El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-28
MINING NEWS
NEW MEXICO HAS
MOUNTAIN OF ALUM
Is Two Square Miles in Elk
tent and Located on
ella River.

What is declared to be zone Of the
most marvellous geological and natural
curiosities in the whole world" is
mountain of alum two square miles in
extent and 600 feet high, near the ella
river. in southwest New Mexico, de-
scribed bv Daniel n GrOsh, of Phila-
delphia, in Merck's Report The indus
trial value of this enormous deposit,
writes Mr.. GrOSh, can not even pc ap-
prOmimatelv estimated 10 those indus
tries depending upon this mineral, and
assures an almost inexhaustlble source
Ores OF aluminium.
While the deposit has Deen known
for years, its location and lack OF
transportation facilities have delayed
its development, but these have been
overcome, and now permit the market
ing of billions Of tons OF aluminOus
ores, known variOusly as alum rock,
alunite. aluminite. alunOgen, gllalte,
etc The United States geological sur
vey has recently measured this noun
tain Of wealth and assayed its con-
tents.
The deposit il so pure that any grade
of manufacturing alum can be pro-
from other sources For many uses
il can be marketed in its natural state,
and so immense and pure is the de-
post that there is no doubt 1t viii con-
constantly increasing demand for the
metal aluminium also tends to make
this deposit of increasing value In
connection with the manufacture OF
aluminium, nature has certainly been
most prodigal in this region. EnOr-
nous beds of Ignite are at hand to
produce the power necessary for It's
reduction, at q cost One-fOurth to one
half that of hydrOelectric power No
such combination as this of unlimited
rich and pure raw material, and the
cheapest power, exists in the whole
world
Future Worlds supply.
Most OF the aluminium produced in
the United States has been from bauN-
tie, shipped from Arkansas to the re-
ductiOn plants, mostly at Niagara, and
1t seems logical to suppose that the
future supply viii originate and be re-
duced at the ella river The con-
stantly increasing demand for the met
al. which has jumped from 50 pounds
in 1888 to 5000, 900 pounds in 1907 in
the United States alone, shows to what
extent the metal alone may draw upon
The deposit is of volcanic origin, and
IL would not be surprising if pure alu-
minum metal would be ultimately
found, and this ancient crater be the
source of the piaCer-gold found near
by.
Gain TO General Public.
The anhydrOus oxide as produced by
this deposit has been claimed by au-
thorities TO be the opening wedge for
an increased production of metal at
a minimum expense, and will be most
beneficial to the consumer by the con-
sequent cheapening of the products
Much of the aluminium ware as made
today. by reason of impurities OF cal
ciUm and iron, undergOes spOntane-
Gus disintegration. Investigation shows
that a cellular structure develops, and
disintegration is due to the opening
of the joints between the cells due TO
small amounts Of these impurities
OF Fabulous Value.
"-he commercial promoting OF this
wonderful natural cOrnucOpia of Denet-
icent nature is a protest Of national
concern Its benefits TO the indus
tries of the country are patent ID all
1t can only be compared with the great
oil and coal measures, and we may
look to see great industries deriving
commercial and industrial BENEFITS
which viii be shared in by the entire
nation. Any process that can pro-
duce suIphuric 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, says