The
decrease in the production of gold in 1920 followed a decrease of
$9,476,824 in 1919, of $14,330,809 in 1918, and of $10,789,685 in 1917.
The increase in silver followed a decrease of 16,155,221 ounces in 1919.
The
principal gold-producing States in 1920 were California, Alaska,
Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota, and Nevada, and these six States
together made about 86 per cent of the total output. The only notable
increase in gold was in Arizona. The most notable decreases in gold
were in California, Colorado, Alaska, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, South
Dakota, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. Every State that yielded more
than $2,000 in gold, except Arizona, Oregon, and Tennessee, had a
decreased output in 1920.
The
principal silver-producing States in 1920 were Utah, Montana, Nevada,
Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona, and these six States together produced
more than 91 per cent of the total for the United States. The
comparatively large decreases in 1920 were in Colorado, New Mexico, and
Washington. There were increases in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, California,
and Alaska.
About
$28,071,000 in gold, or 56 per cent of the entire output in the United
States in 1920, was produced by 25 companies, none of which produced
less than $400,000. The largest producer was the celebrated Homestake
mine in South Dakota. Eighteen of the larger properties produced gold
from dry or siliceous ores, three produced it from gravels by dredging,
and four recovered gold in the treatment of copper ores. Eight of the
largest producers of gold in 1920 were in California, six in Colorado,
four in Alaska, and three in Arizona.
