased. The added
value was due partly to the better
prices of silver, copper and zinc pre-
vailng in 1912. There was slight
decrease of about 4 per cent in gold
production, lowering the output for
1912 to about S1300,000 This decrease
is traceable to lessened production from
siiceous ore and partly from copper
ore, as gold from placers and lead ore
increased. The Lost Packer copper
mine, the ore of which contains con-
siderable gold, was unproductive, and
less gold came from the siliceous ores
of Owyhee and Gilmore counties.
Plaeers, particularly those worked by
dredGes, had a greatly increased gold
output. Two boats in Boise county,
two in Lemhi and two in Clearwater
were active.
The Silver Output.
The silver output was nearly the
same as that of 1911, or approximately
S,196,0o0 ounces. Silver production is
principally from lead ore. but the
amount of silver per ton Is gradually
decreasing in the older mines. AL
though shipments of lead ore increased,
the total silver output slightly de-
creased Many of the Occur d'Alene
mines marketed more than the usual
amount of silver, but others decreased
their output.
An increase of over As per cent was
noted in the copper production, in spite
of the fact that the Lost Packer
smelter, at Ivers, was idle In 1912.
The estimated production of about
100000 pounds came principally from
the Empire Copper company, in Custer
county, and the Snowstorm mine, in
Shoshone county, each property shar-
ing the increase. The cotton mill at
the Snowstorm concentrated part of
the ore the last half of the year.
Lead Production.
Lead production increased about 2
per cent, the total for 1912 being about
279,0o0,000 pounds. From the activity
toward the end of the year, the price
of the metal and the improved pro-
duction of some of the large Occur
d'Alene mines, a greater increase was
expected but shipments from several
mines at Mace and Wardner were
much less than in former years. The
Hercules, Hecla, Morning, Stewart,
and Ontario mines had better results,
and the Bunker Hill upheld its great
record. Lemhi county was the source
of about $4,000 900 pounds of lead,
largely from the Latest Out and Pitts
burg Idaho mines at Gilmore The
Blaine county production was small
near HALEY, but at Arco the Wilbert
Mining company operated a new con-
centration plant and produced nearly
1900, 900 pounds. The lead smelter at
Hahn was burned In September and a
lead furnace at Clayton. in Custer
county, was the only smelter operated
in the state. The lead production of
Idaho represented 65 per cent of the
value of the total metal output in 1912,
or about s12.5o0,ooo.
Figures in Zinc.
There was an increase of 81 per cent
IN the shipment of zinc concentrates in
1912. the total spelter output being
about 100000 pounds. The Success
mine had most productive year, nav
Ing shipped over 1000 tons of eoncen-
trates a month. A second set of Mac
ouisten tubes We're in operation at the
Morning mine, thus doubling the zinc
output. The Surprise, at Pine creek,
the Black Horse, near Murray, and
mines near Ketchum contributed, and
the Amazon Manhattan made snip
ments Of zinc ore for the first time.