Ores to Metals: The Rocky Mountain Smelting Industry

I have a great love of Colorado mining history, and since I was a teenager, I've read book after book on the subject. Yet not until I read _Ores to Metals_ did I understand the subject so well. Who would have thought that the story of smelting would outshine the story of gold and silver mining? We would have precious little Western mining without smelting. In this fast-paced, intelligent book, James Fell mixes adventure, speculation, riches, heartbreak, cutthroat business, labor unrest, and chemistry into a wild tour of America's past and future. This book is a must for anyone looking for a good read. But it is especially important for scholars of American history, economics, and mining. You'll forget you are studying and get lost in the ride.

This book covers the explosive growth of mining in Colorado during the mid 1850's follows the progression of mining technologies, businesses, and the competition among the smeltermen to create a profitable solution to the sulfide ore problem.This book is very rich in detailed information.

Very well written book on a topic where very little has been written. I never realized the profound impact these facilities had on the towns of Denver, Pueblo, Leadville and Durango. Highly recommend this book...

This is a well researched, in depth insight to Colorado mining. it is a valuable historical book.

Excellent book for newbie in the world of metals.California excelled at Gold and Colorado Silver.Amazing history and detail, with sufficient technology information to spin-up on metals and mining.I use this as a simple reference of "how and why" the Silver mines of Colorado thrived and changed over time.I give this book to every person outside of metals and mining to learn the history and technology topics.