THE RECOVERY OF POTASH FROM ALUNITE. 13 
of the water) have a commercial value in the east, where better 
facilities for their separation are to be had and whither the mineral 
may be shipped at the lower rates usually prevailing for raw materials. 
Probably factories in the Middle West are most favorably situated 
for the handling of the raw material. 
The ignition of the mineral could probably be very economically 
carried on at one of the sulphuric-acid plants run in connection with 
the fertilizer factories. The oxides of sulphur evolved during the 
burning of ore could be turned into the Glover tower of the acid plant 
and the yield of acid substantially increased at very little cost. 
Moreover, the potassium sulphate produced could be consumed on 
the spot in the manufacture of mixed fertilizers. 
In Table IV are given the quantities and value (under normal condi- 
tions) of the ingredients of alunite (90 per cent pure) and in Table V 
the estimated cost of separating and preparing these products for the 
market. 
Table IV. — Amount and value (under normal conditions) of products contained in 1 ton 
(2,000 pounds) of alunite (90 per cent pure). 
Dollars. 
K 2 0, 198 pounds, at 4 cents per pound 7. 92 
H 2 S0 4 (50° B.), 1,647 pounds, at $6 per ton 1 3. 44 
A1 2 3 , 666 pounds, at $7 per ton 2 2.33 
Total value 13. 69 
Table V. — Estimated cost of mining, shipping, and extracting the products of alunite. 
Dollars. 
Mining per ton 1. 00 
Freight to Mississippi River, per ton 3 9. 00 
Cost of grinding, per ton 30 
Cost of ignition, per ton * 50 
Cost of acid recovery, per ton 1. 00 
Cost of leaching and recovering potash r 1. 00 
Total cost. 12. 80 
From the figures given in Tables IV and V it is evident that in 
normal times the margin of profit on the products of alunite would 
be extremely narrow because of the long freight haul unless a lower 
freight rate should be established for the raw material. Under pres- 
ent conditions, however, the prices of metallic aluminum, sulphuric 
acid, and potash salts have advanced so enormously that the imme- 
diate exploitation of the western alunite should prove both practic- 
able and profitable. 
i Only three-fourths of the S0 3 of alunite is volatilized on ignition. 
2 The value of the A1 2 3 is based on that in bauxite. The average bauxite contains 60 per cent A1 2 3 
and is valued normally at $4.75 per long ton. 
3 No commodity rate yet exists for alunite, but if a rate is established it has been estimated that it prob- 
ably would be in the neighborhood of $9 per ton. 
