The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-01-31
RAO|UM BEARING
ORE IS SOUGHT
GOVERNMENT REPORT AFFORDS
GROUND FOR HOPE OF NEW
DISCOVERIES

of finding and developing carnotite
deposits, for the recovery of radium,
contains material that is of interest
throughout the mining country. In
Nevada evidences have been found
of the existence in quantity of uran-
ium and vanadium ores, similar to
that mined for radium in Colorado,
and the bureau is doing its utmost
to aid in the work of seeking depos-
its of these ores that can be mined
profitably. In part the report says:
In the course of Investigations of
these uranium and vanadium ore de-
posts il was found hat much low
grade ore was left in the mines, and
thus lost, and that there was great
loss in hand sorting. Since the mar
ket demand is for a material contain
ing at least 2 per cent uranium OK
ide, the miner that he may ship no
ore below this limit, eliminates all
ore that in his opinion contains less.
AS a result much low-grade and also
some shipping ore are left in the
mine or thrown on the dump. By
concentrating the low-grade ores at
near the mine these wastes can be
reduced. There is no doubt that the
ores can be concentrated. Tests
made on a small scale s~ubstantiate
this statement.
In concentration by mechanical
means the dry as well as the wet
method may perhaps be used to adj
vantage, as little or no water is
available in many places where these
ores occur. AS formerly stated,
most of the deposits are far from a
railroad, SO that wagon hauls are
long and expen i've. By ~concentra-
ton the bulk of low-grade ore to be
hauled can be reduced and at the
same time the percentage of mineral
in the concentrate raised to a mar
ketable point. Thus a saving in haul
ms and freight rates is effected,
and the concentration on account of
Jelng ricner should bring a better
price. Low-grade ores thrown on
the dump or left in the mine consti-
tutes natural waste. Much of the
low-grade material left in the ground
during former operations, and per-
haps much of the dump material,
can never be recovt ~cd. Much of the
ore thrown on the dump d~isintegrates
on exposure to the ar so that much
of the valuable content is washed or
blown away. Some of the minerals
in the dump rock are liable to be
leached out by the rain.
The possibility of a continuous sup
ply of carnotite ores in the future
is naturally of great interest. In the
Utah fields the ores are generally
low in uranium, although occasional
small pockets of high-grade ore are
found. Some of these deposits have
the advantage of short hauls;
such as those at Table Mountain,
have as long a haul as most of the
ores taken out of Paradox Valley.
Since the present demand requires
an ore containing at least 2 per cent
uranium oxide, the operators in the
Utah fields have to do such careful
SOl IlhS tIdt a q 90 pioPoi ioA VI ShN
uranium Gre is not wasted.
There is, therefore, great need of
a concentration method, or methods,
hat can be used by an operator at
his own camp, or at least by a group
of operators working nearby claims.
In this way not only would the low
grade uranium ores be made avail
able, but also the vanadium ores
that contain too little vanadium to
be worth marketing under present
conditions. 1t is quite possible that
such ores may be SO concentrated
hat the concentrates can be handled
for their vanadium content alone,
ever though they contain too little
uranium to warrant their being
classified as uranium ores.
In Paradox Valley at present lit
tie difficulty is experienced in obtain
ing 2 per cent ore by careful sorting,
and a fair amount of ore carrying 3
per cent, or even more, has been
mined during the past year; but
there has been much waste in the
sorting of this ore and more low
grade has been left in the mines I'M
touched. This is particularly rue in
Saucer Basin and at certain points
on the south side of East Paradox
Valley. 1t is difficult to state just
how much ore suitable for concen-
tration but not rich enough to ship
on the present basis is available in
the Paradox and surrounding dis
tricts. 1t is certain, however, that
there is enough already in sight to
double the output for several years to
come, if it could al be made market
able. AS this is hardly possible, a
so percent increase is probably all
that could be expected under the
most favorable conditions.
GEEK To EORECTn