The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-07-20
MINING INDUSTRY
NOW RECOVERING
Government Report Shows That Pro-
Duction Last Year Was Below
Ordinary Years, but Pres
T emit Activity Greater

dcti'ity uufiHB the HrSt SIX months
of 1922, according to V. C. Heikes,
of the United States Geological
Survey, Department of the Interior
The copper mines are just again
becoming productive, the zinc mines
and most of the lead mines are at
low ebb, but the silver mines and
many of the gold mines are rapidly
returning to a normal output. In
1921 the value of the metal out
put was $12,137.536, which is less
than the value in any year since
1906.
The gold mined in Nevada de-
creased from $3,566,728 in 1920 to
$3,312,757 in 1921. The production
of gold in Nevada has steadily de-
creased since 1910, and no increase
in the state output is expected in
1922, as many of the mines have
been idle half the year. Mining in
the Tonopah district, which pro-
duced gold valued at 5000, O94 in
1921, has improved steadily since
the labor strike in 1921, and sew
eral companies have increased their
ore reserves. The quantity of gold
obtained from copper ore will prob
ably be greater in 1922, as the
mines at Ely were preparing for
active operations in May. The ship
ments of gold ore from Goldfield in
creased considerably, especially from
the Silver Pick lease, on Red Top
ground, and large gold output
was expected from the Round Noun
tain and Battle Mountain placers.
Mining and milling building have
progressed at Virginia City, but in
May several Of the producing prop
critics stopped development work be-
low the Sutro tunnel. At Gold
Circle the mill of the Elko Prince
Mining Company was destroyed by
fire, but a new mill is planned for
the Big Chief mine.
The production of silver in 1921
was 7,083,782 ounces, a decrease
from 7,745,093 ounces in 1920. The
output of silver from Tonopah was
increasing early in 1922 and the
opening of new ore bodies was most
encouraging. In 1921 the Tonopah
district produced 4,623,901 ounces
of silver, and the largest silver pro-
ducers of the state were the Tono-
pah Belmont, West End, Tonopah
Extension, Tonopah Mining, and
Rochester Silver mines. All these
mines are increasing their produc-
ton in 1922. The Tonopah Divide
mine, in Esmeralda county, was ac-
tive early in the year, and the vari-
Gus custom mills at Tonopah and
Millers were in operation. At Vir-
ginia City production continued
from the Consolidated Virginia
Ophir, and other mines, and the
construction of the 2500-ton mill of
the Unitd Comstock was progress
ing rapidly. The construction of
the Candelaria mill, in Mineral
county, was also being completed,
and rich sliver-lead ore was shipped
from the Hudson mine in Nye
county. In Lincoln county, which
produced 264,304 ounces of silver
in 1921. the shipments of ore were
curtailed. but they improved some
what when the freight rate was re-
duced.
Nevada produce 10,961,491
pounds Of copper in 1921, a de.
crease from 50,559,763 pounds in
1920. The Nevada Consolidated
Copper Company was idle early in
1922, but preparations for operat.
ing the mine, mill, and smeltei
were being made in May. Other
copper mines in White Pine and
Lyon counties will probably resume
mining as the market condition.
continue to improve.
The output of lead in Nevada de.
creased from 21,263,7 700 pounds in
1920 to 7,1ss,76S pounds in 1921
In the first half of 1922 the produc
ton Of the lead mines has been un
usually small. The mines of Good
springs, Eureka, and Phoebe hav,
not received from the low meta
prices and high freight rates of tn,
last few years. The recent increas,
in the price of lead and the re
duced freight rates may make
larger output possible later in tn,
year. Much lead ore and concen
trate was shipped from the Blacl
Metals, Bristol Silver, Simon Lead
Leadville, and Spruce Monarch
mines early in 1922.
The ouput of recoverable zin,
decreased from 10,69S,04 pounds
In 1920 to 69,997 pounds in 1921
The output Of zinc in 1922 depends
largely upon the resumption o.
work in the Yellowpine district
Clark county, and work there ma.
be resumed later in the year, as thu
price of zinc is rising. Some gin,
concentrate from the Simon Leat
mine was shipped to an oxide plant
and the shipment will probably in
crease after arrangements have beer