The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-06-20
Uses of Molybdenum... Market Value
and Unusual Peculiarities of Occurrence
1Fred d. S. Robertson, consulting met

No other. metal has attained such
remarkable industrial development a
a result of the great European war a
that most wonderful beneficiary O
steel-,molybdenum OF that group O
allied metals containing tungsten, van
aoium and molybdenum, the last men
toned has been hitherto practical,
unknown to American steel manufac
turers, although its use in Europe
particularly in Germany, has been con
siderable. The now sudden deman,
by all nations for this element has in
stituted thorough investigation
throughout the world of its occurren
ces, which like those of nickel woult
appear to be the most extensive II
Canada.
Molybdenum, its alloys, by products
and ores have been declared absolute
contraband Of war by the entente al.
lies in the present war. The price OF
molybdenite, the sulphide ore of mo-
lybdenum (MoS.) has been fixed b,
the British war office at 105 shillings
per unit GA pounds) or approximate
ly $1.09 per pound. The price in France
is about $1.30 per pound, and the cur
rent price in the United States Is $2.25
per pound, and is rising Ferro -molyb-
denum containing not less than so per
cent molybdenum metal is fixed by
the imperial munition board at SIZE
per pound molybdenum content while
the price in the United States is at
least 81 per pound. Although this ore
has been conserved by the imperial
government in Canada it is permis-
sible to ship high grade consignments
to our allies under license, the writer
being aware of at least one shipping
mine in Canada which is regularly ex-
porting almost pure molybdenite to the
smelters in France Hitherto German
chemists have eXcelled in the metal
lurgy involved in the concentration
smelling and application of molyb-
denum in the manufacture of special
steels and in it's uses in the arts.
Only few months ago the German
government conserved the use of mo-
lybdenum entirely for steel and alloy
purposes, but with its characteristic
scientific foresight it at the same time
enumerated the various forms of sub
stitutes that German manufacturers
could utilize in it's stead. This very
irr e..
Icy of absolute scientific organization
In commercial affairs in Germany is
very characteristic and might we'll
serve as an incentive towards the
adoption of similar measures on our
part in all departments of manufac-
ture. Prior to the present conflict the
whole control almost, of the worlds
output of this metal was in German
hands, notably in Scandinavia, Aus
tralia as also one mine in Canada.
During the Russo Japanese war the
writer was interested along with
Hamburg firm in the output of large
deposit near the Japanese mainland,
which, however, was subsequently
Communicated by others. Being in
personal touch with Messrs. Krupp of
Essen -Ruhr until shortly before the
declaration of war, was aware of the
world wide search that that firm was
making of the molybdenum resources
of the world.
The heavy howitzers used by the
enemy are reported to be made with,
probably six per cent Innings of molyb-
denum steel, which not only with
stands the enormous stresses of mod
ern high explosives far better than
any other steel known, but owing to
it's high melting point is less effected
by the extreme heat of the gases re-
leased, thus producing ordnance that
will not crack or silver, and therefore
live far longer Tin the field. Such
guns can be fired oftener than other
makes on account of their producing
less heating. Projectiles of molybde-
mum steel possess a power of penetra-
ton of the hardest armor plate far in
excess of those of any other alloy. For
crank and shaft forgings, automobile
parts, safety vaults, doors and safes,
permanent magnets, high pressure
boiler plates. self hardening high speed
machine tools and electric lamp met
allie filaments, molybdenuln has been
proven to outstrip either tungsten or
vanadium. Machine tools of molyb-
denum alloy when used for turning
down hard metal, e. g., shrapnel shell
cases, permit revolutions at a rate so
much faster than any other alloys and
require less sharpening, being tough
er, that the capacity of the output is
many times increased. Although the
friction heats the tool to redness its
temper is not impaired in the least
either by the heating or subsequent
cooling as it is what Is known as self
tempering" and is therefore unlike
tungsten in this respect.
Owing to the peculiar de-oXidizing
character of molybdenum when alloy
ed with steel, molybdenum steel in
creases in hardness with age, and
when present in amount to about six
per cent along with certain other ele-
ments, produces a perfectly rustless
steel, samples of which of German
l,oro fa1lap into tho