TIDBITS OF INFO- MEXICO

rehab · TIDBITS OF INFO- MEXICO

September 23, 1922 EMJ

MEXICO
Americans Have Located Many Claims
During Past Month

Durango—The land and buildings belonging to the Cia. Minera y Explotadora de Ventanas, a once prosperous mining company operating near Ventanas, in this state, are advertised for sale at public auction to satisfy delinquent taxes amounting to over 4,000 pesos plus additional expenses:

Saltillo — Conditions are reported critical at the coal camps of Rosita, Agujita, Eperanza, and Menor, in the northern part of this state. Coal having been largely substituted by oil, there is no demand for it on the market, and the coal mines have reduced their working forces, throwing men out of employment, who are in destitute circumstances. At Mineral de Paula, in this coal region, a large deposit of good coal has been recently discovered in shaft No. 3 and a number of additional miners are being employed, but the company will not be able to give work to the hordes which are rushing there from the other camps.

Torreon—American prospectors and mining men are active in northern Mexico. During the last month the following properties were located and recorded by foreigners, principally Americans:

Nueva Libertad, composed of thirtyseven claims, situated at Temosachic, in the State of Chihuahua, recorded by William M. Ferris and Frank S. Black.

The Santa Margarita Grande, district of Ocampo, Chihuahua, located by Henry Weber and Ralph Benton.

El Sita, silver-lead property, in the Ramirez Mountains, near San Juan de Guadalupe, by Arthur Frey.

La Leona, fifteen claims, in the Bemejilla Mountains, near Mapimi, State of Durango, by Oscar F. Franke.

The Purisima, silver-lead, a group of ixty contiguous pertenencias, at La Noria, one of the principal camps of the Sombrerte district, State of Zaeatecas, by George H. Davis.

Guadalupana, gold, silver, and lead, San Diego camp near Pueblo Nuevo, Durango, by Edward Hartman.

Hudson, four claims, Villa Gonzalez, south of Juarez, State of Chihuahua, by M. C. Hudson and E. D. Edison.

Also a group of four claims carrying silver, .5 lead, and zinc to be known as the Moore, in the same region and by the same persons.

Nacozari—The Moctezuma Copper Co. expects to have the third unit of its concentrator ready for operating by Jan. 1, 1923. The total number of men employed by the company at present is 1,519 and upon completion of the third unit, if the copper market will permit, it will be able to employ 800 to 400 more men.

7 Durango—The Guanacevi unit of the Cia. Minera de Peñoles has commenced developing the Santa Crux mine, employing about twenty men in sinking a shaft.

The Cia. Minera y Beneficiadora de Guanacevi is increasing its work in La Mexicana mine, where it now employs about 100 men and is also deepening the shaft of Palermo mine.

Esmeralda (Coahuila)—The American Smelting & Refining Co. is producing regularly from its San Jose claim and is developing the Fronteriza mining property. The Trinidad mine is again producing a good grade of ore. Lessees at the Fortuna are producing 200 to 300 tons of lead ore per month. The monthly output of the Veta Rica continues to be about 600 tons.

rehab · GOLD AND SILVER IN MEXICANM ANTIMONY EMJ 8 25 1928

August 25, 1928— Engineering and Mining Journal

Gold and Silver in Mexican Antimony Ores Cause Trouble

IT IS THE usual custom for the owners of antimony mines in Mexico, according to a recent issue of Commerce Reports, to turn them over to a native contractor, who operates them on his own account and undertakes to deliver clean ore that will average up to an established standard for an agreed price. During 1927 wages ranged from 2.50 to 4.50 pesos a day, the highest being paid to mine foremen. Nominally a working day consisted of eight hours, but this was seldom adhered to, especially on the contract work. A good supply of labor was available throughout the year, and there was little or no labor trouble.
Besides the usual tax on mining properties, operators were called on to pay a federal and state production tax on all of the antimony mined. This tax has since been shifted to the purchaser of the ore. Where the ore contained silver and gold in appreciable quantities, as in certain local mines, a production tax was paid on these metals. Gold exported in antimony ore had to be re-imported in the form of bullion or coin within 30 days of exportation. The natural result was that little silver-and gold-bearing antimony ore was sold. Silver in.the ore appears to be a particularly detrimental impurity when antimony is to be used in the hard-lead trade.
A large part of the ore of the Altar district, State of Sonora, contains as much as 3 oz. of silver per ton, or 0.01 per cent, and the ore from several mines ranges as high as 30 oz. per ton. In many other mines, the ore assays less than 1 oz. of silver, or 0.003 per cent. Precious metals can be extracted from antimony ores, but the processes are patented and the royalties for their use are so high as to make them prohibitive at the present price, according to the report.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS E & MJ 10 20 1928

MEXICO CITY Letter
By W. L. Van.
Special Correspondent

Operations at Jimulco Mines Suspended Because of Labor Conditions

Mexico CITY, Oct. 8, 1928.—Jimulco Mining, which operates a group of copper-silver mines near Otto, State of Coahuila, Mexico, has suspended operations because of inability to regulate long pending differences with certain labor agitators, according to a report from Saltillo. The shutdown comes as a surprise in local mining circles, as it was recently reported that the company had found high-grade ore. Federal authorities in this city may take a hand in the matter to bring about an adjustment of the differences and a reopening of the mines. The mines, which are 5 miles from Otto, were connected to the railroad there by a narrow-gage extension line. They were controlled by San Antonio, Tex., interests.
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OPERATIONS of the 50-ton quicksilver furnace of Castro, Hernandez & Company at Taxco, State of Guerrero, which were recently started, are now at full capacity. A number of smaller plants for the reduction of quicksilver ores have also been opened in the Hunantla district of the same state.
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An executive order has been issued authorizing the Department of Commerce, Industry, and Labor to determine the minimum distance from government explosive factories, general warehouses, and powder magazines at which mining concessions can be granted and the mines operated. A petition was recently presented for a mining concession near the government explosives factory at Dinamita, State of Durango, and it was believed that the granting of such a concession would he dangerous and undesirable because of the necessity of handling and transporting explosives in connection with mining.
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Work on both ends of the new automobile road from the Guanacevi mining district to the railroad station at Tepehuanes, State of Durango, is scheduled to begin about Nov. 1, and it is hoped that the 85 miles of road will be completed before the next rainy season.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 3 30 1929

MEXICO

It is understood that the Mexico Mines of El Oro will discontinue operations at its mines at El Oro, Mexico, although development will be continued at its property at Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. In addition to the development program at Catorce, treatment of the tailings from the old mill will be undertaken. The company, which is under the direction of T. H. C. Mitchell, general manager, El Oro, has erected a preliminary plant of 100 tons daily capacity, which will be increased to 1,000 tons daily, if further operations prove successful. Sir Park Golf, 128 Gresham House, Old Broad Street, London, England, is president.
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The Cusi Mexicana Mining Company, with properties at Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico, reports for the year 1928 an operating profit of $874,358, and a net profit of $278,227, after making deductions for depreciation, unproductive prospecting and loss through fire. The latter figure compares with $145,471 for the year 1927. The gross income through the sale of concentrates was $997,604, and the expense of operating was $628,245. The company had on hand at the close of the year, current assets totaling $250,459, of which sum $126,340 was represented by cash, and current liabilities amounting to $85,857. The surplus account shows $526,954, including the net of $278,227, for the year 1928.

H. C. Dudley, 704 Lonsdale Building, Duluth, Minnesota, president, states in his report to the shareholders that the Santa Marina shaft, which was burned from the Providencia level to the surface, has been completely re-timbered, and is again in operation. He also states that as much ore has been put in sight by development as has been extracted during the year.

W. G. Swart, consulting engineer for the company, reports that the company milled 81,472 tons of ore during 1928, as compared with 47,976 tons in 1927, and 37,151 tons in 1926. The shipments from the mill consisted of 7,481 tons of Lead concentrates and 5,698 tons of zinc concentrates during last year, and, in addition, 493 tons of dump ore were sent from the property.

It is stated that there is about one year’s ore supply blocked out and partly broken in the stopes. Two sulphide veins, unknown before, have been cut in the old workings south of the Cusi fault, both of which are said to be producing average ore. A tunnel run on the San Miguel vein is reported to have been extended for its entire length of 250 feet in oxidized ore.
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Silver-lead ore, carrying values in copper, is reported to have been struck on the 200-foot level of the North Cananea Mining Company’s property at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. The ore was discovered in crosscut No. 2 in the Las Penitas shaft. Crosscut No. 1, which is expected to shortly intersect crosscut No. 2, has been extended about 70 feet. C. W. Gabrielson, Box 279, Bisbee, Arizona, is president of the North Cananea, and C. C. Newens is superintendent.
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It is reported that the San Francisco mine, in the Sierra Juarez district, and the Conejo Blanco mine, in the Taviche district of Mexico, have been sold to a group of Alabama capitalists by the former owners, R. Wilson and Finney Bacon. The San Francisco mine has been idle for the past 20 years.
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Negotiations are being made for the continuance of an automobile road from Durango to Mazatlan, Sinaloa, by the way of El Salto, Durango, it is stated. This would facilitate matters in the transportation of ores to the newly constructed lead smelter at Mazatlan, and furnish an outlet for production from that region.
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It is understood that operations may soon be resumed at the old Dicha mine, located near Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, which has been idle for some time. At one time the construction of a railroad was started to the properties from Acapulco.
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Difficulty is being experienced by the Cananea Consolidated Copper Company, it is stated, in securing powder for use in operation of its mines at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, because of the Mexican revolution. An embargo has been placed on all explosives entering Mexico, and it is understood that the Southern Pacific Railroad is accepting no shipments of this product.
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The Sabinal Mining Company, recently incorporated under the laws of Arizona, has opened an office in the Nebhan Building, at El Paso, Texas. The company is at present operating and developing its properties, which are located in the Sabinal district, near Ascencion, Chihuahua, Mexico, and which include the Azteca and Florencia mines.

The Azteca consists of nine pertenencias, or about 22 acres, and is said to be producing ores carrying good values in lead and silver. This mine is well equipped with a gasoline hoist headframe, hoist house, and quarters for workmen.

The Florencia property consists of 10 pertenencias, or about 25 acres, and is a producer of silver.

A mill site with water rights and a tailings disposal location has been secured by the company, and in the near future a new flotation plant of 30 tons daily capacity will be erected, to concentrate the ores that have not sufficient value to warrant direct shipment to the smelter. The mill will be designed so as to be easily increased in capacity.

In general, the Sabinal Mining Company proposes to operate the Azteca mine, ores from this mine to be treated in a mill built for that purpose, and the proceeds from the mill operations to be used for the development of the Florencia property. The concentrates will be shipped to the El Paso smelter. Officers of the company are: B. E. Bryant, president and general manager; B. B. McClintock, vice-president; A. L. Bryant, secretary and treasurer, and G. H. Tisdale, superintendent.
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CALIFORNIA-AHUMADA REPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSING

Good progress is reported being made by the California-Ahumada Mining Company, H. A. Houser, president, with main offices at 646 First National Bank Building, El Paso, Texas. The company is said to be amply financed, an arrangement having been concluded with the Pardners Mines Corporation of New York, whereby that company is to buy the entire stock remaining in the treasury, amounting to 400,000 shares, at 25 cents a share, having deposited, for the first 200,000 shares, $50,000 cash in the bank to the credit of the California-Ahumada company on November 1, 1928.

The Pardners Mines Corporation is to purchase a second block of 100,000 shares at $25,000 on June 80, and 100,000 shares on November 80, 1929. In addition, the Pardners company has an option to purchase a block of 180,000 shares before April 17, 1980, at 85 cents a share, and 171,000 shares at 90 cents per share by October 17, 1980.

