Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-06-01
IDAHO CO. ORE PROBLEM SOLVED
ABLE Article on Flotation Process by
E. M. Griffith.

The following article from the able
/ pen of Atty. f. NJ. Griffith is taken
from the Sunday Spokesman. Review
and Mr.. Griffith is to be commended |
upon the knowledge of the mining con
dltlons of this section as well as the |
public splritedness he has shown in pre- |
parlng the same which could be en-
ulated by others with better results |
than the sowing of the seeds of dis
couragement:
Oll flotation and other modern sys-
tens of ore concentration are especially |
applicable to the sulphide ores of the |
ola Buffalo Hump camp, Ten Mile and
other districts of Idaho county. These
are tributary to Grangeville.
Recent tests made ON the ores of
these camps by well known specialists
on ore concentration gave surprising
results. The ore from a certain and
well known property in the Hump
camp, and supposed to be one of the
most difficult ores to handle, being a
pad ore mixture, produced, under mod
ern system of concentration, a concen-
trate worth $57l.56 in gold and silver,
with enough copper in the concentrates
to pay all the costs of handling at
present prices, leaving the gold and
silver clear profit. The above test was
made on an average low grade ore that
would reduce from 80 to /.
The ore from another property of
this camp under the same treatment
gave concentrate worth $37S9.30, re-
duclng an average of abount 100 to l.
The above tests were made on a
strictly base or sulphide ore containing
no perceptible free gold values.
On ores from the Ten Mile district
tested by the same process even higher
,, results were obtained, reducing on an
, average of 100 to /. 1t is estimated
! that the general run of the ores of
these two camps are susceptible of a
, very high per cent of concentration,
ranging from 35, rs and 100 to l, and
' will produce concentrate worth from
$500 to $4,000 ton. Under the new
methods better than 80 per cent ex-
.. traction of the values from the mine
! run of ore can be made, and at cost
: around 81 ton treatment, with cheap
!. electric power, which is practically
' unlimited with sufficient funds for de-
velopment, and many small power sites
: are available at the present time.
The Buffalo Hump camp which came
into prominence in the winter of 1885
!, through the discovery of what is
!. known as the Big Buffalo property
u was the scene of much excitement an6
- activity for the first two or three
years, many properties of the camp
|, during said time taking out of anC
/ from the oxidized or free gold portions
of their ore shoots many hundreds Of
thousands of dollars by the ordinary
stamp mill. The loss at the time in thu
y values going over in the shines and from
. other causes is said to have been enor
:. nous, and it was considered best tt
~ close down until more satisfactory
10 ! methods for saving the values could b.
! had, hence the real cause of this grea
u, camp lying dormant for these man.
= years. And, too, many of the proper
= ties of the camp had gotten down t.
" where the ore changed to the base o
N sulphide, and could not be handled wit
the ordinary stamp mill without grea
loss, though several properties con
tinued in the development.
-, The oxidized or free-gold zone in tn
Id shoots varied in depth from so to 10
= feet, and there are many properties /
W this camp today that have not as we
ia had this portion of their ore shoot
~ worked out, though in many instance
rs the fresh sulphide ore crops on the SUI
:" face.
or The veins of the district are larg'
at having a general width of from 10
81 so feet, and north and south strlk
IN The ore as q rule is of a uniform cha
}. acter and retains it's values to the deel
est workings. | will not mention tn
;, names of the several properties in tn
Tn camp that have been developed to
or | lop+h hIlt lnfflcp If
n. saw that one property has over 4O let
% off ore that will average from $40
$15 per ton at depth of 26O fee
.u Another at a depth of 800 feet has
feet for ore that will average from $
. to $16. Another at 200 feet has sevt
- feet that will average better than $.
ner ton. Another property has a dep
of 800 feet and has large body OF
II between the third and fourth leve
VARYING in width of from Is to 70 fe
y that win average from 81 to $l2, b
- sides a high grade streak alongside
z the lowgrade.
O There are numerous other propertl
in this camp of lesser proportions n
being developed to any conslderaf
extent. but with similar showlngs, tn
would undoubtedly, with further
yelopment make big producers uno
the presents ystems for the handli
of the ores. IT.
There are many properties in the /
Mile district that have attained dept
from 100 to 300 feet all showing
ceptionally good values to the low
workings. Tests made on these o.
have proven so satisfactory that I
owners of two properties are maxi
arrangements to install modern conc
traitors for the handling of their OF
Investigation is invited as to the G