Gilpin observer., 1916-01-13
TUNGSTEN AND moLvBDENuM


One of the most Spectacular advan-
ces in commodity prices occasioned
by the war says the Engineering
Mining Journal has been in tung-
stem, both metal and ore. This has
been due to the extraordinary de-
mard for tungsten steel-an essen
tial constituent in making high-speed
tool steel.
Before the war high-speed tool
steel was worth about 70 cents per
pound, tungsten about 60 cents per
pound and tungsten ore about 80
per unit. At pres ent high-speed tool
steel fetches about SO per pound,
tungsten about $5 rer pound, and
tungsten ore about $50 per unit. Ev-
EN- at the ENLARGED prices supplies
are scarce.
The fabulous price for tungsten ore
has stimulated prospecting for 1T
throughout North America and South
America. This ore is met known ITO
occur in large deposits. Tie annual
production of concentrated ore in
the United States previous to the
war was only about 1 400 tons. How
ever, this ore las now become so
valuable that THE discovery Of a de-
posit that affords a single carload
is tie findirg of fortune. A ton
of ore assayiDg 60 per cent tungsten
trioxide-the standard commerc' al
grade-at $50 Fer unit is WORTH $3,-
900; a. carload CT 40 tons would be
$12O,OOO So precious is this ore that
the assay offices are being secured
for specimens. Brokers do not sneer
at trade in one-pcund lots. The pur-
chasing agent of the Crucible Steel
company is very grateful If some
body can give him 100 pounds.
A contributory factor in the produc-
ton of this situation was the utter
stupidity of the British authorities.
They fought tie advance from the
beginning. When they were offered
some tungsten ore, they came back
with a lower bi1-trying to dicFer
in what was not dickering market
and naturally failed to get what
they wanted. Then they practically
Communicated the supply of tung-
stem ore in the British empire, ap-
pointing official brokers' ard fixing a
price of 55s per rit, CIR abcut $500
per 1000 pounds of 60 per cent ore
IL exchange be figured at 4.S6. Prev
ious to the war that would have been
regarded as fire price, but the
producer in AUST a ia, Burma, Malaga
and elsewhere does not think very
much of it when the same grede of
ore is fetching $4,000 CIR so per ton
in America
In the meanwhile there is relief
Immediately at hand if the manu-
facturers Of tool steel would only
avail themselves of t. We mes tie
substitution OF molybdenum steel for
tungsten steel. 1t is we'll known
THAT molybdenum s eel has excel,er %
qualities of more cr less the sane
character as turgsten steel. 1t IS
claimed by sore authorities that
molybdenum steel is superior in GER
tain resrects to tungsten steel. TIE
chronic reluctance of manufacturers
to get out OF the beaten tracks is
offered as an explanation of their
blindness to the merits of molybde-
mum steel But even If it were net
preferable with tur gsten at so cents
per pound, dt might be wien tat
meta Is more than eight times az
high.
Both Of these ores are mined in
Gilpin county, many new discoveries
having been made near tie top Of
the main range just as winter set
in. When sprirg opens many of
these properties will be worked, and
with her sister county. Boulder, will
furnish the majority Of the tungsten
and molybde mum OF the world.