The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-11-11

rock estimated. The result is highl!
gratifying. Tonnage estimates wer'
made Of the phosphate rock in nin'
, townships, and in no township wal
there found TO be less than approx
imately 6O,OOO.O0O tons of high-grad'
phosphate rock. containing for the
most part from so to 50 per cent phos
phoric acid. Phosphate rock contain
ling 60 to 65 per cent phosphoric acid
lis generally considered high grade.
Nearly Three Hundred Million Tons in
Single Township.
One of the townships examined con
Itains an estimated 293.0OO,0OO tons OF
phosphate rock, the net result of the
lsuryey's work showing an approximate
tonnage of ,5OO,OOO.OOO long tons with
70 per cent phosphoric acid. Nor does
this include the tonnage of the Mon
tana phosphate Withdrawals, which ag-
gregate nearly $4,000 acres.
Mr.. Gales report is a brief descrip-
ton of his discovery last year of the
Montana deposits near Melrose, with
drawals of which were Immediately
made by the president. The surveys
tests of a number of samples collected
by Mr. Gale show the rock to be high
grade, approximately equivalent to rs
per cent phosphoric acid The thick
est beds are or s feet in thickness.
"A. 6-foot bed would contain appIoxi-
mately 1000 long tons to the acre.
"One of the most important consid-
erations in connection with the dis
eovery of phosphate rock in western
Montana" says Mr. Gale, "is its sig
nifcance as to the probable extent of
the western phosphate fields, for it
now appears probable that similar de-
posits may evtend over a large part of
western Montana. Their nearness to
the large copper smelters is important,
for these smalters produce great
quantities of sulphuric acid and sui
phurous acid fumes which are usually
allowed to go to waste through the
smokestack of the plant Reduction
of phosphate rock by means of sui
phuric acid appears to offer what is
perhaps the largest commercial use
for these waste products of the smell
ters." Mr.. Gale quotes report shoa-
ing the daily loss at the Anaconda
smelter alone of about $500 tons of
sulphuric acid
Suggests Concentrate nof Phosphates.
Mr.. Gale suggests a further innnova-
ton in the treatment of phosphate
rock which would greatly reduce the
charges that at present
stand in the way of development. BY
his process ton of concentrated !
would equal three tons Of
ordinary superphosphate. The fertil- |
ger distributor would therefore pay
reght on one ton where he now pays
t on three.
The report calls attention to the |
act that under the presen mining law |
here appears TO be no adequote PRO |
'ision for the disposal of phosphate
ands, and that it is presumed that
congress will in the near future pass
ome well-considered measure to GOV.
,r this need.
Mr.. Blaekwelder's contribution on
phosphate in western Wyoming is a
preliminary report and shows large
lud widely distributed deposits. He
Ilso mentions the presence of very
'reat quantities of low-grade rock,
which in course of time will DOUBT
eSs be mined. For instance, in the
make River canyon in western Wyn-
liC2 he noted a total thickness Of
hosphatie beds exceeding 40 fee7. Of
Thich about 90 feet contain more than
0 per cent phosphoric acid and some
eds contain 20 per cent or more As
howing the general lack of knowledge
egarding phosphate deposits Mr..
'laekwelder mentions ap excavation
4 the phosphate beds near Teton Pass.
his tunnel, dug more than 15 years
60 was made on the supposition that
he black material was coal. It's real
ature was not recognized. and
the district the very exist.
nee of phosphate deposits seemed to
e unknown to the inhabitants.
MLuTE nAK cCunOt