The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-19
MAGNEsITE AS A WAR MINERAL.
California and Washington Deposits As,
sure an Adequate Supply.

A shortage in the supply of certaif
minerals needed In war has stimulated
new industries and developments. Among
these minerals is magnesite. Until 1917
the United States produced only about
10000 tons of magnesite annually, all
though il used 100000 tons The do
nestle supply came from California and
the imported material came from Aus
tria, Hungary and Greece. In 1916 the
production in California jumped TO 800.
900 tons, but the imports, ii the calcined
material is computed as crude rock, fell
TO $4,000 tons. The supply therefore
| fell short of the demand. Manufac.
turers of open. hearth steel had Difficult.
ity in getting enough magnesite brick TO
/ line their furnaces, and companies that
made magnesite flooring were short of
raw material.
In view of this condition and the de
crease in imports, domestic production
was greatly stimulated According to
estimates by G. G. Yale of the Z. 5.
geological survey, department of the in
terror, the production OF magneste in
California in 1917 exceeded that of all
former years, being estimated at 2l5,000
tons. This quantity and the magnesite
produced in the recently discovered field
in Stevens county, Wash, estimated by
Il. w. Stone, of the L. $. geological sur.
vey, at close to 100000 tons, makes an
output OF about $4,000 tons in 1917, or
5000 tons more than the normal do
nestle demand. In view of the great
increase in production made in California
and of the fact that some of the large
properties in Washington were only part
ly developed at the close of 1917, it is
believed that the domestic industry here
after will be able not only to supply
the home demand but may be able to
produce a surplus for the allies.
California magnesite is mined by open
cuts or underground from veins. The
larger deposits are connected with rail
road by spur tracks or automobile road
Production can be increased considerably
by operating property now in litigation
and by further development of some of
the newer mines.
The huge deposits Of magnesite re.
Gently discovered in Steven county, are
only a few miles from a railroad, with
a down grade haul for the load and are
20 situated that they can be easily quar-
-ied. The Washington magnesite occurs |
III UtdN IikB limestone, III tUiGh lenses up 1
% a quarter of mile long, exposed on |
lillsides or ridge tops where large quar- i
les can be opened. Production in this
ield began with an output of 7l5 tons
# crude magnesite in December, 1916
BY the spring of 1917 four firms were
u the field. and in August the daily ship
nents averaged 500 tons The output
+ Washington crude magnesite in 1917
vas between $4,000 and 100000 tons
yearly $4,000 tons of this quantity was
hipped crude: the remainder was burned
v three producers in kilns at four places,
hree at the quarries and one on the |
abroad at Chewlah, the four making {
yer $4,000 tons of ealcined magnesite I
My one company continued production i
the year. one stopped in Au- s
ust after making a small output and /
mother began operations in that month. i
ow that the quarries are opened and i
ne transportation facilities from the p
uarries are being improved it will be t
ossible to produce a much larger guam o
ty in 1915 lie
Magnesite is used not only for making G