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Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
OUR MAIL BAG


Red Lodge, Mont, March 16, 1941
Montana Oil & Mining Journal
1st National Bank Bldg
Great Falls, Mont.
Dear Sirs:
After reading your article in your
paper under date of March 18th,
1941, want to take exceptions to
one of the statements made in the
article "Faulting Makes difficult
estimates of Chromite in Deposits
near Red Lodge"
In Mr.. Skaters report he says:
There is no doubt that consider
able quantities could be developed
after the expenditure of much
money for transportation facilities
and he also says that the Chromite
deposits are in five isolated areas.
While l am not an-engineer or
a geologist / have been all over
these deposits with Mr.. M. E. Martin
in my capacity as Photographer
and the only one that I think is
in an isolated area is the Silver
Run deposits.
The Line Greek deposits are with
in a half mile of the new Red
Lodge Highway to Yellowstone
National Park, while the He'll Roar
ing deposits are directly across the
canyon from this same Highway and
then there is a very fair road
built right up to the foot of what
we call Chrome Mt. which is about
the center of this deposit. Then on
the deposits near Richel Lodge there
fc : t.
same Highway to the Lions summer
camp which l believe is not over
about two miles from the heaviest
of the veins in this deposit.
OF course the Silver Run deposit
is isolated as the nearest road to
that is approximately five miles
away.
Mr.. Shafer evidently knows his
business and l imagine was about
right when he made his report but
he evidently has not been in this
district since these new lateral
roads have been built, and as 1
have been all over this district both
before and since these roads were
built naturally l do not like to
have the public told that we are
stuck off in a corner of the world
where it is hard for any one to get
to us, when we have one of the
finest highways in Montana leading
from Red Lodge up through the
mountains to Yellowstone Park and
SO close to these three Chromite
deposits.
Respectfully yours,
w. w. FLASIIMAN,
Flashman's Studio,
Red Lodge, Mont. |
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
CLAYS NEEDED
FOR MAKING UP
DRILLING MUD

One of the most important fac
tors in the speed of drilling and
deep drilling which has had little
application thus far in Montana, is
the role Of clay and other minerals
in drilling fluids. Different mud for
different formations is one OF the
important secrets of successful ro-
tary drilling. A very complete dis
cussion of the subject is contain
ed in a new publication of the U.
s. Bureau of Mines, by George A.
Stern, associate chemical engineer.
Twenty years ago a 6,240-foot
we'll was the deepest in the world
and in 1880 a 10,O00-foot hole was
a goal yet to be attained; now wells
two miles deep are not at all un-
common, and a 15.000-foot depth
has already been exceeded" the au-
thor says in introducing the sub
ject. He discusses the discovery that
one clay would serve better than
another in making drilling mud"
and that selection of the clay would
result in improved operating eff
fectiveness.
Appreciation of intelligent use
Oh correct muQ is growing TO Sucn
an extent that it is common prac-
tice to have an engineer dele
gated to the exclusive job of super
yising the mud. Wells are being
drilled for thousands of feet in OPP
en- hole, whereas but a short time
ago protective casing strings were
landed prior to water shut-ofi
points. Thus, mud is a competitor
of steel and the savings in casing
costs returns a handsome diVi-
dend on the expense of mud super
vision. Ten thousand foot holes are
drilled with mud cost of only
$4,000 or less.
This publication is of particular
interest to the clay industry, show.
ing the types of minerals used, with
their requirements and limitations
The coming of rotary drilling fol
Montana will mean opportunity FOL
the development of clay deposits
suitable for manufacture of mod
ern rotary drilling mud.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
HISTORIC Mine
AGAIN SUCCEEDS

SILVER STAR-The Broadway
mine is operating a 1O0-ton cyanide
plant, under management of Tay-
lor Knapp Gold Mining Co. The
mine comprises the claims of the
old Broadway mine which was dis
covered in the early SOS. An
English syndicate first operated it,
erecting a 10-stamp mill on the
banks of the Jefferson river. Later
it was transferred to the Drum
lumOnd company of Marysville. A
cyanide plant was later erected at
the shaft of the Broadway mine
and the ore of the Broadway and
Hudson group was treated until
trouble arose with the original
owner The mill burned down and
the only activity for some time was
shipment of high grade by leassers.
In 1887 the Taylor Knapp Mining
Co. of Butte took over the property,
re-opened the Broadway and erect
ed new mill. It is now operat-
ing steadily with a full crew of
men.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
GREEN CAMPBELL
PAYING DIVIDENDS

