The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-01-15
POTASH SOURCES
ARE SET FORTH
TIN OUTLINES POSSIBLE
TIES OF SUPPLY

There is practically no potash in
this country al the present time
for fertilizer use. The small guam
titles which were held over from
former years are now priced at
from eight to twelve times their
normal value. The Investigation of
the interior department and the
geological survey have shown the
possibility of producing from
-ilerican sources an amr..: supply
Of potash salts for domesFc con
sumption.
These sources are the giant kClp
of the Pacific coast f.oEi Lower
California to ALASKA: the alum -
deposits, m.in.y iii the moanta ms.
of Utah; The f~eldspathic rocks vi
the eastern part of the United
States, and the mud of Searles
lake, in California.
The production of potash from
feldspar is commercially feasible ii
a salable %byproduct can be secured
at the same time. The suggestion
has been made by the bureau OF
soils that cement is a possible pro-
duct from the feldspar treated to
render the potash soluble. But the
difficulty of marketing this cement
in competition with thoroughly
standardized products would be a
great lettering factor.
The develoment of Searles lake
as a source of potash presents a
number of unsolved technical prob
lens. In addition, the question of
title to the property is so involved
that considerable time will elapse
before it can be settled. In the
meantime nothing can be done.
Alunite, a mineral which exists
in considerable quantities in Utah
and neighboring states contains
about IL per cent of potash. 1t is
decomposed by roasting at q tenn
perature of about 700 degrees, with
the evolution of oxids OF sulphur,
and a residue consisting of alumina
and potassium sulphate remains.
From this residue the potash salt
can be obtained readily by teaching
and evaporation.
An ample supply OF potash for
the needs of farmers can be OBJ
tanned from the giant kelp BEDS.
These beds have been surveyed by
the bureau of soils, and a report,
accompanied by maps showing in
detail their extent and location, re-
Gently has been issued. Harvesting
is accomplished easily, as the kelE
grows in open water, and barges
fitted with moving attachments al
be used. =
methods are feasible. 1t NAV be
dried and ground. In this condi-
ton it contains all the salts origi-
nally present, which are mainly pot
assium Chord and sodium Chord.
This material has ideal mechanical
properties for use in mixed fertii-
iZers. When the pure potassium
chlorid is desired, it is necessary
to separate the juice from the or
ganic material and then to enlov
the sodium Chord.
The latter can be done readily
by recrystalization; but the separa-
ton of the juice from the organic
material is more difficult, for the
reason that the kepl is nonfiDrous
and in attempts to effect separa-
ton by filtration the filters be-
come clogged and unavoidable.
The problems yet to be worked
out commercially are the pest meth
DDS of drying the wet kelp and of
effecting the ready and efficient
separation of the plant juices from
the organic material. Investig;,
ton of these questions has pro-
ceeded far enough to indicate that
their solution should not he very
difficult.