The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-12-05

of the character OF the German de-
posts bU. 10 far nothing Of material
Importance has been found.
The mineral alunite, a potassium
aluminium sulphate occurring in Utah
and Nevada, is now producing COM
mercial material in a small but steady
rate and promises some permanent
supply with increased facilities for
tonnage treatment. A potash source
which has attracted unusual attention
of late Is the kelp or giant seaweed
that grows In great abundance along
the Pacific coast. This plant has ex-
tracted potash from the sea water 10
such an extent that its ash is found
to contain 80 per cent of this material.
This kelp is being harvested by great
big cutting machines attached to the
floating barges and after drying Is
burned and the ashes treated for its
potash content The kelp grows from
year to year, so the crop can be har-
vested repeatedly, and the industry
offers thus constantly available
source OF supply.
Other Sources Of Supply.
Another source has been found in
the dust escaping from the manufact-
ure of cement, which carries a larger
proportion of potash than the rock,
and is concentrated in this dust,
which is lighter than the cement ma
terial and is caught in dust chambers,
and subsequently treated for its pot
ash content. A potash recovery from
the waste dust and gases from the
iron blast furnaces Is opening up also
somewhat similar byproduct possi-
billty. There are numerous other
sources for small quantity production
from dlstillery waste, wool washings,
municipal waste, ashes. banana
stalks, sage brush, and beet sugar
waste, the aggregate from which
make but a small total compared to
the requirements.
Montana and Idaho Possibilities.
But little investigation has been
made of the potash possibilities IN
Montana Some years ago Charles
Whitcomb and Norman Hotter OF
Helena conducted some experiments
on some alkaline marsh waters in the
central part of the state, but with
poor results. 1t has been reported
that certain beds of potash lime rocks
near Libby carry commercial pro-
portion of this element. An examin-
alton of the leaner but widespread
sources of potash have indicated four
natural rock types which are avail
able for this purpose, three of which
are abundant in the state. Feldspar,
an ingredient of many forms of in
trusive rocks leucite, which Is found
in large bodies of mountain dimen-
sion, both in Wyoming and Montana;
serecite, decomposition product
from granite, considerable of which
exists within the Boulder batholite
around Butte and in potassium mica
schists, of which there are large reefs
on the Salmon river, in Idaho, and at
other large places in Montana. To
recover potash from these sources re-
qures a factory process and extensive
acid resources, and a large invest
ment of capital.
Nevertheless, with the dominant
demand the high price that the ma
terial is now commanding and the
by products that a factory process
will permit to be made, it is believed,
will offer to a future industry in the
state probable rich return for the
effort
The uncertain features of the situ-
alton revolve around the results Of
the adjustment of the peace terms
with Germany and the possible es-
Establishment of such trade relations
that will make the German source Of
supply available to the United States.
Favorable terms would soon supply
the entire demand from this source
at price that would preclude the ne
cessity of continuing the search In
this country or its manufacture at
greater cost than ii could be obtained
from abroad-Anaconda Standard.