The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1916-11-10


SIM the refined product, is employed in making
articles which must otherwise be made from
animal or vegetable wakes.
Ceresin, the refined product of ozokerite, is
used, very successfully, for a great variety of
purposes. It is substitute for carnauba wax,
and is used in the manufacture Of floor polish,
wax pastes, shoe and leather polishes moulding
mass for copper and silver plating, wax for in
sulatng electric cables and composition for
terproof cartridges II is also used as a sealing
wax, in the manufacture of ceresine marking
pencils, vaselene cosmolene, moulded ceresne
candles and for such variety of other products
that space will hardly admit Of their enumera-
ton.
FORMATION AND GEOLOGY.
Beyond a question of doubt the ozokerite de-
posits Of Utah are more extensive than has been
generally believed, while development indicates
great depth and permanency. The ozokerite
field covers an area of approximately two miles
in width and twelve miles in length with the
greatest zone Of enrichment so far as demon
strated. being located on the property of the
Wasatch Ozokerite company within a few hun
bred yards from the tracks of the Denver and
Rio Grande railroad at Soldier Summit. The
ozokerite is found in assures and breccated
zones caused by the fracturing of rocks. This
fracturing has formed joints, crevices and small
faults, most Of which are nearly vertical. The
strike of this assuring is northwesterly and
southeasterly, and the fissure environed by the
holdings of the Wasatch company contains the
largest deposits of ozokerite, or mineral wax. in
the field. From mere films Of ozokerite in the
joints and ceavages of the assuring. the de-
posts enlarge 10 six or eight inches and even
three feet of pure wax have been found. So far
rs developed IL has been demonstrated that both
the width Of the fissure or fractured zone and
the occurrence Of ozokerte are found 10 be vari.
able. The country rock. "a a general thing, Is
sandstone. while the fractured zone ranges from
ten 10 two hundred feet in width, the brecciated
scope being permeated with seams. gashes
lunches and even bodies of virtually pure wax
which needs only the application of water and
heat 10 be separated from whatever gangue mat
ter IL may contain or carry with H. In certain
sections Of the field the ozokerite product is
comparatively soft. In other portions IL Is hard
er. while colors differ according 10 locality.
OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
The ozokerite deposits at Soldier Summit and
in the near vicinity of Cotton have been worked
and developed in desutory manner. for score
or more Of years and az many failures as there
have been operators have been recorded. but
these were not due, in any degree. TO lack of sup
ply or inability TO produce, but because the
American commodity could in no way compete
IN the matter of sale price, with the product
shipped into this country from Austria. And
yet. under these adverse market conditions OZo-
kerite operators had marketed in the neighbor-
hood OF four hundred and fifty tons of refined
wax before the greater portion of the known
field was taken over by mining men who pro-
duced at least hundred and twenty thousand
pounds, which was absorbed in New York. be-
fore operations were discontinued because of
prohibitive competition from Austria. Compe-
tition with Austria however. in all probability
will never again be inflicted upon the United
States, and for two or three reasons one of
which is that the Galacan deposits, which have
been worked for a great many years. have be-
come practically exhausted and may never pay
10 work again because of the excessive cost that
will be required TO rehabilitate the surface equip
ment and 10 clean out the underground workings
both of which have been destroyed and flooded
az a result of the war already spoken of in this
article. And then. too, the demand caused by
the scarcity of supply has caused an investiga-
ton into the availability of the home product
and this has led 10 the greatest interest being
taken in the Utah deposits of oZokerite with the
result that science and skill have been united in
devising more perfect methods of production and
ultimate treatment so that at the present time
pure ozokerite and its refined product can be
produced in such quantities. in such purity and
at such low cost that no fear need ever be eX-
perienced that our home industry would be com
PEELED To bow down TO foreign competition even
though the Austrian fields were again placed on
producing basis.
LOCATION OF OZOKERITE FIELD.
The ozokerite field of Central Utah is located
about ninety-four miles south and "A little east of
Salt Lake City. II is within only short dis
lance, along its entire length from the main line
Of the Denver and Rio Grande. The Midland
automobile trail, also, passes along its southern
boundary. The town of Cotton, which is quite a
thrifty little trading center as well as a railroad
junction, is the principal business point of that
section
The property of the Wasatch Ozokerite COM
pany is located at the crest of the range, or, TO
be more exact, within few hundred yards of
Soldier Summit, which has an elevation of eight
Thousand feet AT Inig DOnt the