The
figures show that fewer placer mines and more deep mines have been
reported productive in 1913 than the average for the period. The
enumeration of placer mines presents certain difficulties, as noted
above, and it has been especially difficult in Alaska in earlier years.
In
Alaska the estimate of producing placer mines was 720 in 1912 and 700
in 1913, and there were 32 deep mines productive in 1912 and 37 in
1913. In Arizona the number of placer mines decreased from 51 to 36 and
the deep mines increased from 394 to 402. In California there were 386
placers and 410 deep mines productive in 1913 against 509 placers and
532 deep mines in 1912, a total decrease of 245 producing mines in this
State, which led in total number of producers in 1912 but yielded first
place to Colorado in 1913. In Colorado the number of producing placers
decreased from 33 to 29 and the number of deep mines from 856 to 829.
In Idaho there were 196 placers and 188 deep mines producing in 1913,
against 235 placers and 173 deep mines in 1912. In Montana the number
of placers again decreased from 152 to 128 in 1913, and the number of
deep mines decreased from 452 to 430. In Nevada there were 64 producing
placers in 1913 and 722 deep mines, against 63 and 641 in 1912. In New
Mexico the placers decreased from 26 to 20 and the deep mines from 119
to 108. In Oregon there were 128 placers and 45 deep mines producing in
1913 against 156 and 54 in 1912. In South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and
Washington there was little change for 1913.
In
total number of operating mines Colorado led with 858, followed by
California with 796, Nevada with 786, and Alaska with 737. In number of
placers Alaska led with 700, followed by California with 386, Idaho
with 196, and Montana and Oregon with 128 each. In deep mines Colorado
led with 829, followed by Nevada with 722, Montana with 430, California
with 410, and Arizona with 02.
ORE PRODUCTION, CLASSIFICATION, AND AVERAGE VALUES.
The
best in lex of deep mining is, of course, the tonnage, content, and
value of ore mined, rather than the number of mines or of operators.
In the next following table is given the ore production, by classes of
ore and by States and Territories, of mines producing gold and silver
and the average extraction value of precious metals per ton.
