The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-10-18
Few New Mines Are Being Discovered
or Opened in the United States

~ ~ AAA&NA oIoSCS
possible within recent times. There
are still many and large areas in such
states awaiting the advent of trans
portation and power to encourage the
finder of mines.
Still Has Virgin Ground.
However, We are not going to admit
not by whole lot-that Colorado is
through with the charm of proving
new mines nor even of settling new
mining districts. There are, within
this state, a few large regions in
which the discovery of mines would
still prove futile; but we believe that,
with the construction of railroads or
automobile roads to some of the now
remote sections of Colorado, prospect
ors would quickly acquaint the world
with mineral resources that have been
long known or suspected by them.
There are even potentialites in this di-
rection in the outlying portions of
several of the old districts There are
known mineral reserves in these sec
tions that can not be exploited be-
cause of their present inaccessiblity.
If metal prices continue attractively
high for the next two or three years,
we predict the announcement of sew
eral new districts and of many new
will amply generally to all the western
states.
A good many mines have been re-
Gently developed in Arizona, Missouri
New Mexico, Washington, Oregon
Idaho and Montana. There will con-
tinue to be many more. But, as is the
, case in Colorado the bulk of the me.
talliC production in all the states comes
from old properties that are being OPP
. Grated for grades and kinds of ore tina
could not be proftably mined even {
decade ago.
naturalization Is Complex.
There are very few districts in the
west that are exploited for but one
metal. Naturalization is usually more
or less complex. There are districts
like Cripple Creek and Godfeld that
produce gold almost exclusively. 9th
er districts like Jerome and Bisbee
produce almost no metal bit copper
The Joplin district is noted for it's zinc
For years we thought of Butte as q
producer of copper only, but we now
think of it as a strong zinc district
too. Some districts like Tonopah and
Aspen have always been termed sill.
yer camps. But, as a rule, metal min
ing districts are not on the single
metal basis.
In many districts the cream has been
skinned, as it were, by the eXcaVa-
ton of the shallow and comparatively
rich ores found in the surface zone
Present productions are consequently
tractive formerly because of their low
tenor in precious metals or because OF
the intimate association of these met
ais with zinc. Now the exploitation OF
these mines is well worth while, for
as great or greater profits are now
won as were made during those former
days which we are prone to idealize as
romantic although as a matter of fact
they were generally most common
place and as uninteresting in Their
time as are the newer activities in the
same places.
But, in the end is there any special
reason for disconcern in the fact that
relatively few mines are being discov-
cred? Is there any more profit to be
realized in operating a new mine thar
in working an old one? There are
factors pro and con, it Is true, but II
will be found that there is just as
great opportunity to make money ir
old, proved properties as there is ii
new mines If the mining industry Is
thriving under. existing conditions
eve should worry" about the SCARCITY
of new metal mines