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GOLD AND SILVER.
771
SILVER PRODUCTION, BY SOURCES, 1905-1918.
Production of silver in the United States, by sources, as reported by mines, 1905-1918, in
fine ounces.®
This table shows that the production of silver as reported by the mines had increased from 50,875,787 fine ounces in 1908 to 70,661,512 ounces in 1917, and that the production in 1918 was about 2,600,000 ounces less than it was in 1917. The production from siliceous and copper ores was slightly more than in 1917, but that derived from lead, zinc, and lead-zinc ores shows a decrease. The recoveries from dry or siliceous ores reached its apex in 1913, when the yield from Tonopah mines was at its zenith, and the production in 1918 was about 6,446,000 ounces less than it was in 1913. The yield of silver from copper ores has increased from 13,955,436 ounces in 1907 to 20,462,597 ounces in 1918, or about 47 per cent. The total yield of silver from zinc ores has been comparatively small, though the output from that kind of ore which had increased from 37,605 ounces in 1908 to nearly 550,000 ounces in 1917 decreased to 135,676 ounces in 1918. The combined production of silver from lead and lead-zinc ore in­creased from 14,772,387 ounces in 1908 to 25,581,623 ounces in 1918.
The production of silver from siliceous ores will probably increase slightly in 1919 and that from copper ores and lead ores may decrease considerably, owing to the smelter output of those ores in 1919. It is not expected that the production of silver in the United States in 1919 will show any increase, for the loss from copper and lead ores will exceed the gain in the recoveries from siliceous ores.
DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCTION OF GOLD AND SILVER BY METHODS
OF TREATMENT.
SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION.
In the following table is given a summary of the distribution of the production of gold and silver in the United States in 1918, show­ing (1) total crude ore, tailings, and slags sold or treated; (2) crude ore treated in gold and silver mills; (3) crude ore concentrated and resulting concentrates; (4) crude ore shipped to smelters; (5) old tailings and slags treated. The last four items include recoverable gold and silver content in fine ounces.