NOTES ON PLATINUM DEPOSITS.
UNITED STATES.
The
Geological Survey received in 1918 many samples of supposed
platinum-bearing ores. The great majority of these samples were found
to carry no platinum. A few specimens were of interest. One in
particular, a heavy chalcopyrite ore from the Copper King mine, in the
New World district, Park County, Mont., carried about 0.3 ounce of
platinum a ton.
ALASKA.
During
1918 rich gold, silver, and palladium bearing copper concentrates were
shipped from the Saltchuck mine, in the Ketchikan district,
southeastern Alaska. This ore is remarkable for its high content of
palladium. The mine is well developed and equipped with notation mill.
The ores are largely bornite and chalcocite. The Seward Peninsula
placers produced 56 ounces of platinum, mostly from dredges. There was
also a production of platinum from Boob Creek, in the Tolstoi (Yukon)
district, and from Slate Creek, in the Chistochina (Copper River)
district.
CALIFORNIA.
Placer
mines in California produced 530 ounces of crude platinum in 1918, as
compared with 460 ounces in 1917. Dredges in Butte, Yuba, Calaveras,
Amador, Sacramento, Merced, and Shasta counties saved 522 ounces as a
by-product; hydraulic mines in Nevada, Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt,
Plumas, and Mendocino counties saved 8 ounces.
NEVADA.
Copper-gold
palladium ores were shipped during 1918 to the Palau Metals Co. and the
Irvington Smelting & Refining Co. from the Boss mine, near Good
Springs, Clark County, Nev.
OREGON.
Development
of one of the old elevated beaches near Port Orford, Oreg., was
reported to have begun on a considerable scale late in 1918, and there
were some new installations in the vicinity of Bandon. The largest
quantity of platinum produced in Oregon came from hydraulic mines near
Waldo-and Kerby, Josephine County. The total production from all mines
in the State in 1918 was 58 ounces.
WASHINGTON.
Refiners reported very small purchases of crude platinum from Washington mines in 1918.
WYOMING.
At
the Rambler mine, near Holmes, Albany County, Wyo., a fire in August,
1918, destroyed the surface equipment, but it is reported that the mine
will be equipped and reopened as soon as possible.
