STCrushers Is A Professional Minging Equipment Manufacturer since 2004, Providing High Quality Crushers, Sand Making Machines, Drying Equipment and more.
STCrushers Is A Professional Minging Equipment Manufacturer since 2004, Providing High Quality Crushers, Sand Making Machines, Drying Equipment and more.
In 2020, two geologists bought a “worthless” Nevada silver mine for 85,000.Rejectingmodernflotationplants,theyrebuilta19th−centurystampmillandamalgamationsystem.Theresult? ∗∗220,000/year profit** from ore everyone else threw away.
The “Worthless” Ore
Previous owners mined high-grade veins (300g/ton Ag), ignoring “low-grade” zones at 28g/ton. New owners targeted the “leftovers”:
Obstacle: Modern cyanide leaching was too costly for small batches.
Breakthrough: Used mercury amalgamation (safely!) to extract silver from crushed ore.
The Retro Tech Revival
Stamp Mill Resurrection ($45,000)
Restored a 1902 5-stamp ball mill to crush ore to 1.5mm.
Powered by a rebuilt 1950s diesel engine (fuel cost: $0.18/lb crushed).
Mercury-Retort Safety System
Installed a closed-loop retort to capture/reuse 99.9% of mercury.
Passed OSHA inspections with airborne Hg levels at 0.001 mg/m³ (safe limit: 0.025).
Niche Marketing
Sold silver to artisan jewelers at 15% premium for “heritage-mined” branding.
The Lesson in Low-Tech
Cost per Ounce: 14.50(vs.21.30 for cyanide leaching).
Zero Waste: Crushed waste rock sold as “vintage mine gravel” for landscaping.
Geologist’s Take:
“Sometimes, the best Ore Processing tech is hiding in history books—not Silicon Valley. ” – Dr. Emily Ross, Co-Owner
WhatsApp
Email
15538010601