Mohave County miner., 1911-11-18

the same character and in the same
geologic formation was found last year
in Montana, some l6O miles farther
north, so that the Survey geologists
believe that workable phosphate beds
may be found in many other places
The Geological Survey has just pub
lished bulletin embracing three re-
ports on western phosphate fields, one
covering a portion OF the Idaho phos-
phate reserve, by r. w. Richards and
g. r. Mans fiel another N rock
phosphate near Melrose, Mont, by
/ HOyt :. ale, and a third being a re-
connaissance report on the phosphate
deposits in western Montana, by Eliot
Blackwelder. The report by Messrs.
Richards includes a detailed de-
scription of the Idaho field, the investi-
cations having been made by town.
ships, the outcrops examined, another
tonnage of high-grade phosphate rock
esti ia d. The result is highly
gratif. ing. Tonnage estimates were
made of the phosphate rock in nine
townships, and in no township was
there found TO be less than approxi-
Cately 5000, 200 tons of high-grade
phosphate rock. containing for the
most part from so to 81 per cent phos-
phoric acid. Phosphate rock contain
ing 90 to IS per cent phosphoric acid
is generally considered high grade.
One of the townships examined con-
tains an estimated $4,000, 900 tons of
phosphate rock, the net result of the
Surveys work showing an approxi-
mate tonnage of2,5 O,OOO long tons with
10 per cent phosphoric acid. Nor does
this include the tonnage of the Mont
ana phosphate Withdrawals, which
aggregate nearly $4,000 acres.
Mr.. Gales report is brief descrip-
tion of his discovery last year of the
Montana deposits near Melrose, with
drawals of which were Immediately
made by the President. The Surveys
by Mr.. Gale show he rock to be high
grade, approximately equivalent TO 10
per cent ph"sphoric acid. The thick
est beds are or s feet in thickness.
\ 6-foot bed would contain approx
mately 2l,OOO long tons to the acre.
''One of the most important consid.
erations in connection with the discov-
cry of phosphate rock in western
Montana" says Mr. Gale, "is its signif-
icance as to the probable extent of
the western phosphate fields. for it
now appears probable that similar de-
posits may extend over large part of
western Montana. Their nearness To
the large copper smelters is important.
for these smelters produce great quan.
titles of sulphuric acid and sulphurous
acid fumes which are usually allowed
to 90 TO waste through the smoke
stack of the plant. Reduction of phos-
phate rock by means of sulphuric acid
appears to offer what is perhaps the
largest commercial use for these waste
products of the smelIers." Mr.. Gale |
quotes a report showing the daily loss
at the Anaconda smelter alone of
about $500 tons of sulphuric acid.
Mr.. Gale suggests further Innovat-
ion in the treatment of phosphate |
rock which would greatly reduce the |
transportation charges that at present |
stand in the way of development. BY |
this process a ton of concentrated .
phosphate would equal three tons of
ordinary superphosphate. The fertil-
izer distributor would therefore pay
freight on one ton where he now paws
it on three.
The report calls attention to the fact
that under the present mining law
there appears TO be no adequate pro-
vision for the disposal of phosphate
lands, and that it is presumed that
Congress will in the near future pass
some well considered measure to cover
this need.
Mr.. Blackwelder's contribution on
phosphate in Western Wyoming is
preliminary report and shows large
and widely distributed deposits. He
also mentions the presence of very
great quantities of low-grade rocl:'
which in course of time will doubtless
be mined. For instance, in the Snake
River canyon in western Wyoming be
noted a total thickness of phosphate
beds exceeding 40 feet, of which about
20 feet contain more than 80 per cent
phosphoric acid and some beds contain
20 npr cent or Innrn A. Shnwinn Tho