Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-09-19
THE COMING METAL.
something of Interest TO Nevada
Miaers and PrOspeetOrs.

cuhhethEnS OF Interest TO NeVau8
niaers and ProspectOrs.
Boston Traveller: Nickel is tho looming
metal" Its Importance is now generally
recognized; its uses are destined to be
vastly multiplied. 1t is only a few years
since the metal was first separated from its
impurities in commercial quantities, and
utilized in its pure state without alloy or
contamination by sulphur, arsenic, or
other elements with which it is univers-
ally combined in its natural state.
AS to its geographical distribution, it
may be said that it is found in many local
tiles and in various parts Of the world; but
only in a few places has it been found in
sufficient quantities and in sufficient rich
ness to be worked with commercial sue
cess. The recent discoveries in New Gale
donia ian Island lying to the east of and
not far from Australia have given such
Importance and commercial c~heapness to
this metal as to bring it into economical
uses heretofore unknown. This locality is
at present the main source of supply for
the world. The only place in the United
States where it has been extensively
mined is at Lancaster Gap, Penn. This
is the ~well-known mine of Joseph Wharton
of Philadelphia. He is now the only pro-
Queer of metallic nickel in the United
States. The ore in his mine contains in
bulk from IL to 2 per cent of nickel. 1t
is9gorked into its commercial state at Mr..
Wharton's extensive works at Camden,
N. J.. The important deposits of nickel
ore recently found in Nevada are now at
tracing attention. These deposits are
rich in oxides Of nickel and oxides of
Il onholt 1ha Draha 0f thio ora ia no hiUh 90
| the per cent of nickel or nickel and cobalt.
Nickel is now worked so as to be ductile
aud malleable.
This metal is to be viewed as a new
material, a new gift to the industrial arts,
with an unknown number of applications
before it. Its most extensive use is in
plating and in the manufacture Of German
silver. For coinage, there has been a
large demand, which is destined to be
greatly increased as its advantages and
economy are better understood. 1t has
varied in price from one dollar to four
dollars per pound in the last 90 years.
The price in England, in 1888, was quoted
in a memorial to Congress at 70 cents per
pound. In the shape of plating it com
mands a much higher price. From 1876
to 1882, the price was on the average up
wards Of 81 40 per pound for large con-
tracts.
The production from the Gap mine to
1883 is estimated at about 1000, 900
pounds. If the mines in Nevada turn out
as expected, the importation Of nickel to
| this country will not be necessary, but it
is highly probable that we can export to
| Europe. The consumption of nickel for
electro-plating is very large. One COM
pany, known as the United Nickel Com
pany, admit that the royalties received I'M
der it's patent for plating processes
amounted to no less than SITS 900 a year.
This is all recent and new. In the coinage
up to June, 1876, the United States had
alone issued OF the fiye-cent nickel TO the
| extent of Sc, 49, 1913 in value. In the Ger
man Empire the total nickel coinage
amounted in January, 1877, to about So
| $50, 600, and in Belgium, in 1876, to 6 $685.
865 francs in value. There is to be added,
| also, the amount OF one-cent nickel coin
in the United States. Great Britain ought
20 substitute nickel for its clumsy pennies.
The refining of nickel and cobalt was
commenced liz the United States by Prof.
j. @. Booth, of Philadelphia, in 1916. Mr..
Wharton has done more than any one else
to promote the metallurgy of nickel in the
United States. The treatment of it TO
secure the best results is q matter of high
degree Of skill. Expensive works for roll
ing nickel have been recently erected at
| Camden, containing, among other ma
chimes, two trains Of 40-inch rolls, Is
inches in diameter, with annealing
rooms and their ~adjuncts, and a 90-inch
| horsepower engine. The largest sheet yet
rolled at Camden was 70 inches long and
| "a inches wide, pure nickel. Nickel is also
welded upon iron and upon steel plates.
A great variety of domestic utensils are
made ont of pure nickel. 1t is a noble
metal in its beauty and in its durability
and freedom from rust and discoloration.
II is proposed to make nickel boiler-plates.
Knives and razors will be made of it. A
more uniform and constant supply of this
metal is demanded.
Its production will constitute a profita-
| BILE industry, now that the probability of
increased supply is afforded by the discov-
cry OF the Nevada mines. We refer to the
article in the United States Geological
survey, Mineral Resources OF the United
States" As indicative OF the lack OF ap-
probation of the uses and applications OF
pure nickel, and the progress of art in its
manufacture, we mention that as late as
1873, at the Vienna Exhibition, and again
in 1876 at the Centennial Exhibition in
philadelphia, the intelligent public failed
10 notice the Importance Of the remarka-
ble series of objects made of wrought
nickel. The Judge reported them as
worthy of an award, while persons not
especially versed in such matters were
snrprised when their attention was called
to the subject, to find that pure nickel
WAS wrought into articles that could be
mt to daily use in the arts and in domes-
80 acoDomy-