"I UNIVERSITY OF- Ar^lZON/C\. SCHOOL OF MINES Theo. B, Comstock. Director. BULLETIN No. a •P ii :f o ^ I % % % O I I i 5 >'^ f The Testing Laboratories, with Schedule of Rates treatment,OF ORES. for the ♦ ♦ ♦ TUCSON, ARIZONA, APRIL 1, 1892. Daily Citizen Print, Tucson. FACULTY, ETC. THEODOf^E Bf^Y/}NT COMSIOCK, So. D., Director. Professor of Mining and Metaiiurgy, B. Agr., Penn’a State Coll., 1868; B. S., Cornell, 1870; Sc. D., Cornell, 1886. - Instructor in Botany, Cornell, 1869-70; Ist Ass’t Geologist, Morgan Expedition to Brazil, 1870; Professor of Nat’l Science, Pelham Priory, N. Y., 1872- 73; Lecturer on Natural Science, N. Y. nnd Cincinnati, 1873: Geo¬ logist, Capt. Jones’ N.W. Wyoming (including Yellowstone Park) Expedition, 1873; Director, Kirtland Summer School of Natural History, Cleveland, O., 1875; Acting Professor of Geology and Paleontolog}\ Cornell University, 1875-79; Manager of Mines and Mill, Silverton and Eureka, Colorado, 1879-85; Professor of Mining Engineering and Physics, University of Il¬ linois, 1885—89; Assistant State Geologist of Arkansas, 1887 and 1888; Geologist for Central Texas, State Geological Survey, 1889—91. Member American Institute Mining Engineers; Fellow Geological Society of Amer¬ ica; Fellow American Assoc Adv. Sci; Councillor American Institute of Civics. CM/iRLES BRRNRRD GOLLiNGWOOD, M. S., Professor of Chemistry. B. S., Agricultural College, Michigan. I885, M. S., 1890; Adjunct Pro¬ fessor of Chemistry, University of Arkansas, 1888—90; Chemist, Arizona Agri¬ cultural Exper. Sta. and Professor of Chemistry, Univ. of Arizona, 1890 to present. l/RSR EDWiN STOLBRRND, C. E., Professor of Matherr,atios. Chief draughtsman, etc., with Madeira and Mamore R. R., Brazil. 1878—79; 2nd Lieut., 13th U. S. Infantry, 1879—85; Field Engineer Officer, 1881—82; Professor of Mathematics, Engineering etc.. State Agricultural College of Colorado, 1885-91; Engineer-in-chief, Larimer and Weld County Reservoir and ( ity Engineer, Ft. Collins, Colorado, 1885—91. Meteorologist and Ir¬ rigation Engineer, Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station and Professor of Irrigation Engineering, School of Agriculture, Univ. of Arizona, 1891 to present. Professor of Geoiogy and Mineralogy. * Professor of Physics and iPppiied Mathjematics- * Professor of li/jechanics and Industrial Drauuing. * instructor of Assaying. P. S. STOCKTON, Stenographer. P. J. FERGUSON, Engineer. * Chair to be tilled whea the needs of the Seliool of Mines re.-iuire such appointment. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA* SCHOOL OF MINES. Tt^eo. B. Corrstock, Director. BULLETIN No. 2. The Testing Laboratories, with Schedule of Rates for the TREATMENT OF ORES. TUCSON , ARIZONA APRIL 1 , 1892. N. B. Bulletin No. 1 of the Arizona School of Mines, issued October 1, 1891, contains a statement of the aims and objects of the School, with the plans adopted to carry out these purposes, and explains how persons in any way interested in these matters may utilize the facilites offered and aid in extending such advantages. Future Bulletins will discuss practical problems of interest to miners and metallurgists, and give some of the results of actual working tests made in the laboratories of the School of Mines, under the direction of com petent men. Kindly write to the Director if you are helped by any sug_ gestions, and give us an account of such difficulties as you may meet in the mining or after-treatment-of ores. Remember, if we do not come close to your needs, it is our purpose to have it your fault, not ours. The Trustees and Director desire to express satisfaction with the generous words of approval bestowed by the people of the Territory upon their efforts, and to assure all that no pains will be spared to make the testing laboratories particularly adaptable to the needs of Territorial industries. Attention to the SCHEDULE OF RATES announced in this Bulletin, on page 9, will avoid unnecessary correspondence. This and succeeding numbers of the Bulletin will be sent to those who request to have their names placed upon the mailing list. ARIZONA SCHOOL OF MINES. THEO. B COMSTOCK, D IRECTOR. Wo. 3 . synopsis: Practical, Advantages of the School of Mines to Miners and others.— Results op Correspondence with those using the facilities offered in Bulletin No. 1.—I. Requests for Information, Etc.— II. Prelimin¬ ary Tests of ores and minerals.—III. Working Tests of Ores.— 1, Assaying; 2, Sampling; 3, Concentrating; 4, Reducing; 5, Ex¬ perimenting; 6, Miscellaneous. Schedule op Rates. E.^tension of Inbtuction by popular lectures upon practical subjects. Uacililies ©fferedle ^zc. 