Iron Ore Concentration No. 1. [Volume: 8, Issue: 1, 1888, pp. 3-13]

12

UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION OF

[Vo, 8,

The Chateaugay ore is a magnetite and that which is carried to
the separators consists of grains of magnetite disseminated through
granite rock. The reduction in size is performed entirely dry by
crushers to one-fourth inch mesh, and the separation is made with
water in the rotating jigs.
The Iron Mountain ore is a red hematite or specular ore; no
crushing is done, the material being sized from egg-size down to
one-eighth inch, and the separation is performed in washers and in
tray-jigs with water.
As we have given the number of workmen employed at the
Iron Mountain separaters, we may mention that at the time of our
visit the following were employed at the New Concentrating plant
at Lyon Mountain, New York:
One manager has charge of the works, which are operated continuously, except during the Sabbath. The day's work is divided
into two shifts, of eleven hours each, an hour being allowed between shifts for repairs, cleaning jigs, etc. Each shift consisted of
Two men unloading ore from cars.
Four men feeding large crushers (two to each crusher).
Two men at intermediate crushers and screens.
Two men at multiple jaw crushers and screens.
Three men at jigs (one man to two jigs).
One engineer.
One fireman.
In addition, laborers were necessary to load the concentrates
into cars, unload coal, remove ashes, etc.
Taking the figures given by Mr. Blake, and allowing ten tons
of concentrates for every thirty-two tons of crude ore, we have
34 cents X 3.2 -= $1.09 as the cost of producing one ton of concentrates.
But to this must be added an allowance for interest and depreciation bringing the cost of separating one ton of Chateaugay ore
close to $1.50. The plant ot-Lyon Mountain is reported to have
cost about $70,00, abut a part of this expenditure was due to the
location which made expensive trestles necessary for delivering
crude ore to and removing concentrates from the works.
But as the lean ore is mined with the rich magnetite, the plant
is probably a good investment for the owners, and its operation
will undoubtedly be made less costly in the future Mr. Inman,