Document aDaxqX6EDgE6XYyy7pyXmRDJb

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT ! HAROLD L. ICKES, Seec BUREAU OF MIN JOHN W. FINCH, Direc MINERALS YE 1937 Complied under the eupe H. H. HUGHES Economic* and Statletlee UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING WASHINGTON 19 For sale by the Superintendent of Document*, Wash N49762 LEAD1 I By Ei.MEn W. Pe h r s o n a n d i n> SUMMARY OUT Page ~al summary......................................................... 171 ant statistics......................................................... 171 dr In lead consumption................................ 173 dstlo production................................................... 174 ~U1 production..................................................... 174 iinary lead................................................................ 174 . Refinery production................................................... 174 ' Source of primary load....................................... 176 ' AntimonleJ lead..................................................... 176 Secondary lead........................................................... 170 eed pigments............................................................ 177 dine production....................................................... 177 * 179 Domes New Cons Foreign Impo Expo Techno World a Intern World Worl Revie The lead industry made further stride atked recovery in industrial activity. rices were substantially above those in 1 `as made in liquidating the huge sto epression. In short, the industry enjo 'feature of 1936 was the notable increa vering and building, although impro "1 lags far behind that in other importa oit'eni statistics of the lead industry in the Un \ ' 198B-86, in short 1925-29 (average) 1932 .ductlon of refined primary lead: 1 From domestic ores............. .................... From foreign ores and base bullion.. 060, 575 < 248,91 123,104 33,02 783,629 > 281,94 every of secondary lead: /As pig lead........................... In alloys.................................. 126,600 163,400 128,00 70,30 280,000 108,30 `U1 production of pig lead (primary and seoondary)........................................... "ports; * Lead Id base bullion.................................. . `'Lead In ore..................................................... . xports of refined pig lead............................... ' rued primary lead available for con* sumption.............................................................. 'boated consumption of primary and -ndary lead.................................................. . oes: tNew York: rt Average for year *1 cents per pound.. _ . Quotation at end of year...do.... * London average.._______ _______do___ Ine production of recoverable lead........... ggld smelter production of lead................. 910,229 65,747 40,096 98,048 i 690,916 900,260 7.47 6.26 6.87 664,230 1,860,000 409,94 13,46 21,00 23,61 < 264,88 416,7 3.1 3.0 1.8 292,9 1,279,0 1 Revised figures. t Data for 1934-36 Include lead Imported for immediate con der bond as do figures for earlier years. , Subject to revision. . "^Thls report deals primarily with the smelting, refining, a 172 .MINERALS YEARBOOK, 10R7 Virtually all gains in 1936 were made in the second half of the year. From January to July domestic shipments failed to maintain the level established during the closing months of 1935, and in consequence stocks increased. Despite this, however, the price advanced from; 4.50 cents a pound (New York) at the beginning of the year to 4.60 cents toward the end of February. This quotation held until October. Beginning in July demand became stronger not only in the United States but in Europe, where speculative buying in anticipation of the^ enormous rearmament program announced by the British Govern ment was a leading factor. London prices reacted immediately, but,; the New York quotation did not advance appreciably until the last of October. Although New York prices rose sharply during Novem LEAD . *. . fjefand did not necessarily constitute a s ^pe. appreciation. Moreover, these exc lie to the industry early in 1937, as the ipreventing exorbitant prices, which m ye been detrimental to the industry in t V)u,tside. the United States recovery ov sumption was not so pronounced. F pefion, increased 23 percent, whereas th `'*ppnt.; Consumption likewise was 20 p i^tes and only 7 percent higher elsewh pression levels, however, domestic co Considerably, being approximately a third t was 12 percent above. The more favo as due to the smaller stocks held abro farted, cessation of supplies from Spain 'ireatened curtailment elsewhere on acco y Trends in lead consumption.