'rhis second issue of the Bulletin is the direct result of such ex-, perience as has been gained in the last three months regarding the ac¬ tual situation, as it affects the growth and development of the School of Mines. The building up of a great University in any given locality presup¬ poses needs and conditions which, for the best success, involve almost universal demands, inclusive of very extensive pecuniary resources. The combined bounty of the U. S, and Territorial Legislatures has pro¬ vided funds which are liberal enough for a certain limited application, but which would only be frittered away, if extended over too wide a rai-ge. It has, therefore, been wisely determined by the Board of Regents and University Council, after much careful consideration, that, without disregarding the proper facilities for general culture, the province of a College in the University of Arizona must for the present be very large¬ ly the fostering and developing of the material resources of the Terri¬ tory, and the training of men and women fitted to practically cope with the special problems which demand solution at our own doors. o "l 4 In pursuance of this policy in its application to the School, or College, of Mines, a general plan has been devised and an equipment of apparatus provided with reference to the actually existing needs as these have been made manifest in a careful scrutiny of the field. At the same time a very considerable reserve of money and of adaptable space has been held for application to new wants, as they may become apparent from time to time. While we are meeting all demands for instruction within the scope of our organization, the principle is fully recognized that brains are of more importance than buildings and apparatus without them. It is our purpose to secure the best possible talent for every department, that no uncertain work may be done, and that all tests and reports may be con¬ fidently relied upon by those who may have occasion to use the facilities afforded here. For these reasons, although a Faculty will be gradually formed as necessity requires, there have been few appointments as yet. At the same time negotiations still pending will assure the selection of thorough¬ ly competent men whenever their services may be needed. 'Fhe Metallurgic Annex and the Assay Laboratories have been largely equipped since the publication of the last Bulletin, and not a few tests have already been made of ores and minerals from different parts of the I'erriiory. 'Fhe mill is now partly in running order and we are prepared to make working tests by the processes most suitable for Aiizmaores, The large correspondence which has arisen with refer¬ ence to this branch of our work shows clearly the need of the facilities provided and the wisdom of this appropriation of funds by the Board of Regents. Heretofore the Director has been overwhelmed with appli- •cations of this character, vvhich have at times been but dilatorily re¬ ported upon, owing to insufficient preparation for the work and lack of proper assistance. But is is gratifying to find such demands, and it will not be long ere we shall be fully prepared to meet them promptly. As illustrations of the scope and objects of this branch of our work, a general review ol the correspondence of the past three months is here given. A classification of this niakes five natural divisions, as follows: I. Requests for Information Regarding the Resources of Arizona. Letters of inquiry are constantly being received from all parts of the United States, from manufacturers, collectors, museums, and other sources. 'Fhese embrace a wide variety of requests from general to specific. Among those recently received may be instanced com¬ munications from orhcers of the World’s Fair Commission; prominent officials connected with national and state survevs; authorities upon gems and precious stones; parties desiring collections or special varieties of Arizona minerals; manufacturers and others seeking commercial min¬ eral products; persons asking information about mines in the Territory, and many other related queries. 