A deposit of vanadinite in Sierra County, New Mexico, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, was mined for a short period in 1912 and 1913. Besides vanadium, the veins contain galenite, copper carbonates, barite, fluorite and other minerals. The ore was treated at a mill close to the mine, but the whole undertaking was unsuccessful, probably because the ore was so low grade, and because of metallurgical difficulties. There are a number of other deposits of vanadinite in New Mexico, but none of them have been commercially developed in any way.
Vanadinite is found in a considerable number of places in Arizona, frequently associated with wulfenite, or lead molybdate. Indeed, one of the difficulties of producing both vanadium and molybdenum from vanadinite and wulfenite is the fact that the two minerals are frequently so closely associated that, because of the slight difference in specific gravity, it is not easy to separate them by mechanical methods. At the Mammoth mine, in Arizona, the upper levels are richer in vanadinite than in wulfenite, but at the lower levels, the reverse is true. Undoubtedly a considerable amount of vanadinite could be produced from this mine and others in the vicinity, but it is doubtful whether it could be done at a profit, even at a high price for vanadium.
The United States Vanadium Co. has a mine 4 miles from Ray Junction, Arizona, and at the mine a small mill to concentrate the ore, which is low grade, and produces vanadium from the concentrates. The amount of ore that can be obtained from this mine is somewhat doubtful. This is the trouble with vanadinite as a whole; it exists over a wide territory, but the deposits are all low grade and apparently are not extensive in any one locality.
One of the most promising deposits, as regards increased production of vanadium, is at the Shattuck mine, Bisbee, Arizona, where a large vug, or cavity, is lined with a vanadium mineral, probably cuprodescloizite. The ore carries about 8 to 10 per cent. vanadic oxide, in addition to copper and lead. This seems to be one of the best opportunities for an increased production of vanadium in this country. The Golden, Colo., station of the United States Bureau of Mines made a metallurgical study of the treatment of this ore.
Plate V.—Geographical distribution of the vanadium deposits of the world.
The distribution of the vanadium deposits of the world is shown in [Plate V].
POSITION OF LEADING COMMERCIAL NATIONS
The United States is peculiarly fortunate as regards vanadium products, for it is practically the only producer of vanadium in the world, the Peruvian deposits being under the control of an American company. Therefore, England, France, Germany, Japan and other nations are forced to buy of American companies.