Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-12
Importance Of the Work Recently
Undertaken by United States
Geological Survey
RARE METAL HAS VALUE OF S2I
Per 0uuce-Circular Issued by Direc.
tor Wolcott What Is to be Done
AT Portland Exposition

Victor &, HeikcS, Who Is in charge OF
the mineral resource work OF the
United States Geological survey for the
states of Utah and Idaho and territory
Of Arizona, is confident that, as a re-
suit Of the plans mapped out for an cN-
animation into the platinum resources
of the United States, that valuable met
al will be found in possibly commercial
quantities in Utah Since the an
nouncement of the surveys intention
several weeks ago, Mr.. Heikes has re.
ceived numerous Inquiries and has al
ready forwarded large lot of samples
Of sands on TO Washington, ID. Co for
sampling, etc,
There is AN increased demand Tor
platinum and 1t has market value
at the present time of about $2l per
ounce Pure platinum Is silvery white
metal with specific gravity Of 2L5.
1t is the heaviest metal In nature with
the exception Of iridosmium. 1t Is al
most as hard as iron and very malleable,
II does not amulgamate with quick
silver Is not dissolved by potassium
cyanide when cold is not attacked
by acids except the mixture of nitric
acid and hydro-chloriC acid known as
aqua regia, 1t is more difficult to melt
than gold. Native platinum hs been
found most frequently In gold bearing
sands. on account Of It's weight II re-
mains in the sluices with gold and 9TH
er heavy material. Platinum Is most
readily distinguished as follows: %
BY its great welght--in panning 1t re-
mains behind even gold in The pan; CD
its white color--it is whittier than lead
and is distinguished from amalgam
by It's smooth surface whereas the
surface Of amalgam as seen under
good glass, is rough CD It's resistance
TO nitric acid, as compared with native
silver or lead Native platinum Is u.s.
ually very impure; occasionally It
contains 80 much iron, chromite, and
other impurities as to be dark in coll
or and not easily distinguished from
grains of Chromite with which It is
very frequently associated 1t often
contains ridosmlue, which occurs as
fiat angular scales while platinum
grains are smaller than gold grains.
Large nuggets are very rare.
For the information Of prospectors
and others interested IN the subject,
Charles d. WolcOtt, director of the
survey has issued the following cir
cular.
"On account OF the Increased demand
for platinum, II Is the intention Of
this survey to make an examination Of
the platinum resources OF the United
States. IL IS proposed 20 collect the
heavy sands from all placer mines I'm
the United States, where evidence of
platinum has been found by preimin-
AIRY tests. The samples thus obtained
will be used In determining the best
methods Of extracting the various min
erals which haze economic value, II
is hoped that, in many places, the
separation and sale of these useful min
erals, such as magnetic chromite,
garnet, monazite, rutile, topaz, 2lrcon,
gold, platinum, iridosmine, etc. will
become a permanent and profitable In
dustry,
AS preliminary step I'm this in
vestlgatlon, you are cordially invited
TO mail to this office not more than
four pounds OF material most likely
to contain platinum In your placer de-
post. This material win be carefully
examined and you win be duly noti-
| fed OF the results. II is suggested
| that YOU concentrate the gravel as
well as you can before mailing &C. care
being taken not to lose any heavy
material You should carefully note on
| the package, or IN a letter accompany
| ing IT, or both, the total quantity OF
| original gravel which your concentrate
/ represents, In order that a general idea
| may be obtained Of the value Of youl
gravel for the purposes under inves'
| tigatiou
After an examination Of these pre-
| llminary samples experts viii be sent
| to all localities where preliminary tests
| give promise OF platinum In prohtabl,
| quantity The expert will report or
| the size Of the deposit and superintend
the collection Of representative sam
J Tdes for concentration, Concentration
/ experiments viii probably be carried
out in connection with the exhibits
of mining machinery al the Lewis and
| clark Centennial at Portland, Orr be-
/ tween June / aud oct 10 of this year
~ shall appreciate all information
| which you can give az 20 the effort.
! previously made to separate platinum
| from your sand or from other sands II
your nclghborhOod, and as to tn,
| quantity NJ platinum produced In youl
district. Each package NJ sand SHOULD
| be accompanied by exact Information
as TO the name aud postoillce address
OF the sender. the name Of the min,
or claim from which II came, and tn,
state. county, city village, or district
I'm which the deposit Is located.
Great care should be used to pack
the sand securely for transmission
through the mails II Is preferable I,
sew M the sand tightly In a canvas
bag. and tic the tag which requires
no postage, carefully TO the package