Gilpin observer., 1913-05-01

81 "uc ore carrying IN excess OF 4U
per cent uranium oxide is without
question. Regardless of experiments
in other directions, 1t is the mines
OF Quartz hill and this section only
that are to be depended upon to
furnish the radium producing ores
For over forty years, pitchblende has
been mined in connection with the
gold ores found in this section. Up
to this time there is. no known place
in the entire world where uranium
ores of SO high grade have been
found. Nine. Curie produced the first
radium and it was taken from Gilpin
county ore. The mines of Joachim
sthal in Austria furnished the pro-
duct for her second experiments.
The ores of Gilpin county and the
mines of Joachimsthal are identical
with the exception that our ores con-
radium contents, some of our ores
showing as high as 80 per cent uran-
ium oxide. The success of Nine.
t'urie with the Gilpin county and Aus
trian product has resulted in exploita-
tion in all parts Of the world In
Australia modified form of pitch
blende has been found. During the
past year the small amount of 2k
minigrams of radium was extracted
| from the Australian ores. AS to the
amount Of tonnage it took to ex-
tract this amount of radium we are
not informed. Several London COM
panies have been formed and are ex-
pending a large amount of money in
exploitation and experimental work
in Cornwall and Australia.
Carnotite, which is found over a
large area in southwestern Colorado,
has been found to contain a small
percentage of uranium oxide, the av-
erage being about one per cent. Vana
dunn is the chief product of carno-
tite but the limited demand for 1T has
caused the carnotite producer to en-
deavor to find a wider field for his
output. With this in view, numerous
attempts have been made to extract
radinm from the uranium contents OF
the carnotite ores, but thus far with
out success. A concerted effcrt OF
the carnotite producers with the CO
operation of interested professors OF
chemistry has attempted to claim
that carnotite ores were the best for
radfum extraction. With loud ac-
claim this has been heraided to the
world with the result that many be-
heve 1T to be true. In this they have
not only deceived the public, but
themselves as we'll. There Is no au-
thenticated record of even one mill
gram Of radium having been extract
ed from carnotfte ore, regardless Cd
statements to the contrary.
On account of the statement thai
carnotite ores are the best for ra-
dunn extraction, thousands of acres
OF carnotite bearing formation have
been located on as mining claims
Companies have been formed and
much mining done with the result
that large tornages of this ere is
piled up at the mines, with no mar,
ket for it except where the vanadium
contents are sufficient to pay for
the cost of production. 1t is case
of falling down on the original pro
ositton and in an endeavor to make
good stumbled onto the idea that II
might make radium. However. there
is still hope for the carnotite pro
ducer according to a French chemist
who claims to have found by several
experiments that it makes good man
ure. This certainly opens up a wide
field for the mines in the carnotitt
region. Catalytic radioactive manure
is the term given to the new find
This may solve the problem as t
what to do with the reported i'm
mense tonnage of carnotite seeking
a market Catalytic manure. accord
ing to the claim OF the French chem
ist, will prove boon to the farmer
in renewing his worn out soil.
That there never will be a glut n
the market for high grade radiun
producing ores is evidenced by thu
fact stated before that Quartz hill
in this county is the sole source O
p.tchblende ores with high percent
) age of uranium oxide. In addition t.
Austria. Australia, Cornwall, Frame
} and Portugal, extensive exploration
are now being ma1e i'm the Caucam
sus mountains on the boundary Q
tween Europe and Asia for the mucl
sought radium bearing ores. With tn
knowledge that the scientific worl
VIII have to come to us for their RI
dunn. proved by the fact that Mime
Chfrfn and cthoro, bavo obtained fhei