San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
a Number Of Properties Now
Closed Are to Be Re-
opened Shortly.
NEW PLANT PLANNED
Santa Gertrudis Company
Will Install Modern Equip
ment at Taviche.

industry OF the state OF OdAdCd oeeiS
- be on the eve of general revival
Judging from the work actually IN
progress and that contemplated III
addition to a number of properties ac-
,,r,r-d the Santa Gertrudis company
with Headquarters at Pachuca, Hldalgo'
has announced its plans to lmmedlately
proeeed with the erection OF a large
ore treating plant at San Juan Iaviche,
mining camp 50 miles south OF TINS
city. The Santa Gertrudis company
is an English organization recognized
among the strongest in Mexico and the
announcement is a reliable forecast OF
what will be actually accomplished
This reduction plant and the properties
they have recently acquired an rms dis
trict will be operated under the gem
eral name of the Mexican Corporation
Mr.. Leonard. the general manager, Is
on. the ground and work on the ne"
plant will be begun at once.
Plant of FIotation Type.
The Santa Gertrudis company has
conducted very extensive and costly
series of experiments at their Pnchucha
plant TO ascertain the relative efficiency
of concentration and flotation methods
of recovering metal values from Mexl-
can ores, particularly those from the
districts in which the company is in
terested. The announced results OF
these experiments is that while the
ores of the Pachuca district readily
lend themselves to treatment by the
cyanide process, those from the OaXaca
districts show a very small recovery
by this method, but give an exception
ally high ratio of value recovery when
treated BY the flotation process. On
account of these results the new plant
at Taviche will be of the flOtation
type and will operate as custom mill,
purchasing ores from independent op-
orators in addition TO treating the out
put Of the compapy's recently acquired
mines.
The geographical location and trans
Z portation conditions affecting the
t0axaca mines are such that silver
, mines producing less than five kilOs
l160 ounces) per ton of ore are I'M
profitable to work under prevailing
conditions. This the proposed mill is
expected to correct and make possible
the operation of mines producing less
than one kilO per tomas the concen-
trate product shipped to the smelters
will be practically the pure sulphide
metal, with considerable per cent of
native metal.
Mine To Be ReOpened.
The San Martin mine. a Canadian
owned property located in the Ejutln
valley. a few miles below Ocotlan, is
actively engaged in preparations for
production. Tho machinery is being
given a general overhauling and all
parts Of the equipment which has
deterirorated during the long shutdown
are being replaced. Officials of the
company now on the ground state that
operation will begin next month. The
. property is high grade gold and sill
yer proposition and is fully equipped
with 200-ton mill Of the concentrating
type. labor saving equipment and a
steel timbered main shaft.
few kilomcters south of the San
Martin is the Los OctOes mine, an
American owned copper property carry
ing unusually high copper values with
a considerable gold content. This
property is also being put into shape
for active production. 1t has no mill.
( but is otherwise well equipped and
will ship closely sorted ore of generally
high values. according to assay returns.
An unusual quantity of bornite is
present in this ore
Between the San Martin mine and
the town of Ocotian is the San Juan
mine, American owned. While the
mines above named are about two
miles from the railroad. the San Juan
lies directly on the railroad. the track
running through the property. The
main shaft is down 10 feet and the
owner states that it is in a large body
of ore which will run over $50 ounces
OF silver to the ton. beside a satisfac.
tory showing of gold. The owner is
also authority for the statement that
he has ordered a complete outfit of
machinery which will arrive on the
ground during February or March.
Small Operators Encouraged.
Extremely high taxes and contribu-
tons imposed by the. state authorities
/. have done much to discourage the min.
ing industry in this district. but the
building of the new reduction plant
will do much to remedy this evil and
1t is believed that a large number OF
small operators will begin operations
as soon as the new plant is ready TO
receive ore and the district will. with.
IN the next twelve months, resume Its
5 old time activity.
Luz W Aht hFlIuINle OF Ile state
government, the Natividad mine. located
northeast of this city in the Sierra
. Juarez, is entirely closed down. This
Z famous mine, which has been known
! and operated some hundreds Of wears
! carrying ores of almost fabulous rich
ness. became involved in r dispute with
4 the local authorities which resulted II
Z the mine being fined 100000 pesos for
. an infraction of the local mining laws
. This the company fatty refused to pay
I and closed the property.
Representatives of Milwaukee cant
tai are in the city at present CLOSING
4 deal for the taking over of a gold
property at Parian, some &c mile
north. Of the city by rail. Their plan,
are as yet in the embryonic state but
they announce that active work will
begin as soon as the preliminaries arc
completed. The Parian district is 70
puted to contain much gold and 3
number Of attempts have been made IA
, recover Il, but owing TO the uncertain
character of the deposits no financially
successful enterprises have been estab.
hshed as Jet.