ALABAMA MICA DEPOSITS 43 



handling and utilization of the scrap mica, kaolin, feld- 

 spar, quartz, and other by-product recoveries, usually to a 

 large extent wasted, or thrown on the dump, as well as 

 on the experienced grading and working up of the sheet 

 mica into the proper merchantable form requisite for the 

 accumulation of graded stocks, which may then be dis- 

 posed of at more satisfactory and remunerative prices to 

 the manufacturer, and to some extent, more directly to 

 the ultimate consumer. 



Under competent, experienced, and intelligent mining 

 and marketing methods, and provided with reasonable 

 and justifiable mine and shop equipment, requiring a 

 comparatively small invested capital, financially satis- 

 factory returns are indicated as entirely possible and 

 probable from most of the larger mine operations, and 

 from the majority of the smaller ones as well, by the op- 

 eration of a developed system of pooling by the smaller 

 with the larger mines of their recovered and prepared 

 sheet, for the enlarged accumulation in this manner of a 

 properly graded joint stock, of sufficient extent, size, and 

 range, to fill orders for the special sizes and shapes al- 

 ways required by the trade; this stock to be disposed of 

 under a combined sales system. 



In the same manner, and under a similar system, 

 groups of mica operations, large and small, located in 

 sufficiently close proximity (of which there are a number 

 in the State) could in some instances combine their out- 

 put of scrap, operating centrally located grinding plants 

 for the utilization of this scrap, and possibly also to some 

 extent of other by-products requiring crushing or some 

 form of pulverization. 



Auxiliary to such utilization of mine scrap, there are, 

 (as will be hereinafter noted) a very considerable num- 

 ber of mica deposits located centrally with respect to the 

 workable sheet mica mines, yielding mica suitable only 

 for grinding, but affording definite amounts of this grade, 

 so conditioned as to be recoverable at low cost. 



The resultant ground mica from these deposits has 

 been experimentally shown to be equal in grade to any 

 other ground mica commercially marketed, under devel- 

 oped and proven methods of competent preparation. 



