The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-03-27
Open New Mine
Of Manganese
South Dakota Ore Tested in
Plan to Find Supply
Of Vital Metal.

CHAMBERLAIN, S. D.-The first
step toward development of an al
most imitless supply of domestic
manganese was taken recently when
production was started at the fed
eral bureau of mines experimental
plant near here.
F. D. DeVaney, metallurgist in
charge, estimates that an average
Of 500 tons of crude ore will be
processed daily until freezing wealth
er, and again in the spring. The
ore will be shipped to government
refining plants at Boulder, New, and
Provo, Utah, where il will be used
IN experiments.
Admitting that the South Dakota
ore probably is too low-grade for
use in normal times, Mr.. DeVaney
said the government expects to de-
VelOp an important emergency
source In the South Dakota field.
Manganese is regarded as one Of
the most important strategic min
erals in which the United States is
deficient. About IA pounds are used
a hardening agent in the manu-
fecture of ton of steel In re-
cent years the United States has
imported 95 per cent of its require
Nents, chiefly from Russia. The re-
mainder has come from small de-
posits in Arkansas, Montana and
Virginia.
Enough for 1900 Years.
According to the metal resources
board, the nation has only a 10
month supply of manganese on hand,
and imports have virtually ceased
despite efforts of Cuba and Brazil
to tap reserves and send the ore to
The United States.
The South Dakota deposits are be
heved to be the largest in the coun-
try. A report of the South Dakota
Geological Survey this year esti-
mates the deposits at 10000, 600, 900
tons of loW-grade ore, enough to sup
ply the present steel industry in the
United States for 1900 years.
Engineers in charge of the expert
mental plant near here are not opti-
mistic about large-scale produc-
ton, but explain that even the 500
tons of ore being processed daily
would produce enough manganese
for the manufacture of 800 tons Of
steel.
The 800 tons of steel, they say, are
equivalent to the amount used in
building $40 automobiles. A 30-day
run at the experimental plant would
produce enough manganese to manu-
facture the steel used in a 10000
ton battleship of the South Dakota
class.
To Use Pressure Method.
The new plant. using a system Of
screens and washers with an oil
heated drying kiln. will separate an
average of so tons of 20 per cent
manganese from each 500 tons of
material handled.
Construction of a second expert
mental plant, designed to handle $50
tons of ore a day, has been started
near here. This plant will operate
on the principle of an explosive
SCATTERING plant like those used in
manufacturing or processing pulled
grain cereals. Ore will be placed
In a steam cylinder under high pres
cure. AS the pressure is released
suddenly the ore nodules will be sep
nrated from the shale and clay in
which they are imbedded when
mined.
Both plants were authorized I'M
Der funds made available by con-
sress for acquisition Of strategic
minerals. About $50, 900 is being
'Spent on the two plants.
= Development work in manganese
also is being conducted in Arizona
I'D Minnesota, where there are low
I1ads deposits Of smaller extent. A
large extraction plant has been pro-
bcsed for Minnesota.