Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-01-03
MONTANA METAL
Mine PRODUCTION
RECORD ZINC WELD IN 913, BUT
DECREASED COPPER AND GOLD
OUTPUT.

RNO GOLD
OUTPUT.
The total value Of gold. silver, copper
lead and zinc produced by deep and pla.
Ger mines IN Montana in 1913 was some.
what over $50, 900, 900. n decrease fror
$G4. T5i ,Gl5 in 1912, over s per cent, &C.
cording to preliminary estimates of V.
G., Iicikcs. of the United States Gcolosi
cal Survey. Meta! prices were Slightly
less than those Of 1912, but there was
also u large decrease in copper yield and
consequently in gold. These were in
part offset by Il record increase in zinc
production and silver output from zinc
ores.
The gold yield decreased nearly y pc,
cent, the mine figure being So, G25, 235 m
1912 and So, 1874 900 in 1913. There was no
great change in the placer output, but
a decrease is noted in gold from copper
ores M from siliccous ores. Tho Nt"th
Moccasin mine in Fergus County was
successfully operated by the Barnes
King Development Co. and an average of
1000 tons Of $40 ore was trcate1 per
month. The Ruby Gulch mine in Blaine
County was productive until August !,
when the cyanide plant burned. In Deer
Lodge County the Southern Cross mine.
owned by the Anaconda COpDcr Co, was
producing the latter part Of the year
An increase of nearly 4 per cent was
made in the silver output Of the State,
the mine figures being 1871, 63S ounces
in 1912 and 49, 0 900 ounces in 1913. "A
decrease of about 10 per cent in silver
output from Butte copper ores was large
ly balanced by an unusual increase in
silver from lead concentrate and zinc
residues from the Butte e Superior
mine. which made q notable record the
last half of the year. Over 13 per cent
Of the total value Of the State output
was that of silver. The new concentra-
ton and cyanide plant of the Butte en-
trail Mt Butte was die after a few months
operation and results did not affect the
gold and silver output.
The copper output declined about 8
per cent. according to mine reports. This
last was about 80 per cent less than
the output of Arizona the leading cop
per producer in 1913. The average price
of copper decreased from 1876 cents in
1912 to about 1887 cents in 1913, and it
is presumed that no efforts toward z
record output were made by the larger
smelling establishments. According to
monthly printed statements, the Ana
conda Copper Co.. was making an aver
age of %, 900, 600 pounds per month and
the East Butte Copper Co. about 1,125,-
600 pounds per month. The February pro-
ductiOn of Butte was low on account Of
cold weather and fires in the West Col
usa mine, which interrupted work in the
Mountain View mine. The October yield
was notably low since the fires were
drawn at the Anaconda smelter to clean
the fues. The East ButtetCo. Is fast get
ting out Of debt by making 500, 900 per
month, and plans to enlarge the plant,
according to the press. One Of the fea-
lures Of the year in Montana was the
teaching of low grade copper ores ut
Butte AT the Bullwacker operators were
eXperiln cnting and building a teaching
plant. At the Butte and Duluth property
the ore was quarried, crushed, treated
by sulphuric acid, and the metal electro
lytically precipitated. Teaching is also
being tried at the Royal Basin mine at
MaXvil1e in Granite County. in Jefferson
County the Boston and Corbin Co. had
4 new 250.ton conce tration plant in OPP.
Grafton. The value of the copper yield in
1919 was over u per cent Of the total
value Of all metals produced in Montana.
The lead output increased from 7,l4G.-
749 pounds in 1912, according to mine
Fr,no, g., o Et- nm ,,a,,1, II, 1910 ar
nearly Is per cent. This increase was
largely due to shipments of lead con-
centrates and rcsidues from zinc con-
centrates from the Butte & Superior mine
at Butte. There was much activity in
development work. At the King & Queen
property in Sanders County, galena was
shipped and a 75-ton concentration plant
was being constructed.
A record production of recoverable
shipped from Montana mines in 1913.
From &c, 91S, 1871 pounds of spelled in 1912
the output increased to SIS, 449, 297 pounds
in 1913, or 217 per cent. This was largely
due to results at the Butte & Superior
mine. The first half of the year the plant
was treating 500 tons per day, but the
tonnage treated treated was increased
to 1000 tons per day the latter part Of
the year. In August the mill treated 80
44O tons Of ore, which made II, 800 tons Of
concentrates having an average zinc con-
tent Of 49,41 per cent, representing a re-
covery of 90.9 per cent by concentration
and oil fotation. Other zinc shipments
We're made from the Iron Mountain mine
in Missoula County and. also from Jeffer-
son County. At the Elm Orlu mine 10
zinc ore was treated or shipped, copper
ore only being sold. There is, however, a
large tonnage of zinc ore developed await
ing treatment by the new mill being
south of Butte. Concentration
and flotation will probably be used. At
the present rate Of increase Montana
will be 4 rival of dorado II New Jer-
Sey, ifnot Missouri, in zinc production.
One of the interesting features which
or will affect mining in Montana
was the identification of the Butte. An
and Pacific during the year;
aud the use of electricity instead OF
costs. A survey for railroad Na%
between Great Falls and MissOulI
ny the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget
Sound Co; and the Butte, Wisdcm &
Pacific Railway will build 100 miles of
road to connect French Gulch and ELK
horn.