GOLD MINING IN COLOEADO. 



565 



which is nearest the lower end being allowed to run away, the middle por- 

 tion returned to the apron to be treated again in the buddle as just described, 

 while the headings, or the three feet nearest the upper part of the buddle, 

 being the richest, is treated in a "keeve;" that is, agitated or stirred in a bar- 

 rel or tub, and then allowed to settle, the heavier part collecting on the bottom, 

 being the concentrated mineral; the upper portion of the stuff in the tub is 

 returned to the buddle for a repetition of the process. Two men or a man 

 and a boy are required to work one buddle. Tailings are generally dressed in 

 this way at a cost of from ^4 or $5 to $8 per ton of dressed tailings, accord- 

 ing to various circumstances, mainly, the degree of concentration attempted. 

 It is usually estimated that six tons of common or raw tailings produce one 

 ton of dressed tailings. 



At the Opliir mine the price paid for buddling was $7 per ton of concen- 

 trated material produced, of which the average assay gave two and one-third 

 ounces of fine gold and five ounces of fine silver per ton. The dressed tail- 

 ings were sold at the Smelting Works at about $17 or $18 per ton. At the 

 Brastow mill some old and rich tailings of high grade ores were concentrated 

 in this manner so as to contain about four ounces of fine gold to the ton, and 

 were sold at the Smelting Works at prices varying from $40 to $52 per ton. 



The following statement, furnished by Professor Hill, shows the gold and 

 silver contained in various lots of dressed tailings purchased at the Smelting 

 Works : 



Tailings produced from — 



Tons. 



Containing ounces 

 of fine gold per 

 ton — 



Containing ounces 

 of fine silver per 

 ton — 



Ores of Bobtail lode, Bobtail Company ...■-. 



Ores of Bobtail lode, Trust Company 



Ores of Bobtail lode, Sterling Company 



Ores of Gregory lode, Gregory Consolidated Company 



Ores of Burroughs lode, Opliir Company 



Ores of Burroughs lode, Gilpin Company 



Ores of North Star lode, Illinois Company 



Ores of sundry lodes 



13 

 97 

 M 



5-5 

 179 



25 



77 

 400 



2.5 



3.81 



2.83 



2 



2.36 



2 



1.6 



1-5 



2 



6.3 



2.66 



2 



5 

 4 

 5 

 4 



