86 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
cipal value les in the lithia the ore contains, carrying as it 
does on an average, close to 5%. Salts and tablets have been 
manufactured from the lithia extracted from this ore, and were 
the deposit reduced and converted into tablets there would be 
sufficient to meet the world’s demand for generations to come or 
to convert one of our country’s fresh water lakes into a great 
effervescent sea of trouble. 
This ore contains close to 50% silica, 25% alumina, 1244% 
potash and soda and small quantities of iron, manganese, flour- 
ine, lime and magnesia. Aside from its importance as a lithia 
producer, its other properties give it almost as much value. 
In its reduction the lithia and potash can be extracted cheaply, 
and these are of course always marketable, but in this case the 
residuum would be of little value. If however the potash re- 
mains and only the lithia be removed, the remaining material 
will make a most beautiful opal glass; or by mixing it with 
good quality of kaolin, porcelain, or china, of great beauty 
ean be manufactured at small cost. By taking the balance, 
after extracting the lithia and potash, and combining it with 
the necessary proportions of lime or limestone, and caleiming 
and grinding, a good quality of Portland cement is the result. 
So far as known, I believe, these are the only applications 
made up to this time, although it is more than likely that others: 
will suggest themselves when the reduction of the ore is 
begun on a large scale. 
The amblygonite, a lithium-aluminum phosphate, found asso- 
ciated with the lepidolite, is even more valuable from a com- 
mercial standpoint. Besides carrying a higher percentage of 
lithia than the lepidolite ore, averaging over 8%, it contains 
46% phosphorus, over 33% alumina, with silica, ime, potash and 
manganese in small quantities. 
After extracting the lithia from the amblygonite there re- 
mains a large amount of available phosphorus and alumina, 
the former at least of considerable value. It is used in various 
ways in the arts and sciences and is in demand in any amount 
obtainable as a fertilizing agent. The alumina can be produced 
as a sulphate to be used by dryers, paper makers or converted 
into alum. 
It has been estimated that the byproducts after the lithia is 
extracted are of sufficient value to pay all the expense of the 
reduction of the ore, leaving the lithia as a profit. 
To the layman, unaequainted with its commercial value and 
scientific importance, the deposit could not fail to be of interest 
as it is impressively beautiful. The colors of the ore range from 
rose pink through a variety of shades of violet gray to yellowish 
and whitish. It occurs in granular masses made up of foliated 
scales. Probably the most striking and beautiful ore is that 
