—E——E CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ENGINEERING LIBRARY TN 490. AGG78 1919 The mineral iii of the Briti il empi MN i lil 3 1924 004 677 849_—, IMPERIAL MINERAL RESOURCES BUREAU. THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WAR PERIOD. ANTIMONY. (1913-1919.) LONDON: . PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE, To be purchased reba any Bookseller or directly from HM. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: IMPERIAL HOUSE, KINGSWAY, LONDON, W.0.2, and 28, ABINGDON STREET, LONDON, 8.W.1; 37, PETER STREET, MANCHESTER ; 1, ST. ANDREW’S CRESCENT, CARDIFF; 23, FORTH STREET, EDINBURGH ; or trom E, PONSONBY, LTD., 116, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN, 1921, Price 1s. Net. ® C7. Bar Tmpee tat Iysritvre , ontdon), IN ¥90 7G G78 Pa79 p49e07 PREFACE. The following digest of statistical and technical information relative to the production and consumption of Antimony will constitute a part of the Annual Volume on the Mineral Resources of the British Empire and Foreign Countries. In the first publication, an effort bas been made to fill in, as far as possible, the hiatus due to the war in the publications relating to mining and metallurgical statistics. Labour, health, and safety statistics have been omitted owing to the difficulty involved in procuring reliable information for the war period, but in future issues these statistics will be included in respect of each year. Resort will also be had to graphical representation of statistics of production, consumption, costs, and prices. The weights are expressed in long tons, that is to say, the “British statute ton of 2,240 lb., and values in pounds, shillings and pence. R. A. S. RepMaYNeE, Chairman of the Governors. 2, Queen Anne’s Gate Buildings, London, $.W.1. December, 1920. (31342) Wt. 28187 56/589 L0G 2/2) HH. St. G. 36 CONTENTS. GENERAL tee WORLD’S PRODUCTION ... ad ae te BRITISH EMPIRE : United Kingdom Rhodesia Union of South Africa Canada ‘sé se ies India... Australia FOREIGN COUNTRIES : France Italy... Spain Algeria ie aa Mexico United States Bolivia Peru... Asia Minor China Japan REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE PAGE “9 14 14 15 18 19 21 23 w (24 24 25 26 28 28 29 29 30 31 GENERAL. Antimony is a brittle white metal, having a specific gravity about 67. It melts at 630° C., and volatilizes at about 1500° C. The chief, antimony mineral is stibnite or antimony glance (the sulphide), which occurs as compact or coarsely crystalline masses in lodes or veins nearly always associated with eruptive rocks. The chief oxidized minerals are the sesquioxides, senar- montite and valentinite. Of the numerous complex sulphides containing antimony the more important are jamesonite, pyrargyrite, and tetrahedrite, which are frequently found in silver-lead ores. Antimony lodes are usually simple in character with no con- siderable extension either in depth or along the strike. The average width of the lodes at present worked does not much exceed about a foot, and few lodes are as much as a yard in width. Unless, therefore, the ore is associated with gold, silver, or some other mineral of economic value, it does not form a satisfactory basis for extensive mining operations. The minerals usually associated with antimony ore are arsenical pyrites, galena, ‘copper pyrites, iron pyrites, and ores of gold, silver, and mercury. Gold is so frequently associated with antimony that the ore should always be assayed for it. Antimony ores occur occasionally in the form of bedded layers or lenticular masses, as for example the layers of oxidized ore mined at Djebel- Hamimat in Algeria. When prepared for market, antimony ores should be as free as possible from such deleterious impurities as lead, copper, arsenic, zinc, and bismuth. The limits allowed are 0°1 per cent. each of arsenic and copper, and 0°2 per cent. of lead. The ordinary metallic antimony of commerce is known as “antimony regulus.’”’ Liquated antimony sulphide, which is produced by heating the sulphide ore to « red heat sufficient to melt the material without decomposing it, is known in the trade as ‘antimony inatte,’’ ‘‘ crude antimony,’’ or ‘‘ needle antimony.’ ‘‘ Star metal ’’ or “‘ star antimony ”’ is the highest grade of refined antimony, the best brands containing 99°6 per cent. of the metal. “‘ Antimonial Jead ’’ is obtained during the process of smelting certain lead ores containing antimony. Pure antimony metal is little used in industry; in powdered form it is used to give a steel-like polish to articles made of pottery, and various articles of a decorative character are made from the metal. Antinony readily forms alloys with most of the heavy metals, and these alloys are widely used. Alloyed with tin and lead it finds extensive use in the manufacture of type metal, the antimony imparting to the melt the property of expanding on cooling, thus producing a very sharp impression on the cast. The nunerous forms of antifriction metals are alloys of antimony with varying quantities of tin and copper. Britannia metal, which is used in the manufacture of cheap table ware. is an alloy of tin, antimony, and copper, containing from 5 to 10 per cent. of 31312 A8 6 antimony. There are many alloys of industrial utility manu- factured from varying proportions of antimony, lead, copper, zinc, and tin. During the war a large amount of antimony consumed by every belligerent nation in the manufacture oF shrapnel bullets, which are hardened by the addition of from. 12 to 15 per cent. of antimony. Manufactured antimony compounds are of considerable com- de is used in the ceramic mercial importance. The tetroxi _the ¢ industry for making opaque white enamel. The trioxide, known as antimony white, is used as a pigment. Other