New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-24
Chemist Tells of
Rich Deposits of
Gold i'm N. Y. Hills
Platinum and Copper, Also
in Black River District,
May Bring Millions to
Miners, E. C.. Jordan Says
specse, Dispas.a to The Tvsos.s


SYRACUSE. N. Y. July 23.--~Depesits
If platinum, copper and gold worth
probably millions of dollars lie In the
limestone rock foundations in the
Black River district in Northern New
Fork, roughly bounded by Watertown,
.owville and Gouverneur, according to
3. G. Jordan, OF this city. chemist. as
sayist and metallurgist.
rhe deposits are in such quantities
hat they can be detected in many
siaces with simple, crude field tests
nth drops of acid and WITH very small
,ieces Of rock being used. In iaborR-
;ory tests with small amounts of ma
terial under examination deposits have
scen found indicating a yield Of one
Iunce of precious metals per ton, about
sne~half Of which was platinum
metal. At this rate it is estimated the
sock from which the samples were Sc
cured would run from $40 per ton up
yard.
The finding of this amount Of pre-
70 Syracuse has convinced Mr.. Jordan
hat somewhere in the territory from
which they came are large deposits of
platinum. He will not hazard a guess
is to their approximate location, their
Approximate size or their value He
merely says he is convinced there are
arge deposits.
Made Hundreds of Tests
Ar. Jordan has made hundreds of
tests during period of seven years.
de is former resident OF Gouverneur
ind has gone over the entire territory
IN foot several times. He has checked
wer the analysis of other chemists
Ind has reached his conclusions onlv
after the most exhaustive and inten-
I'VE study of the situation.
He is not financially interested in the
matter IN any way. He owns no prop
srty in or near Watertown, has no
financial interests there and is not con-
sccted with any company, corporation
T any other concern in or near that
aty interested in the matter in any
gay. He makes his statements simply
Is a matter of news, as the results of
ereated examinations and tests, and
fifth desire to inform the people of
aorthern New York of the gigantic nos
abilities he believes are lying under
heath their homes.
When resident of Gouverneur he
lad many occasions to test samples of
smestone for friends and business con-
srns IN that section, mostly for mag
fesia and lime. He discovered that IN
many cases these results would be pre-
Iented from coming out accurately by
pc presence of other substances. He
discovered 1t was necessary to remove
hese metals before he could conclude
his original tests. This puzzled him.
Finally he put it down rs a peculiarly
II the rock formations of that district.
ind let it go at that
Found Platinum Metal
However, after coming to Syracuse
curiosity prompted him one day to
, make further Investigations as to the
nuse of this peculiar reaction. He ex-
racted the precious metal deposit and
malyzed 1T, with the result that he
bund the copper and platinum metals.
As to the quantity Of the deposits Of
fatinum he has found in his labora.
CRY tests, he points out that in these
Examinations he uses only one gram of
Material.
Another popularity of the northern
New York ores which he has discovered
> that the usual methods of testing by
ire and melting are absolutely worth
ess. This method is the one used ex-
snsively in treatment of nearly all
Western ores and works very success
hlly. With the northern New York
res, however, all the precious metal
deposits are lost in the Stag and not
bown- He has, therefore, been forced
use other processes. He makes no
ffort to explain this characteristic of
he northern New York formations.