The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-12-30
HECTROLYT|c ZINC
BY ANACONDA Co.
PRESIDENT RYAN TELLS OF BIG
PLANT BEING ERECTED AT
GREAT FALLS.

Confirmation OF the news printed In
the Standard some weeks ago that the
Anaconda company would rush to
completion the new electrolytic zinc
refinery at Great Falls and have 1t In
readiness for operation by September
next came as most welcome news to
hundreds of Butte men. II will mean
the rapid development OF many min
ing properties In this district that have
been dormant for years.
At the present time the Anaconda
company Is unwatering the Emma
mine, on which 1t has a 10-year lease.
1t has just purchased the Czarroman
claim and the Travonia fraction, adj
joining the Emma, and as soon as the
mine is unwatered to the 800-foot level
the sinking Of the shaft to the 1900
foot level to connect with the cross
cut now being run from the Gagnon
mine to the north will be completed
This property is primarily zinc pro-
perty and will be developed and the
ore bodies will be in readiness for
mining long before the zinc refinery
Is completed.
The Anaconda company is already
taking zinc ores from the Poulin and
East Grey Rock, and In those mines
the development of large additional
zinc ore bodies Is going forward stead
lily. The Alice and Lexington mines
are now being put into condition for
mining operations and at all these
properties 1t is probable that large
bodies OF ore running high in both
zinc and silver will be opened UP.
A Great Enterprise.
The capacity Of the new zinc re-
flnery Is announced at 10000, 900
pounds of zinc per year, or about s.
100000 pounds per month. This will
make a daily output Of 100000 pounds
Of zinc. or 100 tons per day of the pure
metal. To furnish the concentrates
for q refinery Of that size per day will
require nearly 1000 tons of ore per day
as It Is taken from the mines and sent
to the mills for concentration.
The Anaconda company will be able
to furnish this amount or close to 1t
from the mining properties that it. is
now opening up or already has open
ed up.
1t Is not probable that the new re-
finery will handle any concentrates
from either the Butte & Superior mill
or the Timber Butte mill. A concern
trating plant of its own will be estab-
lished at Anaconda to do the concen.
trating.
Mr. Ryan's Statement.
In his communication concernina
the new plant President Ryan made
this significant statement:
THE Anaconda Copper Mining COM
pany has decided upon the Immediate |
construction of an electrolytic zinc |
plant, which will have an output of
100000 pounds of zinc per year and
work was actively begun this morning
upon its construction. 1t is our pur-
pose to push this construction as rap
Idly as possible and we are confident
that 1t will be completed by Septem-
ber 1915.
THE fact that we believe the plant
can be completed by fall does not
mean that 1t is a simple matter. It
Will be very large plant, represent
ing an investment here in Great Falls
IF more than $4,000, 900 and a most i'm
portant undertaking. During the COM
ng months, until It's completion, II
will give employment to many hum
ireds OF men, and after It's compile
Ion will furnish employment for sew
srai hundred men.
a New Venture. 4
The construction of this plant Ia OF |
special interest as It is the first I'M !
iertaking of its kind in the world. 1t
marks the contamination of long in q
'estigation and the successful out l
'ome OF the research work done at r
he Washoe plant at Anaconda in an J
ndeayor to solve the problem of \
reating refractory zinc ores. For I
many years the presence of zinc in I
res containing the precious metals p
as been curse to the miner, and in
ne Butte district as well as through
ut the western states many mines
obtaining payable quantities of gold,
liver. copper and lead have been = =
breed to suspend operations because 5,
the penalty inflicted necessarily by .
ne shelters on account Of the zinc :,
ontent
There are millions of tons OF ore In =
10 Butte district alone OF this char y
cter. This condition leads to the in =
estigation above referred to, and II is =
matter Of qualification to all con- "
srned that the problem has been sue !"
sssfully solved and that large and
rofitabIe Business can be built upon -
hat heretofore marked the end OF :.
any mining ventures. y
lts Inception. !,
THE enterprise had its inception in n,
% laboratory tests made at Anacon-
AffaY. fhnea &ar4. ia 49,. -