Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-16
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
What TODO
WITH RADIUM

of radium salts in the world and as
We are adding only about an ounce "A
year-the product of about 5000 tons
of ore-it would seem that there should
be little trouble in putting it to work.
There is, however, much acrimonious
discussion about precedence between
medical and economic uses. Medical
men protest against using radium to
clock-faces rather than to
treat diseases, and legislation has even
been proposed to limit its employment
to surgical uses. On the other hand,
a radium-illuminated compass on a
storm tossed ship might save the lives
of hundreds. Harry A. Mount, who
in The Scientific American (New
York;, suggests that disputes of this
kind are invidious. There will, he
thinks. be radium for all; for tiny
hit of it goes a long way. We are re-
by Mr.. Mount that the visit to
this country of Madame Curie. the
French scientist who first isolated and
radium, and the presentation to
her of gram of the precious element,
have directed attention to the fact that
the United States has become within
a few years the worlds producer .of
radium. OF an anticipated production
of 20 grams in 1921. practically all will
come from this country. He continues:
twenty-five grams of radium
sounds quite little when compared with
U
precious metal. But when it is re-
fiected that there exists in the whole
world only about tive ounces of ex-
tracted radium, the production of near
ly an ounce year is large. But what
will become of this ounce Of radium?
This is pertinent question, for re-
Gently it has been proposed that the
use of radium be restricted by legisla-
tive action to medicinal uses. The
action is inspired, no doubt. by the
fear that so much radium will be used
in the production of luminous material
for the faces of watches and clocks and
similar uses that humanity will be de-.
prived of the medicinal benefits that
would otherwise come from this ra-
dium. Another fear is that the visible
supply of the ores which now furnish
the radium of commerce will be ex-
hausted and that the annual produce
ton will be greatly curtailed.
The second objection Is most easily |
disposed of. When at the outbreak of
the world-war the Importation of ra-
mines were opened in Colorado and !
Utah, IT was seriously proposed to |
limit the use of radium to medicine |
when experts predicted that not more |
than 100 grams of radium could he
taken from the carnotite deposits |
there. But more than that amount has |
been taken out and the visible |
supply is greater than ever before.
New deposits are being constantly dis
and within the past month
have announced additional
deposits estimated to contain 30 grams
of radium"
Before the war. Mr.. Mount goes on to
say. the world went to Europe for its
radium. This was obtained from pitch |
blende which came from Bohemia.
While this ore contains from 30 to 10 |
per cent. uranium oxid. from which |
q ~ Cd sour tv-l
small pockets in widely separated To-
calit!es so that 1t is merely a by-pro- |
duct of other mining operations and no |
steady supply can be assured. Radium |
Is now extracted from carnotite, which |
occurs in relative abundance in Colo
rado and Utah. The ore contains but
from IL to per cent uranium oxide.
but. once located. II can be mined by
ordinary shallow mining process. We
read further:
covered are in Paradox Valley, Col,
more than fifty miles from the nearest
-ailroad over a barren desert trail The
arsest producer of radtum carries tho
ore clear across the continent and ex-
.racts the radium in plant Al Orange.
N. J. The reason is that for every ton
'f ore extracted. tons of chemicals and
coal are required. and it is cheaper to
move the ore to the chemicals than TO
move the chemicals to the ore.
The extraction process consists
simply of eliminating the various sub
stances in the ore until finally the
radium alone Is left A ton of good orc
contains approximately five miliigrams
,1-60O0 ounce) of radium. About 20 per
cent, of the radium is lost. but the re-
naming so per cent, is finally delivered
n little glass tubes In the form OF
'adium salt-such as radium bromid.
-adium sulfate. radium carbonate, or
'adium chlorid.
"Radium in its irreducible form is
L metal. but as such 1t lacks stability
Ind - therefore produced commercially
ls salt. Indeed, the pure metal has
,een produced only once or twice and
'ery few persons have ever seen It.
"A famous expert on radium is au-
-hority for the statement that the law
If supply and demand has very little
20 do with the price of radium. The
selling price is set by the cost of ex-
traction and the price can be reduced
'nly as improved methods arc found.
'Radium emits three distinct rays:
The alpha, which has been Identified
rs positive static electricity and which
beta. which is negative
static electricity, forming about Q per
,ent of the emanations: and gamma,
which is a rea! ray-a vibration-and
which forms the remaining / per cent
of the emanations.
In the treatment of cancer and In
he removal of useless tissue. for
which radium has been found chiefly
in medical science; only the
ray is used. Sheets OF metal
are placed between the patient and tho
radium to shield him from the alpha
Ind beta rays, which are likely to
,ausc dangerous and painful burns. |,
Thus ihe surgeons makes use OF only |,
about 1 per cent of the tremendous :,
Energy given off by tho radium. When
Used in luminous material, however.
he energy of the radium Is LOO per
cent useful.
The only real concern We need to
have about our supply of radium,
,ither for medicinal uses or in industry, |,
IS a future source OF ore. In this con-
1ection 1t may he recalled that in the
,srly days of the oil industry 1t wis
.hought that practically all the oil In