New-York tribune., 1920-09-05
ardinian Mine
Treasures Fall
Into u. S. Hands
Possession of Fields Which
Produce Wolfram, Base
Of Tungsten, Ha 8
Worried Some Italians
Object to Exploitation
Many Valuable Resources
ON Picturesque Island
Awaiting Development
From a specio. corresponden.

From a Spccia. Correspondent
ROME, Aug. 20.-Cries of alarm
have been raised by some italian writ
ess on account Of what they call the
American exploitation of the island of
Sardinia. Although French, Belgian
and English companies have for many
Years held concessions for the iron,
alum and lead mines, no fear was felt,
bat at the very thought of American
capitalists obtaining equal rights they
are indignant. The reason for this is
that the Americans have obtained pos
session of lands on which the much
sought mineral, wolfram, abounds in
great quantity.
From this wolfram it will be pos
sibls to obtain tungsten, the metallic
chemical element which is so neces-
sary not only for the manufacture of
hard steel implements, but also for
the making of electric light bulbs. It
has a special quality by which the
yowdered metal burns at a red heat
and is very slowly attacked by moist
air. No one knew that tungsten was
to be found in Sardinia, even the
Italian experts. who have been import
ing it from abroad. In future it will
be found nearer at home. With this
wonderful mineral all the preparations,
tungsten dioxide, trioxide tunstic acid,
as well as the very necessary tungstate
salts, so essential in the modern
process for calico printing and dyeing,
can be obtained from the tungsten
from Sardinia.
Owing to this discovery by an Ameri-
can the Italians feel that they have
lost any chance they ever had of OBJ
taining this necessary metal for their
own use, as, they reason, the output of
the mines will go to America.
Discovery Accidental
The discovery of these mines of VOL
fram and molybdenum was purely acci-
dental. During the last year of war
aud after the armistice the American
Red Cross extended its work of start
Ing soup kitchens and workrooms, and
many Of these were opened in Sar-
dinia. not only n the towns, but in
cut-of- -the-way places. One depot was
opened at little place called Bene de
Padru, which lies on the east coast,
where, apart from mountain walks,
there is very little in the way of
amusement.
It happened that the officer in charge,
when his WORK of inspecting the vari-
Gus depots was over, spent his time
roaming over the hills and seeing
the sights of that lonely coast. AS he
knew something about geology, he
would take with him specimens from
the different rocky districts, which at
his leisure he would examine. To his
surprise he came across traces of VOL
fran and mo,ybdenum, two minerals
which are very much sought after and
which hitherto have been found in dis
triets of which Sardinia was never con-
sidered one.
Tungsten is really a recent discov-
cry, of twenty years ago, when steel
making was revolutionized by the ex-
periments Of Mushet, who first obtained
a self steel by the addition
OF ~ per cent Of tungsten to the car
oon at a temperature OF 500 c. Later
processes increased this amount to 20
per cent.
To an American geologist this dis
eovery was glad news indeed. When
IN effort was made to buy the land on
which these mines were to be found
no objection was made by the owner,
Who up to that time thought it an ab-
solute waste, as it could not be used
for any agricultural purpose. Whether
the company has obtained also the
concession to work the mine is not
known, but it is believed that the gov
ernment will be only too glad to
grant it.
There is absolutely no reason why
american mine owners should not OBJ
tain concessions as we'll as those of
ether nations.
Sardinians Little Known
:, The real truth about Sardinia is that
tae people on the mainland have a very
vague idea about the inhabitants there,
except that they are cheesemakers and
year very picturesque clothes. Italian
Hnanelers have always fought shy Of
investing their money in the island,
Or tn any way trying to improve its
%oastr1es. For one reason. it has a
Ded name on account Of it's malaria,
1asen ID 20 Yirulent in some places that
sae mortality from it IL higher than
aaywhere on the mainland. The mines
sss very numerous, but owners have
leand Il difficult to find miners who
would risk the climate.
Ia Cagliari 14,1S8 miners were en-
Essyed in the sulphur and lead mines.
wing to the rumor of the wonderful
aaeSals and ores to be found, Sardinia
now the happy hunting ground OF
yscspeetors Of ali sorts. Who hope to
tlek up bargains. They have arrived
see late, az now the islander is rather
~ o. selling anything except at a
1900, 600 Gold ON WAY