The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-21
0zOKER|TE MINE
IS PRODUCING
Consignment of Mineral Wax
Has Been Shipped to the
Chicago Market.
MILLING PROCESS
Is PERFECTED
Demand for Product Exceeds
Supply and Value Increases
in Consequence.

In SUNDAYS issue OF The Tribune was
a story on ozokcrite, or mineral wax,
to the effect that Utah could boast of one
of tho two localities in the world in
which this rare product is found In ap-
preclable commercial quantities, Utah's
oZokerite mines are located at Cotton,
while the only other known deposits are
in Galicia, In Austria. from whence comes
the greater part OF the worlds supply.
There is n considerable demand for tho
product. and In view OF its apparent
scarcity the price of the commodity has
advanced materially in the past few
years
That Utah's production OF mineral wax
is TO be started and maintained again,
is the promise OF II. NJ. Black, presl-
dent and manager Of the ulntah Min
cral Wax company, operating at cotton
Mr. Black has but recently returned from
an extended visit In the east, where he
WAS successful in interesting capital Tor
the promotion OF his undertaking, ana,
following the resumption OF work AT M me
mine and the perfectlng OF plans for the
concentration OF the product shipment
OF wax was made up and leit cotton
on Thursday last for Chicago, where 1t
will be marketed,
Big Supply in Sight.
Mr.. Black displayed at The Tribune
mineral wax as mined and OF the nm
ished product, pure wax, Tor which he
states there is greater demand than
he can supply AT the mines OF the com
pany at Cotton, two tunnels, seventy-hve
feet and elghty-hve feet, respectively, In
length. together with some winze work
It's an eight-foot vein averaging more
than 25 per cent pure having been
opened up. In the middle OF this vein:
the ozokerite making between layers OF
l.sIs 60 stt~,,- -ls,Th ST nj
tically pure wax, which goes to bring
the average of the deposits UP to
standard which is very satisfactory from
a commercial viewpoint.
Mill Equipped.
The fault of excessive moisture which
has in the past detracted from the COM
mercial value OF the wax as produced in
Utah. has been eliminated by Mr.. Black
by the installation In bis companys mill
OF dry heaters. the action OF which car
res away the Objectionable moisture
and makes In so far as market require
ments go, a perfect product The mn
is equipped with Blake crushers, which
reduce the mine product in the first
steps OF its treatment. before IT Is re-
ccived in the agitating tanks, which at
the Uintah plant are constructed oi
ing six feet deep and six feet in diam
eter at the top and FIVE feet in diameter
AT the bottom. Live steam enters into
the ,agitating process After the prod
tie. the impurities for the most part be-
ing SKINNED of at this stage OF the
process. Then all excessive moisture Is
disposed Of by dry heating. the product
is again strained and a pure article is
the result.
Will Increase Capacity.
There is a great demand for mineral
wax. Il Is stated. In Europe, and Mr..
Black says that in London alone he could
dispose OF 100 tons per month, " his
plant were capable of turning out such
a tonnage. The mill at present. how
ever is capable of handling but fifty
tons per month, and operations have
been delayed by the fact that there are
no accommodations at the mine for the
housing Of the company's employees. Mr.
Black intends. however. To start the
erection OF bunk houses and boarding
houses AT once. and when this work has
been completed. a force OF men will be
kept at work at the mine and mill at
all times.
The refining OF the shipment recently
sent TO the eastern market was started
during the latter part OF November. The
extent OF the ozokerite deposits has not
as yet been determined. though the
rIntah company controls forty acres OF
land which show tho valuable mineral
ization. Future production OF ozoker-
ite promises TO add much TO Utahs fame
in the mining world.