Gilpin observer., 1913-03-27
G|LP|N COUNTY
URANIUM MINES
WORLD LOOKING TO THIS RICH
AREA FOR SUPPLY OF RARE
METAL FROM WHICH RADIUM
IS EXTRACTED.

Radium is considered the most I'm
pcrtant element yet discovered. Their
are but two places in the world pro-
ducing ore from which radium is re-
duced, here and in Austria. There
were shipped from Colorado last year
to Germany, 600 tons of pitch-blende,
and carnolite. which is the ore from
which radium is manufactured. The
total production OF radium in the
world last year was 5 grams, all of
which was produced from the 600
tons of ore shipped from this state.
ern part of the state furnished the
greater tonnage, but one ton of Gil
pin county pitch -blende Is equal to
rs tons of the San Juan product i'm
radium contents. In fact, no other
part Of the world furnishes ore of
SO high grade as found and mined
on Quartz hill. In but six CIR seven
mines In that section has uranium
been found. 1t is reasonable to sup
pose that many other leads in the
imrmediate vicinity will be found to
be rich dn radium ores and expoitar
tion to this end should prove very
profitable. Considering that COlora-
do gave to Europe all the radium
produced last year, it should prove
a for frr 4, ,or oil q N
on these lines. So far, but 10 grams
of radium have been produced in the
years that noted scientists have been
working on 1t, but one gram OF the
highest grade has been produced.
The demand is unlimited, and to the
mines of Quartz hill the scientific
world is looking for the production
that Is to revolutionize the methods
OF treating disease The one hum
dred and seventy five millions of
gold produced in Gilpin county Is as
nothing compared to our pitch-blende
deposits. We should at once awake
to the full realization of the import
ance of this new industry. The gov
ernment should lend adj possible aid
',or the equipping Of laboratory for
the extraction Of radium. That labor
atory should be established in GFpin
county. The undertaking is too great
for e. private concern or Individual.
Are not we Americans Just as COM
petent as the Europeans? Then why
should all this wealth be allowed to
go to a foreign country to enrich 1t
at our expense?
Possibly five grams OF radium ap-
pears to be small quantity Of little
comparative value, but one ounce Is
worth $2,500,00O or more than the
value of years product OF all met
ais mined in Gilpin county. This is
commercial value of Importance,
but not its greatest value which Lies
in the aid It gives to science and
scientific investigation. Radinm Is one
OF the great forces of nature that
man is fast learning to make use
Of, vastly to his advantage. To think
that all these advantages and val
ues are being absorbed for the bene-
fit of foreigners and not for Almeri-
cans although the mineral is produc-
ed in America Is to be regretted. A.
wider knowledge of our pitch-blende
deposits should result in capital flow
Ding into this camp for the prospect
ing and opening of mines known to
contain the ore which Is In such
great demand. Were these same de-
posits in European country. gov
ernment aid would be freely grant
ed to exploit same. Shall this gov
erment be lax In its duty to human
dty and the mining industry: Our rep
resentatives should at once get busy
and demand that an appropriation be
made to equip laboratory adjacent
to the pitch-blende deposits, to en-
courage the miner in his search for
same. The pioneers Of 80 builded
better than they knew, when they
sought and found the gold in this
sect'on Of the mineral area Of the
Rocky mountains. Old Gilpinl county
stands as hight house beckoning
to the investor and wealth seeker,
for 1t Is here that untold fortunes
are to be had in the exploitation and
operation Of the many known lodes
rich In the radium-beartng ores.