Our mineral reserves

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 867029366

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-93011

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Smith, George Otis http://d-nb.info/gnd/117634530

Title:: Our mineral reserves

Place of publication:: Washington, DC

Publisher:: Gov. Print. Off.

Year of publication:: 1914

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (48 Seiten)

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

MINERAL PRODUCTS. 19 The actual gain in capacity is even more than is indicated by these figures, for in the earlier years a number of small, antiquated smelters that had been idle for several years were included in esti mating the total capacity, whereas in the later years almost all such smelters have been dismantled or abandoned completely, and there have been more new, modern additions than ever before in the same time. It is to be borne in mind that a certain portion of the capacity is taken up in the redistillation of zinc drosses, and that some plants do not yield full capacity because they treat lower-grade ores, so that the spelter produced from ore always falls much short of the maximum capacity. On the other hand, the new zinc oxide plant at Leadville, Colo., will take a great deal of the low-grade carbonate ore away from the zinc smelters, so that the capacity per retort will be increased because of the higher grade of the remaining supply; and the introduction of ore flotation in the Western States will probably raise the grade of zinc concentrates from that section, like wise increasing the capacity per retort. The following table shows that the production of zinc at the mines is steadily increasing: Joplin district Now Jersey Colorado Montana Upper Mississippi Valley Other States 1911 137,633 77,445 47,304 21,905 33,939 27,034 345,260 152,465 69,755 66,111 13,459 37,115 39,911 378,816 1913 146,474 84,122 59,673 44,337 32,346 51,430 418,382 The largest increase in sight is the result of the application of ore flotation concentration in Montana, but an increase due to the same cause is to be looked for in Idaho and possibly in Utah. In Mon tana the Butte & Superior mill is now producing at the rate of 50,000 tons of zinc a year, and the new Pilot Butte mill, which has just gone into operation, should raise the State output to 70,000 tons a year, or if, as planned, another unit is added to this mill the State output may rise to 90,000 tons and more by 1915. In Colorado the new zinc-oxide plant at Leadville is reported to be purchasing 11 per cent zinc carbonate ore, as against a minimum of about 20 per cent ore purchased by zinc smelters. As the Leadville carbonate ore is not amenable to concentration this means a large increase in the available zinc-ore resources of that region. Another source of zinc which will be made available in the future is zinc-bearing copper ore, the zinc content of which now either makes the ore unsalable or, when the ore is smelted for the copper, collects as flue and bag- house dusts, for the recovery of the zinc from which there is at present no satisfactory process. Much ore of this sort is mined in

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Our mineral reserves

Monograph

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation