Gunnison news-champion., 1918-03-22

IeuucFS Tie IOuOWlHS 0TtACle JUST Ie'
ceived from the Colorado State Schoo
of Mines, of more than passing inter
est to miners. M
One Of the metals that have come
into prominence because Of the wal
is manganese. Prior to 1914, large
part of the ores and alloys Of mangan.
ese used in this country was imported
As in the case Of potash and dye stuffs
no particular effort had been made ia
stimulate domestic production, since
it was not thought possible to COM
pete with the foreign output. With
the outbreak Of the war the steel
makers Of the United States suddenly
found themselves short Of an almost
indispensable metal. The natural re-
suit wa4 rapid rise in the price Of
all manganese material and the re-op-
ening and the energetic development
Of manganese mines that had not
been operated for years. The wide
spread search for manganese resulted
also in the discovery Of many new de-
posits.
Importance Of Manganese.
Many persons will be surprised to
learn that, in point Of tonnage, the
amount Of manganese reduced from
its ores Is exceeded only by that Of
iron, copper, lead, and zinc. For more
than fifty years manganese has been
used in the manufacture Of steel and
; is now regarded ~ almost indispen-
sable in the production Of steel Of ev-
cry grade.
Alloys Of Manganese.
Manganese is used In the steel in
dustry In the form OF two alloys, fer
rcmanganese and spiegeleisen. These
are both alloys Of iron, manganese,
and carbon. Ferromanganese may
contain as much as 80 per cent Of
manganese but averages in. this count
I ty about 10 per cent. In spiegeleisen
the percentage Of manganese IL much
lower; the standard figure upon which
the price II based il 20 per cent. The
average manganese content is about
18 per cent. Both alloys arc high in
combined carbon, the amount Of which
runs up to per cent. The manganese
alloys are added to molten steel from
the converter, or open hearth furnace,
for the>purpose Of introducing both
manganese and carbon. The mang-
anese cleanses the steel by combining
with the contained oxygen and, to
some extent, with the sulphur and
phosphorus and then carries these inn
purities into the Stag. The carbon is
for the purpose Of giving the steel the
required hardness and strength. By
adding larger amounts Of the alloys,
manganese steel is produced, which is
noted for its hardness, tenacity, and
durability, It is much used in the
wearing parts Of heavy machinery.
In recent years the tendency has been
to use more ferronaanganese and less
spiegeleisen, on account Of the much
smaller amount Of ferromanganese
that it is necessary to add to the
steel Spiegeleisen usually has to be
melted in q cupola furnace before US
ing, BIT ferromanganese can be added
direct. Th1t also introduces less car
bon, which sometimes is an advan-
tage.
Ores of Manganese.
Dana's System Of Mineralogy de-
scribes more than hundred mineral
species containing manganese. OF
these, however, only shout . half doz-
en- are O3 Commercial Importance as
10 source Of tie Metal. A. IN the case
Of iron, The hsost lmpottAnt minerals
~ IT, exidee. Tlas prineipel ores are
u -, - MO-. ~ j tb. mos.
eullGhe4 - - 9nne ara 4 prob
/ ab1y e1ll6d bl6ek e1143 "a Inangan
- Z & q el1ily h txs4 beeause
IT. H. N - - ~ b1Aek
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