Letters Received to H.H. Barker, February 2, 1931

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA FEB 1 1931 DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY February 2, 1931. Mr. H. H. Barker United States Radium Corporation 535 Pearl Street New York City, New York My dear Howard: During the past f w w weeks I have had a growing feeling that it is a pity our laboratory for treating carnotite and concentrates is lying idle. In an earlier letter I mentioned the lack of interest in this problem on Dr. Lorah's part, due in large measure, we believed, in the undue fear he has of the ha- zards involved. The force of this feeling seems to be declining and seems to be on the way to disappear altogether. Recently I began a new line of approach toward getting Dr. Lorah's coopera- tion in this proposition: I mentioned the possibility of utiliz- ing the Chemical Engineering equipment for extracting radium to some of the seniors in this field. These boys evidently talked the matter over among themselves, which resulted in a request on their part to undertake something along this line. The reaction on Dr. Lorah has been immediate, for he came over to see me, and his visit could not have happened at a time more opportune, for I was, at the moment engaged in preparing a sample of carnotite for test as to its radium content. The sample had just come with a shipment of 80 lbs. of high grade carnotite ore, running at least 25 to 35% U308. The sample in question was a grab sample from a ton lot of lower grade ore. Alpha ray comparison with a standard carnotite, cheoked by direct gamma ray comparisons gives the content between 11 and 12% U3°8, or 25 to 30 mg. radium per ton. This ore can probably be bought at a very reasonable price. I am investigating the question of additional supply of ore run- ning 12% U308 or better. In case more ore is available it seems to me we hore should plan to start and operate a small radium plant as a University activity. Will appreciate your estimate of value of carnotite running 10% U308 or better, so as to make it profitable to extract the radium. Have you any figures on market value of vanadium? Negotiations with Ramsay are in progress. Probably Dr. Lorah will not need further persuasion but he has pronounced Scotch instincts. Sincerely yours, Herman Behlunds AS. Herman Schlundt. HS:AS