The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-04-29
.BUNKERHILL CO. AND
PINE CREEK ZINC ORE
Experiments in Hy-
dro-Electrolytic
Treatment
STATEMENT BY EASTON
Results are Encouraging and
Hopeful That Successful
Process VIII be Found

r. being accomplished by the
Bunker Hill x Sullivan COM
pany in developing a process
for the treatment of the complex zinc
ores of Pine creek, and the final sue
cess of the Experimental work win
mean the establishment of a reduc-
ton plant at Kellogg which viii pro-
vide market not alone for the ores
of Pine creek but for those of all
other sections Of the Occur d'Alene
district. Not since the building of
the Bunker Hill lead smelter has
there been an enterprise proposed Of
such far-reaching Importance to the
district as this for the reduction and
refining Of zinc by the same company.
Like most metallurgical problems in
progressive metal recovery the one
now receiving the attention of the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan company re-
quires much time and patience, and
seemingly endless experiments, but
the end to be achieved abundantly
justifies the prolonged and persistent
efforts. In response to an inquiry re-
gardng the company's efforts to work
out a successful process for the
treatment of zinc ores, Shnly A. Eas-
ton. general manager of the Bunker
Hill & Sullivan company, made this
reply:
Statement From Mr.. Easton.
I'VE have been working since
last fail on the hydro -electrolytic
treatment of Pine creek zinc ores
made some very interesting pro-
gress This work was delayed by
fire at our north mill January
last but we have now restored
the plant and are just resumng
the experimental treatment of
local zinc ores. However, we are
a long way from being able to
handle them commercially, al
though I am very hopeful that we
will work out a treatment which
will be of advantage to all par
ties concerned"
Market for Zinc.
While it is true that the market
for zinc at this time is apparently
not sufficient to absorb the available
supply it is believed that local re-
duction and refining plant, such as
the Bunker Hill e Sullivan hopes to
establish would have no difficulty in
disposing of its product in the Rocky
mountain and coast states and also in
the export trade with the oriental
countries. This field is now supplied
necessarily from the reineries Of the
-
enable to assume that a plant here
would have such an advantage in the
way Of freight rates that it would
have practically monopoly of the
western field and Pacific export bus
mess. Such a situation would place
the many zinc producing mines of
this district on a basis Of permanent
production and encourage the deveI-
)pment of new zinc deposits It would
place zinc mining in the Occur
fAlene district in a position of equal
advantage with lead, make a vast in
crease in the tonnage produced, add
new and large payrolls, create new
business and expand old, and alto
gether increase the general prosper
ty Of this wonderful mineral dis
rict
The Bunker Hill & Sullivan COM
oany has contributed much in this
direction already. and If it is success
'ul in working out a process for the
.reatment of the zinc ores Of the
district and builds a great reduction
plant for the purpose. it will have
conferred another benefit in which all
HE people will share