Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-26
MOUNTAIN OF AEON
Marvellous Geological Curios,tv
in New Mexico.
TWO Square Miles Of vaIuab,. co,.
msreial Material, 900 Feet !,
Hs'sht-Estimated to cont,i, "
Many Billions Of Ton.

What Is declared to be "ono NJ,
most marvellous geological and ~. '
ural curiosities in the whole w,. IsS
is mountain of alum, two s,~.s.
miles In extent and 900 feet bisb ns.'
the ella river, in southwest New N.Y. ss
leo, D. M. Grosh writes in Msros.,
Report. The industrial value ot W.,
enormous deposit cannot even he ~
proximately estimated to those ;uda W.
tries depending upon the mineral sas
assures an almost inexhaustiM.
source for the purpose of reduc,ioD
While the deposit has been know ~.
years. its location and lack Of tr,r.
portation facilities have DELAYED II.
development, but these have hasn
overcome and now permit the marts,.
Ing OF billions of tons of auminou.
ores, known variously as alum root
alumite, alunogen, gilaite, ETC. Ths
United States geological survey b,.
recently measured this mountain a,
wealth and assayed its contents W.
read:
"The deposit is so pure that anv
grade of manufacturing alum can hs
produced cheaply as compared with
that from other sources. For manv
uses 1t can be marketed in its natura,
state, and so immense and pure il tho
deposit that there is no doubt il will
control the markets of the world Tho
constantly increasing demand for the
metal aluminium also tends to make
this deposit Of increasing value. In
connection with the manufacture q,
aluminium nature has certainly been
most prodigal in this region. Euor.
nous beds of Ignite are at hand to
produce the power necessary for its
reduction at cost one-fourth to one
half that of hydro-elect power. No
such combination as this of unlimited
rich and pure raw material and the
cheapest power exists in the whole
world.
THE deposit is of volcanic origin
and it would not be surprising if pure
aluminium metal would be ultimately
found, and this ancient crater be the
source of the placer gold found
near by.
"The anhydrous oxide as produced
by this deposit has been claimed by
authorities to be the opening wedge
for an increased production of metal
at a minimum expense, and will be-
the most beneficial to the consumer
by the consequent cheapening Of the
products. Much of the aluminium
ware as made today, by reason of i'm.
purities of calcium and iron, under.
goes spontaneous disintegration.
Investigation shows that cellular
structure develops and disintegration !
is due to the opening of the joints be-
tween the cells, due to small amount,
Of these impurities.
"The commercial promoting Of this
wonderful @cornucopia of benefcent
nature is q project of national con.
Germ. Its benefits to the industries
Of the country are patent to all. It
can only be compared with the great
oil and coal measures, and we may
look to see great industries deriving
commercial and industrial dement's
which will be shared by the entire
nation. Any process that can pro.
duce sulphuric acid even fraction OF
a cent cheaper is bound to be OF i'm
mense value alone, it being the KING
of the acids and of chemical products
and the other by-products also carry
their weight in their utilization"