The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-01-18
.ALUN|TE IS FOUND IN UTAH
Ground Having Deposit Abandoned
Many Times Before Chemist
Discovered the Metal

Bulletin No. 5l just issued by the department Of the in
terror and written by B. S. Bue and H. s. Gale gives in de
tail review of the discovery Of deposit of potash IL
the state OF Utah as follows:
An important deposit of aune which has but recently
been discovered in Utah is being developed with av
orabe showing that promises to afford OF the
much desired cass of materials commonly referred to as pot
ASH Federal biologists visited this locality in March, Sep
TENDER and November 1911 but at the later visit the
prospect pits not sufficiently complete to give satsfac
DRY evidence of either the size the linear extent Of the de
post reconnaissance study of the geology and de-
posts in the vicinity of Marysvae incidentally including the
aunte, made in September by Butler and hurried
review of the Custer aune properties made November
by Hoyt S Gale
Although large vein of ''pnk SPAR in the hills south
of Marysvae had long been known pospecors and
had been repeatedly located for small meaerous values said
to be found in the sceous wall rock of the ven not
until 1910 that the true nature OF the spar was discovered
Specimens sent to the United States assay office at Salt Lake
in November 1910 later forwarded to eastern chem
s who said to have recognized the real value of the
terial On January l. 1911 the claims that had been aowet
lapse relocated for the sake of the newly recognized de
post.
Alunite has long been used abroad of poasl
alum, which it resembles in chemical compositions The aun
contains relatively larger proportion of aumna than tn
potash alum It is nsoube but is readily converted to ee
the soluble potash aum potassium plate by compare
lively simple process Of heating calcnaton process
that has long been established commercially doubtless
adapted to the American deposits The Marysvae deposi.
far known, not of such magnitude to afford
of all the potash salts consumed in the Unitet
States but may prove to be important factor in provdn
American supply that will perhaps be especially avaab
to local and western markets. particularly in meeting the dc
mand for higher grade salts Possibly also the greatest
venence of the commercial development of this deposit vii
be in the added stimulus it may afford to exploration for ohe
similar deposits of this mineral especially in this general
gon and is the discovery Of such other deposits that tn
provision of home supply from this must depend
The newly discovered deposit of alunite is situated
the head Of Little Cottonwood canyon about miles du
southwest of Marysvae Piue county, Utah 1t is located
and near 49, Twp 90 S. r. w, and so far as known
covered by mining claim locations MaysvaIe the preen
terminus of the San Pete Sewer branch of the Denver Ri
Grande railroad The deposit lies high in the Tushar range
outcropping the top Of the ridge separating North For
of Little Cottonwood creek from the main branches of tt
Cottonwood canyon The vein and silceous wall rocks o1
the crest of the high ridge leading up the main divide Tn
deposit ranges in elevation from approximately 1000 fee
above level to about 5000 feet at its present recognize
lower end which is about 1000 feet above the railroad tn
Marysvae station.