pigments are antimony vermilion, a red trisulphide of antimony ; antimony yellow, produced by the slow oxidation ot the sulphide ; and antimony blue, produced by mixtures of the above with other minerals. Antimony sulphide is used extensively in the process of vulcanizing rubber. Before the war, the smelting and refining of metallic antimony was in the hands of a few English firms, notably Messrs. Cookson and Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Cookson’s brands of metallic antimony have been accepted throughout the world as a standard of purity. The firm of Wha Chang, of Changsha, China, have long held an important position as owners and operators of antimony mines in Hunan and smelters and refiners of antimony metal. During the war this firm was able to con- solidate and extend its operations, and now holds a commanding position in the Hast. For the following table giving the average yearly price of anti- mony metal, crude antimony, and antimony-sulphide ore for the period under review, the Bureau is indebted to Messrs. Cookson and Co. Average Prices of Antimony. Year. Antimony metal. | Crude antimony. solgblle a Per ton. Per ton. eee £os. d. £os ad. s. d 1913 a8 ee 2910 0 1215 0 3 0 1914 ie as 36 10 0 14 5 0 301 1915 sad ate 97 10 0 62 12 0 9 11 1916 a sid 101 0 0 68 38 6 8 11 1917 ren 8 0 0 43 0 0 8 7h 1918 as ag 84 11 8 52 0 0 8 10 1919 as eee 45 8 0 36 0 0 8 0 WORLD'S PRODUCTION In the year 1918 the chief antimony-producin i : China, France, Mexico, Italy, and Australia. Peete wae China has long been the chief producer of antimony ore During the period under review, great improvements ae a in the methods of mining and smelting antimony ore in China The industry was consolidated, and the output of crude, regulus, 7 and refined antimony greatly increased. -As long as there remain in China extensive mineralized areas where high-grade antimony ores can be obtained from shallow and easily worked deposits, it is probable that cheap labour will enable China to retain the position already secured in the worid’s markets. France continued to produce all the antimony required for domestic consumption, and was able to continue exporting the metal with very little reduction of pre-war tonnages. Mexican mining suffered severely by the civil war and sub- sequent disorders, and very little antimony was produced between the years 1914 and 1917. With the advent of more settled con- ditions in 1917, antimony production again equalled the output for the year 1913. Italy greatly increased her production of antimony ore, the output rising from 1,793 tons in 1918 to the record total of 6,404 tons in the year 1916. Within the Empire, both Victoria and New South Wales showed large increases in the tonnage of antimony ore mined, and both Canada and the Union of South Africa produced con- siderable quantities of ore and concentrates. Stimulated by the high price ruling for antimony, a large num- ber of deposits were worked in the United States, but with the fall in the price of the metal most of these undertakings were compelled to close down and very little antimony ore was raised in America during the year 1918, and there was no production in 1919. During the war, Bolivia exported considerable quantities of antimony ore, chiefly to England, but nearly the whole tonnage shipped was obtained from numerous small deposits worked by the Indians in a primitive and wasteful manner. As long as the market price of antimony remained in the vicinity of £90 per ton, it was worth the while of European traders to finance the Indians and buy the ore they produced at a high price ; but as soon as the price fell the Indians abandoned antimony-mining and returned to their former occupations. In normal times, the supply of antimony has always kept well abreast of the demand, and unless some new use is found for the metal, there does not seem much future for any new antimony mining operations on an extensive scale. 31342 A 4 ‘giqeyteat you ere ‘Aoyxmny, pur ‘eiqzeg ‘AreSuny{-eiajsny Jof sound “IvM-oq} Furnp pasted uoyonpoad ynq ‘gEST UI sttoy gy poonpoad ye8nqyzog ‘Auowryue peonpoid eaey Aoyiny, pur ‘eiqaeg ‘esnyr0g ‘AavdunFZ-eiaysn VY ‘o[qey sIq} Ul pouoUsM sat4yUNOD ay} 0} UOTIppe ay | sqrodxq s ¥86 8r9'9 T19/0T IL1'8 ae 13 — ee ee ee saad : #802'2 PIPT 087, = a ee a esses GlncBee bn ol OT 3138 €68'G1 OLP'rE 060'2% 886'66 GEE'6I BeR'e1, |“ ~ peuyer paw suse ‘opnip OLG LP 86L'E * 6LG'TT gF9'T 268'F ae |e (anise curgg 186, 398, 68S‘ 997, = = oo. oO. ee. ee ee ed aIL'9 766.62 G96'9% GE9'LT 81 19 a1Q Jo syrodxg : eratjog = ee oe he ee, CaaS cat ee ex | ee | ie | fee] f= GS ag 0 PRA rad zee aoe me nat sre wee | eee aso aaaeee #GZ 0'8 Tg1‘6 LE'LT 8216'S 668 €Lg eet ee ag ee a1Q : eLEsTy —— 6L ; ¥67, L0G 968, are = see see ee aes eee "310 > uredg 9 Ste’ 969° r0r'9 196'F 9r9 S6LT of tes ong: Apeay regi 968'2 686% 860'T £99 orp |" * 849 Jo yuequoo dnomHUy 698'6 OFT‘6I 18L'81 192°9 19€'¢ poses fe a1Q : eouRIy G6a'T 699'T EL8°S 880'F 610'F GLY‘S Grse Of BARBIZUBOMIOD pue IQ | BIPeTSNY 9 — I€l 0F0'T &I = tea ae bas bee eae aoe eee ao : BIPUT 7 66E 06L L6I'T _ _— 28 “+ goqedjUeoN0D PUR 2IQ : BEpeUED 63 vOr 3e9 GH9 08 = €h "ss g1Q : BOLIFY GINog Jo Toray — ST €I rE = _ _ es ie ci ‘19 : BISepoyy Uleqynog = b 3 v v = = shoes" Tea: Wopsary, pyran, “6161 “S61 "LI6I “9T6T “ST6T "PI6L ‘e161 *(su0} SUOCT UT) thuowmmup fo uoyonposg $,p]4oM 9 BRITISH EMPIRE. United Kingdom.