The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-12-10
RENO CHEMISTS
SAY ROCK SA[TED

w lnnenucca ana WHICH nave caused
statewide comment:
Under the head, "Winnemucca
Platinum Mine Sailed Is Claim, :"
the journal says:
"That the old game of sailing
was resorted to in connection with
the purported platinum find at Win
nemucca, is the conclusion reached
by the United States bureau of
mines experiment station here, after
assays of samples from the o. B. H.
claims, where the strike was re-
ported to have been made.
"The reported find of rich de-
posts of platinum near the Hum
boldt county metropolis caused much
excitement, not only in Nevada min
ing circles but in neighboring states.
"Prospectors and miners flocked
to the scene by hundreds and thou
sands of claims were staked and
new mining district to be known as
idIliluii Wdo CItdteu.
"The claim on which the platinum
was said to exist was owned by Will
liams, Butler and Otis of Winnie
mucca. Shortly after the strike was
reported, Tex Hall of Reno went to
Winnemucca and purchased the in
terest of Otis in the claim, but the
other two owners refused to even
give an option until more thor
ough exploration had been made.
"The transaction with Otis in
volved only small sum and Hall
was invited to take his own samples
from the shaft and have them as
sayed for his own information, il
is said.
sThis would seem to clearly ex
onerate the owners of the 'discov.
cry claim from doing the sailing
and no others would seem to have
a motive for it.
mr.. Hall took samples from the |
vein and submitted them to the bu-
reau of mines experiment station
here, together with an assayer's but
ton and pulp from an assay sample
said to contain platinum.
"The following report was made
by the station:
"Small bead; contains large pro-
portion of platinum Quantity not
requested.) Bead said to have been
obtained from ore.
"Pulp sample; contains consider
able water soluble platinum, also
PANIED out that looks like
iponge platinum. - 81
Sample of ore in cloth bag con-
aimed no platinum.
Sample specimens said to contain
,isible metallic particles contains no
platinum. LAST two samples were
If ore taken from the shaft by Will
iams> Did sent to Mr.. Hall at his
-equ9st.)
Commenting on these assays, DIR.
5. c. Lind, superintendent of the
experiment station, said:
water soluble salts of platinum,
or platinum sponge, do not occur in
nature and when found in pulp may
be regarded as direct evidence that
they have been artifcially intro
duced.'
THE samples were assayed by |
C. w. Davis, assistant chemist at the |
station, who makes all examinations
of samples from the field. Mr.. |
Davis has specialized in platinum
ores for the past two years and is
considered an authority thereon.
''The only platinum returns from
ore taken from the o. B. H. claim
were made from ore assayed by L.
E. Sewers at the laboratory of the
Silver State Chemical Company at
Winnemucca. Two other Winnie
mucca assayers reported negative
results, as did firm in San Fran
cisco and the bureau of mines ex-
pertinent station in Reno"
The Cazette's Story
Under the heading, Platinum
Sponge Found in Sample" the Reno
Gazette yesterday printed the fol-
lowing:
"The recent reported strike of
platinum ore on the o. B. H. claim
near Winnemucca, which caused
considerable excitement at the time
and which resulted in a controversy
between assayers, has developed a
new angle with an announcement
by DR.. S. C. Lind, superintendent
of the mining experiment station at
the university, in which he says:
Water soluble salts of platinum,
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