MOLYBDENUM.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 7

MOLYBDENUM.

♦ —' — ' A CORDITE PRESERVATIVE. ('Times" and "Sydney Sun" Servioei.) LONDON, March 4. The greatest secrecy is being maintained as to the discovery of a means for the preservation of cordite from deterioration in hot climates. The treatment is based on molybdenum. In view of their cordite losses, the French authorities are enquiring as to deposits .of molybdenum in Australia, and within a month the price of the ore has risen considerably, and supplies* are now unobtainable. Molybdenum is also ised in tho manufacture of high-grade steel tools, and for tipping service bullets. Australia is the main source of supply. The "Sydney Morning Herald" of last week had the following about tho price of molybdenite, the ore from which tho metal is obtained: —On Christmas Day last year an article in the "Herald' 1 ' stated that the Drice of molybdenite had risen from £300 to £400 "per ton in the course of the year, and that there was every evidence that it would go to £500. This prediction has been more than verified. The price to-day is -£525. A few days ago our Brisbane correspondent telegraphed that so keen was the competition at Wolfram Camp for eight tons of 9. per cent, molybdenite offered at public auction that the Irvinebank Tin Mining Company had to pay £462 .per ton to secure the jO'cel, eight tons of ore realising £3696! Our Brisbane correspondent added:—"The Lito2 per ton is a record price for Queensland, and shows an inprease of £200 per ton since last October."