* There are no important deposits of antimony ore in the United Kingdom. In the year 1915 a small parcel of 24 tons of antimony ore valued at £59 was obtained from Cornwall, and one ton of antimony ore was obtained from Ireland in the year 1918; other- wise there was no production during the period under review. A little metallic antimony is obtained during the process of treating Cornish lead ore, but the total production is very small. In the year 1915, 4 tons of metallic antimony were produced from all sources, a similar amount was produced in 1916, 2 tons in 1917, and 4 tons in 1918. During the war, lack of shipping facilities made an increased production from domestic sources highly desirable, and exhaustive investigations were made by the Department for the Development of Mineral Resources in the United Kingdom with the object of opening up fresh sources of domestic supply. One of the occurrences investigated was that formerly worked at Clontibret, County Monaghan, Ireland. It is not recorded that this mine made any contribution to the antimony supply during the period under consideration. The increased demand for the metal was met by increased shipments from South America. Before the war, antimony ore was imported chiefly from Australia, China and Turkey, but Australian shipments were greatly reduced ‘during 1917, and practically ceased in 1918. Very little antimony ore was imported from China later than 1915. Great Britain has long held a leading position in the antimony smelting industry. The imported ores are smelted and refined in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Manchester, London and elsewhere, and the products hold a world-wide reputation for purity. In addition to antimony ore, a considerable quantity of crude antimony and regulus is imported from Mexico and China, but the Mexican supply ceased on the outbreak of war, the deficiency being made up by increased shipments from Japan. * Mines and Quarries : General Report with Statistics, Part III., by the Chief Inspector of Mines (Annual). Annual Statements of the Trade of the United Kingdom. 10 96F' LPT | S8F'89S | LT'LGS] PEL‘'6E8 | GE9'srS | 092'06| seg‘go} TEs‘ | 216'8 | gae‘6I | 9¢2'Te| 69G'zz| 6LI'6| gOg's]" = TVLOY, ; : ‘SOIT? 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LOL'8e 66108 o1e't OEL'E aaitt | FLOP _ gers __ PR'TE 919‘er LE2'F | Ogle a69'OL ag Line £9€'T 9963 *6 | 20 — — = | Gar'GZ — ests FLO oer — = GPo'r E1668 166 6eI'T ee i 1ar'P G09 = O18'F css a = ings — = = 4 aug‘ GLE L6 gest OFS (9G Ro oe eS ge «| peat | moet ,_euet, | eggtte | Ge ora, te 9g RE'T ZGI 8% _— GL = | ae — OgT'L | ore | eeg'te = a 4 “(F) onyea, re 9L GgT G13 896 6FI a! ae | ‘|g, | 98% _|_¢09 9F1 9¢1 261 T Be L a g = — — ao = 96 &% 9 - oes 81 PSE SF 8h 6¢ 6 = 09 _ = | — — _ — — — cg 61 I &% Gt 6LT _ = _ SI TOT 0g egg € = 7 GT G = — ¢ an — a 66 0g €&§ =, = “6I6T “SI6T “LIGT “9T6T ! "SI6T | "PI6L "E161 *(su04 Suoy) 444Uend Oo, ‘(gonpotg ublasog pupo poiudjog9) » Wopbury payugQ ayy worl (snjnbay pun apnip) fiuowyup fo sqsodxq 14 Rhodesia.* ' Antimony ore is widely distributed through the central part of Southern Rhodesia, more particularly in the Gatooma and Lower Gwelo districts. Other areas known to contain antimony lodes are Hope Fountain near Bulawayo, Umniati, and Belingwe. The ore occurs either as lodes of non-auriferous stibnite, or as minute crystals of that mineral disseminated through the schists. As far as they have been explored, these deposits have not proved of any value as a source of antimony ore. During the latter part of the period under review there was a small production of auriferous and argentiferous stibnite. from some of the gold mines where mining operations have disclosed pockets of this mineral. Phe ore from these pockets is hand-picked and concentrated for export. Production of Antimony Ore in Southern Rhodesia. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£). 1916... eh ts ee 34 662 1917... ee as eu 13 330 1918... ae Js: 13 338 1919... an 5 Oss = = Union of South Africa. + In the Union of South Africa considerable hopes have been entertained that the antimony ores known to exist in many parts of the country may prove the basis of a profitable mining industry. In the Murchison Range in the north-eastern Transvaal, there is a well defined mineralized belt carrying many lodes of auriferous stibnite upon which two mines, the United Jack and the Monarch Hill, have been working antimony ore during the period under: review. The high price of antimony during the last few years stimulated enquiry into the future possibilities of these deposits, but the results obtained from examinations carried out in the Murchison Range were not encouraging, and the United Jack shut down. The Monarch Hill is the only mine now working antimony ore in the Union. The company smelts its own ore, the product being sold locally for the manufacture of white metal. * Annual Reports of the Secretary of Mines, Southern Rhodesia. Reports of the Rhodesian Chamber of Mines. f Annual Reports of the Government Mining Engineer for the Union of South Africa. Annual 15 ‘Production of Antimony Ore in the Transvaal. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£). 1913... ae oie es 43 182 1914... ss - oe —_— — 1915... ie es ee 80 2,105 IG a ea .. 645 15,292 1917... one as ... 632 12,428* 1918... a 3 .. 