Ch. 1: Gold and Silver in 1921

Page of 50

Text size:



	458	MINERAL RESOURCES, 1921—PART I.

	LEAD ORES. The mine production of silver from argentifereous lead ores decreased considerably in 1921 and was the second smallest yield from this source in 13 years. The output from Idaho decreased 402,831 ounces, that of Utah decreased 2,001,510 ounces, that of Colorado decreased 317,760 ounces, and that of Montana increased 551,269 ounces. The yield of Idaho is derived mainly from the silver-lead ores of the Coeur d'Alene district, that in Utah chiefly from the Park City and Tintic districts, and that in Colorado from Aspen and Lead-ville. The production of silver from lead ores decreased also in Nevada, California, and Missouri. Most of the output is obtained from the desilverization of lead bullion from smelting of western ores and concentrates. ZINC, LEAD-ZINC, AND MIXED ORES. Silver from argentiferous zinc ores decreased greatly in 1921, because it was not profitable to ship the low-grade argentiferous zinc ores from western mines. The output was mainly a refinery by-product from the smelting of zinc concentrates from California. Silver from lead-zinc ores decreased; it came chiefly from Colorado and Montana. The output of silver from copper-lead and copper-lead-zinc ores came mainly from Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Nevada.


	The production of silver as reported by the mines had increased from 50,875,787 fine ounces in 1908 to 78,857,533 ounces in 1916. A decline during the next three years was followed by partial recovery in 1920 and a further decline in 1921, when the output was 32,686,000 ounces less than it was in 1916. The recovery from dry and siliceous ores was greatest in 1913, when the yield from the Tonopah mines was at its zenith and the production was 4,055,300 ounces more than it was in 1921. The yield of silver from copper ores in 1921 was less

Page of 50