PRODUCTION.
CRUDE PLATINUM.
Notwithstanding
the lower price received for crude platinum in 1914 than in 1913, the
production of both California and Oregon shows an increase over former
years. In 1914 California produced 463 ounces of crude platinum which
was about 80 per cent fine— that is, it contained 450 ounces refined
platinum-group metals— and Oregon produced 107 ounces of crude platinum
considered 70 per cent fine, containing 75 ounces refined
platinum-group metals. The total of 570 ounces crude sands sold for
$18,240, or approximately $32 an ounce.
The
yield from Oregon in 1914 was 107 ounces as compared with 22.5 ounces
in 1913. This increase was due in great measure to larger operations of
a few companies rather than to an increase in the number of producers,
and is explained by the greater recovery resulting from the
installation of more improved concentrating machinery. All reports
indicate that the large increase in 1914 over the production of 1913
should be at least repeated in 1915, for several companies have
declared their intention of undertaking developments in the beach
diggings, from which most of the Oregon platinum is obtained.
In
California in 1914, as heretofore, the largest output of platinum came
from the gold dredges of Butte, Sacramento, and Yuba counties; but the
placers in Trinity and Siskiyou counties did not produce as much
platinum in 1914 as in 1913.
The
production of gold ore carrying platinum and palladium in 1914 from the
Boss mine of the Yellowpine mining district, Clark County, New, added
to the domestic production 110.5 ounces of platinum and 168.16 ounces
of palladium.
REFINED PLATINUM.
A
considerable output of platinum is annually made in the United States
from the refining of gold and copper bullion of both domestic and
foreign origin.
Reports
received from the refiners of platinum sands, gold bullion, and copper
matte indicate that 3,430 ounces of new refined platinum were recovered
by them. Of this quantity 525 ounces came from domestic crude placer
platinum, and probably at least 2,500 ounces in all were derived from
domestic sources. The 930 ounces unaccounted for were obtained from
foreign material which is treated in this country and not reported
elsewhere.
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