Properties of the California-Ahumada Mining Company are located in the Cerros Cobrados Mountains, in northeastern Chihuahua, Mexico, and consist of the La Gloria, Esperanza, California, Ampliacion de Gloria and Anexa de Gloria claims. About 485 tons of ore, containing values in silver, lead and copper, have recently been shipped from these claims, the gross value of which is estimated at $16,212 72, or an average of $85.82 per ton, the net profits amounting to $9,233.67, or $20.17 per ton.

Within the last few months, the company has installed new equipment and machinery, including a new hoist and compressor. A complete camp has been established on the La Gloria claim, and office buildings, a warehouse, and employees’ homes erected, and a road built. A 75-foot tunnel has been driven on the Esperanza claim to tap the fracture on the La Gloria claim.

On the California, a hoist has been installed, and a shaft sunk along the dike, which at a depth of 80 feet has a favorable showing of lead ore. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 tons of ore, similar to the grade shipped, blocked out in the mines. Forty-five men are employed on the ground, working three shifts daily. Edward Salveson is superintendent, and W. M. Benham, geologist.

Since the new equipment was installed the first of the year good progress has been made. The shaft has been sunk to a depth of 225 feet, and station cut at the 165-foot level. At the 65-foot level, the south drift has been extended 200 feet, and the north drift 225 feet.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 4 15 1929

THE MINING JOURNAL APRIL 15 1929

MEXICO

During the month of March~ 1929, mining companies of Mexico paid total dividends amounting to $1,509,947. This amount was made up of the regular quarterly dividend of 75 cents per share paid on common stock by the American Metal Company, Ltd., operating in the United States and Mexico, totaling $484,947; and the preferred-stock quarterly dividend of $1.50, paid by the same company, amounting to $150,000; together with the regular quarterly dividend of $1.75, totaling $875,000, paid on preferred stock by the American Smelting and Refining Company, also operating in both countries. The last quarterly dividend paid by the American Metals Company, Ltd., on common stock, at the same rate, amounted to $446,127, while the preferred-stock dividend was a duplicate of last quarter. The quarterly dividend of the American Smelting and Refining Company, on preferred stock, remained the same for the last quarter was paid in December, 1928.

C. W. Gabrielson, Box 279, Bisbee, Arizona, reports that crosscuts on the 200-foot level of the main shaft of the North Cananea Consolidated Mining Company’s property at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, have cut five separate and distinct veins, and that two of the crosscuts are now running into silver-lead ore, averaging around $100 per ton. Intensive development is under way at the North Cananea holdings, following a campaign of diamond drilling. Mr. Gabrielson is president of the company.

For the year 1928, the Santa Gertrudis, Ltd., with properties at Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, reports a net income of $897,867, before deduction for depreciation and depletion, as compared with $520,098 in 1927. From the company’s various properties, a total of 163,251 dry tons of ore were mined during the last year, which compares with 181,880 tons during 1927. The average price received from sales of silver in 1928 was $0.5822 per ounce 999 fine.

The annual report of the American Smelting and Refining Company shows a net income, after depreciation, depletion, interest, federal taxes, and preferred-stock dividends, of $18,586,203, which is compared with $15,477,769 in 1927, and $17,760,721 in 1926. During last year the company paid dividends totaling $8,989,820, against $8,379,840 in 1927. The company’s new lead refinery at Monterrey, N. L., Mexico, is expected to soon start operations, and gives promises of substantial profits.
In addition to the company’s present holdings, further expansions are also under consideration. At the close of 1928, a special distribution of 8 per cent of the year’s salary was made to all salaried employees in the service of the company throughout that year.

Purchase is being made of new hoisting equipment, an air compressor, and machine drills by the Silver Plume Mining Company, to be used in shaft-sinking and development of the company’s Olive Vein. From this source, Morris B. Parker of Hollywood, California, who is general manager, states that 768 tons of ore have been milled, experimentally, at a neighboring reduction plant, with a recovery of 92 per cent of the assay value of the mill heads, and a smelter return of $14,247 from the concentrates.
Arrangements are being made to equip the property with a 50-ton flotation plant, which is expected to be put in commission within the near future.
At the present time, it is understood that two carloads of $60-ore are being mined, which will be consigned direct to the smelter. Harry L. Seares, 511 Story Building, Los Angeles, California, is consulting engineer for the Silver Plume whose properties are located 26 miles east of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico.

In his report to the Ahumada Lead Company, John W. Brooks, Jr., manager of the Cia. Minera de Plomo, S. A., the company’s subsidiary at Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, states that the total output of lead for the year 1928 was 12,854,809 pounds. The average price realized by the company was 6.29 cents per pound. Production was much less in 1928 than in 1927, the total output of lead the previous year being 24,865,705 pounds.
The total production to date of December 81, 1928, was 142,295,155 pounds of lead, 1,626,882 ounces of silver, with 806,209 dry tons shipped.
A number of things are said to account for the less production in 1928; one being failure to encounter commercial ore in extensions of old ore shoots; the inability to mine on the eighth level, owing to the necessity of providing better ventilation through a connection with the surface; re-adjustment of the old pumping equipment and the installation of a new pump, and the lower prices of metals.
The new pumping equipment provides a capacity of 2,400 gallons per minute. Indications are that a substantial quantity of ore will be mined from the section between the seventh and eighth levels.
Work has been discontinued temporarily on the company’s Perdido claim, while operations have been suspended indefinitely on the Sonora, Lois and Sorpresa claims. All development work and the greater part of the stoping is done on a contract basis. A force of about 197 men is employed under the direction of Mr. Brooks, who has headquarters at Villa Felix U Gomez, Via Lucero, Chihuahua, Mexico.

It is understood that the Erupcion Mining Company, with properties at Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, has become interested in the Mosqueteros Mining Company, on a 50 per cent basis, and will prosecute development work with a view of opening up new ore bodies. During last year the Erupcion Company shipped around 1,557 tons of ore in seven months, recovering 698,356 pounds of lead, and 9,868.49 ounces silver. Income from sales of lead and silver was reported to be $62,488.17, with expenses of $92,117.06, making an operating loss of $29,688.89. Approximately 989 feet of drifts and crosscuts, and 260 feet of raises and wines were driven. George H. Cobbe, 759 First National Bank Building, El Paso, Texas, is secretary of this company.

The La Campana mine, located in the Altar district of Sonora, Mexico, is being reopened under the direction of J. E. McIntyre, mining engineer of Chicago, it is stated. This mine, of which E. E. Pope of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is one of the principal owners, has been idle since 1912. It is a gold-silver property.

The Moctezuma Copper Company, operating properties at Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, H. H. Horton, manager, reports for the year 1928, a production of 818,416 tons of ore, compared with 795,958 tons in 1927. Development work consisted of 29,495 feet of drifts, raises, and winzes. A total footage of 16,218 feet was drilled, of which 10,781 feet were drilled as stope development work.
This diamond drill work was successful both in finding net ore and in extending known stoping areas. At present development of the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first levels is actively in progress. The Pilares ore body, at the south end of the mine, has been encountered on the nineteenth level, but its extent and copper content are not yet fully known. Drifting and diamond drilling on the Porvenir vein, outside of the Pilares Oval, failed to disclose the existence of commercial ore, and work has been discontinued at this point.
In stoping methods, an increased tonnage was mined during the year by inclined cut-and-fill, and a decreased tonnage by flat cut-and-fill and shrinkage methods. At the concentrator, experimental work on a bowl classifier unit gave favorable results due to the better classification and finer grinding accomplished. Although several outside properties have been examined and considerable work done, no commercial ore has been developed, with the exception of a small tonnage of gold and silver ore on the Margarita vein of the Churunibabi group.

Work is reported to be progressing in a promising way at holdings of the Altar and Cananea Mining Company, located in the Altar, Sonora, Mining District of Mexico, drifting being done both ways from the main shaft, at a depth of about 220 feet. The mines are being worked with engines equipped with air compressors, making machine-drilling possible. The holdings consist of 10 claims, which cover a total area of 824 acres. George Young, 927 East Sixth Street, Tucson, Arizona, is secretary-treasurer.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 630 1929