5 Upon the subject of meteorites there has been the most correspond¬ ence, but considerable interest has been manifested in the matter of onyx, which is an important product of the Territory. Requests have also come for information concerning possible supplies of coal, magnesia, asphaltum, corundum and other minerals. It is the desire of the Director of the School of Mines to obtain all possible information upon these subjects and to extend a knowledge of them in such manner as to best subserve the interests of the general public. The formation of a complete collection of the minerals of Ariz¬ ona has been begun and donations are respectfully solicited. A few specimens have already been kindly sent in by friends, for which thanks are due the donors. II. Preliminary Tests Of Ores and Minerals. Applications classed under this head began to come in late in November, but few had been received before January of this year. Delays in the receipt of apparatus and the time necessarily consumed in fitting up the laboratories, have prevented any efforts to increase appli¬ cations in this direction until now. Notwithstanding this, however, some sixty lots of ore, from hand specimens to a number of pounds in each lot, have been received and tested by such simple methods as can be readily applied without undue consumption of time and materials. It is proper to state here that the object of this work and the reason for performing it without charge, are based upon the belief that the re¬ sults to the industries of Arizona will be more than commensurate with the cost, d'here is no intention of competing with local assayers, and any work offered in this department which would so conflict is respect¬ fully declined. The class of work which will be put into this category, it must be distinctly understood, is wholly qualitative, and not quantitative, That is to say, anyone may send specimens and small lots of ores or minerals for simple determination. These must be delivered free of charge, ac¬ companied by letter stating what examinatiou is desired, with stamps inclosed for reply. As soon as convenient, each in order of receipt, a test will be made and report sent. This gratuitous test may include any or all of the following determinations, viz: T. Name and character of the mineral. 2 . Presence or absence of gold, silver, copper, or other valuable ingredient, but not the amount of any metal. No responsibility is assumed for anything beyond the report upon the specimens received. Any responsibility for the authenticity of the discovery, its locality, quantity, or the like, rests wholly outside of us. It is not necessary that any information upon these subjects be given, although such will be welcome as a guide to future explorations under the auspices of the School of Mines, The minerals already examined have come from various parts of Arizona and this work has brought the School of Mines directly into har¬ monious relations with numerous miners, prospectors and others who have much needed this means of determining to a certainity whether they are developing prospectively valuable deposits. It is too early to draw definite conclusions from such examinations, but it may be said that the general results indicate the probable ex¬ istence of gold in Arizona in larger quantity and over wider areas than has previously been recognized. And it is reasonably safe to assert, not alone from these premises, that the ordinary mode of occurence of the gold is not what has been the assumption of some who have introduced plants for its reduction. This discovery has influenced somewhat the selection of machinery for our experimental plant; and, if further study confirm this hint, it will eventually have a most important bearing upon the practical working of our auriferous ores. The existence of manganese ores has also been proven by these tests. These may become of value in the process best adapted for a large class of our local ores. Important ores of iron have come to our knowledge through the specimens tested, A possibly valuable deposit of a refractory material allied to soapstone has been made apparent re¬ cently by the same means. III. Working Tests of Ores. Until now we have not been ready to announce the terms upon which ores may be tested upon a working scale; but a few lots have been sent by residents of Arizona and elsewhere. These have been promptly treated when possible, in small lots, and others have been held until the machinery was in position for manipulation. This branch of our work is necessarily divided, as the objects are not always the same. In the Schedule on page the charges for tests are given with as much de¬ tail as possible, but individual cases must usually be separately consid¬ ered. It may be stated as a guiding principle that we solicit mainly such work as may be of most general benefit and that we will not com¬ pete with assayers or mill-owners in the field covered by them. All work which can as well be done by regular custom mills or assayers will only be undertaken by the School cf Mines at prices much above the standard rates. To afford some basis for computation, the work of this class may be divided into six categories, as follows; 1. Assaying. 2 , Sampling. 3 ('oncentrating. 4 . Reducing. 5 . Experimenting. 