SILVER STAR-Green Campbell
mine, an old producer of the early
days. of the Montana gold rush, re-
opened about four years ago by
Green Campbell Mining Co. is prov
ing a profitable operation. The first
year the mine was cleaned out, re-
timbered, and the ore sampled and
tested by Denver Equipment Co. of
Denver. A mill was erected on the
basis of the Denver Equipment
tests. New ore was opened and
the mine has operated since 1889
and produced high grade concen-
trate. The mill uses the flotation
process. The ore carries values an
gold, silver and copper. The COM
pany is headed by M. Hober Of
Great Falls and has already paid
dividends.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

| ed a metallurgical testing plant In
Butte and Mr.. Rothwell, with the
late B. II. DOsenbach, designed,
built. and operated the flotation
plant of the East Butte Mining
| Mining Company. He also made
many improvements in the copper
smelling plant Of the East Butte
Mining Company. We made the first
flotation tests on the chrome ores
of south-central Montana. which
shortly will be opened up and
brought into production by a de-
partment of the United States gov
eminent We invented the airlift
thickener and made many improve
ments on drum filters, as well as
carried on extensive research work
to recover silver from the heavy
zinc sulphide concentrates of the
Butte & Superior Mining Company
In all his work Rothwell was
careful and painstaking. He never
guessed at anything technical. When
there was a proven formula for do
ing something, he used that for
mula. When there was no proven
formula he worked out one and
put it into practical use. When OPP
Grating a plant he would know what
every machine in the plant was do
ing and could tell you what even
the running of the smallest belt
and pulley was costing per ton
of ore milled. He was highly me-
thodical in his work and home life.
His principal recreation was read
ing, mainly technical and economic
works. He was a constant seeker
of knowledge. He Stunned any
public mention of his accomplish
ments.
He had a pleasing personality,
never became discouraged, rarely
lost his temper, and was loved by
the men who worked with and for
him. In his passing the engineer
ing profession loses one of the it's
brightest lights.
He is survived by his widow
Martha, his daughter and son-in-
law, Jeanne r. and Lee r. de
Renault, and a granddaughter
Phyllis de Renault. His heritage
to the world is "a good job, well
done
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

John Rothwell was born III
kingston. canada. March 20, 1862
his father being Hugh c. Rothweli'
a brother of r. P Rothwell, the lat-
ter being a former editor OF the
Engineering & Mining Journal ana
one of the founders of the Amerl-
can Institute OF Mining & Metal
urgical Engineers. r. p. Rothwell
regarded John as a son, rather imam
a nephew. and planned his educa-
ton and course in life.
1obn graduated from queen
;,yareitv at Kingston and carry
hose the field of mechanical en-
,,,neering and metallurgy as ms
Sisa,s work He designed, built ana
onerated chlorination ana cyaniu a,
niants in the Black HIS OF oou'n
nakota and in Nevada ana hau
much TO do with salt roasting anu
iaacbing of silver ores. For awhlle
no was associated with the ldte
charles M. Mitchell, the late SpeI-
cor penrose and Colonel ID. T.
1ockfinq in their Colorado opera
tione and was also on the engineer
ing staff OF the late pioneer MINING
onerator Captain ]. r. Lamar. For
twenty-seven years he was assocI-
ated with the Colorado Iron WORKS,
where he and r. P. Atkins invented
and developed the impact screen
Portland filter. Atkins classifler'
RothwelL thickener and numerous
other metallurgical machines. 1t IS
strange coincidence that Mr.. AK
ems death preceded that of Mr..
Rothwell by only few months;
In 1912 Rothwell severed his
close association with the Colorado
IRON Works to design, build, and
onerate the Ophir mill in Butte.
THAT mill was the first one to sue
cessfully cyanide the silver sui
nhide ores in Butte. After the Butte
eyaniding process was perfected, the
Rotation process came into gen.
eral use and supplanted the cyan
ide process in treating Butte silver
ores. The writer conducted the cy-
anide testing for the Ophir plant
and had the privilege of being as
ISOLATED with Mr.. ROthwell until
the early 1920's when Rothwell
moved TO Nevada and then to Cali
fornia. For five years we conduct
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

