Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-04
SHORTAGE OF
RADIUM IS
F0RECASTED
Such Prediction is Made by
Moore of Bureau of
Mines.

Cripple Creek, Colo. Sept. A
shortage of radium was forecast by
Mr.. Moore of the United States bureau
of mines in an address he delivered
here today before the annual meeting
of the American Institute Of Mining
Corporations. Radium is largely being
used on the faces Of watches and
clocks and similar purposes, the
speaker said.
ut is a great pity hat u supply
Of radium is being disseminated in this
manner" said DR.. Moore. But as the
try are not purchasing enough radium
to make the industry a financial sue
cess, it is natural that the manufac-
turerS should take other means of
creating a demand. The day is not far
distant, in my Judgment when we
shall greatly regret the radium that
has been lost in this way.
"Radium has a most decided use
fulness at the present time; nine in
struments used on airplanes ave dials
made luminous with radium paint; it
is employed in the same name for
compasses and gunsights. The efficien-
cy of night firing, with both machine
guns, and artillery, has been greatly
increased by the use of these luminous
sights. Other uses cannot be specified,
at the present time, in public papers.
at is difficult to estimate the exact
amount of radium in existence at the
present time; probably it is some
where around 3 ounces of radium ele-
ment. Considerably more than half
the amount of radium now in exist
ence has come from Colorado and
Utah carnotite ores.
sCiv yyoor G 200 thu oroiroorc ~ <he
| bureau of mines estimated that at
the current rate Of production. the de-
posts might last, commercially, 10 or
IL years. 1t the present time, it is
very difficult to obtain ore. Most of
the deposits are owned by five operat-
ing radium companies. The produc-
ton has increased very greatly dur
ing the war; and I am very doubtful
whether we can depend upon our car
hottie deposits to yield commercial
quantities of ore for more than s or
the fields will not produce more than
100 additional grams of radium ele-
ment at the most-if that much. This
would about double the worlds pres
ent supply, but. on account Of the
large use of radium in ANGER treat
ment- such an amount, although large
scientifically, would be small in pro-
portion to the probable demand.
Zone way of preventing the dissem-
~ination and loss of radium is to pro-
vide a substitute. Mesothorium is an
excellent substitute in many ways. Its
half-life period is much shorter thar
that of radium. When first prepared,
it gradually increases in activity,
comes to a maximum, and then be-
gins to lose its activity. After 'ripen-
ing' for about a year after being pre-
pared. it can be use for luminous
paint just as efficiently as radium. It's
usefulness for such purpose will last
for 4 or S years, which is as long as
is required for cheap watches, push
buttons, etc.
, "Mesothorium can be obtained as a
by-product in the treatment Of mona
ute sand for the manufacture OF
thorium nitrate used in in~candescent
nantes. During h last year, the u.
S. bureau of mines has been expert
menting along these lines and has de-
veloped a process which is being put
into the largest thorium plant in the
country at the present time, and it is
hoped that before long mesothorium
can be substituted for some of the
radium that is now being used ir
luminous products.
"Mesothorium can also be used fol
cancer treatment, although its shor
life makes it much less desirable fol
this purpose than radium."