THE MINING JOURNAL JUNE 30 1929

MEXICO

A strike of silver ore has been reported recently made in the Niñita mine, which is located near Sabinal, Chihuahua, Mexico. At the end of the 300-loot tunnel, a winze was sunk 85 feet in solid limestone, and entered into a contact of porphyry, it is stated. A sample of ore from this contact, assayed in El Paso, Texas, is understood to have averaged 80 ounces.
With further drifting on the contact, samples were taken at intervals of 20 feet, which assayed 100, 200 and 240 ounces silver to the ton. A. V. de Pascale, Albino Garcia, Dr. S. Haffner and Leopoldo Iwonski, who may be reached at Box 417, El Paso, Texas, are owners of the Niñita.
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Work is scheduled to be resumed at holdings of the Ampliación de Florencia Mining Company in July, operations having been suspended for several months due to the unsettled conditions in Mexico. The claims are located at Sabinal, Chihuahua, Mexico, A. V. de Pascale, Box 417, El Paso, Texas, president and general manager.
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Property of the Sierra Madre Exploration Syndicate at Soyopa, Sonora, Mexico, is being developed by adits and shafts with Bulkeley Wells in charge as general manager. According to Fred H. Dakin, consulting engineer, the holdings are expected to be put upon a producing basis very shortly, the values being in gold, silver and lead. Regular mine work requires the services of 30 men. Headquarters of the company are located at 1408 Hobart Building, San Francisco, California.
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A new company, to be known as the El Sol Mining Company, has been organized by H. A. Houser, president, B. Knight Smith, vice-president, H. B. Waud, treasurer, and W. T. Houser, secretary, with main offices at 662 First National Bank Building, El Paso, Texas, for operation and development of properties near Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico.
The company, which is capitalized at $1,500,000, has acquired the Hija del Sol, Estrella, La Mexicana, Seguridad and La Abundancia claims, two of which, the Hija del Sol and Estrella, adjoin the California claims of the California-Ahumada Mining Company and lie less than a mile from property of the Mosqueteros Mining Company.
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Preliminary work has already been started on the Don Carlos, Anexas a Don Carlos, and Ampliación de Don Carlos properties, recently taken over by Ralph C. Nowland, mining engineer of 1800 Hobart Building, San Francisco, California, and Durand C. Hall, mining geologist, the new organization to be known as the Aztec Mining Company.
It is reported that an ample development fund has been subscribed by mine operators of the coast, associated with banking interests of New York. The properties adjoin the Gloria and Esperanza claims of the California-Ahumada Mining Company, near Alcaparra, Chihuahua, Mexico.
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A 500-ton concentrator, employing flotation, is being constructed at the old San Carlos mine, located in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, by the Victor Mining Company, which is controlled by Frederick Velie of Kansas City, Missouri. A road has been built to connect the mine with the station of Chato, on the Orient railroad, 30 miles distant.
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News is current that field engineers have lately been at the Silver Plume mine, near Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, working with staff engineers of the Minaret Consolidated Mine Company, on final details covering the installation of heavier mine machinery and the construction of a 50-ton milling plant. C. C. Randall, 107 North Lemon Street, Anaheim, California, is general manager of the Minaret company, now operating the Silver Plume.
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Development work, as well as production, is active at the properties of the Cusi-Mexicana Mining Company at Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico, of which H. C. Dudley, 704 Lonsdale Building, Duluth, Minnesota, is president. The diamond drill, which has been installed on the 1,000-foot level by the E. J. Longyear Company to explore the area north of the Cusi fault, is operating two eight-hour shifts daily. The drill will be driven toward the west at an angle of 60 degrees downward, and to the east at an angle of 80 degrees downward.
The Santa Marina and the San Antonio veins, on the south side of the fault, running directly north, are presumed to have been cut off by the fault, and the extensions of the veins are expected to present a broadside target for the drill.
A station is being cut at 1,150 feet in the Santa Marina shaft, which was bottomed in the vein at 1,060 feet. However, the vein dipped out of the shaft with increased depth, and after the station is completed, a crosscut will be driven to the enrichment, and drifting will be done both north and south.
The extent of the ore downward in the Santa Marina shaft has not yet been ascertained. The drift on the Santa Marina vein, south from the shaft on the 1,150 level, Is expected to carry development under the so-called big lead stope, which lies between the Green and Red faults, and to gain an additional depth of 150 feet. This enrichment is said to extend well toward the surface, having a distance of about 220 feet on the bottom levels, and not having diminished as to size and quality of ore on the 1,000-foot level. The drift from “A” level, south from the Red fault, and which is described as the extension of the combined Santa Marina and San Antonio veins, is being watched with much interest.
The drift, which is being driven to get under the old workings in the San Nicholas area, has lately cut stringers of ore, and it is proposed to explore this once productive area at much greater depth than was attained by former operators.
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Near-future improvements to be undertaken by the Greene Cananea Copper Company on its holdings at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, will include reconstruction of its crushing and sampling plants, the erection of new ore bins, and improvements to the railroad approach. The capacity of the power plant is being increased by the installation of high-pressure direct-fired boilers and a 6000-k. w. turbine. New high-pressure waste heat boilers are also to be installed at the company’s reverberatory plant. The additional power capacity will enable prospecting of the Sonora Hill area by underground workings. T. Evans is president and general manager, and L. A. Maule is purchasing agent.
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The Jimulco mines at Estación Otto, Coahuila, Mexico, operated by the Compañia Minera de Peñoles, S. A., for the past five years, have been leased to John W. Beard of El Paso, Texas. These copper mines, which are 50 miles south of Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, are connected with the National Railway by a five-mile narrow-gauge line. George Butler, Jr. will be in charge of development work.
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During the year 1928, the Neg. Minera San Rafael y Anexa., with operations at Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, distributed dividends in the sum of $660,000, bringing the total dividends paid up to January 1, 1929, to $19,119,579.78.
During the year, the company treated a total of 228,250 tons of ore, with an average content of 445 grams of silver, and 1.99 grams of gold, representing an average daily tonnage of 725 tons, as compared with 641 tons the previous year. The extraction averaged 90.6 per cent silver and 92.6 per cent gold.
Frederick MacCoy, who has headquarters at Apartado 47 Bis, Mexico D. F. Mexico, is director general, while active operations at the property are in charge of R. A. Conrads, general superintendent.
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Ore from the property of the Security Copper Company at Pitiquito, Sonora, Mexico, is understood to have recently assayed 16.8 ounces silver, 27 percent copper and $4 gold, running about $81.17 per ton. The ore was sampled at the sampling plant of the Chamber of Mines at Tucson, Arizona. M. M. Hickey is manager.
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The Santa Gertrudis Company, Ltd. of Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, milled 145,893 dry short tons of ore during the quarter ended March 81, 1929, according to reports of that company. For silver sold, the company received an average price of $0.570, United States currency per ounce
999 fine. The total revenue for Santa Gertrudis, Inversions, and Dos Carlos, after allowing for development and participation of owners, but before depletion and depreciation, was $394,919. Capital expenditures by the Dos Carlos Company amounted to $11,020.
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Three shifts are being worked by the Califomnia-Ahumada Mining Company, Alcaparra, Chihuahua, Mexico, in driving the drift and running the No. 8 crosscut on the 165-foot level, 25 tons of ore per day being produced from these two developments. The drift has been in ore on all sides for 73 feet, it is understood, and the crosscut has been extended 19 feet in the same ore. It is believed by company interests that the development of this property within the next six months will warrant the construction of a spur track to the Chihuahua y Oriente railroad, six miles distant. W. T. Rouser, with company headquarters at 648 First National Bank Building, El Paso, Texas, is manager and secretary.
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Operations of the Fresnillo unit of the Mexican Corporation, S. A., at Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, will hereafter be known as The Fresnillo Company, effective from May 1, 1929. Main offices of the company will be located at Edificio Woodrow, La Bolivar No. 18, Mexico City, Mexico, Hugh Rose, managing director. Thomas C. Baker is general manager of the properties at Fresnillo.
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Following the installation of adequate pumping equipment, production is again coming from the No. 8 level of the Ahumada Lead Company at Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, John M. Brooks, Villa Feliz U. Gomez, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, general manager.
The pumping capacity of the mine has now been brought up to 2,400 g. p. in., and bulkheads are being put in the stopes to keep-the water back. Development above the No. 7 level has been dropped, and interest is now being centered upon exploration of the ore body from the No. 8 level.
¿¿¿
Construction of a Forrester flotation machine has recently been completed at the Tigre Mining Company, El Tigre, Sonora, Mexico, resulting in improved extraction. At the company’s 225-ton mill, located at El Molino, Sonora, Mexico, a Model D Dorr duplex classifier, was substituted for two Model C simplex machines. According to General Manager R. T. Mishler, exploration work indicates that the bottom of the ore body has been reached no ore having been found on the No. 7 level of the Fortuna mine, which corresponds to the No. 21 level of the Tigre mine; and the Gold Hill enrichment, said to be continuous in both length and depth for 1,000 feet, has apparently reached its boundary lines at the thirteenth level. Small ore bodies have been developed on levels 18, 14 and 15.
During the year 1928, production amounted to 82,480 tons, resulting in a recovery of 9,684 ounces gold and 2,599,485 ounces silver.
At the Tiger Leasing Company at La Quemada, Jalisco, Mexico, which is also a subsidiary of the Lucky Tiger-Combination Gold Mining Company, difficulty in metallurgical operations has been experienced, and the company is considering the installation of an additional Dorr classifier and tanks.
Proven and probable ore reserves of this company total approximately 174,414 tons, believed to be sufficient to keep the 80-ton plant in operation for six or seven years at the present rate. Additional tonnages are also expected to be developed in the west end of the 400 and 500 levels. W. A. Wasley is general manager of the Tiger Leasing, and T. R. Herndon is mill superintendent.
¿¿¿
A new baghouse and a sintering plant are being added to the lead smelter of the Cia. Minera de Peñoles, S. A., at Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, A. J. Halbcrt, superintendent. The plant has a capacity of 400,000 tons of charge per year.
At the company’s Achotla unit at Tamixco, Guerrero, Mexico, J. F. Thorn, superintendent, changes are being made in the method of treating the silver-lead-gold ores. Hereafter an all-brine leaching method is to be used at the 800-ton plant in place of cyanidation.
George H. Harbordt, with headquarters at Apartado 251, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, is general manager of the Peñoles company.
¿¿¿
Ore has been proven for a length of 2,487 feet on the 340-meter level in the Cuevo Santa vein at the Mexican Corporation, S. A., now known as The Fresnillo Company, at Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, according to reports of the company. Approximately 1,837 feet of ore was also developed at a depth of 270 meters.
At 840 meters, the body averages five feet in width, and runs 10.8 ounces silver, 10.9 per cent lead, and 12.1 per cent zinc. The company’s General shaft has been enlarged and timbered to 340 meters, and a raise is now being put up from the 425 meter level. Production has also been started from the San Nicolas area of the holdings. The mill is at present treating 2,500 tons of oxide ore and 400 tons of sulphide ore daily.
¿¿¿
All preliminary arrangements have been made and the ground broken for the 800-ton milling plant to be constructed at Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, by the American Smelting and Refining Company for treatment of ores from the company properties at Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua. It is expected that this construction will involve about a year’s time. At the new plant, the coarse crushing will be done in gyratory crushers and Symons cone crushers, and the fine grinding in rod and ball mills, each in closed circuit with the classifiers. Gravity and flotation methods will be employed in concentration. W. M. Drury is general manager of the American Smelting and Refining Company, and at present maintains headquarters at the New York office of the company, 120 Broadway.
¿¿¿

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 9 30 1929

THE MINING JOURNAL for SEPTEMBER 30, 1929

MEXICO

Satisfactory progress in development work is reported by the Sierra Pinta gold mine in the Altar district of Sonora, Mexico. The main shaft has been sunk to a depth of 700 feet, and continues in ore. Plans are underway to do some drifting at the 700 level. S. Nixon, who is said to hold an option on the property, states that, while this ore is not as rich as commonly reported, it is of commercial value. All shipments are made by Ajo, Arizona. A. L. Richards, Box 647, Ajo, Arizona, is general manager, in charge of all work at the mine.
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The Jupiter mine, an old Spanish “antigua,” is being reopened by L. 0. Skliris, mining engineer, Hotel Paso Del Norte, El Paso, Texas. Mr. Skliris purchased the mine from Alberta V. Sosa of Agua Prieta, Sonora, after a careful examination and sampling. The Jupiter is in the Sierra Pinta Mountains, 55 miles south of Cananea, and is also near the town of Baviacora, on the Cananea-Hermosillo highway.
There are several thousand tons of ore on the old waste dumps, which Mr. Skliris reports as averaging around 100 ounces silver and one-ounce gold per ton. For the present, work is being concentrated on the opening up of ore bodies disclosed when the shaft was unwatered. An adit tunnel, five feet wide by seven feet high, is being driven, which is to cut the vein at an approximate depth of 500 feet below the surface, and 310 feet below the 190-foot shaft, which was un-watered.
This tunnel is now in 150 feet, and the vein should be reached in 350 feet more of tunneling. It is estimated that this will be accomplished about the first of December. The floor of the tunnel has a one per cent down grade to the portal for the future drainage of the property. The ore in sight in the lower workings is said to show a 20-inch pay streak, assaying 3,000 ounces of silver and 25 ounces of gold per ton.
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The Guadalupana Mining Company, according to an announcement by Dr. Carl Lee Smith, president, 339 First National Bank Building, El Paso, Texas, is to construct a 40-ton concentration and flotation mill. This mine is six miles east of Tecoripa, and 100 miles southeast of Hermosillo, and 60 miles from Ortiz, the nearest railroad station, from which a good road leads to within three miles of the mine. Considerable development is evidenced by the old shafts and drifts, from which a large quantity of high-grade ore was mined in former years. Careful sampling indicated that both high-grade and milling ores in commercial quantities remain in sight, ranging from 7.5 ounces to 662 ounces silver, together with gold and lead. Tests as to method of recovery have been made by the Southwestern Engineering Corporation and by the University of Texas, College of Mines. Principal development is on the 300 level, workings above the level are now largely caved. It is estimated that there are about 1,500 to 1,600 tons on the old dumps, which can be profitably treated by concentration, and flotation. Water for milling can be obtained from wells three-quarters of a mile from the mine, and fuel, semi-anthracite coal, is found in abundance at San Javier, 80 miles distant. The present equipment consists of a steam hoist and small compressor.
S. H. Worrell, mining engineer, has recently completed a thorough examination of the mine.
--==
Cia. Minera. Borda Antigna y Anexa, near Tlalpujahua, Michoacan, Mexico, closed down the last of August, due to exhaustion of ore reserves. This move had been contemplated for a number of months, as attempts to increase reserves had not been successful. Borda Antigua was operated by Cia. Mm, Las Dos Estrellas.
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Cia. Minera Las Dos Estrellas in El Oro y Tlahpujahua, Mineral Dos Estrellas, Michoacan, Mexico, continues to operate with a full force, although some difficulties are being experienced, due to the low grade of ore now being handled. This company mines about 2,200 tons of ore per day, employing an operating force of almost 3,000.
====
North Cananea Consolidated Mining Company, Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, is making plans for the sinking of its main shaft to the 500-foot level. This shaft is now down 380 feet. Drifting on the 200 and 850 levels has given good results, it is said. C. W. Gabrielson, Box 2880, Bisbee, Arizona, is president of the company.
-===
Pittsburgh Vetagrande Mining Company, Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico, J. C. Archibald, manager, is reported as mining at the rate of about 500 tons of silver-gold ore daily. The San Barnabe mine, in the same district, has been un-watered under Mr. Archibald’s direction, and exploration work is in progress.
--==
The Fresnillo Company, Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, Thomas C. Baker, general manager, is understood to be obtaining very encouraging results from the development on the 425-meter level of the Cueva Santa vein, a good grade of ore showing over a three-foot width. The ore shoot has been opened up for 600 feet, averaging 18.6 per cent zinc, 11.7 per cent lead, 18.9 ounces silver, and 0.8 dwt. gold. The sinking of the Saraos shaft to the 425 meter level has been completed, and skip-loading equipment installed. The mill is treating about 3,000 tons daily, of which 2,500 tons is oxidized ore.
--==--
A couple of American engineers from Zacatecas have gone to Northern Puebla, to have another try at reopening the old camp of Tetela del Oro; and are reported to have started in Los Canadas working with 100 men. Tetela lies 9 leagues west of the station of Huitzizilapan, on the Teziutlan branch of the Interoceanic Railway in a rough, hilly country. The formation consists of limestone intruded by porphyry and contains several classes of ores.