FOR CHROME
ARE DIFFICULT

Ample evidence why Montana
chromite deposits have not been
developed up to this time is pro-
vided by the specifications Of chro-
mite ores now in effect, as provided
by the Treasury Department, Pro-
curement Division.
These standards were approved
August "a, 1899. Detail require
ments: (a) Chromium ore shall be
furnished in Jumps. All Jumps shall
pass a 6-inch screen. Not more than
10 percent shall pass a II inch
screen. (b) Each shipment of ore
shall be suitable for the manufac-
ture of ferro-chromium (all grades
except "A") in strict accordance
with the Federal Specification
QQ-F-151, by the usual commercial
methods of manufacture, without
blending with other ores. (c) The
chromium ore shall be of the COM
position shown in the table below
cd All chromium ore delivered on
a single contract shall be of the
same average chemical analysis.
(e) All cars prior to loading with
ore shall be broom swept free
from sand or any other foreign mat
ter. All leaks shall be caulked tight
to prevent loss in transportation.
(D All tare weights of cars shall
be actual weight of clean cars.
Stencil weights will not be accept
ed in determining the delivered
weight.
Element Percentage
Chromium oxide Cr2O3)
(minimum) -.-.-..-.-..--.-.-.48.0
Iron (metalic. maximum ...-....--.1.3
of actual percentage of
metallic chromium.
Sulphur .--.....--.-...- O SO
Phosphate (Maximum) ....-.O.2O
From the standards set up it is
understandable why the Montana
chrome has not been developed.
Montana miners possibly could get
the grade up to the standard as to
the percentage but as to the size
of the ore, it cannot be done with
out making briquettes Of the con-
centrates. Needless to say this is
too expensive a process to enable
any kind of commercial basis of
operation to be followed profitably.
During the last session of the
Montana Legislature in Montana,
bill Oh. B. $500 was passed and
approved by the governor which es-
tablishes a board to correlate and
present the many resources and pos
sible industries that Montana has
available to the U. S. Government
in the present defense program.
Among those most favorable in
prospect is the ferro-chrome indus
try that could be developed from
grouped centrally in the
central part of Montana. The iron
ores of the Neihart district, and the
chrome ores of the Saltwater
Sweetgrass district are a combine
that could easily be the outstand-
ing mining industry in Montana.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
GIVES AIMS OF
MINING GEOLOGY
By Reno H. Sales

The mining geolOgist, as we'll as
the mine operator, has an import
ant role to play. For his aids he
should choose as allies" good
geology. geophysics, and a better
understanding of the laws of ore
deposition. He should cast adrift
ruthlessly, lunches" chance"
and Lady Luck" and do every
thing possible to keep mining geolo-
gy on a sound basis He must
urge better and more practical
mining geology training in colleges
for men who expect to be Of di-
rect service to the mining industry.
and continue to do all possible to
develop among operators a better
understanding of the value OF
mining geology" to mine opera
tions.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

defense purposes.
First phase OF the search, when
has extended not only to remote
sections of the United States but to
Europe and Asia, is a meticulous
combing Of voluminous county rec
ords TO determine original claim
holders.
In some cases these records ex-
tend back as far as 10 years.
Some of the difficulties in con
nection with the search were relat-
ed here by II. J. Goodale, head OF
the federal public survey office:
The original locator of one claim
was an Indian, long since deceased.
When the federal agent endeavored
to obtain list of the Indian S
heirs, the agent discovered the man
had five wives and at least rs chill
dren. The children had married and
their offspring were numerous.
In another case, after long
search in which the assistance Of
postmasters was sought the missing
locator was found to be the post
master in a small Montana town.
Trails starting in some small,
western county clerks office have
led investigators to almost every
state in the union, South America
and China.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
Opportunity To Develop
Chromite Ore Lies Neglected
In Madison County Deposit

minerals chromite and
prospectors gold and silver
OF develop
reported White Sulphur Springs district
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

SEND A CONTRIBUTION To
THE SUNBURST BADGER
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

THE SIrNBTRRT RADGR'st
SEND A CONTRIBUTION
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
COLLAR TO COLLAR
RULE ANNOUNCED

