The second quarter of 1938 ends with the first appearance of the Superman character, created by an American writer and a Canadian artist, in Action Comics #1. This flight of fancy is in stark contrast to developments in Europe, where the German incursion into Czechoslovakia is only too real. In the third quarter the Russians try to form a common front with Great Britain, France, and the US to face down the Germans over Czechoslovakia, but the efforts do not gain traction. It is on September 30 that Neville Chamberlain utters his historic naive declaration “peace for our time” after returning from a meeting with Adolf Hitler.
At the Desert Silver Nivloc Mine this quarter sees a modest increase in mill recovery and the grade of gold (at 0.0508 oz/T, up from 0.043 oz/T), but a decrease in the average grade of silver from 13.69 to 11.72 oz/T. The total ore milled is 17,654 tons with silver mill recovery at 85.66% and gold recovery at 93.16%. Production in precipitates is 177,223 oz/T silver and 835.5 oz/T gold.
Joralemon notes that the low grade of ore in the past quarter, and the low grade of all ore milled to-date, compared with the original estimate, is due to the fact that as with the previous quarter they are experiencing more dilution due to mining conditions, and while the grade is increasing with depth most of the ore processed to-date is from the 400 level. He anticipates a “material increase in grade of ore mined on the 6th level...” and says that “there is still an excellent chance of making a much more valuable mine at greater depth.”
We are also informed that the A winze is now complete to the 9th level, drifting has begun on that level and the first few weeks of the 4th quarter will give important information as to the future of the mine. He again says that “the future of the mine depends on developments at greater depths”.
Given the importance Joralemon attaches to depth he has decided that development of the 7th, 8th and 9th levels will be continued at as high a rate as finances permit; he is determined to find out as much as possible about the behaviour of the ore body at depth before the end of the year.
We also told by Joralemon that he is attempting to secure a modification of the terms under which Desert Silver has secured its mining rights. New terms that will allow profitable operations and continued development, even if the price of silver should be greatly decreased.
He finishes his 1938 third quarter report by saying that all equipment and the mine itself are in excellent condition and that, if necessary, the mine can be operated at a very low cost as long as ore above the 9th level lasts.
Kevin Hull
