The Glenwood post., 1917-03-31
A COMING INDUSTRY

cinity of DeBeque, Mesa county, are to
ton process by Prof. George J. Young,
who occpuies the chair of metallurgy
at the Colorado School of Mines. In
this connection the well known flota
tion expert, Jas. NJ. Hyde, now operat-
ing extensively in the Silverton. Tel
luride and Ouray districts, writes that
he has "tested in a practical way
shale oil and that the practicability of
this oil in flotation is proven and if
the price is right can use your pro-
duct'
The possibility OF a shale oil indns-
try for western Colorado is fast be-
coming reality. A DeBeque concern
has received the last shipment of ma
chinery for 36-ton plant and it is
now being erected Other companies
are as active in plans for the construc-
ton of similar plants. The fact that a
dozen or more mining companies have
contracted to take large quantities of
shale oil, to be used in flotation, has
assured the people of market for
their product, and has thus made the
investment more attractive to capital.
The residents of DeBeque are en-
deavoring to profit by the experience
of the shale companies in Scotland and
Germany, and are insisting on getting
the most modern machinery obtainable
for treating oil shales and expect effi-
cient results. The shales of DeBeque
Will average, conservatively, 65 gallons
Of high grade oil to the ton of materi-
al. The fact that this oil runs, accord
ing to the United States geological
survey, Is per cent gasoline and so per
cent kerosene. will enable the compa.
MES to realize 65 per cent gasoline
from ton of shale. due to recent
process which makes it possible to
convert kerosene into gasoline. Ac-
cording to this process, 40 gallons of
gasoline can be recovered from a ton
OF shale, which at Is cents per gallon
for gasoline, would amount to Sc. The
sentire cost of mining and treating a
ton of shale is 50, which gives the
company net profit of 81 per ton.
The cost of "A modern oil shale plant
Is approximately s. 200 per ton capaci-
ty. This is complete and ready for
construction. 1t has been dcmonstrat
ed the material best suited to the ovens
Is four-inch tongue-and- -grooved tile.
made Of silica, silica being the best con-
ductor of heat. 1t is fact that plants
where silica has been used as material
Tor the ovens have been in operation
Tor 80 years, and are in a perfect state
OF preservation to this day. Vertical
ovens, of five tons capacity arc cor-
sldered the most efficient units To-
cause of the readiness with which the
shale is carbonized.
1t is estimated that 81 worth of sul-
phate of ammonia. or commercial for
tihzer, can be got from each ton of
shale. After the oil has been extracted
from the shale the resdum. when
ground, on account of the fineness of
the mineral matter, has been proved an
excellent paint material, mixed with
the proper quantity of OIL 1t produces
a beautiful enamel,of brown or black
iuster, with remarkable resistant
power to weather conditions. This f,a.
ture of the shale industry alone should
be splendid investment for capital
According to the above statement
the companies can show net profit
OF 81 per ton of shale from the paso
line product alone. A fifty.ton plant
at a cost of $4,000, operating 30 dovs
in the month, would show daily re-.
turn of 5000, MONTH return Of
$4,000, and an annual net return of
$4,000 on n $4,000 investment. OF
course, there will be many who will
doubt the possibility of these figures.
but they should readily accept them in
view of what has been done in oi1
within the last 12 months.
While the profit from the product Of
gasoline is attractive, it is safe to sav
that the oil sold as flotation oil to
mining companies will net the compa.
nies double the price obtained for gas.
oline.
1t is surprising the number of com.
mercial products possible from oil
shales. From practical operation the
following products have been obtained
and marketed:
| l. A new mineral in the carbon
class, used for coating and pipe lining,