--Figure pad consumption from 1929-36 with that * e. general index of industrial activity. I ber and December London prices rose faster, and by December ex-<r: ceeded those in New York for the first time since the World War. The differential between London and New York moved from 1.20 cents per pound in favor of New York in June to 0.03 cent in favor of London in December. At times during December it would have been profitable to export domestic load to Europe, but apparently little or no lead was exported. At the close of the year quotations were 6.03 cents in New York and 6.21 cents in London. Domestic shipments, exceeded production during the last half of the year by 60,000 tonsf Figure 26 shows trends in the domestic lead industry from 1900 to' 10A36t- the end of 1936 stocks of refined lead on hand in the tUt nited States totaled about 165,000 short tons, or approximately a 3-month' supply. Although this is considerably above normal, price move-* ments in the latter part of 1936 showed that the stocks were strongly S?^27-TrX.rnd3lD the consumption of copperJead, and line c tptivity, 1929-36. Indexes shown for Industrial activity oorap onxumption data from American Bureau of Metal Statistics ., . . . qustnal activity and zinc consumption ad and copper consumption. Zinc co .tivity in 1936 were 92 and 88 percent fcals whereas lead and copper consumpti ei-1929 averages. The more favorabl arily to the fact that most of the o jj$s, production of which has progress ^perity. On the other hand, lead and rable goods, and the hesitancy with whic ..^w plant and equipment has retarde "cularly in the utility and building field -6 effect of slow recovery in the utility "umption of lead is shown in figure 28. Misively in the communications field a t important uses for lead. In 1929 it r -(23,percent) of the total lead consume &Ad, however, was the hardest hit of , rig industries during the denression 174 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1037 declined to 31,400, and since then has increased to only 61,400 tor most of the advanc.o was credited to 1936, in which yoar cable coveri consumed 10 percent of the total. The uso of load in building likov has slumped severely--from 96,000 tons in 1929 (10 porcont of th' total) to 22,000 tons in 1932 with asubscauont rise to only 40,000 to' in 1936. Consumption of lead for all other purposos, which includ pigments, storage batteries, ammunition, foil, alloys, etc., has im proved surprisingly; the tonnage used in 1936 was 81 percent of thi 1929 total. These purposes took 84 percent of all the lead used ` 1936 compared with only 67 percent in 1929. Obviously, howeve full return of lead consumption to predepression levels requires suv stantial improvement in the building and utility fields. r =i Fio u h k '28.--OnmiMirison of trnnrts in consumption of lend In cable covering, building, end other uses wi total load consumption, 1929-30. JJnta from A/norlcan Utirouu of Metal Statistics. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Refined pig lead produced in the United States is derived from thr main sources--domestic ore, foreign ore and base bullion, and second ary materials. The following table lists the production from each o these sources from 1927 to 1936. Total pig lead produced in the United States, 1927-36, in short tons Yoar From do mestic ores and base bullion From for eign ores and base bullion From secondary materials Total* 1927.. 1928. 1020.. 1030.. 1931.. 1032.. 1033.. 19.34-. 1035.. 1030.. 008.320 026,202 072,498 573, 740 390, 200 i 248,917 249,713 299,841 310.605 387,698 128,210 154,869 102, 135 09, 293 52, 504 33.024 13,063 11,395 14,055 11,458 119.000 138.000 138. 500 129.000 128,800 128.000 131.800 124.500 156.800 137.500 915, 919, 913, 772, 571, > 409, sas 481,!. 538,* 1 Revised figures. PRIMARY LEAD Refinery production.--Production of refined primary lead in 19$. increased 23 percent; it was equivalent to the production in 1905 bu was 49 percent below the 1925-29 average. The production of lea,' LEAD .ved from domestic ores increased abou 'uUcVVtiioVnU fnrvoumt foreign oOrIeVsJ and basei/u j v bUuUIlUliVo wa equ`iva'lent to on'ly 11 percent of` the 19 rly 3 percent of the total output of refine Refined primary lead produced in the Unite Productlon](sbort tons) Sources Desilver ized lead < * Soft lead 1 Total pro Desil Undesll- duction 1 verized verlted From domestic ores aDd base bul lion F fo .... .... ..... 483,622 896,094 263,919 189,707 165,791 186,468 192,544 239,944 55,666 45,678 40.456 <29,101 `12,307 22,744 35,233 47,462 235,34S 201,361 138,389 63,130 B6,678 102; 024 96,783 111, 750 774,633 643,033 442,764 < 281,941 * 203,676 311,230 324,500 399,156 672,498 673,740 390,260 248,917 240,713 299,841 310,505 387,698 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 ,06 load content of antlmonlal lead Is excluded (see p. 176), f DeeUverlzed soft lead Is excluded. Includes lead derived from Missouri ores and other nonargenllfero Barbed figures. Source ofi primary lead.