Missouri.—Although
most of the lead of Missouri is "soft" and contains very little
silver, a certain quantity of this metal is obtained from the ores of
southeastern Missouri. The lead from this source is said to have a
tenor of from 1 ounce to If ounces of silver per ton. A total quantity
of 31,268 ounces is reported.
Oregon.—Little
change is noted in Oregon. The total gold from mines in 1906 was
$1,366,900, a decrease of $38,333. Northeastern Oregon (Baker, Grant,
Union, Malheur, and Wallowa counties) yielded about $769,000, a
decrease of over $100,000 as there was in 1905 from 1904. The
remainder, or about $600,000, was derived from southwestern Oregon
(Jackson, Douglas, Josephine, Lane, Coos, and Curry counties), which
indicates a gain of about $80,000 over 1905. The total placer yield was
$361,560, of which northeastern Oregon produced only $72,000.
The
output of silver is insignificant, and in 1906 amounted to 79,346
ounces, derived from Baker County and to some extent also from
Josephine and Lane counties. The production is slightly lower than in
1905.
South Dakota.— The
mines of the Black Hills yielded $6,841,469 in gold, which represents a
decrease of $148,023, or somewhat less than one-half of the decrease
shown in 1905. As is well known, practically the whole product is
derived from amalgamation, cyaniding, or smelting of the gold-bearing
siliceous ores of the northern part of the Black Plills, the great
Homestake mine contributing about two-thirds of the production. A
considerable decline may be expected in the production for 1907 due to
a fire in the Homestake mine and to general labor troubles.
The
silver production was small, 150,875 ounces being produced in 1906,
chiefly from cyaniding ores, a decrease of 31,874 ounces.
Southern Appalachian States.—These
States, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, and Virginia, yielded $295,535 in gold, a decrease of
$158,841 from the output of 1905. Maryland was not a producer. The
first 4 States showed a notable lessening of the output; increases were
reported only from Tennessee and Virginia. North Carolina still showed
the largest output, $82,131, and was closely followed by South
Carolina, with $78,959. Georgia showed the greatest decrease, $65,860,
its production amounting to only $31,050. As usual, siliceous ores
yielded the greatest amount, principally from the Hillabee mine in
Alabama, the Haile mine in South Carolina, and the Iola mine in North
Carolina. The placer gold aggregated $30,000 in round figures.
Of
silver 87,765 ounces were produced, a decrease of 29,744 ounces from
1905, the greatest loss being apparent in Tennessee copper ores. The
only States having an important output of silver were North Carolina,
with 30,769 ounces, and Tennessee, with 55,931 ounces. Almost the whole
output of silver is derived from copper ores.
Texas.—Texas
mines produced only a nominal amount of gold, valued at $1,592 and
derived chiefly from the refining of the silver. On the other hand, a
considerable quantity of silver was produced, amounting in 1906 to
301,772 ounces, a decrease of 85,634 ounces from 1905. The metal is
chiefly derived from a siliceous oxidized ore of a deposit in Presidio
County-
