The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-08-12
COLORADO METALS
MINE PRODUCTION IN 1915 SHOWS
INCREASED OUTPUT IN MOST
METALS.
With the Increased Average Value of
Metals, with the Exception Of
Silver, the Net Increase in
Value Is Nearly
$10,ooo,0Oo.

Cripple Creek.-The mine output of
Colorado metals for eleven months of
1915, with an estimate for December,
from data compiled by Charles w.
Henderson, of the United States Geo
logical Survey, indicates yield for
the year of $22.330,OO0 in gold. T.
0SO,0OO ounces of silver, 66,664,O0O
pounds of lead Tin terms of lead in
lead bullion and lead in leaded-zinc
oxide), 100000 pounds of copper,
and 10O.000,o00 pounds of zinc Tin
terms of spelter and zinc in zinc OK
ide), with a total value of s43,100,O00
compared with s19,SS3.105 in gold,
S,796,065 ounces of silver, 74,211 ,S9S
pounds of lead, 6,639,173 pounds of
copper, and 96,774,960 pounds of zinc,
with a total value of $33, AGO .126, in
1914. This shows an increase of s2,-
447.000 in gold. decreases of 1.716.000
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 decrease of S1,3S0,000
for silver an increase of 100000 for
lead, an increase of $4,000 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 TO 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 n 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 output OF Cripple Creek
| (Teller County,, was S13.539,245, an
Increase of s1,543.129. 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 om the extension of the tunnel,
stopped November A, 1914. when the
Ell Paso plant was destroyed by fire
was resumed March 2, 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
cyauidation mills at Colorado Springs
rind Victor were operated steadily
with an increased output The STRAIT
tons 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
appreciab bly, The discovery of a body
of exceptionally high grade ore in the
| Cresson mine in December, 1914, re
suited in greatly increased output of
the district for the first quarter of
the year 1915.
Lake County, chiefly from Leadville,
but also including the Lackawanna
Gulch and ST. Kevin lcaa districts and
! the Arkansas River dredge district,
produced S2,2G1 900 in gold, 2,GG0,0
ounces of silver 20,000,O0O pounds of
lead, 1,S40,00O pounds of copper, and
100000 pounds of zinc, with total
value of S14.000,000. against s1,571,-
451 in gold. 3,Sl0,S3O ounces of silver,
26,7S4,615 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 Ibex anl
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 135,000 tons of "a
,,er cent zinc, as compared with ILL.,
947 tons of 21.2 per cent zinc in 1914.
Operations were resumed in April at
the 5O-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 roo feet at the Penrose shaft. The
| Derry Ranch dredge, below Malta. be.