Starting from the Santa Rosa mill as a center and the purely gold ores are found to the southwest and the silver ores to the east, both along zones of igneous lime contact. The main ore bodies contain both silver and gold, and the chief modern enterprise on one of them was that of the Tetela Mining and Milling Company which was floated in London over 25 years ago for £200,000. With the small fraction of this sum, that was not gobbled by the vendors and promoters, was built a concentration mill, and the Espejeras Antigua was partially reopened.

The ore chimney occurred in limestone near the igneous contact and shows pyrite, rhodonite and their oxides in quartz with a content of 600 grams of silver and 5 grams of gold. The first adit driven by the Tetela Company struck the ore chimney where it had already been stoped; later the attempt to sink a winze from the adit was prevented by water; finally a lower adit was started but never reached the ore because of the bankruptcy of the company.

Since then the machinery has been sold for junk and nothing remains of the investors’ brave effort except roofless buildings, a flooded mine and a tailing dump, whose values were poorly extracted by a milling process ill-suited to the ore.

The chief gold mines are the companion Providencia and Aurora Antiguas. The gold here occurs in connection with pyrite blende, chalcopyrite, and arsenopyrite, and much of the ore evidently ran 1 to 2 ounces of gold. The old workings are quite extensive and consist of open cuts, shafts, adits and stopes, which are now inaccessible because of water or caving. The ore bodies are sometimes quartz veins, sometimes contact lenses, but are irregular, both in form and gold content. The Santa Rosa mill treated Providencia ore by amalgamation, and has a 50-foot waterfall yielding 21 horsepower. It is located three kilometers south of Tetela Village and has long been abandoned. The latest activity here was a decade ago by Juan lbeken, a millman of Pachuca, who invested a decade’s savings in the construction of a little stamp mill and a silver-lead blast furnace. Ibeken later became manager and did some smelting, with the aid of imported lead, for account of his creditors.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 10 15 1929

THE MINING JOURNAL OCTOBER 15 1929

MEXICO

Dividend payments by Mexican mining companies for September, 1929, totaled $1,644,787. The American Metal Company, Ltd., operating in both the United States and Mexico, paid a 75-cent quarterly, on its common stock, or $630,984, and a quarterly dividend of $1.50 on preferred stock, amounting to $103,014; while the American Smelting and Refining Company disbursed a quarterly dividend of $1.75 on preferred, or $875,000. The Lucky Tiger-Combination Gold Mining Company paid $35,789, representing a monthly dividend of 2 1 cents per share.
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Financial arrangements are being made for larger-scale operations, at the Puerto Corral Mine, situated in the State of Guerrero, Mexico, according to reports. The small stamp mill has been placed in operation, and shipments of concentrates are being made to the American Smelting and Refining Company’s plant at Monterrey, N. L., Mexico.
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Reports of the American Smelting and Refining Company, show a consolidated net income of $10,947,501 for the six months ended June 30, 1929, which compares with $8,219,451 for the first half of last year. This may also be compared with a net income of $8,507,944 for the same period of 1927. The consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 1929, showed current assets of $94,813,457, against $88,456,101 a year earlier; current liabilities of $23,642,762, against $17,706,323 on June 30, 1928, and net working capital of $71,170,695, against $70,749,778. On June 30, of this year, the company had on hand, in cash, demand and time loans, and U. S. Government securities, $26,668,743. This sum represented a decrease of $553,742, from the total of the same items at the end of 1928.
In this connection, President Simon Guggenheim points out that “cash on hand would have been materially larger had it not been for the revolution in Mexico, last spring. While the company’s mines and smelters were operated during military activities, it was not possible to ship bullion out of Mexico, and thus the cash realization of metal values was delayed.” Operations have now become normal.
==-=-=
The Vesper and Anexas properties, near Acapulco, Gro., Mexico, have been taken over by new interests, who plan the construction of a new mill for treatment of material from the dump and stopes.
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The Cia. Minera National Quicksilver, S. A., is installing a 40-ton quicksilver furnace, at San Miguel, Chihuahua, Mexico, two artesian wells are being drilled and a water storage dam provided. Regular operations require the services of 100 men, and Paul Ginther, Santa Rosalia Chihuahua, Mexico, is president of the organization.
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Machinery has been put into commission at the Sierra Pinta Mine, located in the Altar District of Sonora, Mexico, and shipments of ore have been started to the El Paso smelter, according to A. L. Richards, Box 647, Ajo, Arizona, manager. The working forces are to be increased within the next few weeks, mine development being in charge of Tom Mannen of Ajo, with operation of the 50-ton mill supervised by E. Winberg.
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Work of enlarging the milling plants of the Cia. de Real del Monte y Pachuca, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, will involve an expenditure of approximately $2,000,000, according to reports. M. H. Kuryla is managing director, and J. M. Sullivan is purchasing agent.
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Activity is to be resumed in mines of the Hidalgo Copper Mining and Smelting Company at Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico, which have been idle since 1913. The company maintains offices in Mexico City, and was originally incorporated under the laws of Arizona.
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Mining companies in north-central Mexico have been compelled to minimize their power requirements due to the shortage of water for the Boquillas power plant near Santa Rosalia, Chihuahua, Mexico. However, due to the fact that a large percentage of the development work in this country is done by hand, mine production so far has not shown a marked decrease. Should the usual rainy season fail to appear, and the shortage continues, it may be necessary to reduce the labor forces.
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It is reported that the Penoles Mining Company, Monterrey, N. L., Mexico, George H. Harbordt, general manager, was robbed of its payroll for the Mapimi Unit, on September 11. Bandits succeeded in obtaining 23,000 pesos, 11,000 pesos of which have been recovered.
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The initial output of the new lead smelter of the Cia. Mexicana cle Minerals, S. A., at Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, is expected to run about 25 tons daily. The plant will treat both company and custom ores. F. B. Salas is general manager of the company.
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Silver production in Mexico has dropped considerably during this year, according to current statistics. The output was 46,572,000 ounces for the first half of 1929, compared with 54,270,000 ounces for the corresponding six months of last year. The production of silver at Pachuca alone decreased by 2,500,000 ounces this year, and the districts of El Oro, Jalisco, Chihuahua, and Zacatecas, also showed decreases in the output of this metal.
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Offices of the Altar and Cananea Mining Company, at 40 West Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona, have been moved to Room 911, Consolidated Bank Building, that city. The company’s properties are located in the Altar District of Sonora, Mexico.
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Machinery for the new mill has been received at the Silver Plume Mine at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, and its installation has been started, under the direction of M. B. Parker, manager. H. L. Seares, 511 Story Building, Los Angeles, is consulting engineer of the company.
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rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 10 30 1929

