The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-04-16
ABOUT MONAZITE.
Franklin Co., Vermont.

Living in the midst of the monazite
region, and having engaged in mining
it on a small scale, I will give your
readers what I know about this new
or recently developed mineral.
About seven years ago, some North
ern miners operating the old gold
mines of Golden Valley, Rutherford
county gravel washings) discovered a
bright yellow, or blush yellow sand,
very heavy, that remained, or settled.
with the gold. They sent this sand
North and he'd it aualized and found
that it contained thoria, and was more
valuable than the small quantity Of
gold found with it. So those miners
quit prospecting and mining for gold
and turned their attention to washing
the old gravel beds for monazite.
Said miners told the natives that
their yellow sand was worth twenty
cents per pound. The natives did not
take any interest in it. and the man
who began to develop this new mineral
died and his miners returned home
and nothing more was done until about
three years ago.
The Wellsback Light Company of
Gloucester, N. j., employed Mr.. L A.
Gsttys, of Duncan's Creek, Ruther-
for county, to act Is their agent in
getting out and buying monazite for
them. This light company uses it to
make hoods or caps for incandescent
gas light burners, which, they claim,
makes the best and cheapest light eve
invented, and thoria, or some extract
Of monszite, is the only distance
known suitable for said incandescent
light; that one hood or cap burner will
lssi six months in constant use 50
refractory is it to heat. That it can
only be ruined by acids and chemicals.
That n Wellsback, an Austrian, in
the city of Viena, is the inventor of
said light and the only chemist who
understands how to reden monazite.
That the Gloucester Co n. J., IS a,
branch house of a German company.
Mr.. Gettys is sole agent, and the only
buyer of monazite, and the demand of
his company is limited. But other
chemists and capitalist seem to be
investigating this new mineral, thought
so far they have taken only a few
tons, it seems thought for experiments,
however, the demand seems to be in
creasing. as more is called for this year
than last.
1t is said that monszite is found in
limited areas and quantities. That
Brazil, South America, has previously
furnished the commercial product of
the world. That It's discovery in this
region is the first discovery made in
the United States of American. The
deposits here cover about three-fourths
of Cleveland county, the Eastern
edge of Rutherford and the north
edge of York and Spartanburg coun-
ties, S O., covering an area of % miles
long by from 10 to 20 miles wide. In
this area it is found in neerly all the
streams and gravel up the low banks,
though much of it is too poor to wosh
at present prices of five to eight cents.
While in many, in fact most, deposits
contain, with monazite, so much black
sand, called magnetic iron ore, garnet,
etc which being heavy, cannot be
separated from the monazite, that only
the pure samples have a commercial
value. Quality and quantity are the
first considerations in a monazite mine.
If two men can average so pounds per
day, worth z cents per pound, they
count it a good mine. The same pro
cess Is used in separating it from com
mon Sand and gravel as in gold wash
ings. The mines rent from one-sixth
to one half. Our biologists and min
biologists eem almost to ignore mona
ute. In the Hand Book of North
Caroline, published in 1885, monazite
ia only mentioned once in connection
with minerals and gems. This is an
nyiting field for geologist and miner
ologsts, as every branch and ravine
will be thoroughly explored if this
monazte boom continues long, and
other rare minerals and gems will be
discovered if they are here.
This article is open e criticism. we
will be glad to hear from any one who
can tell us anything more about mona
ute. Also, what commercial value
black-lead (graphite) has? Has garnet
any commercial value7 Has quartz,
mated by six sided pyramids, any com
mercial value?
A bushel of monazite weighs about
900 mounds ~averduDOia and sells from