Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-19
Lead and Zinc Active

The high price OF spclter that has
obtained almost continuously since
the European war began. has greatly
stimulated the mining and smelling OF
zine or" in the United states. The re-
cent rise In the price OF lead has gi"en
a double impetus 10 mining in those
regions. such as the Joplin district.
where the zinc ores are associated with
lead ores" This is the Introductory
statement in the mid-ycar review OF
tho lead and zinc situation by C. +.
Sichcnthal, Of the United States Geo
logical Survey.
The present smelling capacity is
scarcely equal TO the demands upon
II. This renders IL imperative that as
much spcltcr as possible he produced
per rc,ort, and puts a premium upon
high grade ores. The Joplin district
blcndc averages about IS per cent zinc
content. though a considerable guam
tity of the concentrates averages 20
per cent and higher and contains very
little iron or lead; that OF Eastern
Tennessee averages over 60 per cent:
and Butte. Mont, - per cent; Wiscon-
, sin district blcnde averages 81 to so
per cent after roasting and maEnetic
treatment to remove the iron. High
grade calaminc ores are also In de-
inand, and an increased yield is being
made from Arkansas and Missouri.
also lead free New Jersey ores are in
demand.
The spclter required for the man
ufacture of munitions of war must he
OF good quality. suitable for making
sheet zinc and brass. and particularly
OF the highest grade for brass cart
ridge shells This puts further pre-
MUM on the higher grade, purer zinc
ores. To meet the demand for such
metal some smelters are redistiling
their output TO bring il up to n high
standard. and arc thus able to use Il
lower grade of ore. Such "A method
reduces the output of the plant by
ne-half. however, and adds greatly 10
the cost Of the product.
The lack of smelling capacity has
resulted in starting up old coal-fred
plants in Missouri anu Kansas that
had been out Of commission for years.
All shelters are being rushed to their
maximum capacity. and additions to
capacity are being rushed to compile
ton.
The highgrade zinc ores of the Jop-
lin regions arc in greatest demand,
and the district is tccming with activ-
ity. Churn drills are prospecting OH
every hand. Innumerable new shafts
are being sunk, and old ones reopened.
Old digginGs are being unwatered. for
ground too lean to work at previous
prices can now be operated at a profit.
Tho drilling campaign that has been
distrlct Tor more than year has re-
suited In many rich strikes. and n
number or concentrating plants are
being built. This region is just now
the most active part of the Joplin dis
trict.
Demand for lead during the early
part OF 1915 was not sufficient to in
crease prices materially, but in March
INC price per pound averaged above
cents for the first time since Feb
ruary. 1914 In April and May the adj
vance continued. and during June
there was a marked increase past
cents and well beyond cents per
pound. The lend-Zinc and slver-lead
mlncf viii. OF course. bcneGt by re-
turn to favorable prices for lead, and
ms market. 40 slow to respond to the
general revival. has thrown another
favorable factor into the metal mining
situation AT the half-year end. Tho
lead production had probably been
above normal demands for IL In 1914.
however, and amount OF surplus
stocks IL not known.