The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-12
Today's Science
BY DAVID DIETZ

a METHOD of insuring international peace
N through the control of the rare minerals WITH
out which modern war can not be waged Is SUD
eested by Professor Ward Y. Evans of Northwestern
university in a report to the American Chemical
Society.
Professor Evans points out that the boundaries
of nations were established originally from an agri-
cultural point of view with no reference TO mineral
wealth.
consequently MANY nations which are rich in
fertile fields and even well supplied with such min
eral substances coal and ron are short on mate
rials which are required for the complex industrial
life Of today and the equally complex business OF
prosecuting twentieth century war.
The United States is probably the outstanding
example because it is the most favored nation with
respect TO mineral wealth. The United States has
within its borders coal, petroleum, iron ore,
copper. lead. zinc sulphur. arsenic borax. cadmium
molybdenum and tale than any other nation.
But despite American leadership in the four
great fields of coal, petroleum iron ana copper the
United States has its mineral shortages. Among
those which this nation must import are anthony,
chronite manganese. nickel tin, asbestos. bauxite.
nitrates platinum. potash and vanadium
Four Of these are what are known as KEY MINER
ais in wartime namely chromite manganese nickel
and vanadium.
4 MOTHER mineral regarded as highly important
N in wartime today Is molybdenum. 1t produces
alloy steel of unusual toughneSS and Is extremely
desirable for both weapons and projectlles.
The United States is exceptionally we'll off with
regard to molybdenum. AS a matter of fact about
"a per cent OF the worlds supply comes from one
district the Climax mine in Colorado
AS a matter of fact the United States does pro-
duce some vanadium and also some manganese.
But not enough to meet its needs
II is interesting 10 note that while the United
States has no nickel Canada has plenty of it. Cam
ada supplies about 90 per cent of the worlds stock
Of nickel
Russia. India. the gold coast Of Africa. and Brazil
the great producers Of manganese. Africa is the
center Of chrOmite production. Peru produces go
per cent Of the worlds supply Of vanadium.
1.-TWO things must be agreed upon. Professor
Il Evans SAYS. 10 insure world peace. First of ALL
the nations Of the world must agree that they
really desire peace. Next he says there must be
survey Of mineral wealth technical science
changes the confguration Of the economic world
Professor Evans cites one example during the
World war of how important some Of these key min
erals are.
Before the war" he says. Great Britain OBJ
tanned her supply OF tungsten from South Burma.
This ore was refined in Germany and sent 70 Eng
land. At the beginning of the England cut
of the supply Of tungsten TO Germany.
Germany then obtained moybdenum ore from
Norway for high speed tools. This supply later
bought by England Germany then substituted
tanned from central Europe in sufficient quantities
Norway bought her nickel from Canada. Thus.
England faced the novel situation of having her
soldiers killed by her Own munitions"