Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-04-10

Although statistics on many prOOuct
are not yet available the figures ar
complete enough to indicate the genera
trend OF the mineral industries in Mon
tana. Available statistics are given II
1895. The table is not complete. and Il
not presented as representing final Off
Gold production increased again In
1885, Placers accounted for % percent OF
the output and two dredges. Porter
Brothers floating dredge at Helena and
Humphreys dry land dredge at Virginia
City, ranked first and second as individual
other Large Producers
other large producers were the Pioneer
dredge of Gold creek, Winston Bros.
placer near Clancy, EldOrado placer IN
Powell county and the Ruby ouch,
Gould. Spring hill, Little Ben, Golden
Messenger, and Comet lode mines. Butte.
mines produce relatively small amounts
Silver largely a byprOduct of cop
per, lead and zinc mining In Montana
and In 1896. 6S percent of the output was
in the Butte distrlc. Other producers were
the Trout Comet, Flathead. Granite
Bimetallic. lone Pine and Argyle Silver
mines. The average sales price for the
year was n cents per ounce.
Lead is the least important or the
major metals produced in Montana. In
1896, So percent Of the production came
from but five Mines the Orphan Girl,
mines.
Copper accounted Dor about 81 percent
of the total value of the mineral produc-
ton for 1896. Nearly all the states copper
was produced from the mines at Butte.
The average sales price increased from
SO cents In 1895 to % cents In 1886.
Zinc was the only major metal 20
show a decrease in the quantity produced,
dropping 10 percent; however, the value
of the OUTPUT showed a slight gain due
to the increase in average sales value
4 nTNfa IN
1896. The principal producers Of lead
zine ore, which accounted Tor - pereent
of the output. were the Orphan Girl
Emma, Trout, Comet and Josephine. mines
Considerable zinc is produced at the stag
Tuning plant at East Helena
Output of Manganese
In addition to the major metals metals
enumerated above, Montana also produces proc -
manganese ore. Butte and Phillipsburg
are the only districts exploited for
manganese. Philipsburg producing prae-
tically all of the high grade battery ore
manganese dioxidel mined in the United
States, Montana also produces cadium
and small amounts of platinum and
tungsten. but figures on 1895 production
are not available.
Montana's list Of nonmatallic mineral
products is gradually becoming longer and
production is yearly becoming more and
more important. Reserves OF certain raw
materials are enormous, and development
is retarded only by lack OF suitable
markets
Arsenious oxide is produced as by
product Of copper smelling at Anaconda
and of gold mining at Jardine. Its
uses as insecticide and wood preserya-
tive are well known.
Asbestos mining Is perhaps M0ntana's
newest mineral industry. Ut is being
mined south of Gallatln Gateway and is
manufactured int a wall and ceiling in
sulatOr under the trade name karstolite.
Cement production Of course is depen-
dent on building construction Montana's
needs are supplied by the plant at Tri-
dent, using natural cement rock as
raw product.
Clay production in Montana is small.
due not to the lack of clays but to the
lack Of sufficient markets for brick
and tile. Plants are located at Lewis
town. Helena, Butte and Kalispell.
States Coal Resources
Coal resources Of Montana are enor-