--Of the total refine 'percent was derived from domestic ores a / ^Production from foreign ores decrea 1928 more than 128,000 tons of foreign b ted States' in 1936 such refining virtuall `ces of lead derived from domestic ores ar e Production. , : l primary lead produced in the United Stales, 19 Source 1929 1930 1931 1932 "tic ore.. . i ore: ;Austra)ia............ 'Canada.............. Europe..................... .. Mexico............... .South America... ^ther foreign...... "in* Meixbicaos.e..b.u..ll.io..n.:. louth America... I Total foreign. ? Grand total.. 672,498 573, 740 390,260 >248,917 6 9,499 23 16.807 3.285 61 29,075 3 14,369 41 14,949 3,470 1,610 34,348 3,816 43 6.420 2,299 9,076 22,254 30 3,797 4, 491 334 2. 631 10,464 21,747 61,295 21. 165 18,592 10, 353 30,072 178 11, 164 113 72.460 34,945 30,250 11,277 102,135 69.293 62,504 33,024 774,633 643.033 442. 764 >281,941 lavlsed figures. ntimonial lead.--Antimonial lead or ha roduct of the refining of base bullion, m this source is only a small part of the co 176 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 and some is produced by mixing metallic antimony with refined.p lead. Several lead-smelting plants opcrato on scrap materials oxclusiv Production data from such plants are summarized in the chapter Secondary Metals. A large quantity of hard lead scrap also is trea t at primary smelters and refineries, and the production of antimo lead at these plants is shown in the tablo that follows. Anlimonial lead produced at primary lead refineries, 1929-80 Year Trot UCtlOQ ( short ton f0 Antlm ony con* t ant Lead content by difference (si tons) From From domestic foreign ore oro From scrap Total Short tons From Percent domestic ore From foreign ore From scrap To 1020............... 1030............... 1031............... 1032............... 1933............... 1034............... 1035............... 1930............... 17,002 8,918 (<> ('> (') 0) (>) < 8,007 4,703 (>) ( ) (> 0) ( ) (') 17,675 11,080 c) ( ) c) <) ) 43,244 24,707 21,842 21,024 17,805 10,007 10,384 23,230 4.036 2,007 2,438 2,405 1,720 2,263 1,720 2,102 11.4 12.0 11.2 11.0 9.7 13.6 10.0 0.3 o) o) 3,028 3.577 4,158 5,001 4,685 7,442 8 1,003 1,400 701 330 401 696 hto 14,173 13.486 11,136 8,113 9.470 12,930 ft 1% IUt * Not rocorded. 1 RoKrogntlon discontinued. SECONDARY LEAD Recovery of secondary lead decreased 3 percent in 1936. Ret* of battery scrap for smelting and refining was 10 percent less than1935, and stocks of scrap were considerably lower at the end off year. As the output of domestic refined primary lead was 25 per*' higher, the ratio of secondary- to primary-lead production dec'"' from the record high of 87 percent in 1935 to 68 percent in 1936.fi lead consumption continues to increase, further declines in this may be expected, as additional supplies of the metal will have to co largely from the mines: Further details on secondary-lead produo'' in 1936 are given in the chapter on Secondary Metals. Secondary lead recovered in the United Stales, 1929-86 {Compiled by J. P. DuDlop] Pig lead (short tons)-- Total recovered Year At primary At second plants ary plants 1020................................... 1930................................... 1931................................... 1032................................... 1933................................... 1034................................... 1035................................... 1930................................... 05,350 48,135 43,774 33,011 41,632 33, 667 44,748 34,656 73,141 80, 865 85.026 94, 380 00,168 00, 043 112,052 102,044 Total Lead in alloys (short tons) Short tons Value Ratio donr refined mary* (per,! _ 138,500 120,000 128,800 128,000 131,800 124,500 156,800 137,500 ! 172,500 126,800 105,000 70.300 02,700 83,000 113,000 126,400 311,000 265,800 234, 700 198,300 224,500 208, 400 270.400 282,000 $30,186,000 25,580,000 17.367,800 11,808,000 16,613.000 16,421,600 21,632,000 24,186,860 LEAD iftflw LEAD PIGMENT d pigments manufactured in 1936 . an increase of 11 percent over 1935 Iwere derived from refined pig lead, o '4 percent, litharge 40 percent, red le 'ajnd orange mineral 1 percent. Su Je;are the principal pigments in whic dres!' ' -- ' Lead in pigments1929-86, by s 1i 1 J'. Lead In pigments from-- \tf Domestlo ore Metal Scrap Total 1 v 0,420 0,680 6,722 ' 4,032 248,067 100,182 100,328 127,318 2,427 080 710 202 260,613 107,657 172, 700 132, 612 Qdas also lead recovered in tloo oxide and leaded lino o Iplcmentsfrom foreign ore. MINE PRODUCT lihe- production of recoverable lead i je of 13 percent over 1935; it was j)25 to 1929. Missouri, Idaho, an "dal sources and contributed 30, 24, i. total production. Missouri's outp juri district contributed 108,422 ton /Jdaho's 16 percent, and Utah's 10 ifjjlfe district increased 11 percent a 151936 total. Among the minor prod Jifaiiand Colorado contributed larg Mt Production in Nevada and New j Kjjhat in 1935. Further details of p States can be found in the various S ft ,.i -' .