MANUPACTUBE OP RADIUM MATIGNON 223 



With a carnotite of meager yield (400 tons yielding 1 gram of 

 radium) but of easy manipulation, the Americans thus became the 

 principal suppliers of radium to the world and monopolized the 

 industry to their profit. This continued until the Belgian Mining 

 Society, Union Miniere du Haut Congo, brought to light, in its 

 copper concessions in the Belgian Congo, veins of pitchblende of 

 great richness. 



Their first discovery of pitchblende was made in 1913 in the cop- 

 per mine of Luiswishi. This was followed in 1915 by a second. dis- 

 covery of the mineral in another mine of the same company at 

 C^hinkolobwe (Kasolo). Systematic researches undertaken from the 

 beginning of 1921 assisted in locating the uraniferous veins. The 

 first analyses made in the African laboratories of the Union were 

 re^jeated by M. Schoep, professor in the university at Gand, who at 

 the end of 1921 confirmed the work of the first assays. Because of 

 the richness of the ores, it was decided to transport them to Belgium 

 for treatment. The study of the process for extraction was en- 

 trusted to the Societe Generale Metallurgique of Hobokens. Under 

 the direction of M. Leeman, with the collaboration of M. Clerin 

 and inspired by the investigations of Curie and Debierne, it per- 

 fected the process of reduction of the ore, A factory for the 

 treatment of the Congo mineral was then established at Oolen in the 

 Antwerp Campine. 



The work was jjushed with such activity that the first cargo of 

 mineral arrived at Antwerp on the 5th of December, 1921. The first 

 part of the plant was in operation the following 8th of July. Dur- 

 ing that interval of six months the process of extraction had been 

 developed and installed in the new laboratory. 



The prospecting continued in 1924 confirmed the existence at 

 Chinkolobwe of considerable quantities of rich mineral yielding up 

 to 60 per cent of uranium oxide. This would be capable of supply- 

 ing the works at Oolen for a long period. The latter underwent 

 rapid development and produced during 1923 regularly nearly 4 

 grams of radium per month, assuring thus the supplying of two- 

 thirds of the world's consumption. 



When 3^ou consider that the American mineral contained scarcely 

 2 per cent of uranium oxide, and often ore was treated with only 

 three-fourths of 1 per cent, it is not difficult to see that the American 

 mines and works were forced to close. The monopoly, uselessly at- 

 tempted by the Austrians first, then to a great degree accomplished 

 in the United States of America, has practically wholly passed into 

 the hands of the Belgians. The works all over the world have 

 had to either close or slow up their production, the cost preventing 

 any competition with the Belgian product. Belgian radium can 



