Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-10
ZINC TAKES FIRST PLACE IN
CENTRAL STATES.
Jack" is the New Monarch Among
Minerals.


Minerals.
For many years the value Of the
copper mined in the Central States has
exceeded that of zinc, frequently by
millions of dollars, ewing entirely ~
the greater value of the copper, for
the quantity of zinc produced has been
larger. Under the stimulus Of eX-
traordinary prices for both copper anG
zinc in 1915 the MINI output of copper
in the Central States increased 5O,65G
tons and that Of zinc 47,S57 tons. The
value of the copper produced increased
from $21,S65,043 to s46,494,969, an I'M
usual increase, but not sufficient to re
tain it's prominence. for the value Of
the recoverable zinc jumped from ST.
139,264 in 1914 to $53,540,472 in 1915,
Jack" thus running 100000 ahead Of
copper. Under ordinary conditions the
production Of 222,54S tons Of cad,
valued at $20,919,512, an increase Of
1903 tons in quantity and of $4,000
600 in value, would have attracted con
siderable attention. An increase in
value Of one-third is unusual, but it
appears small compared with that Of
either zinc or copper.
The production of silver in the Cen
trail States is always relatively unim :
portant. The output in 1915 amounted
to 647,553 ounces, valued at $32s,309 of
which 5S5,933 ounces was derived from
copper mintes in Michigan.
The total value of the silver, cop"
per, lead, and zinc mined in the Central
States increased from $55,171,306 in
1914 to s121,2s3,2e 2 in 1915. or about 10
per cent.
The high price Of copper in 1915
benefited few companies or individuals
except those interested in the conf
paratively small number Of mines in
the Lake Superior district in Michigan.
for that state produced nearly all the
copper credited to the Central States
Missouri reported 402,16O pounds Of
copper, which was derived mainly from
the dressing of lead concentrates.
The average selling price of lead was
less than a cent a pound more in 1915
than it was in 1914, Sc that lead mining
was more profitable chiefly for the five
or six large companies having mines in
the disseminated lead region in south
per cent Of the output of the Central
States. The increase in average price
did not stimulate lead mining in other
regions, as the only other notably in
creased output was due to more eX-
tensive mining of the sheet ground in
the Joplin region, which, carries con-
siderable lead. In 1915, however, the
smelters desired high grade zinc con-
centrates free or nearly free from lead.
Such concentrates were purchased at q
base price much higher than that paid
for concentrates containing over l per
cent Of lead. Moreover, high grade
zinc concentrates frequently sold for
more than double the price paid for
galena concentrates, SO that owners of
sheet ground" and soft ground" had
no reason to rejoice over the lead con
tent Of their ore.
The largely increased and high price
of zinc concentrates created a healthy
boom in nearly all districts. The profits
OF the big operators were abnormal,
hut hundreds Of mines worked by small
companies or individuals shared in the
general prosperity. Miners wages
were raised and mining machinery and
supplies were literally purchased at
advanced prices. With zinc concen
trates doubled and more than doublei
In value any mine that would not yield
profit was indeed worthless. Pro-
ducing properties or old mines with
shafts and drifts that could be I'M
Watered, where old concentrated plants
could be repaired or new ones quickly
bullt. were eagerly sought Old dumps
at abandoned mines attrac ted men ane'
boys who made gooi wages by cullins
the waste rock. failing mills were run
prohtably ON material that would not
yield any profit when zinc concentrates
sold for less than $50 a ton
The salient facts relating to zinc and
lead mining in the Central States IN
1915 were the building of new mills
and roasting and separating plants in
the Wisconsin, Illinois region; the in
creased output and the better recovery
made by "fotation" in the dissent
mated lead district in Missouri; the
more general use of thickeners, classi-
f1ers. and tables and the vastly larger
yield from the sheet ground" il
southwestern Missouri; the develop
ment Of the new mining territory near
Pitcher and Cardin. in the north Miami
field in Oklahoma; and the active
prospecting and mill building and the
large increase in shipments of zinc
carbonate in Arkansas.
The final figures showing silver. COP
per, lead, and zinc mined in the Cen
trail States in 1915 are given by States
and by regions in report prepared by
j. P. Dunlop, copy Of which can be
obtained upon request addressed to the
Director, United States Geological Sur