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Van Wyck Assayer Archive, Savage MC Ores, 1865 [167528]

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Mining Start Price:600.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 2,500.00 USD
Van Wyck Assayer Archive, Savage MC Ores, 1865 [167528]
NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER), HIGH BID WAS
950.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2023 Jun 17 @ 08:00UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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Twelve original assay certificates for Comstock Assayer Van Wyck representing ores sent to eleven different mills for reduction to bullion.
This group is a very interesting study group showing exactly how the larger Comstock mining companies processed their ores at various "custom" mills. In this manner, they could submit ores of a specific silver-gold content to multiple mills about the same time and closely watch the recovery through the fineness of the bullion, all in May, 1865. The mills used here by the Savage MC: Ophir, Swansey, Temelec, Central, Union, Delands, Marysville, Buckeye, Mariposa, Bassett, Minnesota.
Most of the bullion bars ran about 030 fine gold or higher, while the silver was generally about 965 fine. In looking at these bullion assays, it is immediately clear that the Ophir Mill was a severe problem, which would have led to the immediate dismissal of use of this mill, and possibly a suit. While all other ten mills roughly averaged as stated, the Ophir mill rendered 007 fine gold and about 690 fine silver. Either they were incompetent (very possible) or stealing gold and silver.
This is an excellent record of silver-gold bullion milled by Comstock custom mills. In later years, large scale mills were built by William Sharon, funded by the Bank of California, which much better controlled bullion production.

Date:
Country (if not USA):
State: Nevada
City: Virginia City
Provenance: