Bisbee daily review., 1914-01-11
MONTANA METAL PRODUCTION
Record Zine Yield in 1913, but De-
 creased Copper Geld Output

ptf, ieau, anu zlnC .IOuu 'o1 hy Ocfp | anG placer mines in Montana in 1913 was somewhat over s5e,0o0n0O. a de- crease from y64,754,6i5 in 1912. over 8 per cent. according tc preliminary estimates of V. C. IIeikas, of the U g. Geological Survey Metal prices were slightly less tan those of 1912, but there was also a large decrease in copper yield and conse quently in gold. These were in part offset by record increase in zine production and silver odtprt fi,om zinc ores.
 The gold yield decreased nearly 12l per cent. the mine figures being S3,- 625. .235 in 1912, and s3,194 .000 in 1913 | There was no great change in the placer output but decrease is noted in gold from copper ores and from siliceous ores. The North Moccasin mine in Fergus county was success fully operated by tte Barnes King age of 1000 tons of slo ore was treated per month. The Ruby Guloh mine in Blaine county was productive until August '. when She cyanide plant burned In Deer Lodge county the Southern Cross mine, owned by the Anaconda Copper company. was producing the latter part of the year. ! An increase of nearly per cent was made in the silver output Of the state, the mine figures being 12,73i.. EsS ounces In 1912 and 13.2O3 900 ounces in 1913. A decrease of aboat ] 10 per cent in silver output from Butte copper ores was largely hal- anced by an unusual increase in sil. | yer from lead concentrates and zinc residues from the Butte & Superior mine. which made a notable record The last half of the year. over i3 per .cent of the total value of the state output vas that of silver. The i new concentration and cyanide plant ! of the Butte Central at Butte was idle after few months operation and re. suits did not affect the gold and 5il- yer output
 The copper output declined about 9 per gent. from 3o9,73S.S72 pounds according to mine reports. in 1912 to 2S0.65S.O00 pounds in 1913 This last was about 30 per cent less than the output Of Arizona, the leading copper hproducer in 1913. The average price of copper decreased from 16.5 cents in 1912 to, about i5.37 cents in 1913 and it Is presumed that no efforts to- ward a record output were made by
 the larger sSnelting establishments. According tc monthly printed state ments, the Anaconda Copper compa- ny was making an average 22.000,000 pounds per month and the East Butte
 Copper company abhut l.125,O0O pounds per month. The February pro- duction of Butte was low on account of cold weather and fires in the West Colusa mine, which interrupted work in Mountain View mine. The October yield was notably low since the fires were drawn in the Anaocnda sme,te 70 clean the flues. The East Butte company is fast getting out of debt by making SiO0.OO0 per month, and plans to enlarge the plant. according | to the prices One of the features of the year in Montana was the teaching of low grade copper ores at Butte. At the Bullwhacker operators were experimenting and building teaching plant. At the Butte and Du- luth property the ere was quarred. | crushed. treated by sulphuric acid. and the metal electrolytically precip- itated. Leaching IS also being tried at the Royal Basin mine at MaXyile in Granite county. In Jefferson coun- ty the Boston and Corbin company had a new 250.O0O concentration plant in operation The value of the copper yield in 1913 was over 71 per cent Iof the tctal value Of all metals pro duced in Montana.
 The lead output increased from r.. i46,1i9 pounds in 1912, according to mine figures to s.5i7,000 pounds in 1911. or nearly IS per cent This in- crease was largely due to shipments, of lead concentrates from the Butte & Superior mine at Butte. There was much activity south of Libby in Lin coin county. but principally in devel- lppment work. At the King x Queen IPipPSi's III odhDoin touHtsf EdithH was shipped and 75-ton concentra- ton plant was being constructed
 A record production of recoverable spelter was made from zinc concen- trates shipped from Montana mines in 1913. From 26,9iS,SS1 pounds of spelter in 1912, the output increased 10 S5, 44s,297 pounds in 1913, or zl7 per cent. This was largely due to results at the Butte x Superior mine The first half of the year the plant was treating 300 tons per day. bat
 the tonnage treated was increased to 1000 tons per day the latter part Of the year. In August the mill treated 10000 tons of ore, which made ll,300 tons of concentrates having an aver age zinc content of 49.42 per cent representing recovery of 9O9 per cent to concentration and oil flota- ton. ,Other zpnc shipments were made from the Iron Mountain mine in Missoula county and also rom Jef. ferson county. At the Elm Orlu mine no zinc ore was treated CT. shipped. copper ore sonlyabeing sold d',There is, however, a laTse tonnage of zinc ore developed awaiting treatment by the new mill being erected south of Butte