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I brought a sample back from one of my silver mining claims here in Idaho. The rock looked very similar to a sample of ore I have from the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada; so I had hopes it contained silver. It was from an outcropping reef, near one of my marker posts.

The results of the $60 assay were interesting, but disappointing.

8/1000th of an ounce of Palladium per ton of ore
4/1000th of an ounce of Gold per ton of ore
1/1000th of an ounce of Silver per ton of ore
1/1000th of an ounce of Platinum per ton of ore
1/1000th of an ounce of Rhodium per ton of ore
Trace of Osmium

The fact that Palladium was detected is quite interesting, there is not much of that being mined in North America.

When I go up there again, I'll look on some other areas that I've claimed, perhaps I'll have better luck next time.

For the uninitiated, how much (?/1000th) of any of those metals would it take at current prices to make mining profitable?

I am surprised at the trace of Osmium. Although they were extremely popular in the 1970's, you just don't see Donny and Marie that much lately.

"I am surprised at the trace of Osmium. Although they were extremely popular in the 1970's, you just don't see Donny and Marie that much lately."

Marie Osman did those Weight Watchers commericials a few years back. Maybe thats it.

Idaho?

Did they also test for Nickel, Copper and Zinc? I thought I read somewhere that silver is very often a byproduct of copper mining.

Good Luck

IdahoCopper wrote:I brought a sample back from one of my silver mining claims here in Idaho. The rock looked very similar to a sample of ore I have from the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada; so I had hopes it contained silver. It was from an outcropping reef, near one of my marker posts.

The results of the $60 assay were interesting, but disappointing.

8/1000th of an ounce of Palladium per ton of ore
4/1000th of an ounce of Gold per ton of ore
1/1000th of an ounce of Silver per ton of ore
1/1000th of an ounce of Platinum per ton of ore
1/1000th of an ounce of Rhodium per ton of ore
Trace of Osmium

The fact that Palladium was detected is quite interesting, there is not much of that being mined in North America.

When I go up there again, I'll look on some other areas that I've claimed, perhaps I'll have better luck next time.

What would good numbers be per ton of ore?
What numbers would be worth processing?

It depends on the scale of mining and the size of the ore body.

A small lode of ore might be worth digging up if it yielded 1/2 oz/ton of gold, or 10 oz/ton of silver.

A larger operation on a large lode might work for .15 oz/ton of gold or 2 oz/ton of silver.

IdahoCopper wrote:It depends on the scale of mining and the size of the ore body.

A small lode of ore might be worth digging up if it yielded 1/2 oz/ton of gold, or 10 oz/ton of silver.

A larger operation on a large lode might work for .15 oz/ton of gold or 2 oz/ton of silver.

I can see how that is disappointing, But your getting these Assay on land you already own? in any-case at least you know.

They would be great numbers if you claim was right next to an interstate highway and you were able to grease the palms of your local EPA administrator.

Mining is a very tough business.

ardorlan wrote:

IdahoCopper wrote:It depends on the scale of mining and the size of the ore body.

A small lode of ore might be worth digging up if it yielded 1/2 oz/ton of gold, or 10 oz/ton of silver.

A larger operation on a large lode might work for .15 oz/ton of gold or 2 oz/ton of silver.

I can see how that is disappointing, But your getting these Assay on land you already own? in any-case at least you know.

I own the mineral rights, not the land itself. Each of the 3 claims are about 5 acres, at 600' x 1500'. So there is plenty of room to find other outcrops or interesting rocks. I think I need to study some mining geology books as the next step.

IdahoCopper wrote:

ardorlan wrote:

IdahoCopper wrote:It depends on the scale of mining and the size of the ore body.

A small lode of ore might be worth digging up if it yielded 1/2 oz/ton of gold, or 10 oz/ton of silver.

A larger operation on a large lode might work for .15 oz/ton of gold or 2 oz/ton of silver.

I can see how that is disappointing, But your getting these Assay on land you already own? in any-case at least you know.

I own the mineral rights, not the land itself. Each of the 3 claims are about 5 acres, at 600' x 1500'. So there is plenty of room to find other outcrops or interesting rocks. I think I need to study some mining geology books as the next step.

Test for copper and other base metals. If you have that much Ag & Au, you may have enough copper to mine. If there is enough copper to mine, you can remove the Ag & Au via electrolysis. Pure copper goes to the electrode and the PM's fall to the bottom. You capture the PM's from the sludge later. The copper pays for the mining and you keep the PM's for yourself.