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Show MINING MEERSCHAUM. j t Meerschaum although the name means "sea foam," Is not a marine pro- duce. says Technical World Magazine for June, but Is a soft, soaplike stone which Is mined Just as coal Is mined. Asia Minor is the principal seat pf the industry. In its crude state, meerschaum meer-schaum is yellowish-white in color, and a red clay coat or skin envolpes the blocks taken from the mine. These blocks bring from $35 to $200 a carload. They are soft enough to be cut with a knife. After being dried under the open sun In summer, or In a warm room In winter, the blocks are sorted Into different grades. They are then wrapped in cotton and packed In cases for the market. The bulk of the product prod-uct goes to Vienna, where the best plpemakers are found. |