The Washington times., 1915-02-20
OUTPUT OF DRY ORE
MAKES NEW RECORD
Production Of Radium, Ura.
MUM, and vanadium in 1914
Greatest in History.

The radiurn, uranium, and vanadium
production of the United States in 1914.
was the greatest in history, according
to figures collected by Frank L. Hess,
Of the Geological Survey.
The output amounted to 1900 tons of
dry ore. carrying eighty-seven tons of
uranium oxide, and 22.4 grams of me-
tallic radium. The ore twas valued at
about $445.0Oo.
The ore produced in 1918 contained
forty-one tons of uranium oxide and 1O5
grams of radium, and that produced in
1912 contained twenty-six tons of urani-
um oxide and 81 grams of radium.
About nine-tents Of the contained ra-
dium Is thought to be recoverable un-
der improved processes.
Although carnotite. a mineral of these
rare metals, contains three times as
much uranium oxide as vanadiuni oxide,
the Colorado and Utah ores Of these
metals generally contain other vana-
alum minerals in such quantity that
vanadiun oxide Is present in excess of
the uranium oxide. How ever, little is
paid for the vanadiun.. as it's separa-
tlon from uranium is troublesome, and
ceived In 1914 by brokers or producers
for the vanadium in the ores sold.
Sandstone impregnated with roscoate, a
vanadium- baaring mica, is mined at
Vanadium, San Miguel county, Col, on
the eastern edge Of the carnotite field
by the Primos Chemical Company. The
totai quantity OF Vanadi uIn in the car
notite and other ores mined during the
year was apparently about 432 tons.
tho very high prices charged for radum
salts. their scarcity. their evident useful
ness IN treating cancer and other hith-
erto incurable diseases. the practical
lnpossibiltty Of the poor receiving treat
ment by rad!um because Of its scarcity
and high cost, and to the fact that
much Of the radium-bearing ore was
being shipped out Of the country. secre-
introduced in Congress bills reserving
radium-bearing lands from entry as
mining claims. and providing for Gov
ernment purchase. The bills are still
During the year the National Radium
Institute conducted, under the super
vision of the Bureau of Mines. mining
operations at Long Park. near Paradox
plant at Denver for the production of
radtum and investigation of processes.
The work has been SO encouraging that
Director Holmes has announced the
probable production of radium at one
third Of its present cost. Messrs. Lind
and whittemore. Of the Bureau Of
Mines, state that their Investigations
show that carnotite carries proportion
auy to its content Of uranium as much
radium as pitchblende or other uranium
cd its maximum ratio to the uranium
from which 1t Is derived and is thus in
equilibrium. From published results
Of experiments made on casual speci-
mems Of carnotite 1t had been popularity
supposed that carnotite was less rich
than pitchblende in radium.
In Utah the standard Chemical Com
pany made the first commercial produce
Mountains. during the year. and the
commercial production of uvanite. a
radiun-bearing mineral new to science.
accompanied by other uranium min
erals; .ssH,,os one or more Of which are yet t to
Rock. IS miles southwest Of Green
River. Shipments we're made from new
ly opened carnotite deposits at Court
House. northwest of Moab. Utah. and
from deposits sixteen or eighteen miles
southeast of Moab. a first shipment
was also made from Blue Mountain,
Routt County. Colo.
The Paradox Valley region was. how
and from it came the bulk Of the ores.
Tho Standard Chemical Company was
the largest single producer and shipped
more than half Of the country's output.
Two companies. the Standard Chem
panv OF America, produced radium salts
during the year. and DR.. w. A.
Schlesinger started a radium-refining
,snorato,y n1an tor s.oed The opening Of the Euro.
podi wal stoPpeo nedrly all operations
IN both mines and reduction plants. for
the two companies mentioned sold their
product largely in Europe and prac.
tically all the ore bought by brokers
was sold abroad. A little more than
200 tons of ore. containing 2s.1 tons OF
uranium oxide and TO grams of radium
was consigned to Europe. but as the
foreign refneries were closed. a part OF
1t was held in transit
No vanadinite or similar ores are
known to have been sold for vanadium
during the year. but a number Of mines
in New Mexico and Arizona shipped
and sold such ores for their lead and
silver contents.