6 . Miscellaneous. I Assaying. Requests for assays of specimens have been numerous. It is not just nor feasible for the School of Mines to engage in this work to the detriment of those who earn a living thereby, and it is difficult to see what advantage will accrue to anyone by such procedure. We have, therefore, purposely placed the rates for such services much above the usual charges outside. Where, for any reason, our certificate may be desired, assays at these advanced rates will not be declined. Umpire assays now made in San Francisco or Denver can as well be done at home, and the revenue obtained from this source will be all expended in extending facilities for the benefit of the mining industry. It is earnestly requested that large samples be sent, as it is cesired to make duplicate assays and to preserve a part of the pulp for a reasonable time. A detailed record of all assays will be kept, from which duplicate cer¬ tificates may be obtained only upon the order of the consignor or his legal representatives or successors. 2. Sampling. The sampling of ores delivered to the works will include all work required to obtain an average pulp sample of each lot of more than five ( 5 ) pounds, with a certificate of assay of the same. The larger the lot furnished the greater will be the value of deductions based upon such samples. In no case can any responsibility be assumed for anything beyond what appears in the certificate furnished by the Director of the School of Mines. The essentiai samp/ing of ores other wise treat¬ ed is included in the charges made for such treatments 3 . Concentrating. In all cases of tests of the adaptability of ores to wet or dry concentration, it will be desirable to send one or more sacks of the aver¬ age product for pieliminary examination. This will avoid further ex¬ pense if the result is unfavorable and, in some cases, it may answer every useful purpose. But, for accurate results, it will often be neces¬ sary to ship a ton, or more in some cases. The concentration test will or¬ dinarily comprise sampling and assaying of the original ore and of the total product. A report in detail including assays of headings, tail ings, and all jig products may be obtained at a reasonable additional cost. 4. Reducing. The selection of the best mode of working will usually be most economically left to us, but some calls have been made for the reduction of small lots by particular processes, as amalgamation, chlorination, lixiviation, or other mode of treatment. Such tests will usually involve the determination of the percentage of loss in the treatment, thus requiring several assays for each lot. All necessary investigations of this nature are included in the 8 schedule rate. The quantities required for testing by any particular process will be made known upon application. 5. Experimenting. This class of work comprises such tests as may be required to determine the mode of treatment best adapted to given ores. The charge for such investigations will vary with the material to be examined, but it will usually be equivalent to the sum of the charges for each indi¬ vidual test required, less a liberal discount, A hypothetical case will best illustrate this: Given an ore which is found not to amalgamate readily, and which does not yield good results by chlorination, nor by lixiviation, but for which a special process of electrolysis may be devised after much exper¬ imentation. The charge for all this work would not be as much as the sum of all the tests, as one result would commonly furnish clues to the cause of success or failure of another method. The case selected is extreme for these reasons, and one not very liable to occur. The usual mode of procedure with unknown ores would be a careful chemical an¬ alysis as a first step, and this alone would in most cases determine the kind of treatment best adapted to the ore. Work of this character must necessarily be the subject of negotia¬ tion beforehand, but as it does not compete with established industries in any sense, the charges will always be moderate. In very many ins¬ tances mere inspection of the ore will enable a judgment to be formed as to the most suitable process of reduction, 6 . Miscellaneous. Many questions are constantly arising m the development of mines and working of ores. Such of these as are of general interest will be answered as far as possible in future issues of the Bulletin, and some of those which appear to be highly important may be investigated for the benefit of the mining industry. At times it may happen that ores of particular kinds will be needed for use in instruction, in which csL'.e work of benefit to the owner may be done in return for the donation of the ore, even if it be not profitable to work. The subjects which are being especially studied at