The “Silvery Slocan” mines, among the most famous in British Columbia’s history, have emerged from the obscurity of the past, and ghost mining towns are warming with life again.
Caught in the rush of the biggest base metals boom of modern times, the Slocan is destined to carve out a new and prominent niche in the province’s mining industry.
Only this time, instead of silver, the real hero will be zinc. And it is really because zinc was such a pest to the early miners that there is any ore left in the Slocan mines. For the miners of the 1890s, zinc interfered with their relatively simple recovery methods and resulted in penalties from the smelter if it was contained in shipments of the valuable silver-lead ores.
As a result, there is ore — good ore — exposed and developed in some of the old workings, ready for the taking.
New Calumet posts record profit
Although earnings in the last quarter were at a slightly lower rate than in the first three, it is certain that New Calumet Mines’ year-end in September will be the most profitable in the company’s history.
Inclusion of lower-grade ore was responsible for the drop in fourth-quarter earnings and, as the present high metal prices encourage this practice, mill heads are likely to be lower.
There are unusually good prospects for low-grade ores in extensions northwest along the strike zone.
Already, there have been encouraging results from renewed exploration of upper levels. On the 200-ft. level, a shoot 100 ft. long has been developed.
Work is being pushed on the 500- and 600-ft. levels as well as the 200-ft. level.
Ore outlined at Pickle Lake
Surface diamond drilling at the Pickle Crow gold mine near Pickle Lake, Ont., has added about $1-2 million to the mine’s value. The announcement follows trenching, diamond drilling and drifting of the No. 5 vein.
Consulting geologist A.W. Johnston reports that the work indicates a minimum of 100,000 tonnes with a minimum grade of $10 per ton (at a gold price of $35 per oz.). Judging from experience with the No. 1 vein, he adds, the No. 5 will probably yield closer to 200,000 tons down to the 1,350 level.
Hudson Bay Zinc at new high
Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting says it is pleased with its zinc production, which has reached a new high.
Refined zinc is being turned out at the daily rate of 300 tons, or about 110 million lbs. per year. Last year’s output was 98 million lbs., and at the height of the war in 1943, production amounted to 108 million lbs. Future output should be even higher.
Copper and gold production are running high too — roughly 5,000-5,025 tons per day.
When the zinc fuming plant is completely brought in, production should reach 4,000 tons per day.
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