The San Francisco call., 1908-05-10

OF MOLYBDENUM
Frank L. Hess OF United States
Geographical Survey Has
Written Paper

WASHINGTON. May g. Although
ores of moiybdenunS are found in many
parts of the United States. the use OF
the metal in a number OF industries Is
probably restricted by the limited sup
ply. for unfortunately its manner of
occurrence is such as to make It's sepa-
ration from the ores exceedingly diff
molybdenite. the sulphide of molyb-
denum, which IN appearance closely
resembles crystalline graphite and
might easily be mistaken for it, are
sometimes seen In museums, but such
pieces are seldom found. AS rule the
metal occurs disseminated through
graphite or other metamorphic rocks
in fakes which may be so minute as to
be scarcely recognizable with the hand
lens. In these small flakes 1t is very
hard to save.
Most molybdenite deposits are too
small to justify the erection of expen-
sive machinery. and the present mar
ket would probably be unable to handle
any great increase in output: but. on
the other hand, were a constant supply
available at prices within the reach
OF manufacturers 1t is probable that
the demand would increase consider
ably, for uncertainty In obtaining a
regular supply OF ore seems to have
been one factor In preventing the ex-
tensive use of molybdenum In steel. in
which It is said 10 have much the
same effect as tungsten. even when
employed in much smaller quantity.
FOUND IN CALIFORNIA
Molybdenum in the form OF am
monium molybdate is used TO determine
phosphorus in iron. several tons a year
being applied to this purpose in the
United States alone. In Europe am
moniunn molybdate is employed as a
f1reproofng material and it is said
to be strong germicide. being used
IS disinfectant for cloth in railway
passenger coaches and for other sim
liar purposes. The lead molybdate.
wulfenite, is more easily saved than
molly bdenfte. but II is produced in only
q few localities and In very small
quantities. and IL often carries so many
impurities that 1t Is almost impossible
TO use Ii.
Some molybdenum ores found in
Maine, Utah and California are de-
scribed by Frank L. Hess. one OF the
geologists OF the United States geo
graphical survey in an advance chapter
from bulletin No. $40, which forms
part I OF "Contributions to Economic
Geology 1907"
The Maine ore Is ,molybdenite and is
widely distributed. The principal de-
posits are in Washington and Hancock
counties and these have been brought
into more or less prominence through
the several companies that have been
formed to exploit them.
DISCOVERED IN 1905
The California ore described IL also
molybdenite and was discovered during
1906 In q granite quarry about four and
half miles northeast of Corona, River
side county. The granite Is cut by
pesmatite dil<es one-half inch to two
inches wide. and molyhdenite in fakes
up to ne-half inch across accompanies
the dikes in small quantities.
The Utah deposit Is wulfenite dead
molybdate) and occurs at Alta. one OF
the older mining camps of the state.
Its presence has been known for years,
but the ore has always been sold for
its lead content, as aside from this it
had merely mineralogical interest 1t
Is only within recent years that wul-
fenite has acquired importance as a
source of nolybdenum- Mr.. Hess
paper describing these deposits may be
obtained by applying to the director OF
the geological survey at washington.
DC