The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-01-01
COLORADO METALS
MINE PRODUCTION IN 1915 SHOWS
INCREASED OUTPUT IN MOST
METALS.
Metals, with the Exception Of
Silver, the Net Increase in
Value 10 Nearly
$10.OOO.OOO.


from data compiled by Charles w.
Henderson. of the United States Geo
logical Survey, indicates a yield for
the year of $22.33O,00O in gold, T.
0S0,000 ounces of silver, 66,664, 900
pounds of lead in terms Of lead in
lead bullion and lead In leaded-zinc
oxide). 100000 pounds of copper,
and 100.000,000 pounds of zinc dn
terms of spelter and zinc in zinc OK
ide). with total value of $43,100.00
compared with $19,SS3.1O5 in gold,
S,796,065 ounces Of silver, 74,211 sos
pounds of lead. 6.6S9.173 pounds of
copper, and 96,774,960 pounds of zinc,
with total value of 1888, AGO, ,l26, in
1914. This shows an increase of So
447,000 in gold. decreases of 1.716,00O
ounces of silver, and 7,550,000 pounds
of lead, an increase of 100000 pounds
of copper, and 100000 pounds OF
zinc. With the increased average
value of metals. except silver. the
values show a decrease of s1,SS0 900
for silver, an increase Of 100000 for
lead. an increase of s34O,00O for cop
per. and an increase of SS,0G5.000 for
zinc.
The tonnage treated by the Globe,
Leadville, Pueblo, Durango and Salida
smelters was approximately the same
as in 1914. Increased shipments of
copper ore were made from Rico to
plants in Utan and copper matte was
shipped from Ouray to Utah. Cyanide
precipitates and copper ore were
shipped to Omaha. Some Rico ore
was shipped 10 San Pedro, New Mex
leo. The mating plant at Ouray was
operated during the greater part OF
the year The tonnage treated at the
United States Zinc Company's mag
netic-wet concentration mill and smell
ter at Pueblo showed heavy In
crease. The Western zinc oxide plant
at Leadville was placed in successful
operation in April and operated
throughout the year on Leadville zinc
carbonates.
The gold outpu. of Cripple Creek
(Teller County,, was Sl3,539,245. an
increase of S1.5t3.129. The yield was
also s507,32S larger than the 1908
yield, which was the largest yearly
output since 1906. Cripple Creek, to
the end OF 1915 has produced s272.-
100000. The Roosevelt tunnel con
tinued to lower the water in the
mines, except in the Vindicator-
Golden Cycle, where electric pumps
are used Several shafts were extend
ed to the depth of 1900 to 1000 feet.
Work on the extension of the tunnel,
stopped November 4, 1914. when the
Ell Paso plant was destroyed by fire
was resumed March ., 1915, the tun-
mel then being 17.127 feet long To
ward the end of the year the tunnel
was approaching the Elkton property
and the flow was in excess of $4,000
gallons per minute.
The Golden Cycle cyanidation mill
at Colorado City and the Portland
cyanidation mills at Colorado Springs
and Victor were operated steadily
with an increased output. The STRAIT
toms Independence mill was included
In the sale of the mine TO the Port
land Company. The Union cyanida-
ton plant at Florence was idle and
the smaller plants in the district were
not as actively worked as heretofore.
The tonnage of smelling ore increased
appreciably The discovery of a body
of exceptionally high grade ore in the
Cresson mine in December 1914. re
suited in a greatly increased output of
the district Tor the first quarter of
the year 1915.
Lake County, chiefly from Leadville
but also including the Lackawanna
Gulch and ST. Kevin lcda districts and
the Arkansas River dredge district
produced s2.251. 900 in gold, 100000
ounces of silver, 20,OO0,OOO pounds of
lead, 1,s40.00O pounds of copper. and
100000 pounds of zinc, with total
value of Sl4,00O,000. against s1,571,-
45l in gold. 3,S10,S30 ounces of silver
26.7s4.6l5 pounds of lead, 2,3S2,910
pounds of copper. 7S,763,334 pounds of
zinc, with total value of s9,057,297
In 1914. Metallic gold was shipped
during the year from the hex AMI
Third Venture mines. The output of
zinc carbonate was 10000 tons of %
per cent zinc, against 113,SS1 tons of
24.3 per cent in 1914. The zinc sui
phide smelling ore and concentrating
re combined was $4,000 tons of "a
ler cent zinc, as compared with ILL.,
947 tons of PIP per cent zinc in 1914.
Operations were resumed in April at
the 50-ton zinc oxide plant. and it was
operated successfully during the year
on zinc carbonate ores of 16 per cent
or less. The Pingree flotation plant
was operated on zinc-lead sulphide
ores from Leadville and Red Cliff.
The water in the downtown mines
was lowered by electric pumps to near
'ly 700 feet at the Penrose shaft. The
Derry Ranch dredge, below Malta, be
gan operations in October and from
thence on regular shipments of bull
lion were sent to the Denver Mint.
The San Juan region of Dolores, La
Lot, S.,rn Ilin nt,I