The Coconino sun., 1891-10-22
SOAPS STONE,
A AIncra! Which Has Lately i!een Used
In IIreprooT Paints.

A Mineral which Has Lately I!een Used
In IIreproor Paints.
An industry OF which there is but
little said excepting in a general way,
but which is, however none the less
important is the production OF soap
stone There are but comparatively
few people who arc familiar with tho
vurioGs features o. this commodity,
and some facts treating upon the in
dustry will, doubtless. prove OF in
terest
In the first place soapstOBe, or,
more technically speaking s;eatite, is
mineral Of Il soft and i.eXible nature,
Gna consisting principally OF silica.
magnesia and more or less alumina
and water. 1t has an oily feeling,
quite suggestive Of a piece Of wet
soap, and is OF three or four different
colors. although mostly OF whitish
cast Large quantities are quarried
in parts OF New England and the mid
die states, the surplus coming from
Pennsylvania and New hampshire.
Its applications are numerous and
varied. Cotton manufacturers use it
extensively on the sizing Of rollers.
Its great durab lily in withstanding
excessive heat renders it valuable in
lining furnaces for the reduction of
ore by fuxes, and in lining ranges,
etc. Lately it has been used in the
manufacture OF lireprOof waterproof
and acidproof paint where it gives
much satisfaction. For the preserva-
| ton OF limestone or sandstone build
| ings during atmospheric change it al
so proves beneficial 1t may be stated
here that in China some OF the soft
stone buildings covered with a paint
made from powdered soapstone have
been kept intact for centuries. in its
powdered form IL ; also largely used
as Il lubricant IN rs IN ingrc jicnt in
the manufacture of some kinds of
steam packing. Some nthcr OF its in
stances Of usefulness az, in The manu-
facture OF cooking utensils aad sinks
in the preparation Of hides, in the
adulteratiOn Of 7oap, paper and rub
Der. in use where a hot boz is occur
ring, in poi sh.ng glass, marble, etc,
and in a thousand other ways. so we
can see what prominent position il
occJpic5 among American industries
During the year lSS'. says The
American Cuitivator, there were l2.-
7I3 tons OF thi mineral produced ct a
value o. 1921. 7O5. II is automatically
stated that the birth O. this industry
datcs back to the time o. tho American
abo 2 mails Doubtless tie use OF
sOa"s {. c In COOKING vessels was an
idea OF this race, rs all along the Cal
ali productive part of re country
have been found ylmistaEG ic evidence
OF previous e. >iatcncc9 70. 81 Industry.
The natives had lauch ore ~ifioplt
time in shaping tbs vavious 3rNslcs
than we arc aware. rs ~ ~ ths' nd
ing the soft aud leyiblc ma: O.. &C. the
| material it mast be remembered hat
thcg had TO perform their work with
tools OF stone Earts o Hnticrs and
sometimes even OF wood Probably
the most elaborate Of these scRrstoae
manufactures were pipes, which are
sad 20 have been very beautiful in
shape and of . mos. exquisite finish.
At y place in New York state called
Gouyerneur IS found a specie of soap
stone known as iibrous tale, which is
especially valuable as filler in the
Manufacture Of the medium qualities
OF pa&er. The tale Is crushed into
small particles, ground with buhr
stones and then placed in large iron
cylinder togethe with a quantity OF
firt repplez, which while revolving.
reduce the tale 20 required degree
of lincness by friation.