A ruling that "the workday in
underground metal mining starts
when the miner reports for duty
as required at or near the collar OF
the mine and ends when he reach
es the Collar toby shr dcmf m m
es the collar at the end of the shift"
has been pronounced by the wage
and hour division of the u. S. de-
partment of labor.
The workday does not include
any fixed lunch period of one-half
hour or more during which the
miner is relieved of all duties, ev-
en- though the lunch period is spent
underground.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

and the report IS being investigate
Thus far the only discoveries of
chromite outside the Beartooth
mountains are in Madison county.
These deposits were discussed by
Werner Jones in a paper written in
1881 titled "Chromite Deposits Near
Sheridan, Montana" and published
in Vol 26, PIP. 625-629 in Economic
Geology. A. v. Cory made a re-
connaisauce survey of the Sheridan
chromite deposits, and a descrip
ton of the general geology of the
region was given in Memoir No. 9
of the Montana Bureau of Mines
and Geology, published in 1888, by
Wilfred Tansley. P. A. Schafer and
l.. II. Hart.
In 1887, Paul A. Schafer made
more comprehensive survey of the
chromium deposits of the State, in
Guiding the Sheridan deposits,
which report is contained in Me
moir No is of the Montana Blu
reau of Mines and Geology.
He writes: 1.-The chromite belt is
exposed between Horse Creek and
Ramshorn creek, about " miles
east of the town of Sheridan. Madi-
son county. The rocks are highly
folded and metamorphosed Cherry
Greek gneisses and schists. Cherry
Greek limestone crops out a few
hundred yards west of the chro-
mite exposures. The chromite, ac-
cording to Jones, occurs as lentic-
ular masses or segregations in a
series OF dioriate bikes, that strike
northeast and dip 40 degrees to
so degrees west. These bikes attain
a width of 200 feet or more and
can be traced for at least a mile
along the strike The diorite
is Of two types: % A coarse-grain-
ed dark-colored rock which makes
up the main diorite bikes and
within which the chromite bodies
are found; CD fine grained near
ly black diOrite, which was observ-
ed at only one point and does not
exceed two feet in width. forming |
a segregation within a dixie of |
coarse-grained districts. 1t assays
0.47 percent Cr2O3.
Jones states that THE chromite, |
SO far as could be determined. oc-
ours as lenses in the coarse diorite,
which shows a maximum observed /
thickness of five feet. 1t is mas /
sive, with an indistinct banded
structure, and contains occasional
streaks of tale"
Very little work has been done
toward developing the ore, so the
detailed geologic relationships are
not very clear" Schafer continues. |
"A small adit in Horse Greek Val /
ley exposed a small amount of 7
chromite adjacent to a pegmatite /
dixie. On the hill south of Horse
Greek a trench exposes several
feet of massive ore. Samples taken
by Jones assayed between 81 per-
cent and 35 percent Cr2O3.
Because of the ready accesi- |
bility, more moderate climate con-
ditions and favorable location of
this deposit, it is surprising that
so little interest has been directed
toward It, Development of the ore
by trenching and adits could be
done throughout the year. Soil |
cover is thin and little vegetation |
exists to hide the rock, and in the
total length of about two miles
considerable ore could probably be
blocked out"
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

COOKE CITY-Republic Mining
Co., operated by Lyman Brooks. has
been operating the mill all winter.
The mill is a slyer-lead flotation
plant and has had a full crew of
men at work as a result of very
mild winter weather.
McLaren Brothers are preparing
to resume operation at their mine
and mill in the near future. They
were shut down for the winter,
as usual.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22

Red Lodge, Mont, March 16, 1941
Montana Oil & Mining Journal
1st National Bank Bldg
Great Falls, Mont.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
JOHN E. ROTHWELL
A TRIBUTE
(By CARL J. TRAUERSIAN)

Rothwe mining mechanical engineer and meauFgst
Park California
1941 after illness Of one year
with the mining engi-
neerng fraternity the family record most OF ms
accomplish something not
Vsratf0n apcam
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-22
Missing Persons Own Claims On
Vast Montana Mining Properties

HFIENA-One of and most farlung man
$4,000 holders OF early western MN
Purpose the department OF the INTERIOR
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-03-27

