An
investigation of the comparative solvent power of potassium cyanide,
sodium cyanide, and calcium cyanide has been undertaken by the United
States Bureau of Mines. Mill tests on various ores that are typical of
certain districts are being made for operators.
It
has not been possible to obtain figures showing the total quantity of
potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide used in the recovery of gold and
silver in the United States in 1922. If the estimated quantities used
in California, 260,000 pounds, Alaska, 5,000 pounds, and Oregon, 15,000
pounds, are added to the 3,340,871 pounds reported to have been used in
other Western States, the total consumption was probably about
3,600,000 pounds.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
To
those engaged in the mining and metallurgic industries, to merchants,
bankers, and transportation officials of the United States and Alaska,
to the Bureau of the Mint, the Post Office Department, and the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Department of Commerce, and to
other officials, public and private, who have cooperated with the
United States Geological Survey by furnishing information on the
production of gold and silver, acknowledgment is gratefully made. To
the authors of the Survey mine reports on the production of gold,
silver, copper, lead, and zinc in the Western States and in Alaska the
writer is especially indebted.
