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GOLD AND SILVEE.
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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-