Nevada Nugget Hunters

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

THE MINING JOURNAL FOR JANUARY 30, 1931

CANADA

The Deep Channel Gold Placers, better known as the Old Sailor Diggings, out from Waldo, Oregon, recently owned by A. E. Reames, of Medford, have passed to a Vancouver, British Columbia, trio. The new owners are Charles Oldfield, Edward Knowlton, and J. S. Patterson. They have reopened the property, and incorporated the Plateureke Mining Company, with head office at Seattle, Washington. James M. Logan, an old time placer operator in the Waldo District, has acquired an interest in the property, and will be Engineer in Charge.
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The Ludlum Engineering Corporation of New York, operating a gold dredge at Gold Hill, Oregon, as the Rogue River Gold Company, has taken over two old-time producing gold quartz properties in southwestern Oregon, and will equip them with flotation machinery. One of these mines, the Humdinger, near Williams, has been operated the last two years by A. W. Constance, of British Columbia.

The principal development is a double-compartment shaft, sunk 800 feet on the main vein, and from which considerable drifting has been done. The other property is the Continental Mine, at Nugget, which had been productive before the war, but has never been equipped with a mill. Grants Pass is the nearest shipping point for the Humdinger, and Myrtle Creek is the closest shipping point for the Continental Mine. Walter B. Robinson of Medford, Oregon, local representative for the American Smelting and Refining Company, is Engineer in Charge for the new properties.
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Seattle and Alaska men, organized as the Applegate Mines, Inc., are about ready to operate three hydraulic machines in the Buncom District, not far from Medford, Oregon. The old China Ditch, from the Little Applegate River has been reconditioned over its length of eight miles, and 30-inch pipe connects the ditch with the scene of operations. Although the work will be governed by the supply of water, a 24-hour schedule is anticipated, and an electric plant will be installed to provide light for work, and for the bunkhouses and cook house. R. M. Lewis, and James E. Bradford, both of Seattle, Washington, are President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively. Floyd T. Steele is Vice-President and General Manager, and has had 30 years’ experience in the Alaska goldfields.
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rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

E & MJ 9 15 1928

Schumacher Shaft, at Hollinger, Down 4,000 Ft.

Sinking of the Schumacher Shaft at Hollinger Consolidated, in the Porcupine District of northern Ontario, has been stopped at a depth of 4,000 ft., the present objective. Lateral work will he started soon, but it will, of course, be some months before much is known of the possibilities of the new section. The mill continues to handle approximately 4,500 tons a day, which is not enough to maintain dividends at their present rate, and it is probable that the directors will have to take some action before long, in this connection.
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Sudbury Basin Will Sink a Shaft on Nickel Claims

Sudhury Basin has started development of the nickel properties it recently acquired in the Sudbury District of northern Ontario, and will sink a 1,000-ft. shaft at the Falconbridge Claim which was extensively drilled by E J Longyear Company.

Drilling has indicated about 5,000,000 tons of ore, averaging 3 percent combined nickel
and copper content, within 500 ft. of the surface. In view of the improvement in grade, at depth, shown by ores in the Creighton and Frood mines, it is hoped that the Falconbridge will develop similarly. The shaft will have three compartments.
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Find, Near Kirkland Lake, Attracts Much Attention

A STRIKE of high-grade gold ore, made on Aug. 14 at the property of Trout Creek Gold Mining, between Kirkland Lake, and Swastika, in northern Ontario, has resulted in efforts on the part of several of the important Canadian mining groups to secure control of the company. The property was purchased in 1912, by the present owners but not much exploration, outside of assessment work, was done until this spring. The find was made by Tommy Tennant, a miner in the employ of the company, and is said to show a large amount of free gold. Several engineers who have seen the showing, are of the opinion that the formation is favorable for continuation at depth.
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Railroad to Abana Will Not Be Built This Year

C T YOUNG, superintendent of development, for Canadian National Railways, has recently made an inspection of the Abana property, in northwestern Quebec, with a view to determining whether or not a branch railroad should be built to the property. His advice is that the present wagon road should be repaired, and made to do for another year. This is taken as meaning that in his opinion, another year’s development work should be done on the property, before the matter is again brought up.

Abana has been the subject of a great deal of controversy, and much talk has been heard about the necessity for a railroad. Reports have placed the ore reserves at a gross value of $30,000,000, but it is believed that these estimates are based largely on an insufficient number of diamond-drill holes, with a limited amount of development on the 300 Level.

