The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-03
Incorporate for $25,0OO to Operate SilicOnite Mines
 Near Tredegar, Ala.
PRODUCTS ARE FIRE
 AND ACID PROOF
Silica Converted into SilicOnite by Zell Process Which Hardens Into Stone Without Burning
 or Curing

Announcement is made that articles of incorporation have been filed with Probate Judge Crook at Annston by the American Siliconte company with a capital of $25,-
 O00 fully paid in.
 The officers for this year are: Robert
 R. Zell, president and manager; H. Gill bert Halvorsen, secretary and treasurer;
 Ralph Halvorsen. vice president and R. Lee Zell, superintendent, all of whom are
 directors and citizens of Birmingham.
 This company was formed to operate Siliconite mines at Angel, near Tredegar, on the Seaboard Air Line railroad. They will mine and manufacture siliconite products by the process and methods of Robert R. Zel, who has sold his inven-
 tions to this company for it's exclusive use.
 The company has bought the Paris farm of 80 acres which are improve ments suitable for the manufacture of a number of the materials from which this deposit can be utilized. The deposit is estimated to be over 100000 tons and will last the company for many years. Among the products to be made are sili- conite brick, which are said to be of very high refractory properties; roofing tile and other building materials all of
 which are absolutely freproof, and are results of over three years work of
 Robert R. Zell who has expended much
 time and money in perfecting the uses for these materials.
 The Zell processes cover the conver-
 sion of this silica into a true siliconte that hardens into stone without burning or curing. Fire brick made from this treated silica are, it is claimed. more re- fratory than chrome, magnesite or silica brick as now made, and are used exten- sively in steel and other furnaces that require very high temperatures Practical tests have been made to prove
 the value of these brick, for metallurgical uses, and one of the new ideas is not to burn these brick before using, as they become hard enough to handle and use without burning or curing. They become harder as they are exposed to high tenn 1 peratures and thus become more dur able.
 1 "In the manufacture of roofing tile this l material is ideal, being fire water and acid proof and strong enough to allow walking over them when placed on the ioOlo oI UuiulHSS, Sdlu HreSlQenC Lell yesterday
 Being strictly freproof material, that can be nodded into any shape and made in all colors, it will supplant the use of brick, concrete and other fireproof ma
 terials, as it has the property of preserv- ing metals when they are covered with the siliconite in the form of enamel It hardens when applied and excludes the oXidizing effects of air and moisture. "A gentleman in Kansas City discovered that this prepared siliconite when mixed With Portland cement made a better con- crete and more water proof and acid proof, and that the tile were stronger and lighter and did not require curing With water or steam after they are made. Tt is claimed that this product will revolutionize the use of building mate rlals when manufactured in large ouanti-
 ties. The company will install improved
 machinery to handle it's products with
 the least expense and be able to turn out
 3o0c0 fire brick and over 100 tile per day
 alter the new machinery is installed
 The company has temporary office at 10 Watts building in Birmingham