BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Two official reports have been published on Table Mountain: Bulletin 81 and USGS Professional Paper 840. Unofficially, there have been some unconfirmed studies done by Hecla Mining Inc. and by a metallurgist regarding the iron removal and ore beneficiation applying biological technology.

Bulletin 81— See The PDF
The Oregon Department of Geology and Industrial Minerals, , published Environmental Geology of Lincoln County, Bulletin 81 (1973) (1). This article mentions some of the potential commercial applications of the resource at Table Mountain. A beneficiation testing of the ore performed by the Bureau of Mines was also mentioned in this article. This beneficiation test failed to remove the iron content,(1973) which would prevent the application of the nepheline syenite at Table Mountain from being used in clear glass and some ceramics. No detail information has been found in regards to this beneficiation testing.

USGS Professional Paper 840— See The PDF
The second publication was issued by The US Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Professional Paper 840, “Description and Analyses of Eight New USGS Rock Standards (2), which described the nepheline syenite mineral deposit at Table Mountain in general terms.

Biological Ore Beneficiation Technology.
This is a beneficiation technology using microorganisms to process the ore for the removal of its iron content. No tangible information has been seen by the consulting geologist or by the claim owner regarding this testing but it has been expressed that it was successfully applied on the syenite at Table Mountain. Current investigation is taking place with respect to the application of the technology.

Hecla Mining, Inc.
James G. Clark (petrologist) from Applied Petrographics, Inc. in Oregon, pointed out to the consulting geologist that during the 90’s Hecla had done some studies at Table Mountain. The nature of these studies is proprietary and unknown at this point.