The Delta independent., 1915-02-19
RADIUM PRODUCTION IN 1914
WAS LARGEST IN HISTORY


uranium, and vanadium ores and had
by far the largest years production
yet made. Figures collected by Frank
L. Hess, of the United States Geologi-
cal survey, indicate that the output
amounted to about 1900 short tons OF
oxide and 22.4 grams of metallic radi-
um. The ore was valued at about
$445,000. The ore produced in 1913
contained Al tons of uranium oxide
and 1O.5 grams of radium, and that
produced in 1912 contained 26 tons of
uranium oxide and 81 grains of radi-
um. About nine-tenths of the contain
ed radium is thought to be recover
able under improved processes
Although carnotite. a mineral of
these rare metals. contains three times
as much uranium oxide as vanadium
oxide, the Colorado and Utah ores of
these metals generally contain other
vanadium minerals in such quantity
that vanadium oxide is present in ex-
cess of the uranium oxide. However,
little is paid for the vanadium, as its
separation from uranium is trouble
some, and only few thousand dollars
was received in 1914 by brokers or
producers for the vanadium in the ores
sold. Sandstone impregnated with
roscoelite. vanadium- bearing mica. is
mined at vanadium, San Miguel coun-
ty, Colorado, on the eastern edge of
the carnotite field, by the Primos
Chemical company. The total quantity
OF vanadium in the carnotite and other
ores mined during the year was appar-
emily about 432 tons.
About the beginning of 1914. owing
to the very high prices charged for
radium salts, their scarcity. their evi-
dent usefulness in treating cancer and
other hitherto incurable diseases. the
practical impossiblity of the poor re-
ceiving treatment by radium because
OF its scarcity and high cost, and to
the fact that much of the radium-bear-
ing ore was being shipped out of the
country, Secretary of the Interior Lane
caused to be introduced in congress
bills reserving radium- bearing lands
from entry as mining claims. and pro-
viding for government purchase. The
bills are still pending.
During the year the National Ra-
dunn Institute conducted. under the
supervision of the Bureau of Mines,
mining operations at Long Park, near
Paradox Valley, in Montrose connty.
Colo, and plant at Denver for the
production of radium and investiga-
tion of processes. The work has been
so encouraging that Director Holmes
has announced the probable produc-
tion of radium at one-third of its pres
ent cost. Messrs Lind and White
more of the Bureau of Mines. state
that their investigations show that
carnotite carries proportionally to its
content of uranium as much radium
as pitchblende or other uranium min
erals-that is, the radium has reached
its maxium ratio to the uranium from
which it is derived and is thus in
equilibrium. From published results
of experiments made on casual speci-
mems of carnotite it had been popu-
larly supposed that caruotite was less
rich than pitchblende in radium.
In Utah the Standard Chemical Co.
made the first commercial production
of carnotite ores from the Henry
Mountains during the year, and the
commercial production of uvanite. a
radium-bearing mineral new to
science, accompanied by other uran-
ium minerals, one or more of which
are yet to be described, was begun
at Temple Rock. 45 miles southwest
of Green River. Shipments were
made from newly opened carnotite de-
posits at Court House. northwest of
Moab, Utah, and from deposits 10 or
is miles southeast of Moab. A first
shipment was also made from Blue
Mountain. Routt County, Colo.
The Paradox Valley region was.
however. as usual the chief produc-
ing area, and from it came the bulk
of the ores. The Standard Chemical
Co. was the largest single producer
the country's output.
Two companies. the Standard Chem
ical Co. and the Radium Co. of Amer
lea. produced radium salts during the
year. and DR.. w. A. Schlesinger
started a radium-refining laboratory.
The opening of the European war
stopped nearly all operations in both
mines and reduction plants. for the