Document EvVxQLpq4roO2kBNJed80N8Yb

lltra-violet light, were ineffective. ill) in 1D2G by the Jggestion of the whose members rt covering this lone on certain lot at that time decided to take 'ter consultation 0 the National conference with . i. 10:50. The lended that the ematic study of y investigations an of being the t a good profit, a for some time to utilize their Union of South creasing quantilovement being n 192D and has na and Canada comparatively r, the grade of r-equenlly made 1 1913 Canada 19c of its dollar ; value to o39f. 10:10, although bestos products search Council .tatives cf the nd Quebec de- ASSOCIATE 10MMI7ULS partments of mines. The first .meeting-of'this committee was held in Thetford Mines on June S, 1930. One of the chief technical problems of the industry arises from the fact that there is no easy assay or analytical method for asbestos, such as exists for gold, silver, copper, or any other single element obtainable from mineral deposits. Chemically, asbestos is almost identical with the rock in which it occurs; its value depends chiefly of. *fls peculiar physical structure nnd properties. The case is still further complicated by the fact tbat fibres of different lengths vary greatly in value. The asbestos grading method in common use consists in screening under controlled conditions on screens of standard dimensions. No matter how carefully this operation is carried out, however, the results vary. Compressing asbestos for shipment results in compacting the material to such an extent that the buyer, upon screening it after shipment, obtains a lower test than did the seller. As a result the purchaser finds it necessary to "sweeten" his shipmentswith long fibre asbestos to ensure that they will be up to the desired grade upon reaching their destination. Some dependable tests are urgently required, and the committee accordingly agreed to undertake as one of their first problems, an investigation of possible methods of standardization of tests. Another problem is the utilization of asbestos of intermediate and short fibre, especially the latter, of which large additional quantities could be re covered by the mills if there were a demand for this grade. Certain uses for the short fibre asbestos have already been developed where its unique properties make it of value, but most of these applications involve the utilization of only small tonnages. What is required is the large scale application of asbestos in important industries. Problems in milling were also discussed by the committee, but it was agreed that these should be left to the industry for the present, since im portant improvements in milling practice have already been made. At the second meeting of the committee held in Ottawa on March 4. 1031. the President of the National Research Council reported that Mr. D. Wolochow, who had had extensive experience in scientific research on cement, had been secured to work under the direction of Dr. G. S. Whitby in the National Research Laboratories and he had already been some months at his task. Tests were being made on standardization and new uses of asbestos, and leads being obtained might prove of commercial importance. In connection with standardization it was reported that there had been formed under the auspices of the Quebec Bureau of Mines a Committee on Uniform Classification and Grading of Asbestos Mines Products. It wa agreed that this committee should be represented on the Associate Com* mittee on Asbestos and that an exchange of minutes should be made i*i order that each committee might be fully informed of the other's work. The committee considered the situation in regard to asbestos being brought into America from Russia. It was agreed that it was essential to secure a comparison of asbestos from Russia and Canada, and it was sug gested that ibis be done by having authoritative tests carried out in com mercial manufacturing plants under the supervision of the staff of the