The Parker post., 1918-01-26
AR|z ONA MINES
MAKE RECORD

|
lead and zinc from Arizona mines in
1917, according to Victor G. Heikes
OF the United States Geological Sur
vey, Department of the Interior, had
total value of $214, 200, an in
crease of over $23 100000 over the
value Of the output of 1916. This
to the great increase of metals, all of
which, except zinc, were decidedly
higher in 1917. In quantity there was
a marked increase in gold, a slight in
crease in recoverable zinc, but de-
creases in silver, copper and lead.
During the early part of the year Ar
decidedly greater than in 1916, but
labor strikes at the main producing
and smelling localities considerably
reduced the rate before the end of the
year. Many mills were built, among
them a custom mill at Chloride and a
sampler at Wickenburg. Construc-
tion was begun on the new smelter
for the United Verde Extension Co.
! at Jerome. The capacity of the Ari-
zOna BinghamptOn mill was increased
to 25O tons day.
The production of gold from Ari-
zOna mines increased from $3,9S5,559
in 1916 to about $4,831 900 in 1917.
AS the production of copper ore and
of lead ore were much less than in
1916 the increase in the output of
gold can be credited to the San Fran
cisco district, of MOhave county, and
very largely to the United Eastern
property, which, during the year, be-
| came the largest producer of gold in
the state. The Gold Run mill was
idle and the Vulture property was op-
Grated only little Production at the
Tom Reed was upheld, and consider
able gold was produced from the Cop
per Chief mine in the Verde district.
The mine output Of silver decreased
from 7,212,039 ounces in 1916 to
about 1884, 900 ounces in 1917,a de-
crease of about 858,000 ounces. In
spite of this decrease, the improved
price OF silver, which averaged S14
cents an ounce, brought the value of
the output to about $5,OO0,OOO, an
increase from $4,745,522 in 1916.
The decrease in quantity was due to
decreased shipments of lead ore and
copper ore.
The mine output of copper was
about 688,OOO,OOO pounds, or nearly
5 per cent. Arizona is still the lead
ing copper mining state and produced
more than twice as much copper as
Montana. The value of the OUTPUT
increased from $117,57O,96O in 1916
to over $2O0,OOO, 1000 in 1917 Six of
the large copper smelling plants re-
ported decreased outputs on account
OF labor troubles. Five others, how
ever, greatly increased their copper
production-the Hayden, SascO, Unit
ed Verde, Consolidated Arizona, and
Calumet & Arizona. At the New Cor
nelia property the new teaching plant
was started in June and produced
more than 100000 pounds per
month until the end of the wear.
Some copper matte was shipped from
the Great Western smelter, in the
Big Bug district. The international
Smelling Co. increased it's capacity
by adding reverberatory furnace.
The mine production of lead in Ari-
zona decreased from 27,O62,OST
pounds in 1916 to about 18,OOO,OOO
pounds in 1917, but as the price was
better the value was only slightly
less than that of 1916, which was
$1,S67, ,284. Most of the lead orc
came from the Warren district of
Cochise county, and the Wallapai
district of of Mohave county Consid-
cradle lead ore was shipped from the
Bunker Hill mines, in the Tombstone
district
The output of recoverable zine was
about 2O,70O,OO0 pounds in 1917, an
increase of about a million pounds.
The two largest producers were the
Union Basin property and the Ten
nessee mine, both in Wallapai district
OF MOhave county. The Arizona Hill
side property, at Hillside shipped con-
siderable quantities of zinc ore for
the first time, and the properties op-
Grated by Randolph & Gemmill at
Crown King also made some ship
ments. Smaller shipments were
made from Wallapai district and from
Globe, Patagonia, Pearce, Tucson,
and Casa Grande. The mill of the
Union Basin property was burned in
October
The HiUiAnn6C for a1aUnn toOnthc