The Carbon County news., 1928-11-15

tulHNdi4S NJ EtksGA Is NiOS HIGsluCHl
and rs general manager has active
charge Of the company.
It might be interesting to note at
this point that the purpose of organ
ization was merely to divide the own
ership of zonolite among the six men
then interested, as it was their expec-
tation at the time to develop it to a
profitable point with their own re-
sources. However, they soon diseov-
cred that it would take more time and
money than they had available and
accordingly invited participation. with
the result that at present a compara-
lively small group of Montana men
among them some of the best known
mining men, bankers, and business
men of the state are associated with
the development of Zonoiite and what
is rather unusual, although the pro-
perty is still in development stage and
the industry not yet on net earning
basis, such is its obviously big future,
that almost from the outset stock in
the Zonolite company has commanded
a premium and is in demand at the
present time at no less than two and
one-half times its par value.
And although this is still an Infant
industry yet approximately $780,
600 has been expended to date in mine
development plant construction and
other development costs. The COM
pany is incorporated under the laws
of Montana with an authorized
capital of S350,000.
Zonolite is found on what is known
as Mount Zonolite in the Rainey creek
district of the Kootenai valley, north
east of Libby, in the northwestern
part of the state. Libby is on the
main line of the Great Northern rail
way and also on the Roosevelt Trans
continental highway and is 15S miles
northeast of Spokane by rail. Mount
Zonolite is nine miles from Libby by
road and less than three miles by air
line to the railroad.
| The region surrounding Libby is
widely known as a metal mining dis
trict, principally lead and silver. Plac-
er mining was conducted in the eight
les and quartz mining has been car
ried on for the last 80 years, some
properties having been worked for 25
years or more, and the region is as
yet only little developed. The nearest
metal mining is 10 miles from the
zonolite deposit. The altitude of Lib
by incidentally is about 1000 feet and
that of Mount zonolite about $500
feet. The latter is in the form of a
ridge like hogs back.
The occurrence of Zonolite is rather
unique as the mountain is in natural
amphitheater surrounded by belt rocks
of secondary origin whereas the
Zonolite deposit is adioined on two
sides by igneous rocks.
Zonolite is, Of course, a mineral be-
longing to the non-metallic group, and
further classified as a member of the
vermiculite family. Analysis shows
it to be composed mostly of silica
magnesia and alumina in the form
Of silicate, and insoluble in most
acids. In fact, no report has yet come
to the Zonolite company of any acid
which affects it at ordinary tempera-
lures except hydrofloric acid which
turns it white but does not affect il
otherwise. When boiled in hydro
chloric acid it will break down.
The substance was long supposed
to be phlogopite or biotite mica anc
this particular deposit was classified
in U. S. geological survey report
as the former, the report speaking o1
it as being Exceptionally abundant.
zonolite has soft, smooth, almost
oily feeling to the touch, occurs ir
laminated form like mica, is dark
brown or black in color, and weighs
slightly less than ordinary gravel.
When subjected to heat it swellF
almost instantly to approximately Il
, times its bulk in the raw state with
corresponding loss of weight, an(
| turns to beautiful golden color. The
} expansion is all vertical, the leave!
being separated by tiny air space
t Applying a match to the end of i;
J piece of raw Zonolite held in the fin
gers causes it to spread out in fal
shape. Experiment has shown tina
with the use of varying amounts o.
oxygen the product can be produced
in either bronze or silver-platinun
color, but otherwise possessing tn,
same properties.
. These may be roughly listed unde,
13 heads:
: /. 1t is absolutely non-inflamable
as truly so as piece of granite.
2. 1t is fireproof up to $500 degree
F. In the treatment process it il
subjected to a heat of 1,500 degrees
At from $500 to 5000 degrees it cal
cines and then almost immediately
fuses.
7 8. II is lighter than cork-consider
t ably so-and a substitute for Cork il
many Of its important uses.
+. a. 1t is vermin proof-imperviou'
t to the attacks of insects, worms anc
5 rodents.
n S. 1t is insoluble in water and, 81
n far as known after extensive tests, in
S soluble in any acid