104 2,589* 1919 “ a 29 556 * Value of 551 and 88 tons respectively. Canada. t The chief antimony-mining region in Canada is Hants County, Nova Scotia, where the ore occurs as an auriferous sulphide in veins cutting a formation of grey slate and quartzite. The vein- filling is composed of slate, calcite, and quartz, and the veins vary in width from a few inches to seven feet. The workings in the principal mines have attained a depth of over 600 feet and most of the high-grade ore has now been extracted above that level, but there still remains a large tonnage of auriferous second- grade ore averaging from 12 to 14 per cent. antimony. The ore is conceiitrated at the mines to 38 to 45 per cent. antimony and shipped chiefly to England. The only other deposit of any importance is that worked at Lake George, New Brunswick. The ore is a very pure stibnite passing into native antimony in depth. The output from the mine_is smelted and refined locally. During the period under review an occasional shipment of anti- mony ore was made from the Alps-Alturas property near Sandon, B.C., and from the Wheaton district, Yukon Territory. In addition, a little refined antimony was produced at the smelter of the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company at Trail, B.C., during the process of smelting certain of the British Columbia. silver-lead ores which contain antimony as a minor constituent. From the year 1910 there was no production of either anti- mony ore or refined antimony in Canada until the sudden rise in antimony prices early in 1915 enabled Canadian mine owners to produce again at a profit. Prosperity was, however, short-lived, for by the end of the year 1917 Chinese ordinary brands were selling at 7}d. per Ib., at which price Canadian production be- came unprofitable. Before the war between 60 and 70 per cent. of the crude antimony and regulus imported into Canada was obtained from Great Britain ; the United States, Germany, Belgium, and France + Annual Reports on the Mineral Production of Canada. Annual Reports on the Trade of Oanada. 16 supplied the balance. The outbreak of war stopped further sup- plies from France, and imports from Belgium ceased in the follow- ing year. The deficiency was made up by increased imports from the United Kingdom and the United States. 2 During the period under review the yearly imports of antimony salts into Canada averaged about 16 tons, the larger part of which was used for medicinal purposes; in addition, small irregular shipments of antimony salts used in dyeing were received from the United Kingdom and the United States. Exports of Antimony Ore from Canada (Domestic Produce). Fiscal Years ending March 31. Quantity (long tons). To 1913 | 1914 | 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 United Kingdom | — — 296 829 555 312 = United States... | — _— 4 126 44 283 50 Mota sex |e | _ | 300 | 955 | 599 | 595 50 Value (£).* United Kingdom | — — 3,809 | 14,097 | 7,044] 4,314 — United States ... | — — 309 | 2,195 | 1,672] 4,785 1,754 Total ..] — — 4,118 | 16,202 | 8,716 9,099 1,754 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 1 dollar = 4s, 2d. ‘PZ Sf == AR[OP [| JO apes aq} ye Surj1948 F 0} poyIoauoo sonjea » “6161 KIGT -(su0} Buop) Ayxqueng ERESI OF LT £9G'LZ saan'ag G9G'FE etcot | earl ae eee 1VLOL £8631 TLL'G FLE‘GS COP FG ece'9 60C'T | LEVP 4 “+ golmjUNOH UsE1OT [VIO], = 6FOTT O61'S O1g Tt BUS 0106 | 982 es aardung qsTig [890 66¢ —_— —_— fas — manne aon wee wee nee ueder BLT'T ae 968 | =e te 101 = ica ave Sy ave wate Bulyy) 909‘0T TLLG BLETS CHF TS alee 600'T RTT eC ae ‘ 22 89781 party Ma a ae = ae Sel FUG nas wins aouvly — _ _— _— ERG Ore 6SL ee vee wee wmnispogq — eeneit — fone sata ae gLy oe one eae Auewiex) = a =e aa — 0Ce | = ote su0y su0 = 6F9'LI 061'¢ OIG TE GIG LE aye § 9gate a “ mopSuryy pay Lilsbe, eee 2 ie oe (F) Onfe A 61E 20% 99% gge 689 sor | FE en ea WLOL, 612 99 £06 FGI 661 0g SPI “* selrqunog udIed0g [240], i bs i oe I¥1 Ge o&F 09g BSE | 1g@ enidwug ysiptag [810], 6 — a =. — — a o oe eee aoe ane uvdey cZ a al _ _ ; | = wa. Jia! ek Was MEE e044 SBI 99 161 FGI FOL 1€ | 08 eo UGE ene Ste soqeqyg poyruy) ee as oe ee ee ¢ Or : ee ne aouedg aoe ae a: a & ot | 96 a ey UIMISTag —s _— —_ — —_— — 1@ oe eee aoe eae Aueaiias) ? Te _ S = g ra ie a“ gu0y Su0y — FI 6s EF, 09¢ | E96 TSS *o oo mopsury peyay) | “LI6L | “QI6T “GIGI | ‘FI6I | "ET61 mol “‘ppoung Te Yow buipua ssvax wos 07 (painzovfnuv py asinaayjo 10 paziwuaamng ‘punosy jou) sninbay fuowszuy 420 ‘fuowyup fo spaoduy AS » Sis 18 Imports of Antimony Salts (Tartar Emetic, etc.), into Canada. Fiscal Years ending March 31. Quantity (long tons). From 1913. | 1914. | 1915. | 1916. | 1917. | 1918. 1919. United Kingdom ... _ 2 10 — = —_ Germany ... sacs 7 1 4 _ _ =! = United States... 18 7 18 7 19 6 16 Total Foreign Countries 25 8 22 7 19 6 16 Toran ae 25 10 32 7 19 6 16 Value (£).* United Kingdom ... 38 57 703 7 33 53 —_— Germany ... ii 458 33 499 — — = = United States .. | 1,019 354 | 1,752 713 | 2,867 | 1,280 | 2,841 Total Foreign Countries | 1,477 387 | 2,251 713 | 2,867) 1,280 | 2,841 Toran we | 1,515 444 | 2,954 720 | 2,900 | 1,333 | 2,841 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 1 dollar=4s. 2d. India.* Antimony ores are known to occur at a number of localities in India, particularly in Mysore, the Punjab, Lower Burma, and the Shan States, but the deposits that have been opened up have proved either too small or too difficult of access to be of much economic importance. Stimulated by the high price of antimony during the war period, a small quantity of antimony ore was produced from workings situated in the Amherst and Thaton districts of Lower Burma. Stibnite deposits were examined during the years 1917 and 1918 by officers of the Geological Survey of India, who reported un- favourably upon the Shan States ores, but seemed to consider that the Thabyu deposits in the Amherst district offered a reasonable prospect of remunerative working in spite of the unfavourable situation of the locality. Liquated antimony sulphide is sold in Indian bazaars under the name of ‘* surma,’’ for use as a cosmetic. The only recorded pro- duction of antimony ore during the period under review was 13 tons in 1915, 1,040 tons in 1916, 131 tons in 1917, and 6 tons in 1919, the greater part of which came from Lower Burma, and the rest from Mysore. * Records of the Geological Survey of India. 19 Australia.