The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-01-27
TUNGSTEN PRODUCTION
MAKES RECORD IN 1915
OUTPUT OF NORTH SIDE PRoMls.
Es TO BE BIG FACTOR
THIS YEAR.

Lnc was hPpdl ChtAJ CAdAN
alent to about 2,165 short tons Of con-
centrates, carrying so per cent Of tung-
stem trioxide, and was valued
at more than 100000. These figures
are based on preliminary returns to
the United States geological survey.
The largest previous output of tung-
stem ore was in 1910. when 1891 tons
was produced.
Conditions and prices In the tung-
stem market were unsettled and some
what anomalous. Although the price
In the later part Of 1914 was SO or more
a unit so per cent ore was sold in the
early part of 1915 as low as $3.50 a un-
It, so that tungsten mining did not
start very briskly. Early In the sum
mer. however, floods of orders for mu-
nitions of war caused great demand
for high speed steels, to be used in
cutting shells, rifle barrels, ETC.; an
embargo was declared by the British
government on the export of tungsten
ores from any part of the British pos
sessions, and there was soon a coun-
try-wide scramble for tungsten ores.
Probably no one foresaw the height to
which the price Of tungsten would rise,
and some operators contracted for ores
at prices which In ordinary years
would be high, but which were soon
exceeded by several hundred per cent.
Tungsten metal was also contracted
for at prices much below those after
ward reached. In the fall the prices Of
tungsten reached unheard Of heights;
$4s per unit was paid for numerous
lots, $50 for some, and even higher
prices were reported. The prices
moved upward so rapidly and unex-
pectedy that strenuous tungsten pros
pecting did not follow at once, but ear
ly in the fall large number of men
were in the field looking for deposits.
Details Of Production.
The mining activities are described
Frank L. Hess in some detail. The
output of Boulder (Colo.) field was for
various reasons not increased as had
been hoped. Many properties had been
worked by leasing, so that thee was
no development Of ore bodies. for the
ore had been removed as fast as II was
exposed, and II Is reported that In the
Conger mine, whose shaft was sunk
below the SO0-foot level ore develop
ment was disappointing. Sinking is
said to have been continued The out
put of the district was estimated by
the Boulder County Metal Miners as
ISOLATION as equivalent to 900 tons of
so per cent concentrates.
In the Atolia California; field there
were great developments The Atolia
Mining Co. is reported to have employ
ed more than 800 men, and many men
worked the desert sands In the vicinity
for float scheelite. P. J. Osdick discov-
cred rich ore east of the Atolia Mining
Cos. property and made large profits.
On and near the Baltic claim a number
of men worked the gravel of a shallow
gulch for scheelite and the sands on
the Sunshine and other claims are also
reported to have been worked at a |
profit. Several gold mines also pro-
duced some scheelite. The Consolidat-
ed Gold Mines, In Randsburg, had |
found water at a depth OF about 500 |
feet and this has been piped to the At
ola Mining Cos. mill, about five miles |
distant, Formerly water was hauled |
on the railroad for a distance Of about |
SO miles. The company Is reported to
have erected a new mill to treat its
tailings.
New Discoveries.
Several discoveries of tungsten ores
were reported from Gilpin county, Col
orado, but the most extensive discover
les, as indicated by the number of out
crops, were made in White Pine coun-
ty, Nevada. Veins of scheelite were
found at several places between the
district. 80 miles south of Os-
ceola, and Cherry Creek, so miles north
Of the settlement. Some Of the veins
were formerly prospected for precious
metals, but the scheelite was not re-
cognized. The Hubernite mine and mill
IL miles south of Osceola were actively |
operated toward the close of the seas
IN; the mill at Camp Bonita, on the
last side of the Snake range, was op-
grated part Of the year, and mills were
erected or started by the st. Anthony a.,
Mines Co. at Toy (Browns), Humboldt !
county, by A. r. Shepard and associa-
es in the Regain district, and by the
Doyle Mining Co. In Sacramento Pass, /
White Pine county. Some hubernite $
vas dry washed from desert sands at !
bound Mountain and Spanish Springs, G
Nevada. a
The dumps Of gold mines at White c
)aks, N. Mex, were worked over for q
and yielded a considerable e
uantity of concentrates. and at Tip G
'op, Ariz., q mill was under construc. !
on to work the tallings and dumps OF o
he old Tip Top silver mine for the b
'olframite they contc.ined p
More from Idaho in 1915 Ii
Millsfwere erected by the Primes I
o. at Dragon and by the y
ationa Tungsten Co. at Aricava,