M IAMI BEACH.-Th keen COM
W. bination Of two Dodger man.
darins, Larry MacPhail and Leo
Durocher, dominates two stars for
an exceptional season. They are
Ducky Medwick and Peewee Reese.
MacPhail believes that young
Reese will be the star infelder of
the National circuit and that Med
wick will be the star outfelder for
1941. This may be peering into the
future with rose-rimmed glasses, but
that happens to be the way Mac
Phail and Durocher feel about it
as the training season gets well I'M
der way.
give never seen fellow train
harder than Medwick has trained
this spring." MacPhail said. "He is
not only in great physical shape, but
he will show you more spirit than
you've seen in long time. There'll
be no Tightening up as there was
last summer. He is still in his
prime, ready to move at top speed"
The Right Way to Train
give discovered" Medwick told
me, ''that the best way to get in
shape is to keep in shape. That's
what I've done all winter. I was in
shape before the bunch arrived.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-03-27

Away back when an invitation to
get off the earth was practically an
isolated instance?
Defense workers are being housed
in trailers in some parts of the coun-
try. After night in a trailer a
man must be pretty glad of a
chance to go to the shop where he
can get good rest.
The horse seems to be finished in
the army, but it requires lot of
imagination to picture anybody
shouting: ga tank, tank, my king
dom for tank!"
Two hundred thousand workers in
the printing trades want radio adj
vertising curbed. In this they have
the hearty support of at least 80
per cent of the radio audience.
In this department opinion ra-
dio advertising is, most of the
time, offensive, annoying and a
darned nuisance. Elmer Twitchell,
for instance, is so bothered by it
that he lists all the products bally-
hooed on the air waves so he will
remember what NOT to buy.
"Hellzapoppin" was performed for
the draftees recently. This gave the
boys chance to laugh at the jokes
that cheered their fathers up Is
years ago.
We can't be very close to war
yet. George Cohan hasn't writ
ten a song for it.
An average of $50 was spent by
every family in the country for
amusements last year, mostly NOV
ing pictures. That's lot of money
to spend for souvenir soup spoons.
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-03-27
AIR TRAVEL ON CREDIT

Seventeen air lines have an
nounced an installment plan for air
travel. No down payment is re-
quired. You get ticket to go up
if your credit rating proves you are
the sort of person who will come
down and make good.
The idea should bring many more
customers. Lots of people would fly
if they knew it wouldn't cost them
a cent until after they had landed.
This is the first time in flying his
tory that it has been possible to risk
your neck on a credit basis.
1t is almost like hoping, collect
on-delivery.
And it is going to seem strange
but highly satisfying to get out of a
clipper and just say, "Put it on my
bill"
Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-03-27

This credit idea has already been
introduced by some railroads. You
can take a transcontinental choo-
choo ride now on the so-much-down-
month basis, and the
idea is proving popular. Americans
like to travel on the cuff, and there
is something highly satisfying in be-
ing able to owe railroad money.
When you have to plank down your
money before you even get by the
iron gates at a railroad terminal it
takes something out of the trip.
No matter how good the scenery is
you discount it on the ground that it
ought to be better for that much
money.
If you are jerked out of an upper
berth by green engineer or bad
brakes it is all the more exasperat-
ing when you know the discomforts
have been paid for in advance.
But if you owe the railroad for
the trip it's not so annoying.
The same will be true of airplane
travel. Your hair may stand on end
at the thought of a cross-country
fight, but it becomes much easier
to handle with a brush and comb
when you know the company can't
take dime of your dough in adj
vance.
And if you are dropping down by
parachute, think of the satisfaction
of knowing that it's all being done
on the deferred payment plan!
There will be the kick, too, of get
ting a bill from the air lane COM
pany with a "please remit" nota-
ton and dashing off little note:
Gentlemen:
"Your bill for flight to Chicago re-
ceived and in reply I beg to state
that I did not enjoy the trip. 1t
was very bumpy, the plane was two
hours late and it was so cloudy that
1 did not see half the scenery was
entitled to. 1 was not satisfied and
hope there can be an adjustment.
ttP. S.-The hostess wasn't good
looking, either. / should say she
wasn't within $40 of the good looks
of the hostess on my previous trip
so you can take something off my
bill for this, too"