The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-12
SURVEY REPORT ON
BRIGHAM GRAPHITE
United States Geological Bu-
reau Issues Statement on
Box Elder Mineral.


graphite beds around Brigham city are
told Of by Hoyt S. Gale in Bulletin No.
$50 J. United States Geological survey.
From the report written by Mr. Gale
the product that is being found is not
all graphite The Homber Mining and
Manufacturing company. which mas a
plant at ogden. is one Of the most heaV-
lily Interested, 1t Is using the product
in the manufacture or paint. IN part
MF. Gale says,
Reported deposits of graphite near
Brigham, Utah, have recently been the
subject OF considerable interest IN
more or less local way. Prospects stu
ated on Hhree-mile creek, between the
settlements or Brigham and Perry, Box
Elder county. Utah, were visited by the
author in October 1903. and several
samples representative Of the material
that had then been exposed were col
lected. These samples have been an
alyZed by Dr. Chase Palmer in the sur
vey laboratory.
Talks OF Formation.
The deposits near Brigham form
part OF a series Of metamOrphOsed sed-
iments, presumably or pre-CamDflan
age. The associated rocks consist OF
states and schists, grayWackes, con-
glOmerates and quartzttess all more or
less sheared and cOntOrted. some beds
OF black somewhat fOltated schist are
included in this series and these beds
mOrphism from strata containing car
bon, probably originally in the form OF
organic remains, IL organic material
NAV be assumed 10 have existed In
rocks OF pre-Cambrian age. The car
bOnaceOus schists OutccOp near the
channel OF Three-mile creek, having
general easL-West strike and showing
at intervals for at least three-fOurths
OF a mile The carbOnaceOus beds eX-
posed in the shallow prospects appear
TO be al least 10 or 20 feet In thickness,
and as they evidently represent an
original stratum OF the sedimentary Sc
ries, il is quite probable that they may
prove fairly persistent both horizontal
~ and in depth throughout the area
IN which the outcrops occur. The car
bOnaceOus schist shows q black cluS-
trous polish resembling that Of graph
lite. especially in JOINTS or on the tolia-
tion OF the rock. When pulVerlZed, how
ever. the substance lacks the smooth,
greasy feeling OF pure graphite, out
much Of the material selected as most
promising for commercial use appears
10 be free from coarse sand or grit
Average sample.
An average sample representing z
feet inches OF the beds exposed in the
main prospect was analysed, giving the
following results;
Moisture and volatile matter .... 3.34
Fixed carbon (by difference) Gee. 3 As
Ash .--. ...- .--.......'.... % Is
100. 90
Another sample collected at random
from more fOliated or schistose bed
associated with a large vein Of quartz
about Ihree-iOuruhs or mile farther
up the canyon gave the following test:
Moisture 900. INSTRUMENTATION. 1.24
Volatile matter ...............-. S.Sl
Fixed carbon (by difference) .... 8. 4S
Ash 600. ---. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. oa.Sl
100. 90
As these analyses ran Unexpectedly
Tow test was made of a selected piece
of the richest-lOoking material The
result OF this test is essentially similar
TO the others:
Moisture and volatile matter .... sos
Fixed carbon (by difference) Gee. 5.59
Ash .... zee. .-.-..-...-..... eS.Se
100 90
In an these tests the carbon burned
off in the flame of an ordinary Bunsen
lamp without the use Of the blast ap-
parently indicating that the substance
is more of the nature of an impure coal
than Of era phite. The ash derived from
the combustion OF these samples is es-
sentially clay of a light-gray color.
showing il 10 be free from whatever
carbon IL originally held.
Other Material Used.
Material resembling the deposits near
Brigham in appearance is used in the
manufacture Of paint and also for
foundry facings. This usually contains.
however, over 20 per cent carbon in the
form OF true graphite. The Brigham
material. although containing little or
no graphite, may possibly prove OF
value as a paint pigment. Its value
for fire-resisting purposes is question
able.