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Show THE CITIZEN IllllliUlllllUUUUI THE GREAT OUTDOORS PROTECT porcupine. recently can led a story in as a food which the porcupine used lives of four men m the saved tl No, the men were not Iost in north. of Utah. They would the mou tains out of luck. They might have be- a weeks without ever have trailed for harmless animals seeing one of these which tin- state game hunters and men ?jn the employ of the Biological Survey in this state. h&ve nearly extermianted h is said that the porcupine is no good jand eats up all the pine trees and the (poor and harmless animal is a detriment to logs and ought to be etxermi-- 1 The A. P. - i - ; nated. In thes-- days of the government air-- ; plane service, the pilot of a machine may drop into the distant hills at any itime, miles from a living soul. Not i prepared to hunt and a scarcity of food in sight, a porcupine would he a welcome sight. The anima 1 Is easily caught and the meat is savory. This is an animal which should receive protection. There is an unwritten law in the north never to kill a pocupine except for food, and the prospector respects that law. This is one animal which does absolutely no damage and lives upon the foliage and bark of cotc s : tonwoods, hemlocks, berry OF OXIDIZED ZINC ORES A PROBLEM .TREATING I beeches, etc. bushes, grass, depletion of the worlds supplies, with the failure to dls-- ) The rapid I lead new ore bodies, is likely to cre- cover a lead famine and to force velopment of the complex mate lead-sulphur-izl- the de- nc ores whose treatment has long been a metallurgical problem, state of the State School of and the j Mines, University of Utah, Federal Department of the Interior in Bulletin 14, just issued by the institution. The worlds future supply of lead, it is aserted, lies tied I first-name- d In these complex ores, of which the Rocky Mountain district has more than its share. The results of a study of posibilities in the hydrometallurgy of oxidized zinc ores, made by metallurgists of the United States Bureau of Mines in with investigators of the University are given in Bulup on letin 14. Although the hydrometallurgy of sulphide ores of zinc has been successful, and considerable amounts of zinc are now being produced electrolyti-call- y at both the Trail plant of the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of Canada( and the Anaconda the Great Falls plant of Co., no success commer-ulall- y has been met with In treating which are not met with degree when treating sul- oxidized ores, a a serious phide ores. Economic considerations as to the esirabillty and necessity of treating 0res; Particularly lower grade ore than inmmercially treated by ordi- ary re(,-- tion methods, and can be c. " -- 8uck f,; es i as contain lead or silver values not easily recovered in retort smelting, questions as to the actual availability of oxidized zinc ores of this type, and finally the question as to what new items of cost will be involved in treatment charges provided the technical difficulties of treating oxidized ores be solved. The investigators of the Bureau of Mines and the University of Utah point out the fact that the typical zinc ores treated at the Great Falls and Trail plants contain high percentages of sulphur, and relatively, small amounts of acid consuming bases other than zinc, and low silica content, gives them decided advantages in case of treatment as compared with oxidized ores, which usually contain but little sulphur, and have considerable content of acid consuming bases and soluble silica. The basic ideas of the work performed by these investigators, with reference to the practical solution of the acid balance problem, and the soluble silica problem, were two: First, that it might be possible to roast oxidized ores after admixture of some sulphide zinc and still sulphate enough zinc to preserve an acid balance. Second, that by control of acidity (essentially repeated leaching with more diluted acids than in ordinarily used in practice) the soluble silica might be kept down,. and the solution of Impurities inhibited to such an extent as to make direct leaching of the calcine of mixed ores practically possible. The results of the investigations Indicate that mixtures of oxide and sulphide ores with an oxidized content up to 70 per cent yield sufficient water soluble zinc on roasting to compensate for the acid radical used by the impurities in leaching. With a 5 per cent acid leach liquor satisfactory zinc extractions are obtained without difficulties due to gelling of the silicate solutions. A satisfactory removal of iron and silica from the leached liquors, can be made with 30 per cent of the weight of the calcine leached, yielding solu- tions suitable fo settling and filtra- tion. A combined zinc extraction of 85.6 per cent can be obtained by treating the precipitate from the neutral leach with .6 per cent acid without excessive of the impurities. The purified solutions are suitable for electrolysis. The investigators conclude that there are large amounts of oxidized ores throughout the Rocky Mountain region that can only be beneflciated In times of abnormal zinc prices, or if a new process were installed. For reasons of acid consumption the oxides and sulphides should he Handled together. The oxide deposits are superficial. After the removal of the zinc the remaining constituents of the ore may be readily treated; In the Rocky Mountain region it is essential to recover the res dual values. re-soluti- on Large amounts of the nations zinc resources are going at present into smelter slag, at a high loss to either shipper or smelter, or' both; between the two is necessary for the interests of both. By extending the use of the present hydrometallurgical process for removing zinc,' in conection with the present method of recovering lead, copper, and silver, it can be shown with current cost figures, that both parties may be materially benefited, and the zinc on luuiuiiiui wwlriiuiuiili',ii'llllll"illlllltllllttlllllllllwllulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllt11111111 7 saved. The occurrence of oxidized ores need not be feared, and their hydrometallurgical treatment Involves no Impractical costs. The surety of a profitable method for treating oxidized ores will encourage the prospector and mine development, as well as stopping a great waste. COPPER TARIFF PROTECTION. Commenting on necessity for reason- able tariff protection of American mining industry Gordon R. Campbell, president Calumet and Arizona Mining Company and New Cordenia Copper company, strongly urges a tariff on copper. He says: Is it any wonder that the copper mining industry In the United States is in an unsatisfactory condition? We have had the largest production in the history of mining, almost balancing the largest domestic consumption, but on top of the largest production we have the heaviest impor tation of copper as against an actual r decrease in exports over years and this increased importation comes from mines with the greatest pre-wa- tonnages of ore ever developed, the cheapest labor on the face of the earth, cheaper transportation charges to New York City, no taxes to pay, and with operating costs not much or little more than half of the average cost of producing a pound of copper rrom the mines of the United Stales under proper normal mining methods. Mr. Campbells statement shows clearly why reasonable tariff protection for American industries tnat need it should be considered as a business, rather than a political question. Tens of thousands of workmen are interested in American mines. Many millions of dollars of savings are invested in their homes. The real purpose of the tariff is not to enrich a few mine owners, but to permit operation or properties which employ American workmen, thus protecting the worker In his job at good wages. This should De the theory of our tariff and it should be considered from this standpoint. The McAdoo people held their conference in a ball room when really it should have been held at a morgue. Missouli (Montana) Missoulian. Best Music In The City. Warner Stone and His Dansante Orchestra DANCE DANSANTE TONIQMT EVERY NIGHT EXCEPT SUNDAY Have You Had a Meal at' THE NEWHOUSE HOTEL $50,000 Cafeteria A combination of elegant refinement, atmosphere and service. The finest Cafeteria Equipment in the United States. Table arrangement to seat 400. 100 employees at your service. BEST QUALITY FOODS AT POPULAR PRICES J. H. WATERS, Managing Director . |