The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-02-01
$56,656,OOO WAS
METAL OUTPUT q
WHICH is TWELVE MILLIONS in
EXCESS OF OUTPUT PRE-
VIOUS YEAR
Silver Output for the Year Was
$13,O0O,O0O; Gold $1,796,0OO;
Copper Gain for Year Was $1O,-
OOO,OO0; Zinc Output Large.

The value of the gold, silver, cop
per, lead, and zinc produced from
mines in Montana in 1928, according
to statement just made public by
the department of the interior, based
on an estimate by G. N. Gerry, of the
geological survey, was s56,656, 5000,
an increase from s44,925,949 in
1922. Increased metal prices slim
ulated the mining of copper, lead,
and zinc ores, and the output of both
gold and silver increased with the
smelling of more copper ore.
The value of the output of gold
increased from $1,656,757 in 1922
to s1,796,500 in 1928. The produc-
ton of gold from copper ores was
naturally much greater, as the mines
of Butte were producing regularly
but it did not reach past records. The
total output of gold from placers
and gold ores was less than in 1922,
though several properties made a
large output.
The largest producer of gold was
the Anaconda Copper Mining COM
pany, which operates several mines
at Butte.
1t was followed by the Shannon
not exhausted. The Ruby Gulch mine,
in Phillips county, was third and its
output was increased until the mill
ing plant was destroyed by fire in
October The Jardine mine, in PARK
county, followed, and production was
also large at the Swissmont mine, in
Jefferson county. Other notable pro-
ducers of gold were the Goldsmith,
Butte and Superior, Elm Arlu, Drum
lummon, Short Shift, Hibernia, Keat-
ing, Champion, East Butte, Orofino
and North Butte mines.
Silver Output Greater
The mine output of silver in
creased from 12,468,161 ounces in
1922 to 13,965,000 ounces in 1923,
but the value decreased to Sill ,018,-
800 on account of the drop in the
price of silver in June. Though most
of the increase in output was due to
the resumption of the mining of cop
per ore at Butte, large part of the
silver produced was obtained from
zinc ore, lead-zinc ore, and lead ore,
which were mined in larger guam
titles.
The three largest producers of sill
yer were the Anaconda Copper, |
Butte and Superior, and Elm Orlu |
Other mines that pro-
1uced more than 10000 ounces each |
we're the Colorado, Hibernia, East
Butte, Silver Dyke, North Butte,
Champion, Anselmo and
md Poser properties. A new 400-ton
1lotation mill was operated at the
Silver Dyke mine, in Cascade county
and large quantity of copper-lead
concentrate containing considerable
silver was marketed.
$1O,OOO,OOO Gain in Copper
The output of copper increased
'rom 165, 754,442 pounds in 1922 to
,24,I32,000 pounds in 1928. The
ralue OF the output increased from
22,376,850 to s32,275,000. The An
Lconda Copper Mining company was
Producing copper at the rate of more
han 100000 pounds month and
he East Butte Copper company more
han 100000 pounds month.
Though experienced miners were
carce, mining and smelling pro-
eeded successfully early in the year
While prices were high. Late in the
ear the conditions were less favor
BILE, as metal prices were greatly re-
uced and costs remained high. The
forth Butte Mining company closed
IS mine in June. The largest cop
er producers were the Anaconda,
colorado, North Butte, Butte and
uperior, East Butte. Elm Orlu, An
elmo, and Silver Dyke mines.
The mine production of lead in
reased from 29,767,479 pounds,
alued at $1;637,211, in 1922, to
6 .5OO.n00 pounds, valued at s2,646,-
90. in 1923. Besides the lead from
ne zinc ore and lead-zinc ore mined
t Butte from the Butte and Super
,r. Elm Orlu. Hibernia, Anaconda,
and Poser mines, much lead
as produced from the Snow Storm
line. in Lincoln county, the Block
!. mine, in Judith Basin county, an
Id Stag dump near Melrose, and the
liver Dyke mine, near Neihart.
The output of recoverable zinc in
Iontana increased from 119,069,S1S
ounds in 1922 to nearly 135, 100000
ounds in 1923. The value increased
ON s6,7S6,9S0 to s8,920,000. The
ectrolytic zinc plant near Great
alIs was active treating concentrate
lipped principally from the Butte
nd Superior, Elm Orlu, and mines
{ the Anaconda company. Other
rye zinc producers were the Poser,
nselmo, Moulton, Hibernia, and the
NINA mine of the Butte Copper and
INC company. The concentrate ship
I'd from the Butte and Superior
inc during the first half of the
.ar contained 42,00O,00O pounds of =
nc, but the output was decidedly