THE MINING JOURNAL FOR OCTOBER 30, 1929

MEXICO

New equipment recently installed at the North Cananea Consolidated Mining Company, Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, includes a Diesel engine, mine pumps and an Ingersoll-Rand XRB two-stage compressor. A number of surface structures have also been erected, and a six weeks’ geophysical survey has just been completed of the holdings.
Ore of consequence has been opened up on the 200 and 350-foot levels, showing values in silver, lead and copper. The shaft has been remodeled to three-compartments and sunk to a depth of 380 feet, supplemented by 1,500 feet of crosscutting on the 350-foot level. In excess of 700 feet of lateral work per month is being carried out on the 350 level, and it is planned to deepen the shaft 400 feet and crosscut at depths of 550 and 750 feet. C. W. Gabrielson, Box 279, Bisbee, Arizona, general manager, is assisted in operations by F. L. Harrington, mine superintendent.
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It is planned to install either a tramway or chute at the La Gloria property of the California-Ahumada Mining Company, near Alcaparra, Chihuahua, Mexico, to facilitate getting the ore down the mountain to the loading platform. About 200 tons of ore per month are being shipped to the El Paso smelter. The company also has executive offices in El Paso at 648 First National Bank Building, W. T. Houser, manager.
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Construction of a flotation plant on its properties at Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, is being considered favorably by the United Eastern Mining Company, according to Roy W. Moore, 1206 Pacific Mutual Building, Los Angeles, California, who is manager. Unless a power line is run to the Panuco-Copala district from Mazatlan, a distance of 40 miles, power will be obtained from a new Diesel-engine installation. The company is also developing the Tulsequah Chief property, on the Tulsequah River, British Columbia, where over 3,500 feet of diamond drilling and 1,400 feet of tunneling has been done.
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From the Colorado Mine alone, the Greene Cananea Copper Company, Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, now mines around 1,400 tons of ore per day, with production from the Capote, Vetagrande, and other mines, to increase this amount. Diamond and churn drilling have disclosed ore bodies at greater depth in the Capote and in other mines on the property. The Cananea-Duluth Mine has been unwatered and sinking is now being pushed to lower levels, and a new shaft is being sunk in the Sonora Hill area. It is reported that Greene Cananea has purchased the DemocrataMine, which for over 30 years was an independent producer in the middle of the Greene Cananea holdings. During the past year the capacities of the concentrator and power plant have been greatly increased by the installation of new machinery. T. Evans is general manager.
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The La Campana mine, situated in the Altar District of Sonora, Mexico, is being operated by M. H. Laudis of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. This is a gold-silver property.
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New tables are being installed at the 300-ton mill at the Ojuela unit of the Penoles Mining Company, Ojuela, Durango, Mexico, which is also handling custom ores. Approximately 6,000 tons of ore, carrying values in lead, silver and zinc, are being mined per month at this unit. The steam power plant has a 7,000-k. w. capacity. Superintendent W. H. Triplett is assisted in operations by W. H. Halcombe, assistant superintendent, Frank Trotter, mill superintendent, J. P. Savage, general foreman, A. C. Noble, master mechanic, and M. F. Kocsis, chief electrician.
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Development work is being continued on the Copper Prince Claim of the Altar and
Cananea Mining Company, in the Altar District of Sonora, Mexico, with pleasing results, according to George Young, manager, Box 816, Tucson, Arizona. A vigorous exploration program is in progress.
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Following the installation of new equipment, the Butte Cananea Mining Company,
E. M. Dotson, manager, Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, is blocking out ore on the 300-foot level of the Santa Barbara shaft. This ore is said to average 7 per cent copper, 25 ounces silver and $12 in gold, across a width of seven feet.
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It is reported that another new unit of 150 tons daily capacity is to be added to the milling plant of the Cusi-Mexicana Mining Company at Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico, and that by the first of the year 600 tons of ore may be treated per day.
An important ore strike has lately been made in the drift west on the Providencia level. General Manager William N. Fink is assisted in operations by S. A. Madrid, mill superintendent, and J. B. Metcalf, mine superintendent.
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Tunnel operations of the Victor Mining Company, near Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico, have cut 72 feet of milling ore, according to reports, and shipments of between 150 and 200 tons of ore, averaging from 10 to 15 per cent copper are being made monthly to the smelter. V. G. Parodi of Presidio, Texas, is manager.
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The Magistral Copper Company, Charles Hoyle, resident manager, Apartado 7, Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico, is engaged in extensive development of its Las Moras Mine. A three-compartment shaft is now down 175 feet in breccia ore. Principal offices of the company are at 111 Devonshire Street, Boston, and H. L. Percy, Leiter Apartments, 682 Shatto Place, Los Angeles, is president.
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Since its unwatering, the Cananea-Duluth Shaft of the Greene-Cananea Copper Company, is being lined with concrete to the No. 6 level, supplemented by re-timbering below that depth. The new improvement program under way, calls for the installation of a Sullivan duplex compressor, a Nordberg electric hoist, and 4-ton capacity skips. The hoist will be driven by a 2,200-volt a/c motor. A power line is being extended to this mine from Cananea, Sonora, where the company has headquarters, under the direction of T. Evans, general manager. After reconstruction, the crushing plant will consist of two units, each containing a No. 8 Allis-Chalmers gyratory and a 7-foot Symons cone crusher. A new sampling plant is also to be constructed, and new 1,000. ton capacity ore bins are being installed. The bulk of the output is furnished from the company’s Colorada Mine.
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The change to all brine leaching methods from cyanidation at the Achotla plant
of the Penoles Mining Company at Tamixco, Guerrero, is to be completed in December. The plant will continue to handle 300 tons of ore per day. G. H. Harbordt, Apartado 251, Monterrey, N. L., Mexico, is general manager.
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The Cia. de Real del Monte y Pachuca, has surrendered its option on the Lost Mother Lode at Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico, after two drill holes were put down, revealing only junore. Operations were commenced at this point last winter. M. H. Kuryia of Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, is managing director of the organization.
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A. M. McDermott, president, 516 Grant Building, Los Angeles, announces that the El Fuerte Mining Company, operating at La Mesa Colorado, near Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico, is attempting to secure adequate financing without a stock-selling campaign. Heretofore operations have been handicapped by the lack of transportation facilities, but it is hoped that this condition may be removed by the proposed extension of the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway.
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Due to partial exhaustion of the ore reserves, it is reported that the Lucky Tiger-Combination Gold Mining Company will reduce its scale of operations and cut down its labor forces at its El Tigre Mine, at El Tigre, Sonora, Mexico. It is the intention to dismiss about 125 men.
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A new shaft is being sunk at the Morada Mine, in Nayarit, Mexico, which is controlled by the Mexican Premier Mines Company. This company is shipping lead-silver concentrate from the mill at the San Jose Mine, to the smelter at Monterrey, N. L., Mexico.
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At Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, the Cia de Real del Monte y Pachuca is centering attention on the enlargement of its Loreto mill to handle its entire output of silver ore, and the driving of a new 5,500 meter haulage tunnel, to take the place of the cable tramway. A quantity of new machinery is being installed at the mill, both improvements and new additions being under way. The thickener, agitator and filter capacities are being increased, and a cyanide regeneration plant of sufficient size to comply with the new scale of milling, has recently been completed.
It is the intention to have this work completed by March of next year, when the Guerrero mill will be closed down, and the Loreto will handle the entire tonnage of 8,500 metric tons daily. Important changes in ore handling have been essential to transport all the ore to one mill, and for this purpose the San Juan Pachuca shaft, which is only a short distance from the ore bins, is being equipped to hoist all the ore for the mill, except that from the El Chico District, which will continue to be delivered over the El Chico and Loreto tramway. A train of seventeen 12-ton cars and two 13-ton locomotives will be used for haulage. M. H. Kuryla is managing director of the company.
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Plentiful rainfalls have appeared in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, thus alleviating the extreme water shortage, which threatened mining companies operating in that district. Users of power from the Boquillas dam, near Santa Rosalia, Chihuahua, were recently compelled to curtail their requirements by about 25 per cent. A normal supply of water is said to now be available. Work on the new 16,000-horsepower plant of the Electric Bond & Share Company at Torreon, Coahuila, is progressing rapidly, and completion is expected to be made the early part of next year. This plant, which will generate electricity by steam power instead of hydro-electrically, will supplement the Boquillas capacity.
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Reports from Mexico City are to the effect that the Cia. Minera Asarco will shortly establish a 500-ton smelter in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for the treatment of zinc and lead ores from its properties in the Los Dolores region.
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The Erupcion Mining Company has surrendered its option on the Mosqueteros property, near Alcaparra, Chihuahua, Mexico, and is now undertaking exploratory work on its own holdings at Los Lamentos with the hope of increasing the ore reserves. Production in small quantities is being continued from the company’s mines. John M. Brooks, Villa Felix U. Gomez, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, is manager.
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Metal production taxes in Mexico were 267,312.34 pesos less during August than for July, according to an announcement by the special taxation bureau of the treasury department. August receipts were 861,744.33 pesos ($430,872.17), while those for July were 1,129,056.67 pesos.
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New development work on the No. 8 level of the mine, having encountered an additional flow of water, the Ahumada Lead Company of Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, has installed a new Allis-Chalmers pump, with a capacity of 500 g. p. in., to supplement the former 2,400 g. p. in., capacity. The majority of recent production has been coming from Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 7 levels, with this year’s output running about 12,000,000 pounds of lead annually, or at about the same rate as last year.
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The Cuarto Amigos Silver Mine at San Pedro, Chihuahua, Mexico, was recently purchased by interests of El Paso, Texas, for a consideration of $50,000, according to reports. The property was lately inspected by W. D. Greet, Severo Gonzales, and Harris Walthall.

rehab · SANTA EULALIA MINES MEXICO WORD POST TMJ 6 15 1931

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rehab · FLOTATION PROCESS IN MEXICO ON RISE TMJ 11 30 1929

FLOTATION PROCESS IN MEXICO SHOWS A DECIDED INCREASE

The Department of Commerce, Industry and Labor, of Mexico, has issued figures on the use of the flotation method of ore treatment, showing a decided increase in tonnage handled. In 1926 mining companies operating in Mexico treated 2,112,506 tons of ore by flotation; in 1927 this figure was reported at 3,573,804 tons, while in 1928 the tonnage had increased to 4,078,418 tons. For 1928, the total treated by flotation methods was 32.30 percent of all ore mined. Figures for the current year are expected to show still further increases, as there are at present 88 flotation plants in operation, including two new ones now under construction.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 11 30 1929

THE MINING JOURNAL FOR November 30 ,1929

MEXICO

Approximately 600 tons of ore per day is being mined by the Neg. Minera de San Rafael y Anna, at Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, with production averaging 20,000 kilos of silver quarterly. This compares with around 90,000 kilos produced last year. R. A. Conrads, is director general in charge of operations, assisted by Oliver Powers, mine superintendent, and L. W. Allen, mill superintendent.
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A number of the smaller mining companies near Zacualpan, Mexico, Mexico, have resumed operations, employing the flotation method for treatment of the ores, and are now shipping concentrate to the San Luis Potosi smelter of the American Smelting and Refining Company. Details are not yet available in regard to the 500-ton flotation plant proposed for erection by A. S. & P. at San Luis Potosi.
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According to Clement K. Quinn, 1050 Union Trust Building, Duluth, Minnesota, the Canam Metals, Ltd., is acquiring the Canam Mex Mines, Ltd. In addition to Tri-state properties which will be taken over, the company is gaining control of mines at Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico, one of the properties being known as the Farroquia, where important ore disclosures are said to now be in progress to the west of the shaft, in virgin ground, at a depth of 300 feet. East of the shaft, the mine is developed to a depth of 660 feet, with the workings bottomed in ore. While installation of a 200-ton mill is considered as warranted by Ira B. Joralemon, the company’s consulting engineer, it is probable that mill construction will be withheld until further development has taken place. The ore is a primary sulphide, carrying copper, lead, zinc and silver. Two other properties of promise in the same district, are the San Roberto and the Zarogossa, both of which are controlled by Zacatecas Metals, which is the Mexican holding corporation for Canam Metals. Operations are being directed by J. C. Archibald of Zacatecas.
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Development work accompanying shaft-sinking on the Oliver Vein in the Silver Plume Mine of the Minaret Consolidated Mines Company, near Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, has uncovered a body of copper-lead-silver ore at a depth of 72 feet, according to current reports of Harry L. Seares of 511 Story Building, Los Angeles, consulting engineer. The shaft is double-compartment, and the ore is said to assay in excess of $82 per ton. The work being prosecuted on the Oliver Vein constitutes a check on geophysical work recently performed by the Radiore Company of Los Angeles (a geophysical prospecting concern), which, it is stated, has outlined conductive ore bodies over a horizontal distance of 1,500 feet. The company expects to take an appreciable tonnage of ore from this source, in addition to the volume being mined from the main workings, and treated in the new 50-toii flotation plant, which went into commission the middle of this month.
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Construction work is in progress at holdings of Cia. Minera Nazareno y Castasillas, S. A., Salaverna, Zacatecas, Mexico, for the enlargement of operations in all departments. The company plans the development of the small mines surrounding the Nazareño unit, property at the Alicante unit being ready to go into production this month. H. S. Evans, superintendent, is assisted in operations by Harold Heide, assistant superintendent; O. K. Foster, mine foreman; 0. H. Munro, master mechanic; and F. J. Price nnd Neil Erskine, engineers.
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In the three months ended September 80, Ahumada Lead Company, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, produced 7,396 tons of ore, from which the smelter returned 3,204,164 pounds of lead, an average of 433 pounds per ton. Sales during the third quarter equaled production. In the nine months ended September 30, the company had produced 20,831 tons of ore, from which the smelter returned 8,828,634 pounds of refined lead, or an average of 423.8 pounds a ton. Sales for the nine months also equaled production, or 8,828,684 pounds during this period. September
30, Ahumada Lead had in cash and cash assets, $205,381, compared with $201,829 June 30.
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The Ruby Mining Company, B. Iwaya, manager, Apartado 9, Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, has deepened its main shaft 200 feet from the 100-foot level, and drifting is now under way both east and west. A new 240-foot tunnel is being driven in the Escuadra Ruby property. This company is composed of El Paso, Los Angeles and Japanese interests, with headquarters at 502 South Stanton Street, El Paso.
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The American Metal Company, Ltd.. operating in both the United States and Mexico, has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 75 cents on common stock, and $1.50 on preferred, both payable December 2, to stock of record November 20. For the quarter ended September 80, 1929, the company reports a net profit of $907,801, after federal taxes, depreciation, depletion and other charges, which compares with $687,466 in the third quarter of 1928. For the first nine months of this year, the company reports a net profit of $2,566,126, after deducting the usual charges, which compares with $1,890,550 for the same period of 1928.
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Approximately $150,000 has been spent in development of holdings of the North Cananea Consolidated Mining Company at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, during the past year, regular work now requiring the services of 50 employees. Installation has recently been made of a quantity of new mine machinery, including a Diesel engine, pumps and a compressor. C. W. Gabrielson, Box 279, Bisbee, Arizona, is president and manager.
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Two shafts at the Silver Plume property of the Minaret Consolidated Mines Company, Cananea, Sonora, Mexico, have struck silver-lead ore, and two additional shafts are now being put down. This is expected to furnish additional feed for the new 50-ton mill.
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Drifting is well over 300 feet in the San Nicholas ore body of the Cusi-Mexicana Mining Company, Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico, revealing a width of eight feet which will average 80 ounces silver. The development is not yet under the old Spanish 0pen Cut on the surface, and it is believed that the drift will continue in ore under this cut, and perhaps for some distance beyond. A raise is being started to ore above, and other exploratory work to the south of the Red Fault is continuing with favorable results.
There are old Spanish workings still to the south, where it is expected to develop heavy tonnages. William N. Fink is general manager.
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The Cia. Minera El Barrena y Anexas is continuing development of its known ore bodies under the direction of George F. Schattinger, manager, Apartado 64, San Luis Fotosi, S. L. P., Mexico. D. B. McAllister is also connected with the company in an official way.

rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 8 15 1931

MEXICO
Mexico City officials of the Compañia Minera y Exploradora del Amparo, S. A., deny rumors to the effect that the company plans in the near future to suspend operations in its mines of “La Asunción y Anexas in the state of Guanajuato. According to officials, the company has obtained a prolongation of one year for its work in Guanajuato from the Ministry of Industry, and due to this has revoked notices that it would suspend these operations early in August.
E. Grebe of Etzatlan, Jalisco, Mexico, is mine superintendent for the Amparo company. J. M. Campbell is in charge of the work in Guanajuato
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Governor Andres Ortiz of Chihuahua, Mexico, has petitioned the federal government to parcel out the Hacienda de Canutillo, once the stronghold of Francisco Villa, among miners dismissed by employment reductions in the mining zones of Hidalgo del Parrál, and Santa Bárbara. The plan is to encourage the jobless miners to become agriculturalists, working in co-operative societies with government assistance.
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A difficult situation arising from a mixup of claims to properties made by six claimants in the gold placer field of “El Tambor,” Sinalóa, is reported to have been eliminated by an arrangement made with contestants by Gen. Macario Gaxiola, state governor, and Gen. Juan Dominguez, chief of military operations in Sinalóa, whereby the claimants agreed to work the disputed properties together and share the proceeds equally.
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Reports of placer gold workings about the old camp of “El Onto,” in the Peñon Blanco municipality of Durango, have been confirmed by Alberto Terrones Benitez, ex-governor of the state, who says that he has investigated the area and found it highly promising. He advises, however, that a competent geological survey of the region should be made before attempting exploitation.
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F. A. Dundas has acquired an interest in the old Durazno gold mine near Alamos Sonora, Mexico, from Charles W. Phillips
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The King Mining Company, S. A., was recently organized with a capital stock of $200,000, and has taken over mining claims known as the “El Buen Pastor,” “Dulces Nombres” and “Ampliación de Dulces Nombres,” located one mile from the North Mexico R. R., near Escalón, Chih., Mexico. These properties have been producers of quicksilver. The new company will put in operation modern large size furnaces to replace the obsolete equipment now at the mines, and will carry on a program for the development and exploration of the mines. Officers of the company are: Tsuneo Tani of 1588 Post Street, San Francisco, president; Yozo Ikenaga, vice-president and treasurer; and Tsutomu Dyo, general manager. The company may be reached through Box 652, El Paso, Texas. -
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A fabulously rich gold vein has been reported discovered in the Victoria mine, in the Altar district of Sonora, Mexico. Assays made by Mark Wanless, Nogales assayer, are said to have shown values running as high as $100,168 to the ton. The mine was recently acquired by B. B. Buckeridge, Fort Worth, Texas, oil operator, from F. F. Saldamando of Nogales, Sonora. A test run of approximately 800 tons is being made in the mill of a neighboring mine. If returns warrant the expenditure, it is planned to install a mill at the Victoria property.
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The Boleo Copper Company of Santa Rosalia, Baja California, Mexico, A. Nopper, director, has reported a net loss of 8,707,898 fr. in 1980. In 1929, net profit was 24,904,285 fr. Production in 1980 was 12,600 metric tons. The average price received for its copper output last year was 11.664c per pound, compared with 18.095c, received in 1929.

rehab · SANTA BARBARA, CHIHUAHUA, MX MINING HIST TMJ 8 30 1930

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rehab · HIGH GRADE GOLD IN EL TAMBOR, SINALOA, MX TMJ 8 30 1931

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rehab · MEXICO MINING NEWS MINING JOURNAL 1 15 1930

MEXICO

The drop in silver prices, has created a further strain upon Mexican mines producing that metal, declared Genaro P. Garcia, president of the National Mining Chamber. He has petitioned the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Labor, for permission to reduce the working staffs at several of the smaller silver mines, contending that it is impossible for them to operate full force under existing price conditions.
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A ‘La Prensa’ dispatch from Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, states that 2,000 miners have been thrown out of work by the closing of the Real Del Monte silver mines, brought about principally by the decline in silver prices. The company for several weeks past had been seeking permission from the Department of Industry to reduce the number of laborers.
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Further exploration of the west ore body, along the San Nicholas Vein, of Cusi-Mexicana Mining Company at Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico, by drifting, has proven to date, a total length of 425 feet of milling ore, and immediately back of the fault gouge, seven more feet of milling ore has been found, making a total width of 15 feet of ore in the crosscut at this point. The raise from the Providencia Level encountered higher grade ore some two weeks ago, and continues to show improvement. The flow of water from the face of the drift, and from the raise, continues in heavy volume, seriously interfering with any attempt to open stopes from the Providencia Level at present, but this level should drain the upper portion of the ore body, which will be opened by two new levels now being driven. William N. Fink is general manager, and W. C. Swart, the company’s consulting engineer, was recently at the mine on an extended trip.
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Little hope is held for relief of unemployment in Chihuahua, Mexico, before completion of the new power dam, now under construction, according to current reports. A number of mining properties in the vicinity of Chihuahua City are now idle, on account of lack of power due to the drought in that district, and the cracking of the old dam by an earthquake a year ago.
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The high spot of the annual report of Mexican Corporation, S. A., Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, is the substantial increase in the sulphide ore reserves at the company’s Fresnillo Mine, with production continuing at near capacity. On June 30, 1929, these reserves were estimated at
807,006 tons, compared with 477,860 tons last year, 207,193 tons of ore having been extracted.
In the oxide ore zone, the reserves were estimated at 2,073,000 tons, compared with 2,757,979 tons last year, 846,583 tons having been extracted.
More than pleasing results were obtained from exploration work at the company’s TeziutIan unit, Aire Libre, Puebla, Mexico, J. T Boyd, manager, and the ore reserves as of June 30, 1929, were placed at 128,000 tons, averaging 3 per cent copper, and 11 per cent zinc, compared with 55,000 tons last year. At this branch, plans are made for the sinking of a new shaft to the 400-m. level, for further exploration of the ore body revealed by diamond drilling.
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The 300-ton milling plant under construction at Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, by American Smelting & Refining Company, for the treatment of ores from the company’s properties at Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, is to be ready for operation early in March. Gravity and flotation methods will be employed in concentration.
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Efforts of Santa Gertrudis Company, Ltd., Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico, J. F. Berry, superintendent, are continuing, concentrated on the Dos Carlos Mine, and estimates are placed at 959,000 tons of ore in sight, containing 14,500,000 ounces silver, and 61,700 ounces gold. Considerable new equipment has been installed. The company’s El Bordo, and Malinche Mines, are said to be destined to soon join the exhausted ranks with the company’s El Cristo Mine.
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Operations have been suspended at the Santa Rosa Mining Company’s properties at Concepcion del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico, in both mine and mill. The lack of rain during the year is in part responsible for the shutdown.
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The Mexican Government plans an exhaustive survey, and examination of entirely unexplored regions, in the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the states of Michoacan and Guerrero, in the hopes that valuable mineral deposits may be discovered, according to reports. The search is especially for gold values.
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Mining companies in Mexico disbursed dividends totaling $1,644,787 during the month of December 1929. The American Metal Company, Ltd., operating in the United States, as well as Mexico, paid a 75-cent quarterly on its common stock, which amounted to $680,984, and a $1.50 quarterly on preferred stock, amounting to $108,014. The American Smelting & Refining Company, with operations also in both countries, disbursed $1.75 a share this quarter, or $875,000; and Lucky Tiger-Combination Gold Mining Company paid its 2 ½-cent monthly, which amounted to $85,789.
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Good progress is being made in construction of the 75-ton milling plant, for United Eastern Mining Company, at Copala, Sinaloa, Mexico, and two Diesel electric units are shortly to be installed, of 800 horsepower each, according to Roy W. Moore, general manager, 1206 Pacific Mutual Building, Los Angeles, California. The shaft has been sunk on the vein 450 feet, under the direction of P. A. Wickham, superintendent, and levels have been run at 200, 825 and 450 feet. The property is held under agreement with Butters Copala Mines Co., Inc.
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At a special meeting of the directors of the Mexican Premier Mines Company, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, an initial dividend at 1 cent a share, on the outstanding capital stock was declared, payable January 15, 1930, to stockholders of record, at the close of business January 5, 1930. Raymond Guyer is president and manager.
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The Howe Sound Company, operating in Mexico under the name of El Potosi Mining Company, and also in British Columbia, has declared an extra dividend of 50 cents, and a regular quarterly dividend of $1, payable January 15, to stock of record, December 31. Six months ago, Howe Sound paid a similar extra of 50 cents a share.

rehab · MINING LAWS OF MEXICO TMJ 1 15 1930

for JANUARY 15, 1930

Mining Laws and Regulations of Mexico1

By PAUL M. LIJVEBARGER, Washington, D. C.2

In spite of the simplicity of the original mining laws, their extensive applications have created much
confusion as to the procedure to be followed in Mexico.

This paper is one of a series of digests of foreign mining legislation and court decisions, prepared in advance of a general report relative to the rights of American citizens to explore for minerals, and to own and operate mines in various foreign countries. This interpretation of the laws of Mexico, has been prepared from the best information available in Washington, but is released subject to correction and amplification, if necessary, by the proper American diplomatic and consular officers, to whom it has been referred, through the courtesy of the Department of State.

Introduction
Present-day Mexican mining legislation involves, not only the latest mining enactment (August 1 1926), but many other enactments and regulations, principal among which are the constitution, the civil code, the code of commerce, the foreign law, the mining tax law, and the civil jurisprudence of Mexico—the last mentioned being based in part on supreme court decisions. The Mexican Federal government is supreme in mining legislation because, among other reasons, a large part of the revenue of the government must come from the fiscal control of the mines. All circulars, decrees, and rulings that affect the mines, not only have their origin in the central government, but are administered thereby.

The Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor is in control of all mines. Attention may here be called, however, to Article 128 of the Federal Constitution, whereby the separate Mexican states (particularly Oaxaca and Guanajuato) have passed labor laws affecting mining operations. Certain of these laws will be discussed later. Throughout the following summary, references are given by numbers to pertinent articles of the law of August 1, 1926, or to the regulations of August 4, 1926. The original laws, despite their extensive applications, are comparatively simple, and are founded on readily perceived principles; thus they may be understood even by persons not skilled in law.

Classification of Mineral Industries
The Mexican law distinguishes three classes or divisions of mineral industries, as follows: (a) Primary Mineral Substances Division, (b) Petroleum and Gas Division, and (c) the Sundry Mineral Division. Article 8 clearly indicates under which division any particular mineral should be classified. The matter of classification is particularly important, for it determines the area to be staked out under a concession.

Ownership of Minerals
A distinction is made between surface rights and mining rights. The owner of the surface has no inherent right to most minerals that lie underneath the land that he owns. They belong to the nation; and in case the owner wishes to mine them, he must apply to the federal government for
the privilege. The list of government-owned minerals includes all those that are generally found in lodes or veins, although the distinction at times is more or less arbitrary. [Mexican] Federal government ownership extends to all substances from which commercial metals and metalloids are extractable, or which constitute their matrix, mineral carbons (with the exception of peat), graphite, and asbestos, rock salt, and other salts associated therewith, precious stones, and the waste products (tailings) discharged into waters under federal jurisdiction.

