The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-09-30

the original ore, Is InucH HlBHef THAN
the losses of other metals, with no at
tempt to recover the zinc from an ore
containing such a low percentage as
the p p ores that are being treated
successfully.
Some years ago one of the mining
journals made the statement that the
average recovery of the zinc from the
ore was 81 per cent This poor recov-
cry is no doubt partly due to the large
amount of low grade zinc ore mined
and concentrated throughout the Mis-
sissippi valley states.
The loss of zinc, when smelling the
zinc concentrates, is greater than the
loss of lead, and much higher than the
loss of copper in copper smelling. The
greatest waste, and a double loss to
the mine owner, is not only the loss of
the zinc, for which he gets nothing
when contained In an ore treated for
other metals, but the penalty he has to
pay on account Of the zinc. This is
illustrated by the following figures:
The miner sends his ore to a custom
smelter: this ore containing say 20 per
cent zinc. The regular penalty is so
cents per unit above 10 per cent zinc.
The value of IS per cent Of this zinc,
$40 pounds at s cents is ST. which is
lost.
Now he pays a penalty On this ore of
Sc; the usual treatment charge on lead
ore Of So, and If a sulphide ore, a
roasting charge of 50. Total penalty
and treatment, SIS in addition to the
loss of the zinc. With very few excep-
lions, so to SO per cent of the zinc in
such ore can be recovered in addition
to lead or copper with gold and silver,
for a smaller cost than the combined
treatment and penalty now charged
where the zinc is wastes
Waste of Zinc.
l am not -criticising the custom
smelters for penalizing the zinc In the
ore, especially the lead smelters, know
ing too well the trouble the zinc causes
them, by helping to form incrustations
on the walls of The furnace and in the
lead crucible, carrying values into the
Stag, and adding to the lead-silver
losses by volatilization.
Thu great waste of zinc throughout
left. If broken. in order to get out the
other ore, II is thrown over the dump
as waste or left in the fills, to be per-
haps forgotten or left until the mine
pay to reopen the mine for it.
Now, as the consumption of zinc is
increasing, as its value is more fully
appreciated, l would like to know how
pared with the copper mines which can
be worked to greater depth?
There is no doubt in my mind but
what most of this zinc waste can be
avoided, and at the same time the zinc
is being recovered from the complex
ores of the western states. the copper,
lead, silver and gold values can also be
recovered, which are now almost val
uSlSSS oh dCSouht VI tHS HiSStlCe VI
the zinc.
Complex Zinc Ores.
Several metallurgical chemists, with
whom / am acquainted, have spent
considerable time and money expert
menting on these lines with teaching
for the treatment of complex
ores, especially ore not suited to con-
centration schemes. Several of these
processes have passed the experiment.
al stage on small lots of a few pounds
each, and the chemists are too poor
themselves to erect a plant large
enough to prove their statements on a
commercial basis. When they present
their schemes to individuals or corpor-
atoms able to develop their ideas for
them, the chemist generally asks too
much and expects to keep control OF
process through locked up secrets
or patents, and makes his demands
unreasonable. on the other hand, cor
porations are often represented by of
fclals slow to act, even when they may
think well of the process presented for
their consideration. First, on account
IF the risk they take of injuring their
)wn reputation in case the process
prove a failure after they have |
recommended IT,; and second, some OF
he officials themselves may have some
of their own. and consider II D
heir duty to work out a process for Ii
heir company themselves. With these 1
wo conflicting elements, and the men ls
With money naturally afraid of losing {
t. 1t is a difficult matter to get any '
lew process developed so as to justi-
y the installation of O plant large
to treat such ore profitably Ii
If they did. those who control o q
Process through patents, or keeping It
heir process a secret, are not likely to Nv
ct the public have the benefits of such Ii
improvements in metallurgy as the r
'ublic would get If the United States a
through their mining bur Z
had the process developed, and If Z
ound to have merit, give the inventor q
r discoverer a reasonable royalty or r
purchase price, and allow any respon- n
ible party to use the process under a
conditions and restrictions, and a
erhaps some small payment to the il
49, -