3S9GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, LEAD, AND ZINC IN NEVADA
(MINE REPORT)

By CHARLES WHITE MERRILL AND H. M. GAYLORD



SUMMARY OUTLINE
 Page Page
Summary 389 Mininir industry  392
 Calculation of value of metal production 389  Ore classification  393
Mine production by counties 392 Metallurgic industry  393
  Review by counties and districts  399





SUMMARY

 The total value of gold, silver, copper, lead, and. zinc recovered from
Ores, old tailings, and gravels in Nevada in 1941—$38,959,420—was
greater than in any. year since 1918 (see fig. 1). Gold production decreased
in 1941' compared with 1940, but both quantity and value of each of the other
four metals increased. Copper production— 157,822,000 pounds—exceeded
all years but 1928, which was greater by only 1,054,883 pounds. Gold decreased
5 percent in both quantity and . value; silver increased 13 percent in both
quantity and value, copper 1 percent in quantity and 5 percent in value,
lead 28 percent in quantity and 46 percent in value, and zinc 28 percent
in quantity and 52 percent in value. The total value of the five metals was
5 percent greater than in 1940; of this total value,, copper comprised 48
percent, gold 33, silver 10, zinc 6, and lead 3 percent.
 White Pine County continued in 1941 to be the largest contributor to the
mineral output of the State; it ranked again first in copper and second in
gold and was third in silver. Humboldt County was again the Je~ding_g~id~,produ~er.
Liiic~ln Coun±~y lel in silver ' and again in lead and zinc.
 All tonnage figures are short tons and "dry weight"; that is, they do not
include moisture.
 Yardage figures used in measuring material treated in placer operations
are "bank measure"; that is, the material is measured in the ground before
treatment.
 The value of metal production herein reported has been calculated at the
following prices.

Prices of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc, 1937—41
 Year Gold 1 Silver 2 Copper' Lead' Zinc'
 1937 -
Perfine ounce

$35.00
Perfineounce

$07735
Per pound
$0121
Per pound
$0059
Per pound
$0.06.5
1938                         
35.00
' .646+
.098
.046
.048
1939                         
35.00
' .678+
. 104
.047
.052
3940                         
35.00
' .711+
.113
.050
.063
1941                         
35.00
' .711+
. 118
.057
.0Th
 I Price under authority of Gold Reserve Act of January 31, 1934. Treasury
legal coinage value of gold from January 18, 1837, to January 31, 1934, was
$20.67+ ($~).67l835) per fine ounce.
 2 1937: Yearly average weighted Treasury buying price for newly mined silver;
1938-41: Treasury buying price for newly mme(l silver.
 ' Yearly average weighted price of all grades of primary metal sold by producers.
 ~$0.64646464. ' $067878787. ' $071111111.