SILVEE MINING IN COLOEADO. 609 



Amalgamation Works. — The amalgamation process employed at the 

 metallurgical establishments near Georgetown is the same, in its essential 

 features, as that used in Washoe and the Reese River district, Nevada, for 

 first-class ores. It consists in crushing, chloridizing-roasting, and amalga- 

 mating in pans or barrels. In the establishment of Mr. Stewart, a mile 

 below Georgetown, the method of operation in use at Reese River is copied 

 almost exactly. The works of Mr. Huepeden, in Georgetown, possess some 

 distinctive features that will be noticed further on. 



Mr. Stewart's mill was built in 1868, and commenced operations in 

 the autumn of that year. It contains 6 stamps of 400 pounds each, which 

 fall 9 inches, 66 times per minute. Its crushing capacity is between 3J and 

 5 tons per day, using a screen of 50 meshes to the inch. There are two 

 roasting furnaces, each about 9 feet by 10 in the hearth. These furnaces 

 are constructed generally like that shown on Plate XXIV, and the method 

 of operation is the same as that already described in foregoing chapters. 

 There are two large and two small pans and two settlers, and one retorting 

 furnace.^ 



Mr. Stewart has been almost steadily engaged in working ore by this 

 method since the completion of his works, and finds the method very well 

 adapted to the ores of the district. He receives the ore from the mine and 

 works it at a fixed price, returning to the owner 80 per cent, of its assay 

 value. The charge for working on this basis was $60 per ton of ore, in cur- 

 rency, in 1869. 



From November 1, 1868, to August 15, 1869, between 500 and 600 tons 

 of ore, from forty different lodes, had been worked. The assay value of 

 these ores was, on the average, $100, coin, per ton, of which 80 per cent, 

 was obtained and returned to the producer. The total production of the 

 works, during that time, was, therefore, about $45,000, coin.^ 



^ According to newspaper report, the capacity of this establishment has been ex- 

 tended during the present year, 1870. 



=* Statement of Mr. John O. Stewart, superintendent. 



77 