* Antimony ores are known to occur and have been mined inter- mittently at many localities in Australia. Only from the States of Victoria and New South Wales was there any regular output during the period under review. In New South Wales the chief centre of antimony mining is in the Hillgrove division of the Peel and Uralla mining district, where the ore occurs chiefly as antimonial gold sulphide. The problem of reducing this complex ore has not as yet been solved in a satisfactory manner, with the consequence that some ore rich in antimony and gold cannot be treated for its full value. The only important producer of antimony in the State of Victoria is the Costerfield Mining Company, at Costerfield, where the concentrates produced contain on an average 47 to 50 per cent. of antimony and 23 oz. of gold per ton. Occasional shipments of antimony ore were made during the period under review from both Queensland and Western Australia, but the total amounts were not important. (Queens- land 193 tons in 1915 and 192 tons in 1916. Western Australia 21 tons in 1916.) Practically the whole of the antimony ore shipped from Australia during the period under review was exported to the United Kingdom for treatment. Production of -\ntimony (ore and metal) in New South Wales. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£). 1913. he ae ots 18 407 1914... sn ee wai 36 464 1915... bus ee 637 12,519 © 1916... a wi .. 616 13,334 1917... oe sas .. 801 3,738 1918... a sd .. 358 3,155 1919... an ; sci Si* 2,342 * Metal. Production of Antimony Ore and Concentrates in Victoria. Quantity treated. , Concentrates produced. Year. e Ore Tailings , Quantity Value | (long tons). | (long tons). | (long tons). (£). 1913... si ies 6,151 3,693 2,527 31,424 1914... a si 7,600 3,370 2,439 29,350 1915... oe aes 11,113 2,387 3,189 49,320 1916... et aah 12,382 _— 3,259 77,275 1917... ae sae 12,052 — 2,572 58,489 1918... 08 sii 2,960 — 1,201 24,020 1919... 1,208 24,160 * Annual Reports of the Department of Mines, New South Wales. Annual Reports of the Secretary for Mines, Victoria. Annual Reports of thy Under Secretary for Mines, Queensland. Annual Reports of the Department of Mines, Western Australia. Trade and Customs and Excise Revenue of the Commonwealth of Australia (Annual). 20 Imports into Australia of Antimony (Star), Antimonial and Lead Compounds, viz., Type Metal, Linotype Metal, Antifriction and Plastic M etals. Fiscal Years ending June 30. Value (£). From 1914-15.| 1915-16.} 1916-17.| 1917-18.) 1918-19. United Kingdom... Pas 14,213 16,005 7,832 2,906 7,712 Canada ... soe 303 — _— 9 _— Straits Settlements aa _ — 186 _ as New Zealand... 25 —_ 4 _— = Other British Countries... _— 57 _— _ _ Total of British Countries | 14,541 16,062 8,022 2,915 7,712 Belgium ... a5 aay 183 — _— _ _ United States... Se 185 509 597 1,095 3,430 Japan... 32 159 8,002 1,715 1 "770 Other Foreign Countries _ — 28 _ _— Total of Foreign Countries 400 668 8,627 2,810 5,200 TOTAL ... ‘be 14,941 | 16,730 | 16,649 5,725 12,912 Exports from Australia of Antimony (Star), Antimonial and Lead Compounds, viz., Type Metal, Linotype Metal, Antifriction and Plastic Metals (Domestic Produce). Fiscal Years ending June 80. Value (£). To 1914-15. | 1915-16. | 1916-17. | 1917-18. | 1918-19. United Kingdom... bee 5,174 7,135 893 — 8,970 New Zealand... wn 12 495 686 610 473 Straits Settlements j _— _— _— 105 = Fiji Islands as ae 11 — 221 5 = Other Pacific Islands aes 1 a 16 aes ach Other British Countries... _ — 61 = 66 Total of British Empire 5,198 7,630 1,877 720 9,509 Japan ais ate ie _ 25,161 —_ = aa Russia : “35 _ 10,779 16,127 —_ = Bismarck Archipelago thls — 3 44 = Rae Other Pacific Islands... 1 1 —_ 1,729 29 Other Foreign Countries _ _ — 60 1,313 Total of Foreign Countries 1 35,944 16,171 1,789 1,342 Toran .. «| 5,199 | 43,574 | 18,048 | 2,509 | 10,851 | 31 E.rports from Australia of Antimony (Star), Antimontal and Lead Compounds, viz., Type Metal, Linotype Metal, Antifriction and Plastic Metal (Foreign Produce). Fiscal Years ending June 30. Value (£). To ! 1914-15.| 1915-16 | 1916-17.| 1917-18.| 1918-19. | United Kingdom a 175 — —_ — — New Zealand aio ate 100 30 135 272 — Fiji Islands sisi ibe 144 198 281 104 — Other Pacific Islands... 22 22 82 _— — Other British Countries... ' 87 —_ 53 — 6 Total of British Possessions| 528 250 551 376 6 Bismarck Archipelago ... _— 136 65 an Ne es Other Pacific Islands... 9 57 12 — _ Kaiser Wilhelm’s Land ... — — 26 — — Other Foreign Countries- — — a 70 — Total of Foreign Countries 9 193 103 70 — Tora. ay se 537 443 bd4 446 6 FOREIGN COUNTRIES. France.* Before the war France was the largest producer of antimony ore in Europe. The greater part of the domestic supply has long been drawn from the district of Rochetrejoux in Vendée, and from the famous La Lucette mines in Mayenne, where the ore occurs in veins traversing Silurian quartzites and schists. The ore mined is an auriferous stibnite associated with gold-bearing iron pvrites. In the Central Plateau there are many important deposits of antimony ore, notably in the districts of Freycenet in Puy-de- Dome and La Licoulne in Haute-Loire. In these districts the ore occurs in vertical lodes carrying lenses of stibnite almost invariably containing iron, the average thickness of the lenses being from 6 to 12 inches. In La Licoulne there are four groups of important antimony lodes, namely, those at Mercceur, Montel, Valadu, and La Licoulne. At Mercceur the stibnite occurs in quartz lodes cutting granite and gneiss formations, and forms shoots and lenses up to 12 inches in thickness. The deposits at Montel have not been opened up to any considerable * Annuaire Statistique. Le commerce de la France (Annual). Statistique de Industrie Minérale en France et en Algérie 1914-1918. 