The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-05-26
THE PRODUCTION or MICA.
Variations In Uss, importation, Etc,
Of This Familiar Mineral
During 1909.


With the passing OF the stove and
the coming OF the register and radia-
tor, one OF the chief uses OF mica has
declined. On .the other hand, there
Is an increased demand for smaller
pieces Of mica that were formerly
thrown on the scrap pile. The yarla-
tions in use, producticp, and importa-
tion OF this familiar ynineral are set
forth In report on the production OF
mica, In 1902. by DIR. Joseph A. Holmes.
an extract from the annual volume OF
mineral resources published by the
United States geological survey.
The total quantity OF mica products
In the United States during the year
1902, as reported TO the survey. was as
follows: Plate mica. s73.2G6 pounds.
valued at sS3.S43: scrap mica. 1.02s
short tons, valued at s13.08l; and
mica rough as mined. OF unmanufac-
tured. 372 short tons, valued at s2l.-
025; making a total value Of s1is.4s9.
The increase IN the production OF
plate mica during the last three years
is due to the increasing quantity Of
smail-slzed mica disks and rectangular
sheets that have been cut for cleo
trical purposes. Some OF the small
clear pieces obtained In cutting up tho
large sheets are now split very thin,
rearranged, and eemented closely to-
gether, forming large sheets called
micanite. which are then cut into the
shapes and sizes desired For some
purposes these sheets OF micanlte
answer as well as the natural sheets.
and have the advantage OF being
much cheaper. In recent years. scrap
mica has been manufactured into a
covering for boiler tubes and steam
pipes. to take the place Of the more
expensive asbestors coverings. Waste
mica not available for other purposes
Is used m the manufacture OF wall
papers and lubricants. During 1902,
there was. however. large falling on
IN the production Of scrap mica. which
in 1902 amounted TO l.i50 short tons.
valued at 1906. as against 2.17i short
tons, valued at sie,7i9 in 1901
The tables which show the great
increase In the importation Of mica
during 1902 are significant This
Increase. valued at si3i .27s. is larger
than the total value OF the product Of
mica in the United States during 1902.
II illustrates the increaaing demand
for mica in this country. but also sug
gesis the sad fact that mica can be
mined In India and landed In this
country at a lower price than Il can
be mined in some places in the United
States Canada Is also a large con-
trlbutor 10 our mica supply II is
unfortunate for the industry that
many Of our mines are owned b.
small producers. who are entirely
dependent upon one little mine
when the mica In this begins TO give
out or Is poor. they have no means 10
carry on much dead work and have
10 other deposit to help fll out this
deficiency.
/ Although mica is widely distributed
IN tho United States. nttnal mining
has been limited during the last few
years TO North Carolina. New Hamp-
/ shire. South Dahota. New Mexico
fdaho. Virginia and Colorado Some
/ development work has also been ear
fled on IN California. Nevada. Maine,
Alabama and Georgia n several OF
these states good deposits Of mica ara
I known to exist that are not now avail
able on account Of their distance from
railroads or other means Of trans
nortation