The owner of the surface rights, however, has title, not only to agricultural and forest lands, but also to the following:
All stone that cannot be utilized commercially in mining or oil industries; products obtained from the decomposition of such stone, or rock, when their extraction does not necessitate subterranean mining work covered by the law;
marine salts (tequesquite);
chalk;
building materials, and materials for aesthetic construction.

The owner has title also to the subterranean waters under his land, except those having their origin in mining operations (3), and likewise to surface currents of waters not barred by the constitution (art. 27, par. 5).

The federal government, nevertheless, claims ownership of soluble, abrasive, and coloring minerals, and on fertilizers (guano included). It claims also salts derived from marine waters, products obtained from the decomposition of stone when their extraction requires subterranean mining operations, amber, and other minerals of industrial use, when located on public lands.

Pertenencias
It is essential to understand the pertenencia, or Mexican land grant. Its operation is different generally from the American apex mining system, as it makes no provision for extralateral rights. The mining pertenencia is a solid, extending toward the center of the earth within four vertical planes in a horizontal square of 100 meters. The pertenencia of diverse mineral industries is a solid, extending toward the center of the earth, limited on the surface by vertical planes corresponding to the sides of a single, closed horizontal polygon, of which the surface is one hectare. The mining pertenencia as a unit of measurement and ownership, is not divisible, although a mining fraction (demasia) may be a portion of free ground existing between two or more mining lots not sufficient in extent to measure up to the full pertenencia. Such a fraction of a hectare is considered as one additional mining unit. The same thing is true of fractions in the diverse mineral industries.

Placer concessions and those covering minerals from decomposed rocks (art. 20), except when there is an agreement between the concession applicants and the proprietors of the soil, will be limited to 20 meters under the surface of the soil, measured perpendicularly to the level of the land (reg. 235).

Mining Grants in General
A permit must be obtained for prospecting; and the prospecting or exploration grant, as it is the beginning of all mining initiative, is the foundation for the other government grants of exploitation (art. 60), transportation and storage (art. 70), and grants for treatment plants (art. 80), as well as for certain rights connected with concessions.

The Department of Industry, Commerce and Labor alone has the right to exercise discretionary judgment in matters covered by the law, and then only in conformity with the law and the regulations. The official issuing a permit has no discretionary power. Concessions that are applied for, in full accordance with the constitution and other laws, must be granted by the Department of Industry, Commerce and Labor, through the Departments of Mines and of Industries and their agencies (reg. 2).

The granting of monopolistic concessions depends upon the degree of limitation of the monopoly determined by the Department of Industry, Commerce and Labor (art. 26). There is evidence of a limitation to monopoly in article 31.

Considering the terms “concession” and “grants” to be synonymous, we find that such grants, or concessions, of exploration (prospecting), and exploitation (operation), shall be granted only on what is termed “free ground.” The law specifically declares that the land already the object of a concession or otherwise involved by the actions of others shall not be considered free ground (arts. 28, 46, 47 and 48). No concession for exploration shall be granted in any built-up part of towns.

The government provides that agreements between the owner of the land, and the prospector, shall conform to the [precise stipulations] of the commercial code and the civil code. Contracts relating to mineral industry are considered mercantile agreements, and hence are governed by the commercial code (art. 128).

The prospector has exclusive rights within his claim, if his grant conforms to the law. The concession of exploration, or of exploitation, clearly states the concessionaire’s rights; and all the other concessions, if properly prepared, plainly define such rights. However, the prospector has no right outside of those granted by the concession, except a certain preferential right to obtain a new concession in certain cases (art. 36).

Duration of Grant
With certain exceptions (under the provision of art. 57), concessions shall not run longer than 30 years (art. 86); but a concessionaire who has complied with his obligations to the state has the right to obtain a new grant, covering all or part of the original concession. Exploration concessions, however, are limited to two years, calculated from the first day of the month following the date of the concession. But the permit may be extended three times, from year to year, when proof has been submitted to the Department of Industry, Commerce and Labor that certain work was performed during the previous year (art. 87).

The right to the provision of article 36 requires application to the proper mining agency, one year before the concession ends (reg. 287). A grant for the exploration or exploitation of carboniferous deposits, together with deposits of bog iron or float iron, of float tin or stream tin, and of other diverse minerals, is allowed a concessionary confirmation of 50 years, if it is within the requisites of articles 47 and 48.

Concessions for Prospecting
A grant is required before the work needful to the discovery of a mineral deposit, can be done (arts. 8, 53). This grant, or exploration concession, is merely a permit to prospect. A prospecting concession covers only the area and the minerals actually specified therein. The area is a rectangle, which must begin at some fixed and certain points. No side of the rectangle shall be over 1,000 meters in length for a mining concession, or 4,000 meters for coal or sundry mineral concessions (art. 55). The area covered by a concession to explore the beds and bottoms of rivers (placer ground), however, shall follow the windings of the river for a maximum length of 10 kilometers, with a width of 400 meters on each side of the center of the river.

To keep a permit in force, the concessionaire must prove to the satisfaction of the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor, that he has done a certain amount of exploratory work (art. 57). The department accepts the following minimum workings in shafts, openings, or pits: 10 meters for tracts up to 10 claims; 20 meters up to 50 claims; and 80 meters for areas greater than 50 claims. When exploration is made by drilling, the minimum amount of work done must be double that stated above (reg. 147).

Concessions for Exploitation
When the exploration under a prospecting concession proves the existence of some of the mineral substances for which the exploration has been made, the exploitation concession will be granted for mining in the area covered by the exploration concession (art. 60). Although the exploitation concession and the exploration concession must coincide in location, either in whole or in part, free land may be added to the perimeter covered by the exploration concession under duly prescribed conditions (arts. 12, 13, 60, and 62).

The total surface area of an exploitation concession, however, is limited in the case of the so-called “primary minerals’, to 100 mining claims (pertenencias), with an allowance of 1,000 pertenencias for coal or petroleum (“mineral carbon”). In the sundry minerals division, 400 hectares is the maximum exploitation concession (art. 62). Sediment and tailing deposits in river beds are likewise susceptible to exploitation concession (60, 61, 62, and 66).

An exploitation concession will not be granted before the expiration of two years, when the applicant has allowed a previous concession for part, or all of the same land, to lapse.
The surveyor (perito) shall always take as a basis, the area of land solicited for in the application for a concession. He may not change the boundaries thereof; but if as a result of his work he realizes that the application embraces land that has already been included in a prior concession, or for any other reason is not available under the law, he shall limit himself to measuring off only the available land referred to in the petition, and shall include in his explanatory report all observations applicable to the case. The survey must be made by an expert registered in the local agency, or in the office of the secretary of the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor.

Right, of Access, Millsites, etc.
Transportation and storage concessions (arts. 70 to 79), as well as those covering metallurgical smelting plants, and preparation and milling plants (arts. 80 to 88), are provided for in detail and at some length in the law, but they can not easily be summarized in a general statement. The mining law effective August 1, 1926, assigns certain rights connected with concessions (arts. 86 to 99).

Rights of Aliens
Only Mexicans and Mexican companies have the right to obtain mining grants; but by virtue of paragraph 1 of article 27 of the Constitution, the State may concede the same right to foreigners provided they declare before the Secretary of Foreign Relations that they are subject to Mexican laws, as Mexican citizens, as far as the property involved is concerned, and that they will not invoke in behalf thereof, the protection of their own governments (art. 24; reg. 266-267, Organic Law of sec. 1, of art. 27, of the Constitution; arts, 46, 90; reg. 286).

If the petitioner for a grant is a foreigner, within 60 days of the filing of his petition, he should present a certificate to the Secretary of Foreign Relations, setting forth his renunciation of his foreign rights of recourse, as far as the concessions are concerned. The petition must state the name, age, occupation, nationality, and domicile of the petitioner, with an indication of the exploration or exploitation right that is sought, and in the case of an exploitation concession, whether or not it is derived from a former concession. Likewise, the number of the lot, its boundary lands, and the name of the municipality in which it is located, together with the number of pertenencias that make it up and the kind of minerals to be taken out, should be given. A survey shall set forth the points of beginning, the boundaries, and the area of the lot.

After complying with the exactions of article 27 of the Constitution, and the respective regulatory laws, foreign individuals have virtually the same privileges with regard to obtaining concessions that Mexican citizens have. Foreign companies, however, under no circumstances are granted concessions (art. 24), and neither foreign companies, nor foreign governments are permitted to obtain such concessions by assignment. They cannot even be partners or associates of companies holding such concessions.

Transfers
Concessions are not to be transferred, either in whole, or in part, without the approval of the Secretary of Industry, Commerce, and Labor, but the Secretary is not empowered to deny any such transfer without showing a justification in the written law.

The concessions and the rights derived from concessions granted in accordance with this law, cannot be transferred, neither wholly nor partially, to foreign corporations, governments, or sovereigns, nor shall they be admitted therein as partners or co-associates, nor can there be constituted in their favor any rights whatsoever in connection with same. Consequently, the concessions wherein [that] may be violated, the restrictions as established in the present article become, ipso facto, null and void (art. 25).

Uniting two or more exploration concessions by transfer or otherwise for the purpose of obtaining a sole concession of exploitation is prohibited (art. 81).

Applications
Priority in the application for a concession gives a preference over subsequent applications (art. 101). The Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor, which issues all permits, establishes offices knovn as agencies, to represent it in the matter of applications, and other matters. These agencies are controlled, not only by the law, but by special regulations. The applicant must be prepared to prove general responsibility. In cases of doubt, the agents refer the applications to the central office in Mexico City, where responsibility may have to be proved.

The following forms, abridged and translated from the Boletin Minero (April, 1927), may be helpful in giving a general idea of the practice before these agencies, in the matter of applications.

Application Form
Agent of Mines and Diverse Mineral Industries in Casas Grandes, Chih.:
The undersigned, of his own right, by virtue of articles 24 and 100 of the Law of Mineral Industries, and of articles 27 and 31 of the Regulations, presents the following petition: (Here follows the name of the petitioner, with his age, occupation, nationality, address, where he is to receive notification, residence, nature of application, name of the mining lot, boundaries of lot, municipality, number of pertenencias, metals, identification of lot, point of departure, and surveying line.)
In compliance with the prescriptions of article 95 of the Regulations of the Fiscal Laws, I declare that my emoluments do not amount to the sum of $125 a month.

Wherefore, this petition being in conformance with the law, the agency is respectfully requested to register the same, in order to obtain the corresponding procedure.
Mineral el Sabinal, Chih., 11 de octubre, 1926.
C. Antonio Lemus.

This petition must be signed and delivered personally by the petitioner, or by his legal representative, or person holding power of attorney. If the petitioner is a foreigner, he shall within 60 days from the presentation of the petition present his certificate from the foreign secretary, showing that he renounces foreign rights with respect to the concession that he wishes to obtain. If a concession is sought for deposits in the bottom, or the bed of rivers, there must be a certificate also from the secretary of agriculture and development, showing that the water or river wherein such deposits are found are under Federal jurisdiction.

Within 60 days of the acceptance of the petition, there shall be filed the survey and the report of an expert, duly registered in the agency or in the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor. In order to assess the amount of the deposit that shall be made to guarantee the execution of the work necessary to maintain the validity of the concession, the distance, location, and direction of the lot nearest the railroad, principal route, or port shall be submitted.

Export Report reform pleas
(Claims having boundaries on free land)

Agent of Mines and Diverse Minerals Industries in Casas Grandes, Chih., I, Luis Pavon, an expert registered in this agency, being commissioned by C. Antonio Lemus, to survey lot 11, for the exploitation of a mine called the “Alhambra,” has the honor to present the following report, manifesting that upon making the survey, he took into consideration the descriptions of the petition herein, of which the contents are known to him: (here follow the registered number of the petition, name of the concession, name of the petitioner, boundaries, municipality and State, area, survey data, and products to be worked).