22 extent. Those at Valadu, cutting ancient slates, carry @ high percentage of silver. a There are many other districts where antimony lodes occur, but the veins are mostly too irregular to allow of continuous mining operations. . During the war a new smelting and refining plant was erected at Pont de Vivaux, near Marseilles, to treat the increased ship- ments of antimony ore received from Algeria. Production of Antimony Ore in France. Ore Antimony content Year. (long tons). (long tons). 1918 oe se .. 20,564 4,400 1914 ee ass ki 3,361 663 1915 id hy oa 6,251 1,098 1916 is os w=: 18,781 2,989 1917 is wee =: 19,140 2,895 1918 a i on 9,859 1,634 1919 is a Production of Antimony in France. Metal Oxide Year. (long tons). (long tons). 1913 sa ste ie 6,287* 1914 os fe _ 1,520 808. 1915 ee ey 2,788 897 1916 i SA se 4,324 1,485 1917 er as ea 4,461 1,461 1918 ope se se 2,028 1,369 - 1919 . Exports of Antimony from France. Quantity Valuet Year. (long tons). (£). 1913 sa >a to 9,149 61,040 1914 e ee 1,933 54,960 1915 i Se oa 982 59,880 1916 wa oe ve 2,915 266 ,640 1917 Bo wy ve 1,556 140,560 1918 ves = as 994 89,360 1919 fs ae uae 619 — * Antimony metal and oxide.’ + Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 25 francs = £1, 23 Imports of Antimony and Antimony Ore into France. Antimony. Antimony Ore. Year. se * | Quantity Value* Quantity Value* Cong tons). (£). (long tons). (£). ‘ I 1913... sae si 160 4,800 — — 1914... a sais 23 680 = a is 126 ~6©| ~~ 7,680 a i 1916... te a 180 11,040 10,526 222,520 1917)... is si 829 65,920 13,445 284,200 1918... es fe 214 =; ~—= 18,720 1,983 41,920 1919... ind i 108 1,836 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 25 francs = £1. Italy. t Before the war the whole of the antimony ore produced in Italy was obtained from mines situated in the Iglesias district of Sardinia. The great demand for antimony for military use coupled with the high price of the metal stimulated antimony mining in Italy during the war period. The main supply of antimony ore continued to be drawn from the Susuergin and Corti Rosas mines in Sardinia, but many mines on the mainland which were abandoned when the price of antimony was under £30 a ton were again opened up and became profitable producers, notably the La Selva and Cetine di Cortorniano mines in the Siena district of Tuscany. The grade of the Italian ores appears to be low, the average percentage of metal during the period under review ranging from 20 per cent. antimony during the earlier years down to 15 per cent. in the year 1917. No gold or silver values have been reported in the Italian antimony ores, which under normal conditions appear to be of little or no economic importance. In the valley of Soana di Campiglia, in the Ivrea district of Piedmont, there are extensive deposits of sulphide ores carrying antimony, lead, iron, copper, and silver. The principal ore mineral mined in these districts during the period under review was a variety of jamesonite. Analysis shows 34°22 per cent. antiinony, 40°21 lead, 362 iron, 21°27 sulphur, together with small amounts of copper, silver, and gold. Associated with the jamesonite is tetrahedrite rich in silver. + Revista del Servizio Minerario (Annual). 24 Production of Antimony Ore in Italy. Quantity Value* Year. (long tons). (£) 1913 ie a has 1,793 4,492 1914 ne as oo 546 1,493 1915 ou i es 4264: ® ~~ 98,827 1916 xe - a 6,404 39,731 1917 ae ae oes 5,696 32,623 1918 Ba a he, 3,315 19,636 1919 Ae 25 400 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 25 lire= £1. Production of Antimony (Regulus, Sulphide, and O.ride) in Italy. Antimony (regulus). Antimony sulphide. Antiniony oxide. Year. : Quantity Value* | Quantity Value* | Quantity | Value* (long tons). (£). (long tons). (£). (long tons).| (£). t 1913 70 | 1,562 5 75 —_— — 1914 133 3,468 © 3 42 — _— 1915 473 41,623 66 2,144 — — 1916 606 67,690 33 2,070 10 600 1917 478 51,940 35 |; 2,880 13 1,040 1918 290 | 38,200 66 : 5,360 5 400 1919 — — 10 800 = a ; | * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 25 lire = £1. Spain. A little antimony ore was mined in Spain during the period under review, but the output rarely exceeded 500 tons during any one year, while during the years 1913, 1914 and 1919 there was no production. The larger portion of the antimony ore mined was shipped to the United Kingdom for treatment. . Algeria. Extending throughout the whole length of northern Algeria, from the Moroccan to the Tunisian border, there exists an exten- sive mineralized zone in which the ores of lead, zinc, copper, antimony, and mercury occur. The principal deposits of antimony ore are situated in the province of Constantine, about 20 miles north-west of Ain Beida, near the Constantine—Ain Beida railway. They occur in the form of irregular bedded masses principally at the contact of limestone and a bituminous marl. The ores are oxidized, and very little stibnite is found in them. During the war the high price of antimony metal greatly stimulated production, and a large number of abandoned work- ings were re-started, the ore raised being shipped to France and smelted and refined at Pont de Vivaux, near Marseilles. The 2o following is an analysis of a ferruginous, oxidized antimony ore, mined during the war period at the Hammam mine, near Bona :— Per cent. Antimony ... ee si 443 .. 43°0 Zinc eo iA es oy m0 2°0 Lead is Sa Baas ss ne 14 Arsenic... Pag oa on Yas 08 Iron Ba! on Rs hs = =19°5 Silica we os ae it ots 12 Lime 35 Production of Antimony Ore in Algeria. Quantity Antimony content Year. (long tons). (long tons). 