Show expert gives data on new process for refining alunite ores in large quantities editor pluto plute county news near marysvale Marys vale utah dear mr air editors editor confirming my conversation with you of even d date ate regarding the development of the ore aisnlie and the origin of the moffat process for the com merical reduction of sanie same J 1 have reviewed my statements to you and have reached the decision that should you be interested jn in knowing the story of the r research e a e a r c h and investigations I 1 have conducted to arrive tit at the present method I 1 now cow advocate for the development and tile the origin of an aluminum industry at marksville marysvale Marys vale ville copy of patent allowed by the TJ S patent office which Is now in your hands I 1 herewith respectfully submit for your attention the following facts in submitting these facts I 1 wish to state I 1 have endeavored to accomplish com coni for the advantage of my country and to render the deposits of alunite in the state of at utah and plute plate county commer eaid and to utilize the same for an independent source for the production of metallic aluminum and potassium sulphate simple investigation ti will prove that many efforts have been made in the past to solve this difficult problem none tune have proved commercial and for that reason are outliving their value in the files of the U B S patent office during the year 1924 1 I was intrigued by the unsuccessful efforts of many investigators and experimenters to solve the successful and commercial problem in the reduction of alunite I 1 applied myself to the extent of overcoming that difficulty many methods were tried much research was waa conducted any many thousands of dollars were spent by the writer before the final results that cumulated la ia the present method were perfected in the course of the work and efforts conducted by the writer and in n conjunction with frank sargent of marksville marysvale Marys vale ville utah an alliance was formed with mr sargent in which alunite deposits were lac hc quiren that were vital in the origin I 1 of an aluminum industry for th the mary Marys valo district may I 1 call your attention to the facts fact that during the development of the moffat process many difficulties were necessary to overcome oer come the country was in the throes of a very discouraging depression capital was is almost almo st impossible to attract regardless of the merits of the proposition ion through it all moffat and sargent battled to the utmost and did succeed during the year 1936 tit in attracting capital to start the co construction ruction of the present mill at Marys marksville marysville ville at this particular time the horizon seemed to have a very pleasant and encouraging outlook but bat the battle was not yet over financial difficulties were again experienced perien ced with the result that efforts expended by bl moffat and sargent were again brought to a temporary v halt by this time it seemed that 31 S would be more or less accustom to tough difficulties be that as it may this late experience only called tor for more intestinal fortitude and demanded atmore th tb and additional effort be expended to protect the many thousands of hours which had already been applied to the development of this industry let alone the thousands of dollars that had been spent and invested tor for th athla Is development at the present writing to state this Indus industry fy will continue it will be ll brought rought to ta a successful conclusion and an industry producing metallic aluminum at marysvale Marys vale will be a known tact fact in the ml marysvale Marys arys vale district much opposition has been experienced by tho the principals developing this industry both in the fast cast and at marksville marysvale Marys vale ville I 1 may state mr editor there have been times time hi the past when I 1 have considered throwing up the entire project for the development of a successful method of handling alunite ore they way seemed at times almost impossible to surmount and when I 1 pr remitted emitted myself to illick of the many failures experienced by more eminent authorities ties 1 I found myself at times almost ready to throw up the r sponge PO go at times I 1 did so but somehow I 1 always came back and started all over again more enthusiastic thusia than ever and more do determined ter mined that J 1 I would eta stay y with this problem till I 1 had bad it successfully solved I 1 firmly believe I 1 have done so before comin coming g to marysvale Marys vale ivale in company kompany with thomas E H monks my process was exposed to the most sear searching ching investigation by the J 11 II herron laboratories cleveland ohio a U 8 government ro research search laboratory and the allegheny steel i company of black enridge pennsylvania I 1 wish to also state 1 I conducted my own small plant at the ibe allegheny steel companas Comp anys plant and was furnished with the ore to operate with from marysvale Marys vale by prank U sargent of this elt alty Y in addition I 1 was responsible for the carload of 0 ore shipped to muscle shoals alabama through the good offices of representative senta tive dve abe murdock this shipment men t of ore was to be utilized via the moffat process three trips luning having been mado mad to muscle shoals by mr air monks and myself to induce the T V A to become interested te in aluminum manufacture during our negotiations with the T V A were successful in contacting tact drig the capital now interested with us ui and tor for that reason we discontinued our negotiations with the T V A for the more desirable connection which Is 19 of a private nature in starting the negotiations with the present interested parties I 1 induced them to purchase the equipment of the mineral products co of marysvale Marys vale and myself conducted this purchase itt at the headquarters of this company at atlanta georgia other equipment purchased d and installed at the present marksville marysvale Marys vale ville mill came caine from brigham city salt lake city and other utah locations I 1 wish to also state it has been the lie policy of this company aluminum inc to confine their pay roil loll to the town of marysvale Marys vale so far a w it lias has been possible to do so F for or your information the present mill enill Is in no way to be considered the permanent commercial plant to lie be conducted by this company the present plant la Is for the purpose of perfecting the commercial operation of the moffat process in ili the reduction of alunite it tit in no way ft ay would be adequate tor for the mal manufacturing purposes desired by aluminum inc plans and specifications for commercial manufacture of metallic aluminum potassium sulphate and other byproducts are already in ili ex exl stance istance and 9 graduation from the present plant to a much larger scale of operation will be realized by this company in the production of metallic aluminum the fact remains that the only competitor in fit the production of virgin aluminum within the borders of the united states obtain 65 03 per cent of their raw material bauxite from foreign sli shores ores within the boundaries of plute plate county Is sufficient raw material in the form of alu alunite tilte to supply tile the united states with metallic aluminum for dundr hundreds e ds of years to come it is not g generally ene rally known to the heavy users of aluminum but the product produced from is a superior metal to that it is possible to produce from bauxite this is due to bauxite being it a silicate whereas alunite is a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium ath a quartz base silica that is mechanically a part of the tha ore silica is no problem in ili the moffat process as it is possible to utilize ore containing as high as 25 per cent silica the only require requirement met being that uie the ore contains as high as 30 80 per cent aluminum oxide and approximately 6 pes cent potassium patas slum with a sulphur content of about 25 to 30 per cent the marysvale Marys vale rale district abounds in this type of ore millions of tons ton are available and highly accessible the united states can and will be independent of all foreign seduces of raw material for aluminum production this will prove a distinct military advantage for our country in time of war and a very desirable advantage in time 0 of f pence peace ralph it moffat marksville marysvale Marys vale ville utah editors note mr air moffat informs us that additional dl gestore will be added one more boiler re all acid lines will be replaced by zinc pipe lined with lead and numerous other changes change 9 made in the present mill until the new mill Is ready for operation lie he also states that specifications and plans are arc drawn tor for the new mill which will handle one thousand ions tons of ore per day |