Donovan-Dazet-Jackson Stamp Mill
(1890) 30 stamp mill
Silver City, NV
Cynide process refinery and blacksmith shop.
Being lovingly restored by the Comstock Foundation. Open to the public for tours!
For tours contact: Steve@comstockfoundation.org
Blacksmith shop 
Main doors to the stamp mill and start of the tour 
Batteries of 5 stamps. There are 6 batteries. They are preparing for one of the batteries to be operational for tours. Notice that the entire battery has the timber hold up pushed in to hold the stamps in the up position to allow for cleaning of the stamp box and cleaning and checking the stamp shoe and anvil to see it it needs replacing as the stamp spins as it goes up and down crushing the ore and it wears out. Those parts are easily replaced. 
Stamp cams. Lifts spins and drops each stamp 
Kiln 
The processing tanks are in these buildings 
Cynide tanks must be wood as Cynide would eat metal tanks 
Cynide vats. The crushed ore containing Gold , Silver, Copper and other sulfides is absorbed into a solution now called “pregnant solution”. The liquid is then pumped into the recovery room and powdered Zinc is added which is a more reactive metal and the gold and other minerals precipitate out. Cynide is an unnatural compound of Carbon and Nitrogen. It is safe as long as the liquid is kept basic PH. If it goes acidic it releases Cynide gas which is deadly. So it is tested all the time and lime added if needed. Cynided tailings exposed to the sun is neutralized breaking the bond. (For comparison, cigarette smoke contains as much as 3000 ppm Cynide far exceeding the concentration used in mining) 
Stamp battery cam for 2 groups of 5 stsmps 
The blacksmith shop uses overhead belts to run all the machines driven by one power belt. The system is operational 
Bellow for blacksmith forge. It belongs back on floor level where the blacksmith can pump it to keep the coals super hot 
Coal forge 
Small stamp or riveting machine 
Lathe 
Volunteer Elaine Bergstron (she was Parker’s Sunday school teacher in Hanes Alaska, (Parker from Gold Rush)) 