1913 es ee is 573 1914 oi es hie 899 359 1915 ba Sai aes 5,978 1916 fa st ig LT,872 1917 bes as if 9,131 1918 ses sey Sas 3,082 696 1919 ue a ney Mexico. Antimony ores occur in many parts of Mexico, but in the year 1913 antimony mining was confined to the States of San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Durango, and Oaxaca. The chief mines operating at that time were situated in the Catorce district in the State of San Luis Potosi. The ore mined was chiefly antimony oxide, of which the greater part was shipped to the United Ntate: for treatment. There was only one smelter treating antimony ore in Mexico. The plant was equipped for the production of impure antimony, of which material 2,345 tons were shipped to England for further refining. In addition some antimonial lead was obtained during the process of refining the silver-lead produced from the silver-lead ores smelted in the country. Turing the civil war very little mining work was possible, but now that more settled conditions in Mexico seem probable, antimony production may be increased, as both American and English capital are engaged in developing Mexican antimony resources. Exports of Antimony from Mexico. United States { ! To England : on Conde and | fen Eas) ear, regulus ——— (long tons). Ore. Metal. | i 1913 | 2,345 | = = 1914 1,543 < 5 1915 — | 464 = 1918 = 1,196 a 1917 = | 1,585 705 1018 — ! 1,294 2,375 1919 United States.* Prior to the war no antimony ore was mined in the United States, the production of antimony being confined to that con- tained in antimonial lead, and small quantities recovered in the electrolytic refining of copper. The increased demand for antimony during the earlier years of the war stimulated antimony-mining in the United States during the period under review. A number of deposits hitherto unprofit- able were opened up and worked in New Mexico, Alaska, California, Nevada, and other States, and many new smelters were-erected for the smelting and refining of antimony metal. Nearly all these mining operations were upon a small scale, and were only carried on during the period 1914-1916 when prices for antimony ruled exceptionally high. The rapid decline in prices, which commenced in August, 1916, ended most of these enter- prises, and only 170 tons of ore containing 45 tons of metallic antimony were produced in the year 1918. Most antimony producers in the United States consider that a price of 10d. to 1s. 03d. per Ib. for the metal would be required to give ore-prices sufficient to make the mining of domestic antimony ore profitable at the costs prevailing in 1918. It is probable, however, that antimony-mining in the United States could be undertaken if a price of 8d. or 84d. per lb. could be assured over a considerable period. In addition to the domestic production, the United States imported increased quantities of antimony ore and metallic antimony from China, either direct or vid Japan. Considerable shipments of ore were also obtained from Bolivia and Mexico. Very little ‘‘ hquated antimony ”’ (i.e., antimony matte, contain- ing not more than 10 per cent. of lead), was imported into the United States, the whole of the importation of this material being obtained from China. On the outbreak of war considerable quantities of metallic antimony were shipped to Canada to meet the demand for shrapnel bullets and other munitions of war. During the entire period of the war nearly the whole of the exports of metallic antimony, or regulus, from the United States was absorbed by Canada. * Annual Reports on the Mineral Resources of the United States. Production of Antimony in the 27 (In long tons.) United States. Secondary By-product anti- Mine production | Smelter production of | 824!™0RY |monial lead produced of antimony, metallic antimony (a). | #84 49 | trom both domestic eat OF and foreign ores. Year. |— pecondary altoys Anti- | From | From neeeree 3 Anti- Ore mony | domestic} foreign | Total. alloys, Quantity.| mony content.| ores. ores. scrap, and content. dross. 1913... _— _ — —_ _— 2,415 | 14,879 2,239 ia | gaca| save — | — | — | aro] 20735 | 358 1916 ..| 4018 | 1580} — | — | — | 4,000) 21,462] 3,121 1917... 946 348 230 | 1,948 | 2,178 4,429 | 16,648 2,463 1918 ... 170 45 113 | 2,223 | 2,336 4,666 | 16,580 2,291 1919 ... _- _ —_ (b) b) 12,388 1,735 (a) Not recorded prior to 1917. (b) Only two smelters reported production in 1919 ; figures cannot, there- fore, be published. Antimony Imported and Entered for Consumption in the United States. : Liquated antimo Antimony ore. watehides ny Year. ; Quantity ee Value*™ Quantity Value* (long tons). (long tons). (£). (long tons). (£). 1913 2,554 1,792 28,617 3 87 1914 » 1,599 1,120 14,863 44 834 1915 2,227 1,379 69,193 — _— 1916 7,000 4,127 223,404 _— — 1917 9,003 5,207 209,767 711 26,804 1918 3,003 1,272 37,027 744 23,595 1919 887 365 11,349 248 4,000 Metallic antimony. pa other Year. Quantity Value* Quantity Value* (long tons). (£). (long tons). (£). 1913 5,579 166,371 879 24,410 1914 5,853 153,421 1,225 65,625 1915 6,566 554,340 378 27,540 1916 6,307 739,272 217 22,882: 1917 10,077 589,408 9 1,118 1918 12,510 638,671 16 2,480 1919 6,392 212,831 113 1,901 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 1 dollar = 4s. 2d. ws Wo Exports of Antimony from United States of America (Foreign Produce). Matte, regulus, or metal. Quantity Value Year. (long tons). (£).* WA ~ we be ae 715 44,118 1915 ad a ee 1,405 163,910 1916 es nh on 1,347 158,551 1917 es iy on 442 35,262 1918 ie ee 630 34,305 1919 i oer Less 191 7,065 * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 1 dollar = 4s. 2d. Bolivia.