Evening star., 1953-06-10
Biologists Scour U. S.
For New, VitoI Metal
Niobium, Once q Curiosity,
Is Needed for Jet Engines
By Thomas R. Henry


Biologists are securing the country
for new strategic metal.
This is hard, lustrous. steel-gray
niobium. Until quite recently 1t has
been little more than a curiosity. Of
essentially no commercial Importance.
Now it is vital for production Of high
temperature alloys for jet
engines. It first was discovered in 1901
by the British chemist Charles Hatchett
from sample of rock collected in
Connecticut and was first named CO.
lumbium because of it's American ORR
gin. 1t probably occurs over most Of
the world, but is a rare mineral every
where.
Quite rich deposits now have been
found, it is announced by the United
States Geological Survey. in q small
area known as Magnet Cove in Central
Arkansas. The rocks of the region are
quite similar to those from which
niobium has been extracted in Norway.
Germany and South Africa. A detailed
geo-chemical study Of the countryside
now is under way.
Mixed with the niobium are consjd-
cradle quantities of the wonder element.
titanium, which, because of its high
resistance to rust. its light weight and
great strength, now is of great military
Importance. Engineering experiments
still are progressing to determine how
it can be used to the best advantage.
Niobium also is known to occur in
bauxite deposits, chief sources of alumi-
mum. 1t also is mixed in places with
nIlifn M -,
logically important metal, tantalum.
1t stands next to tantalum in chemical
listings of the elements and has many
of the same properties.
In the past small workable deposits
of niobium have been found in Colo
RADIO. 1t always is mixed with several
other elements and extraction is diffi-
cult process.
Plants Filter Water Into Soil.
Plants filter water into soil. as well
as pump it out.
Some varieties will put into UNDER
ground storage as much as their own
weight of moisture in a single night.
according to a discovery just an
nounced by DR.. F.. w. Went, plant
psychologist of the California Institute
Of Technology.
The finding may have far-reachinR
effects on agriculture in semiarid parts
of the world and a worldwide survey
of its potentialities is projected. It is
announced as a hitherto unknown
phenomenon of plant life, reversal Of
the process by which water is taken
from the soil by the roots and evapo-
rated into the air from the surfaces Of
leaves.
The reversal takes place, according
to DR.. Vents report to the United Ma
tions Advisory Committee on Arid Zone
Research, when plant has wilted from
lack of soil moisture. Dew forming on
the wilted leaves is absorbed, fills the
stem and the roots, and is even excreted
by the roots into the surrounding soil
to be held in reserve until the plant
needs it.
Five varieties Of plants were studied
tomatoes, sugar beets. peas, squash and
mint. The value of dew during dry
periods and in dry areas was first re-
vealed by the fact that plants recov-
cred from willing even faster when
water was sprayed on their leaves at
night than when the soil was watered.
The studies indicate, DR.. Went says.
that dew is a major resource of many
dry areas and that the mere choice OF
varieties of food plants best able to
utilize it may lead to marked increase
in arid zone vegetation and food produc-
ton. The relative efficiency of differ
ent varieties now Is being investigated.