Adverse Claimants
The mining law of August 1, 1926, gives as particular causes for filing adverse claims against a petition for a concession, those who trespass on land that is not free (art. 28), and trespass on land already covered by an application (art. 118).

Registry of Concessions
The Code of Commerce, when other provision is not made by the law of August 1, 1926, controls mineral-industry operations, and contracts for the exploration, exploitation, or sale of mineral substances, as well as other contracts relating thereto (art. 128). A public registry of mineral industries is maintained in the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor, wherein documents should be registered (arts. 128 to 186).

Forfeiture of Concessions
The forfeiture of concessions is entirely under the control of the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor (art. 169). Failure to prove the production required, in articles 88, 89, 41, and 42, failure to give the bond required, in article 98, failure to commence or finish work required by law (arts. 70 to 88), interruption of transportation service or of milling operations, the transfer of a concession without permission from the Department of Industry, Commerce and Labor, or nonpayment of taxes is ground for annulment.

Fees and Royalties, & Concession Fees
The following fee bill, which appeared in the Boletin Minero of April, 1927, (p. 278), gives an approximate idea of the cost of acquiring a concession of 10 hectares, for the exploitation of precious metals and certain industrial metals.4

Registry Fees
A tariff schedule for the recording of documents in the Mineral Industries Register, in the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor, establishes the following fees: For documents of fixed value, one-tenth of 1 per cent, the charge to be not less than 50 centavos, nor more than 100 pesos; for documents of an indeterminate value, from 50 centavos, to 2 pesos 50 centavos; inscription of each concession title, 5 pesos; and issuing certificates, 50 centavos, including search. (Schedule of July 81, 1926.)

Guarantee Deposits and Taxes
Guarantee deposits must also be made (art. 182, reg. 60).
Space does not permit a detailed statement of the present tax law, which went into effect on May 1, 1927. The law treats chiefly, the tax on manufactured products of mines, and hence does not materially concern the grantee of a permit of exploration.

Labor Laws
Labor laws have been passed by some of the Mexican states, in conformance with the direction of article 27 of the Constitution. There is some talk of the federalization of those labor laws, that affect mines, but this is highly conjectural and perhaps improbable, because the application of mining labor laws must be more or less localized, and hence depend for their execution, upon state authorities. The States of Oaxaca and Guanajuato have stressed state mining-labor laws, and it is doubtful, in view of state activity in this respect, that Federal control will intervene.

Obligatory Employment of Mexican Mine Workers
Ninety percent of the mine operatives must be Mexicans, and the smallest proportion of Mexican employees in each grade of employment, with the same salary schedule as that of foreigners, must be not less than 50 percent for the first year, 60 percent for the second year, 15 percent for the third year, and 90 percent when the fourth year of the concession is ended.

The Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor may excuse, for the time being, strict compliance with this obligation upon sufficient showing of justification therefore (reg. 284).

Relief of the Mexican Petroleum Law
The Mexican petroleum laws are voluminous; the regulations published on December 15, 1927, alone comprise 861 sections; but they have been briefly summarized in an official publication of the Mexican government (La Industria del Petroleo en Mexico, Talleres Graficos de La Nacion, 1927), from which the following abstract has been prepared.

Subsoil Petroleum Belongs to the State
Since the combustible minerals contained in the subsoil are the property of the Central Government, only Federal authority has the right to initiate, regulate, and safeguard the petroleum industry. This principle of public Federal ownership being entirely within the jurisdiction of the Mexican Federal Government, none of the separate states has the right either to legislate or intervene in such jurisdiction, in whatsoever appertains to the petroleum industry in an administrative, or fiscal relation.

Rights of Owner on Surface
When the state has granted a concession to prospect or develop a petroleum grant, the exercise of this concession entails upon the concessionaire, the obligation toward the owner of the ground, merely to pay him any reasonable damage caused by its occupation and development. If the proprietor of the ground makes unreasonable and exaggerated demands for such damage, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce acts as arbitrator, and the concessionaire may begin his development work at the time he is so authorized by his concession, without any delay arising from the denial of consent by the owner of the land.

How Concessions are Obtained
The Petroleum law promulgated December 31, 1925, determines the kinds of concessions that may be granted in accordance with the Constitution. These concessions are for exploration, for exploitation, for transportation, for storage, and for the refining of petroleum. The government, in granting these concessions, makes them applicable to public lands only, considering as such all those thnt are not affected by any right recognized by the law itself nor acquired before the date of the petition for the concession.

A concession of exploration, when granted, gives to the concessionaire the exclusive right to prospect the ground described in it, within the time limit set therein, which may be, according to the surface extent of the grant, five years. The concessionaire is obligated to perform certain development work in prospecting for petroleum. This development work is to be accredited each year, and proof of an expenditure of a certain sum of money must be shown.

When the concessionaire has struck oil, he has the right to such an extension of his development field, as he may consider practicable, under a concession of exploitation. The life of this exploitation concession, according to the circumstances of the case, may be 30 years, without the concessionaire’s losing the right to continue the prospecting work on the remainder of the land during the five years previously mentioned, or during an additional five years, that the law concedes as an extension. That is to say, if a person or a company acquires a petroleum concession of exploration on 100,000 hectares of land, with such concession will go the right to prospect these 100,000 hectares during a period of five years. If within even the first year of such exploration, oil-bearing indications, as shown by a producing well, are discovered on a portion of the tract—for example, 1,000 hectares—the concession of exploitation may be obtained upon these 1,000 hectares, and the exclusive right of exploration on the other 99,000 hectares shall be continued, until the expiration of the five years mentioned previously. Other portions of the tract may be successively set aside for exploitation; but if at the end of five years there shall remain portions of the 100,000 hectares that have not been sufficiently explored, the operator may obtain a further concession or extension for the purpose of exploration for five more years. As stated, concessions for exploitation may continue, according to the circumstances of the case, for 80 years; and they are extendable.

Mixed Concessions—Both For Exploration and Exploitation
The system described above, according to which concessions of exploitation give way to concessions of exploration, is not absolute, because when the concessionaire is certain that he will strike oil, and the Ministry of Industry is convinced that he will, the concessionaire may immediately obtain a mixed concession of exploration and exploitation, under the theory that all the lands subject to the exploitation grant will be segregated eventually with those that are still in a state of exploration.

to the right of the prospector, therefore, land that he has prospected for petroleum is well vested during the life of the exploration concession. During all this period the concessionaire has the exclusive right to obtain an additional concession of exploitation upon part or all of the land; and, also, the law concedes him an additional three months in which to obtain the concession of exploitation.

Likewise, the right under a concession of exploitation is absolutely indisputable and inviolable, during the life of the concession, as long as the concessionaire complies with the obligations imposed upon him by the law and its regulations.

Concessions for Oil Refineries, etc.
Concessions are likewise granted for refineries and oil carriers (oleoductos). When a concession is granted by the government for a pipeline, or other oil-carrying enterprise, or for a refinery, the concessionaire may count upon the public-utility privileges permitted by law, among which are the free importation of necessary materials; the free use of public lands that may be practicable for the development of the enterprise; and, finally, in cases of necessity, the condemnation of the lands under private ownership, without suffering the delay that might be caused by the opposition of the private owners.

In order to encourage the establishment of oil-transportation facilities, storage stations, and refining plants, the law has now done away with contracts requiring a transit payment for the use of private lands, which formerly were obtained only at extortionate rates.

Constitutional Right of Foreigners to Take Out Petroleum Concessions
From November 22, 1884, to May 1, 1917, when the present Constitution became operative, diverse laws were in effect that departed from the uses and customs of centuries, in matters pertaining to combustible minerals, by bestowing the ownership thereof upon the owner of the surface of the land. The Constitution of 1917, returning to the basic principle that has endured for centuries, returned to the people, the direct ownership of petroleum and of the natural hydrocarbons that are found with it. The Constitution, moreover, restored the right of Mexicans, and Mexican companies, to obtain concessions for the exploration, the exploitation, and the utilization of oil.

The Constitution of May 1, 1917, however, authorizes foreigners also to obtain the same concessions whenever they agree to consider themselves Mexicans, for the purpose of exercising the rights conferred upon them.

Reprinted from U. S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular No. 6182.
2. Principal translator. U. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C.
3. At times water flowing from mine openings has been commandeered for the use of a local community.
4. See also tariff of fees to the agents of the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Labor, in the Mining and Sundry Mineral Industry Branches. July 31, 1926.

=-=-=-=
More than 5,700,000 pounds of copper and its alloys, brass and bronze, are being used in the “Bremen” and its sister ship, “Europa,” now under construction in Germany.
(Continued on page 20)

i.

rehab · MEXICO CITY NEWSLETTER -AND PLEAS TMJ 1 15 1930

[REHAB Notes: The way it still is.]

THE MINING JOURNAL for JANUARY 15, 1930

Mexico City News Letter

By R. B. BRINSMADE, Mexico City, Mexico.

The recent collapse in silver prices has created a new crisis for mines in Mexico.

The Mexican mineral industry enters the New Year, with an outlook even more gloomy than the three previous New Years, which have succeeded the sudden collapse in silver prices in August, 1926. Of the five principal metals in Mexico, silver, lead, zinc, copper and gold, only the last two are now at satisfactory prices. Since 1925, silver has fallen 35 percent in price, lead 15 percent, and zinc 12 percent.

As silver is the most widely distributed, and by far, the most abundantly mined of these five metals, its ruinous cheapness, caused by market conditions in India and China, over which our producers have no control, means a dreadful disaster here. Up to the recent drop from 51 to 43 cents an ounce, even the largest and best equipped silver mines, had been able to continue only by decrease of taxation, drastic economy in expenditure, and radical improvements of extraction methods.

Such was also the case, though in lesser degree, in the great mines of the Parral District of Chihuahua, which are lead-zinc rather than pure silver producers, and which have been vastly benefited since 1925, by the perfection of selective flotation, eliminating zinc from the lead concentrate and enabling it to be profitably marketed by itself. However, [during} the last year, the Chihuahua mines have had their own peculiar grief, due to the drought, and the consequent shortage of the hydroelectric power from the Boquillas Dam, which is essential in large amount, for the pumping of those wet mines.

In 1929, the depressing effect of low metal prices could no longer be exorcised by economies, and began to show itself in a marked decline of production, both in silver and base metals, as compared with 1928. The introduction of more labor-saving machinery and the curtailment of operations had already thrown 20,000 metal miners, and 2,000 petroleum workers, out of work at the end of 1928, or over 25 percent of those formerly employed in the mineral industry. The gradual discharge of employees still continued during 1929, till the December collapse of silver, inaugurated a new crisis. The Mexican Chamber of Mines, now estimates that 7,000 more men will lose their jobs within the next three months; in Pachuca, the Real del Monte company will discharge 750, and the San Rafael company 850 men; in Jalisco, the Cinco Minas, the Amparo, and other smaller silver mines will dismiss 700 men, while the Zacatecas producers will account for a like number.

In Guanajuato, where the ore is of lower grade than in the other mentioned states, the labor outlook is even worse. About all the Chamber can do now is to ask the Federal Department of Labor to dispense with the red tape necessary for getting permission to make these adjustments of personnel, so that the companies will not be obliged to lose more money needlessly, by continuing to employ workmen whose services have become unprofitable.

To add to the depression caused by mining misfortune, is the loss of crops due to the October frost on the Central Plateau. The government statisticians estimate the loss of the chief food, maize, as 623,000 tons, or 30 percent of the normal, and of the second food, beans, as 78,000 tons, or 42 percent of the normal. These deficits have already been reflected by a sharp increase of price in the retail markets, in spite of arrangements for increased food imports from the United States. The decreased payroll in metals and petroleum, was reflected

TIDBITS OF INFO- MEXICO

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MEXICO CITY NEWSLETTER -AND PLEAS TMJ 1 15 1930