Macfarlane on the Acton Copper Mine. 469 



question next arises, as to whether such an ore could not be 

 smelted at the mines, and a large part of the cost for freight and 

 barrels saved : — 



100 tons of this ore might, by smelting, be made to 

 yield 16f tons of regulus of 36.0 per cent (even sup- 

 posing that one-seventh of the copper were lost in the 

 operation). This would be worth, at 84.50 per unit, 

 or $162 per ton, 82700.00 



From which deduct : 



Cost of smelting, at 85.00 per ton, ..... 8500.00 



Barrels and freight, 89.00 " 150.00 650.00 



There remains, 82050.00 



The 100 tons of 7.0 per cent ore sent to market, would 



have yielded, according to the previous calculation,. . 1700.00 



Consequent profit by smelting 8350.00 



or 83.50 per ton of seven per cent ore. It would thus appear 

 that the best mode of treating the crush ore would be to separate 

 from it as much seven per cent ore as possible, and to treat the 

 refuse from this, which might assay two per cent, by stamping 

 and washing. Of this two per cent ore, the fourths (now set aside) 

 would, on being worked up, yield a large quantity ; and although 

 they might be unable to bear much of the mining expenses, would 

 considerably more than pay the cost of their own concentration. 

 In order to ascertain the fitness of some of the products 

 for metallurgical treatment, the following examinations were made 

 towards the close of last year. A sample of first quality ore from 

 No. 4 shaft gave, 



Silica 25.12 



Carbonate of lime 33.10 



Iron 5.81 



Copper 24.75 



Sulphur, 11.22 by diflerence. 



100.00 



