130 MINERALS YEARBOOK

 Silver.—The silver production from mines in Nevada decreased from
2,562,071 fine ounces in 1931 to about 1,390,100 ounces in 1932 and the value
from $743,001 to about $392,008. The Tonopah district produced about 591,300
ounces, a decrease of 232,572 ounces compared with 1931. Lessees continued
to work in the properties of the Tonopah Mining, Tonopah Belmont, and Tonopah
Extension mines and cleaned up ore and material in the mines and milling
plants of these companies. The Desert cyanidation custom plant of the Tonopah
Mining Co. at Millers closed in May after 25 years of operation, and dismantling
of the mill was well under way in October. Other important silver producers
were the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. at Ely, the Gold Hifi Development
Co. at Round Mountain, and the Ely Revenue at Ely.
 Any revival in the price of silver will benefit mining as it is a byproduct
in almost all of the copper, lead, and zinc ores mined in Nevada.
 The ores of the Tonopah, Tybo, Pioche, Cortez, Comstock, Rochester, Eureka,
ançl 60 or more other districts past producers of silver promise much
activity, but at present no large-scale silver mines are operating. The principal
mines in many districts are ready to resume operations whenever it becomes
possible to do so, but the continued low prices of silver and the possible
' disruption of railroad service may cause a long shut-down. The mines are
fully equipped with modern operating facilities including reduction plants.
 Copper.—In 1932 the mine production of copper in Nevada was 31,473,600
pounds, a decrease of 41,160,897 pounds or 57 percent from
1931. The total value decreased 70 percent or $4,626,902. Concentrates yielded
most of the copper in 1932, as the low price of the metal cut down shipments
of crude ore. Most of the copper was produced in the Robinson district, White
Pine County, by the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. and the Consolidated Coppermines
Corporation, both companies suffering heavy losses. The operations of both
mines and reduction works were on a part-time basis. Some blister copper
was shipped to Italy during the year.
 Lead and zinc.—The lead output from mines in Nevada decreased from
15,860,634 pounds in 1931 to about 1,195,200 pounds in 1932, and the value
decreased from $586,843 to about $35,856. The largest producer was the Combined
Metals Reduction Co., in Lincoln County. Zinc-lead ore was shipped from the
Yellow Pine district in Clark County to eastern oxide plants. Nevada's zinc
output in 1932 was estimated at 982,800 pounds valued at $29,484 compared
with 20,861,348 pounds valued at $792,731 in 1931.
 Review of mines and mills.—Production in Churchifi County in
1932 was confined to a mill clean-up and to small lots of gold ore
mined in the Fireball district and treated by amalgamation at
Ohnghouse. Gold-silver ore was shipped to a smelter from the
Fairview district.
 In Clark County the Crescent, Eldorado Canyon, and Searchlight districts
produced gold chiefly from the Eldorado-Rand, Quartette, and Duplex mines.
Oxidized zinc-lead ore from the Yellow Pine district, aggregating 600 tons,
was reduced at the Ozark works in Kansas. The ore was principally from the
Yellow Pine, Bullion, and Anchor nunes. A new discovery of gold was made
in the Chiquita claim adjoining the Keystone, a former gold-producing mine,
and gold bullion was shipped to the San Francisco Mint.