* Bolivia is capable of supplying large quantities of antimony. In the province of Potosi there are many extensive mineralized areas carrying antimony-ochre and stibnite. Very little scientific mining is carried out on these deposits and there are no large antimony-producing mines in the country. Mining operations are left entirely in the hands of the Indians, who, when the price of antimony is high, search the mountains for high-grade antimony lodes which can be easily and cheaply worked under very primitive conditions. Before the war the production of Bolivian antimony was insignificant, but when the great demand for antimony to satisfy war requirements raised the price of the metal, activity among the Indian miners was very greatly stimulated. After the break in antimony prices, however, antimony-mining became less profitable and the supply of Bolivian ore was greatly curtailed. Nearly the whole of the antimony ore produced in Bolivia was shipped to England and the United States for treatment, but the large percentage of galena in much of the ore exported consider- ably reduced its value. Exports of Antimony Ore from Bolivia. Quantity Value* Year. (long tons). (£). 1913 ot aa Z 61 993. 9400 183 2,449 1915 as bees .. 17,635 1,073,788 1916 — ea ... 26,255 1,323,559 1917 sa ae .. 29,994 1,360,449 1918 ek sine Meg 6,712 * 331,312 1919 sie set its * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of 12.5 bolivianos = £1. Peru. + Antimony ores are known to occur in many provinces of Peru and were worked to some extent during the period under review, * Comercio Especial de Bolivia (Annual). + Estadistica del Comercio Especial del Peru (Annual). 29 but antimony-mining as an industry has never received much attention. In the province of Huamachuco there are important deposits of ores containing lead, antimony, iron, zinc, and a little copper ; these ores are argentiferous and contain up to 80 oz. of silver per ton. The province of Santiago de Chuco possesses numerous deposits of antimony ore, notably at Santa Rosa, where the ore carries 31°9 per cent. of antimony, 2°5 per cent. of lead, and a high silver value. Mining is carried on in a primitive manner for the silver content of the ore only. Asia Minor. Turkey has long been an important producer of antimony ore, but mining operations are for the most part carried out in a waste- ful and extravagant manner by primitive methods. The chief antimony deposits worked are situated in Anatolia, in the vilayets of Smyrna and Brusa. The Brusa deposits are situated east of Gedis on the south-west slopes of Kysil Dagh, the ore mineral being stibnite. Mining operations are carried on only during the summer and autumn months. During the winter the opencast workings are snowed up, and work is then abandoned. Antimony sulphide is mined in the Smyrna vilayet, principally in the Chinlikaya mine, situated about 60 miles south-east of Smyrna. The ore occurs in veins and stringers cutting crystalline schists. Deposits of smaller value are worked in Demikapar and Ivrindi. China.* In the provinces of Hunan and Hupeh there are extensive deposits of high-grade antimony ore, but it is only within the last few years that scientific methods of mining and smelting have been employed in China. Much of the ore is still obtained by individuals working rich lodes until either the depth of the excavations or water troubles prevent further operations, when the workings are abandoned and a fresh excavation com- menced at another point. The ore thus won is sold to local dealers who transport it to Yiyang or Chang Sha, where it is smelted in primitive furnaces, the residues after liquation con- taining from 20 to 30 per cent. of metal. The Wha Chang Mining and Smelting Company occupy the leading position in China as producers of antimony ores, and it is due chiefly to the efforts of this company that China was able to supply the demand for antimony metal during the war. The greater number of the mines of the Wha Chang Company are situated in the province of Hunan. The ores mined are remarkably pure, the antimony content averaging about 58 per cent. There are no gold or silver values in the ores, which are smelted at Chang Sha in modern smelting and refining works. The great demand for antimonv ® Chinese Maritime Cuscoms Trade Retorns. 30 during the war stimulated production. Many new deposits were opened up as a consequence, and considerable additions were made to the smelting plants. Exports of Antimony from China. Quantity (long tons). 1913. | 1914. | 1915.) 1916. ia 1918. | 1919. Antimony ore ... | 4,281 | 4,892 | 1,645./11,579 | 3,798 473 570 Antimony: crude, ‘ regulus, and refined | 12,822 | 19,329 = o a = oa Antimony regulus... — — |21,367 | 10,306 | 14,587 | 14,155 | 6,110 Antimony crude ... — — 1,921 | 11,784 | 19,823 | 1,678 | 2,102 Japan. + Very little antimony ore is now mined in Japan or in the Japanese possessions, but the smelting of antimony ore and the refining of crude antimony has long been an established industry. On the outbreak of war Japanese merchants were quick to realize the position, and large quantities of antimony ore and crude antimony Were bought by Japanese agents in China and shipped. to Japan for treatment. During the period of active Russian participation in the war, a large part of the metallic antimony produced in Japan was shipped to Russia, but when the collapse of Russia took place and the probability of American intervention in the struggle became imminent, Japan was able to divert to the United States a considerable proportion of the available sur- plus formerly absorbed by Russia. Japanese Production and Exports of Antemony. Production. Exports. Year. Quantity Value* Quantity Value* (long tons). (£). (Jong tons). | (£). 1913 is 21 457 1,573 46,805 1914 sis 32 523 4,241 111,746 1915 si 8,171 818,999 8,488 770,742 1916 it 10,611 856,551 8,828 947,653 1917 aod 6,548 317,117 14,016 844,142 1918 eet 384 17,931 1919 axe * Values converted to £ sterling at the rate of Yen 10=£1. + Annual Reports of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. 31 REFERENCES TO TECHNICAL LITERATURE. Reports on the mineral production of Canada (Annual). Records of the Geological Survey of India (Annual). 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