Practically all of the machinery for a small concentrator is on the ground, and it will probably be erected this winter.
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Engineering
Lake Shore Will Use Hoist on 1,000 Level of New Shaft

A hoist for sinking purposes is being installed on the 1,000 Level of the New Shaft, of Lake Shore Mines, in the Kirkland Lake District, of Ontario. The present objective of the shaft is 2,000 ft., but it is intended eventually to continue it to greater depths. A large crusher of the cone type, capable of handling 150 tons an hour, has been installed on the surface, and a jaw crusher has been placed on the 1,400 Level. It is reported that development on the lower levels is satisfactory, excellent widths Being found on the 1,600 Level. The Lake Shore mill is handling 1,000 tons a day.
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Reno Mine Acquired by British

British interests represented by Captain Charles B. Hutton, have acquired the property of ReNo Gold Mines, in the Sheep Creek District, of West Kootenay, B. C., Canada. Captain Hutton, who is a director of Woodbint Gold Mining, made an initial payment of $30,000 on the property, on Sept. 21. The Reno Mine has been developed by four tunnels.
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rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

The Noranda Enterprise

Part II—The Smelter

( Part I, describing the Home ore deposits, appeared in the issue of Sept. 1. (Not likely that I have that issue))

By A. H. HUBBELL
Associate Editor

WHICH is the more important—the smelter or the mine? At the present stage of operation, the only answer possible, is that both are of equal importance. Without the Home Mine, the smelter would not be in existence today. Time, we hope, will see the plant established on the successful custom basis for which it is equipped. A considerable tonnage of ore will eventually come from the various properties of the district.

How great this will be, or what other districts will contribute ore, only the future can determine. As it is, the existence of ample tonnage for the present purposes has been demonstrated in the Home.

The work of blowing in the smelter began on Nov. 21, 1927, when wood fires were lighted in the first of the reverberatories to be completed. Copper was cast for the first time on Dec. 16, and five days later operations were “almost normal,” according to the log. At the end of five months of operation the plant had to its credit, a production of more than 12,000,000 lb. of blister, of excellent average grade. Today it is producing steadily at the rate of 3,000,000 lb. per month.

At the outset, Mr. Kenneth Williams was superintendent of the smelter. After the blowing in had been completed, however, failing health caused him to relinquish his duties to his assistant, Mr. W. B. Boggs. Subsequently Mr. Boggs was appointed superintendent, and he acts in that capacity today.

Many difficulties have been encountered, as one would naturally expect. The winter in the Rouyn district is long and severe. Temperatures of 30 and 40 deg. below zero are common. Last winter, the thermometer reached 50 deg. Below, on one occasion. Then, too, skilled smelter labor is scarce, despite the nearness of Rouyn’s 4,000 population. Besides the troubles that arise from such conditions, the management has had to cope with those that usually attend the starting of a newly constructed plant.

Despite these obstacles, however, excellent operating results have been obtained. These, together with an account of the difficulties met and overcome, will be set forth in the succeeding pages. Facts, to a large extent, have been furnished by various members of the staff. These are supplemented and supported by information gained by personal observation on the occasion of my visit during the latter part of June.

Time, climate, and transportation were factors of chief consideration. The interests behind the enterprise wished to get into production at the earliest possible date. A railroad into the district was under construction, but would not be ready until Fall.

Supplies, such as cement, tools, and the like, were therefore rushed in over the winter roads, before the spring break-up, in order that work might be started without waiting for the completion of the railroad. Contract for the steel work was let in May. Erection was not begun until winter weather had set in, owing to delay in finishing the railroad into Rouyn. Work was continued through the winter of 1926-27, despite temperatures as low as 50 deg. below zero. Construction and installation of equipment were pushed steadily throughout 1927, and, as previously has been stated, the plant was blown in before the year was out.

Reverberatories, rather than blast furnaces, were decided upon by the designers, because it was anticipated that eventually there would he concentrates to handle as well as direct-smelting ore. A capacity of 1,000 tons per day was desired, and to this end, plans were drawn for two 500-ton reverberatories, each 25x100 ft. inside the brickwork; eight 8-hearth Wedge roasters, 25 ft. in diameter; two 12x26-ft. Peirce-Smith converters; two casting machines; and all accessory equipment. The most important item of the latter, was the coal-pulverizing plant, powdered-coal firing having been decided upon for the reverberatories.

OPERATING RESULTS

Operating results obtained at the smelter even at this early date have exceeded the designers’ expectations. Only one of the two proposed reverberatories has thus far been constructed (work on the other having been held up until a waste-heat boiler can be installed), despite which the amount of ore smelted per 24 hours has already reached the 1,000-ton mark, and will be increased if the smelter office succeeds in carrying out its intentions. Thus it happens that six of the eight roasters are required to feed the one reverberatory. However, this and other details regarding plant equipment and operation will be taken up later in the story.

Ore smelted in the first five months ended June 1, 1928, totaled 103,144 tons. Of this, 79,612 tons was basic sulphide ore, the monthly tonnage ranging from 8,574 in December, to 18,080 in June. The analysis of this basic ore was: Copper, 8.10 percent; gold, 0.232 oz.; silver, 0.84 oz.; iron, 35.20 percent; sulphur, 33 percent; silica, 18.2 percent; alumina, 5.1 percent; and lime, 1 percent.

The 23,532 tons remaining was siliceous fluxing ore containing 54.7 percent silica ; 10.7 percent alumina; 13.3 percent iron; 1 percent lime; 6 percent sulphur; 2.94 percent copper; 0.102 oz. gold; and 0.33 oz. silver.
The monthly tonnage of this grade rose from 2,166, in December, to 6,027 in June.

Basic ore, and siliceous fluxing ore, were charged to the roasters during the first five months in the proportion of five parts of the former, to one of the latter. By analysis, the weighed average charge was as follows:
Copper, 7.22 percent; silica, 24.50; alumina, 6.10; iron, 31.40; lime, 1.00; and sulphur, 28.40 percent. It is desired to use as much of the basic ore, and as little of the fluxing ore, as possible. No oxidized ores are handled. The charge is made up by rule of thumb, the rate of feed being altered by the roaster general foreman, if necessary, in accordance with the results of the slag analysis, posted daily.

Calcine running about 14 percent sulphur, is obtained from the roasters. In the reverberatory, this is smelted to approximately a 25 percent matte when treating a 7 percent ore. The shrinkage on roasting is about 10 percent. Theoretically the matte should be lower in grade, but the converter slag running 3 percent copper, in the form of white metal, is returned to the reverberatory, so that it raises the grade to that stated. The gold and silver content of the matte is irregular, because of the spotty character of the ores in this respect, necessitating careful sampling of the resultant blister.

No limestone or other flux is used in the reverberatory. The average slag for May had the following analysis:
Copper, 0.37 percent; silica, 37.10; alumina, 9.90; FeO, 48.70; CaO and MgO, 3.00 percent (approximately). So long as the FeO is kept below 50 percent, a slag is obtained that is not too high in copper. The slag is quite pure, the ore containing no metals such as antimony, nickel, arsenic, cobalt, or lead. In April, practically the same slag as that in May, was obtained. During the first two or three months of operation, a rather basic slag was run, because of lack of siliceous ore.

The output of the converters in the first five months (ended June 1) was 12,030,338 lb. of blister copper, running 99.24 percent copper, 3.17 oz. gold, and 10.94 oz. silver per ton. No effort is made to produce a blister running over 99 percent. It customarily runs higher, nevertheless, at times as high as 99.5 percent. Shipments running 5.16 oz., 5.57 oz., and 5.89 oz. in gold, have recently been made. Blister is the only product shipped.

Converter slag at present obtained runs about 25 percent silica. It is poured back into the reverberatory. The slag desired, and which Mr. Boggs expects to get in time, would run 27.8 percent silica, 1.95 percent copper, and 48 percent iron. For flux he is using a material containing 60 to 65 percent silica, and 8 to 10 percent alumina. At first, this flux was charged to the converters by “boats” and ladles, which caused some trouble in the large converters; but since the installation of the Garr gun, there has been no trouble.

The only products retreated are the Cottrell dust, slag skulls, and some matte skulls. Slag and matte skulls are crushed and returned to the roasters, to be intimately mixed with the ore. The slag skulls contain magnetite, which always carries appreciable amounts of copper, gold, and silver. Some of the magnetite is formed in the converters and in the roasters, but there is some of it also in the ore. If a considerable quantity is present, clean separation of metal products is difficult.

The smelter force today comprises 200 men, 135 of whom are on operation, and 65 on mechanical work, yard labor, and warehouse, Only 5 percent of this number are experienced. Skilled labor is scarce. On blowing in the plant, only 12 experienced smeltermen were available, including the smelter superintendent. All, save two, came from Arizona.

In a region like the Rouyn district, high smelting costs might logically he looked for. Many handicaps aside from climate and isolation have been encountered. Costs equal to those obtained in Arizona have nevertheless been realized, according to Mr. Boggs, without any steam credit for the reverberatories, and with a much harder ore to crush and roast. The ore does not decrepitate in the roasters, thus making comparatively fine crushing necessary. The gangue carries considerable diabase (combined silica), which also has to be crushed fine in order that it may smelt readily.

414 Engineering and Mining Journal — Vol.126, No.11

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