Show MINERAL production OF COLORADO though colorado does not now lead in the production of any important mineral substance the united states geological survey reports that it closely approximates california in the production of gold of which in former years it has been the leading producer it ranks eleventh among the mineral producing states and fifth among the states west of the mississippi river it is the leading producer of tungsten ores and vanadium minerals and ranks second in the production of gold third in the production of zinc and and fourth in lead on account chiefly of the decreased production of coal the total value of the mineral production of colorado decreased from in 1912 to in 1913 the product of chiefa value is gold the production of which in 1913 was almost exactly one third the total value of the mineral products of the state the production decreased from fine ounces valued at in 1912 to fine ounces valued at 18 second in importance among the states mineral products is coal but on account of labor troubles in the last quarter of the year the production of the state decreased from short tons valued at 16 in 1912 to tons valued at the production of zinc which showed a marked increase in 1912 over 1911 suffered a decrease in 1913 which was particularly ticul arly emphasized in the diminished value of the output the recoverable zinc content of the ores mined in colorado in 1913 was short tons valued at against tons valued at in 1912 the zinc mining operations are third in importance among colorados mining industries dus tries colorado leads all of the western states in the manufacture of pig iron but pro 0 of f iron ored small quantity duces aces uces only a silver ranks fourth in the value of colorados mineral product and unlike gold output in 1913 the showed an increase of production of silver in the state increased from fine ounces value at in 1912 to fine ounces valued at the recoverable lead content of the ore in 1913 was short tons valued at the other mineral products which had a total value in excess of in 1913 were clay products and copper other mineral products of the state are cement ferro alloys flu ospar f fullers ul earth gems graphite gypsum lime ore mica mineral waters natural gas petroleum sand and gravel sani sanc limo lime brick sulphuric acid from zinc smelting smelling sm elting tungsten concentrates and uranium and vanadium ores |