this time are the treatment of the sulphide gold bearing ores of Arizona, and the forma¬ tion of mineral veins, as an exj^erimental investigation Any person who has doubts or difficulties is cordially invited to make them known, and in some w^ay or another an effort will be made to dispel them to the best of our ability, V. Extension of the Work of Instruction. There has been expressed in various quarters a desire to utilize the facilities for instruction in ways outside of the regular University train¬ ing, as announced in Bulletin No. i of the School of Mines This de¬ mand has come from those whose business pursuits will not allow them to attend day classes or to take the work of special students. The Board of Regents and the Director of the School of Mines are anxious to meet this need, if it be a real one, and to this end an earnest request is now made that all who are interested will express their wishes freely. The exact method of supplying such a want can best be deter¬ mined later, but it seems probable that it may take the form of evening lectures and demonstrations at the University and, if advisable, occasion¬ ally in the various mining centers of Aiizona, It will not be feasible to begin this work unless a reasonable number of bonafide applications are registered. Any persons who may desire to avail themselves of an opportunity of this character are invited to corres¬ pond with the Director. Fees, it any. will be only nominal. SCHEDULE OF RATES. Preliminary or specimen tests (qualitative): Assaying. FREE. Silver.$ 2.50 Gold and silver. 3.50 Lead. 2.50 Copper. 3.00 Zinc, tin, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, nickel, cobalt, etc., each, 5.00 Sampling, Lots of 100 pounds or less, including assays of three metals. 5.00 Each additional 100 pounds, to 500 pounds. 1.00 Over 500 pounds, to 1 ton,. 10.00 Each additional ton.. 4.00 REDUCING TO METAL BY ANY PROCESS, AS BELOW: A. Simple determination of minimum loss by treatment of small pulp sample; same as sampling charge for same weight. (See above.) B. Treatment of entire lot: sampling charges, plus charges for extra assays required, plus cost of labor and of materials consumed, plus 25 cents per hour for use of each apparatus employed; subject to discount in proportion to amount of work. Amalgamation, including crushing, etc., with full report. would thus cost for first ton treated.S20.00 Two tons. 25.00 Large lots, proportionately less, per ton; small lots more in proportion. 0 :her processes according to time, labor and material. CONCENTRATING (Including all Assays.) •Wet or dry test of small lot (under 500 pounds).$15.00 500 pounds to I ton. 20.00 Each additional ton.'' ‘'. 7.00 Experimental tests and other work, at rates to be agreed upon in each instance. Directions for Shipping Ores. The following letter explains itself, and all consignors of ore in A rizona may avail themselves of this reduced rate of freight, via. the S. P. R. R. San Francisco, Cal., April 6, 1892. Mr. Theo. B. Comstoc®', 'Director of School of Mines, University of Arizona. Dear Sir: Replying to your favor of 15th inst, preferring request for special rates of freight on ores for your Test Laboratory. We believe with you that good results to the Territory will flow from your work, and for this reason take pleasure in informing you that we will carry ores in lots of not more than one ton, from any point in Arizona to Tucson, at the following nominal rates: For 50 miles or less.SI.00 per ton. For distance over 50 miles.2 cents per ton per mile. Minimum charge for small shipments .. 25 cents. We do not feel that we can aflbrd to carry larger quantities than one ton at these rates. To get the benefit of this concession, shipments must be consigned to ‘•Director of the School of Mines.” As this is only an experiment, we will limit the application of these rates to six months from date. Trusting that this will be entirely satisfactory to you, I remain. Yours Truly, C. F. Smurr, General Freight Agent. The Director proposes to visit every mining camp in Arizona within a few months, to familiarize himself with the situation and to study the needs of the industry in matters where the School of Mines can properly offer co-operation and assistance. Arrangements are being made for the preliminary survey of the geology of the Territory preparatory to more com¬ plete work hereafter. Address all communications to THEO. B. COMSTOCK, Director of the School of Mines, Tucson, Arizona. UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, April 1, 1892. Board of Regents: M. P. Freeman, Chancellor; J. M. Ormsby, Sec¬ retary'; S. M. Franklin, John Gardner. ^ >• j/*. 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