650 



GEOLOGY AND MINING INDUSTRY OF LEADVILLE. 



When coke is scarce the above fuel is used, but when coke is plentiful tbe fuel 

 preferred is 35 pounds of a mixture of CO per cent, coke and 40 per cent, charcoal. 

 The proportions are as follows: 



Flux to ore 33J 



Fuel to ore 23J 



Fuel to charge . 17 



This would form a very lair smelting charge; but, if we reconstruct an average 

 charge from the consumption of ore, tlux, aud fuel, giveu for this smelter in Table IV, 

 we find the following result: 



Charge (ore and flax), 187.5 pounds. Smelting clmrge (ore, flux, anil fuel), 255.5 )>ouud8. 



Tne discussion of this average charge leads to the following results: 



Proportion of flux to ore 20 



Proportion of fuel to ore 4u^ 



Proportion of fuel to charge 36J 



After inspecting these figures 110 one will be surprised to hear that the supeiin- 

 tendent of this smelter complains bitterly of his furnace. The furnaces are undoubt- 

 edly very clumsy, but they are constructed on the same plau as all the other furnaces 

 in the camp, and the fault lies chiefly in the fact that less hematite aud dolomite is 

 used at this smelter thau at any other, that the slags are less fluid thau any others 

 in the camp, aud that the enormous percentage of fuel exhausts itself uselessly on 

 refractory charges. The number of smelting charges run through each furnace in 

 tw enty-four hours is equal to 300. 



SMELTEH Ii. 



Sme'tliig cliaryt* made in August, Ib80. 

 No. 1. 



Charge (ore and flux), 710 pounds. Smelting charge (ore, flux, and fuel), 650 pounds. 



No. 2. 



, 700 pounds. Smelting charge, 840 pounds. 



