Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-01-30
METALS In WHICH
RADIUM IS FOUND
An Interesting Treatise by
Prof. Selwyn=BrOwn
Uranium Is Not the Only Ore
From Which the Radiam
Salts Are Extracted.

inns NN NP1i @F
Selwyn-Brown, M. E., tells how ra-
dunn is obtained. Since this rare
metal has been found to exist in large :
quantities in the United States it is
not lacking in general interest. The
writer says:
Few chemical discoveries in re-
cent years have been so valuable, or
have created keener interest, than
the brilliant Investigations that led
up to the separation OF radium and
the examination Of many of its chem
ical, physical and physiological prop
critics. Already the knowledge gained
by Investigating its action upon diff
ferent substances has revolutionized
our knowledge of the constitution of
matter, and altered many important
scientific theories; and in the near
future more remarkable results are
promised.
THE present value Of radium is
81, 721, 600 per pound, and it is by
far the most expensive Of all the
metals. Even at this extraordinary
price the demand far exceeds the
supply, and there is consequently a
fine incentive to search for the ra-
dium ores. But such a search is
difficult. All the ores Of radlum have
not been determined, and most pros
pectors are unable to have their
minerals tested for the metal. Very
little has been published on the chem
istry Of the radium compounds, and a
rapid and simple reaction to test the
presence of radium in a mineral or
ore is wanting. However, a knowl-
edge Of the present means OF isolating
the metal is of Importance, and a
little further experimenting may
lead to the discovery Of short and
suitable methods Of analysis, and to
the finding OF radium in greater
abundance than is at present thought
Of.
"Originally radium was obtained
from uranium mineral pitchbleude.
and at the present time uranium
mines furnish most Of the metal. Blu
the latest researches show that ra
dunn occurs in association with nu
merous other minerals, and dispersed
in many localities throughout thu
world. The following minerals ar,
distinctly radioactive, and, although
radium has not been proven to be ii
all of them, their radioactive prop
critics are most probably due to it
presence: Uranium, pitchblende
cleveite, ahunitc, autunite, sipylite
compounds of thorium, orangite
mouazite, xenotime, eschynite, fer
gusonite, samarskite, niobite, tanta
lite, p%olycrase, euxenite, columbitC
carnotite.
at would also appear that radiuT
is present in many bismuth, tellI
rum, zinc, barium, strontium, ca
cium and cadmium minerals.
"Prof. Currie obtains radium frol
~pitchblende by an involved and tediol
process. The ore is crushed fine an
roasted with the addition of carbon
lite Of soda. The roasted ore is the
washed and treated with dilut
s%ulphuric acid. The sulphates thI
obtained are converted into carbon
ates by boiling with carbonate
soda. The c~arbonates are again co.
verted into s%ulphates. Radium sulp'
ate is an exceedingly iusoluble sal
and at this stage of the process
may easily be separated from Il
more readily soluble sulphates
filtration. The residue, containil
radium, barium and several 9th
sulphates, is then treated with dilu
hydrochloric acid, which extrac
polonium, aetinium and a couple
other chlorides, and leaves radiu
and barium sulphates. These a
converted into carbonates by tref
ment with a strong boiling soluti
of sodium carbonate. The carbonat
are then dissolved in hydrochlor
acid, and precipitated again as sulI
ates by means Of sulphuric acid. I
s~ulphates are purified to a furtt
extent by a repetition of the abe