PREFATORY NOTE.
In
the following pages will be found the full report on the five metals
gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc. This complete report is divided
into seven sections, the first four giving figures of output for the
calendar year in marketable form for these metals as obtained from the
smelters, refineries, and mints, and general reviews of the respective
industries for the entire country; and the last three giving the
production as obtained from the mines, so far as possible in terms of
recoverable metal in ores sold or treated during the calendar year, and
supplying information in detail relative to the mining industry by
States, counties, and mining districts. The figures given in the four
general reports are the final official statistics of production for
the country and the States for 1911. Further characteristics and
differences are fully explained in the individual reports.
The seven sections are as follows:
Gold and silver (general report).
Copper (general report).
Lead (general report).
Zinc (general report).
Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the Western States (mines report).
Silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the Central States (mines report).
Gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the Eastern States (mines report).
In
measurement of ore, concentrates, etc., the short ton of 2,000 pounds
is used throughout. The price per unit of metal production (gold
excepted, which is fixed by law) is based upon the average for the year
1911 of daily market prices for the metals, as follows:
Gold.........................per fine ounce (troy).. $20. 671834625323
Silver, New York price......................do.....53
Copper, New York price.................per pound.. . 125
Lead, New York price........................do.....045
Zinc (spelter), St. Louis price..................do.....057
It
is to be understood, of course, that the full market values are not
received for metals in ore and intermediate products, but only for
metals in marketable form, and that the prices vary considerably during
the year.
Each
of the seven sections is published in a separate pamphlet and may be
obtained on request to the Director, United States Geological Survey,
'Washington, D. C.
69828m b 1911, pt 1------14
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