522 
MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1967 
 
 The electrolytic refining process for obtaining high-purity ductile vanadium
metal developed at the Bureau of Mines Boulder City Metallurgy Research Laboratory
was adopted by two commercial companies. The Laboratory contracted with the
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to develop methods for refining various vanadium
scrap materials generated by other AEC contractors and returning high-purity
metal for reuse. Research on the winning and refining of other specialty
metals in molten salt electrolytes resulted in the discovery of methods for
accelerating the deposition of beryllium metal from beryllium oxide and the
production of hafnium metal from hafnium tetrachioride. Research in the area
of solid waste disposal showed that a significant portion of the residues
generated in the production of titanium tetrachloride could be recycled with
a coincident diminution of disposal problems and a conservation of mineral
resources. 
 The San Francisco Office of Mineral Resources, of the Federal Bureau of
Mines was active in furthering the development of gold resources in the sedimentary
beds of northeastern Nevada as a part of the National Heavy Metals Program.
The 
region constitutes a newly recognized auriferous province which is in an
early stage of development. Inferred reserves of ores, both oxide and carbonaceous,
approach 100 million tons. Informed industry and government sources have
indicated the area offers one of the most favorable domestic opportunities
for discovery of significant new gold deposits of a size and grade to warrant
exploitation under existing economic conditions. Available data on the extent
and gold content of the area were evaluated economically in the light of
existing mining and milling technologies. Special consideration was given
to recovery of gold from refractory carbonaceous materials known to constitute
the major portion of the region's gold-bearing deposits. 
 Region II Field Office, Office of Minerals Exploration (OME), U.S. Geological
Survey, received seven new applications from persons interested in exploring
for Nevada minerals under the OME program. During the year, nine applications
were processed and three contracts were let. At yearend, eight contracts
were active, five of which were continued from the preceding year. 
 
REVIEW BY MINERAL COMMODITIES 
 
METALS 
 
 Antimony.—Ore was produced from the Dry Canyon and Last Chance mines,
Lander County, the PA claims, Elko County, and the Hollywood property, Pershing
County. The Dry Canyon and Hollywood ores and some of the Last Chance ore
were concentrated in the Stevens mill at Austin, Lander County. The remainder
of the Last Chance ore was handsorted before shipment. All ores and concentrates
were consigned to the antimony smelter at Laredo, Tex. 
 
 Copper.—Copper production was down 36 percent from that of 1966, due
entirely to a labor strike that brought the industry to a standstill by September.
The decline would have been even greater had not the Duval Corp. Copper Canyon-Copper
Basin facility, Lander County, come on stream in May. Duval thus became one
of Nevada's three major copper producers along with The Anaconda Company,
Lyon County, and Kennecott Copper Corp., 
White Pine County. Big Mike Corp., Pershing County, completed and began production
at its copper precipitation plant in September. The company had shipped copper
ore to a smelter in 1966. Only three other mines, the Rio Tinto and Copper
King copper properties, Elko County, and the Pan American lead-zinc mine,
Lincoln County, contributed appreciably to the total copper output. Lesser
quantities of copper were recovered as a byproduct from complex lead, zinc,
and silver ores. Kennecott operated Nevada's only copper smelter at McGill,
White Pine County. 
 
 Gold.—Gold output rose nearly 19 percent despite the loss of byproduct
metal when labor strikes forced the shutdown of most copper, lead, and zinc
mines. Increased production at the Carlin mine and mill, Eureka County, more
than offset the loss. Although seven lode gold mines reported production,
only two—the Carlin and the Getchell, Humboldt County— yielded
more than a few hundred ounces