>i- r wtonf.i.ii' i Ifii ,i i`!fi>ni 178 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 Mine production of recoverable lead in the United Slates, 1925-29 (average) a?, 1930-36, in short tons 1926-29 average 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1936 1939 Western States and Alaska: Alaska................................... Arizona................................ California............................ Colorado.............................. Idaho.................................... Montana............................. Nevada................................ New Mexico...................... Oregon................................. South Dakota................... Texas.................................... Utah.................................... Washington....................... Wyoming............................ Central States: Arkansas... Illinois......... Kansas......... Kentucky.. Missouri... Oklahoma.. Wisconsin.. Eastern States: New York............ Tennesssee........... Virginia................. North Carolina. 982 0, 743 2,070 30,112 141,610 18.871 9,807 6,730 6 21 21.1 Ml), 609 1,323 1,305 4,246 1,780 22,130 134,058 10,653 11,629 10,378 5 108 116,405 670 370.997 312.413 38 552 26,121 135 202,240 58.306 1,745 289, 137 63 248 12,910 101 190,032 23,052 1,537 237,633 } 4* 8,367 4.090 8,367 6f>4, 230 558,313 1,661 982 1,879 6.884 99,365 4,430 7,930 11,209 2 70,212 1,380 78 205 7,082 100,121 13,210 952 7,974 7,974 1,201 1,182 1,209 2,150 72,118 1,079 440 10,114 4 4 17 02,770 921 5 153,280 1,157 1,721 381 2,402 74,363 0, 582 2,303 11,043 6 3 58,088 840 159, 488 4 31 6,490 117,159 10,634 910 10 240 6,089 176 84,980 18,038 540 110,073 4,460 4. 460 3,116 292,968 I 272,677 840 3,439 412 4,218 71,324 10,005 10,991 9,365 21 300 58,077 291 1 169, 344 40 40 6,805 104 90, 493 16, 747 234 114,463 3,625 3,626 670 7,783 607 6,673 79,020 15,589 12,676 7, 289 30 4 622 03,610 103 3 193,439 A, > 19,1 ` 12, 5, 69, 219,1 38 430 10, 892 132 97,493 23,405 286 132,682 110, 26, 4.982 8. 331.103 >37$r i Subject to revision. Mine production of recoverable lead in the principal lead-producing districts of , United States, 1929-36, in short Ions District State 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 Southeastern Missouri Missouri................... 197,435 198,622 158,960 116,162 83,970 89,580 96,941 1 region. Coeur d'Alene region......... . Idaho......................... 141.558 129,311 97,771 71,505 73,926 70.331 78,290 Bingham.................................. Utah........................... 49,447 42,586 33,597 32,640 33,030 32,420 36, 293 Joplin roKiou............................ Kansas, Missouri, 74,143 30,972 21,403 18,131 25,137 24, 465 34,849 Oklahoma. Park City region.......... Utah........................... 42. 57C 30.875 17.308 12.653 11,657 12, 36C 13,180 Butte................................. 8, 239 2, 540 l 4,185 6.391 10,302 Kush Valley................... Utah........................... 11,751 10. 157 8, 773 7,222 6,916 5.594 4,907 Tlntlc................................ 44, 11.1 20,474 18, 427 9,842 6,433 6.715 5,833 Tybo................................. 1,991 3,622 4.083 107 4, 285 5,510 willow Creek................ New Mexico........... 5.720 6,431 7,563 6,449 7,075 6.143 5,162 Pfocho............................... 2.986 4.808 2, 892 74 1,026 4,644 4,055 Oro Blanco..................... (*) o 1,676 4,717 Son Juan Mountains.. 17,386 11.722 90S 792 906 1,651 2. 428 Contra!............................. 3,700 3,936 3,420 3, 621 3, 408 2,846 1,891 Ophlr................................. Utah........................... 25 18 13 2 87 1,349 2,392 Lcftdvllie......................... 6, 172 6,808 1, 47C 70 506 624 1,288 Eogle................................. 1,287 3, 489 771 1,521 2, 660 1,121 Banner............................. 2.938 929 385 77 857 Jack Kabblt................... 2. 430 1,464 240 14 221 930 849 Inyo County.......................... 070 1,711 1,705 1. 102 301 277 346 Upper Mississippi Vulley. Iowa, northern 1,530 1,637 952 610 540 234 286 Illinois, Wiscon- sin. Blsbee (Warreu)............... 1.02C 151 251 431 () 64 200 Pond d'Orellle................... Eagle County.................... 803 956 1,020 198 2,821 3,816 676 309 318 189 221 8 6' 155 Worm Springs................... Cedar Plains...................... 1,507 1,703 1,177 12Q 37 25 21 21 ( 33 :7 Barker................................... Dome..................................... 6, 137 4,671 1,87< 821 21 28 1 22 San Francisco.................... Utah ............. 691 1.883 436 42 Austlnvllle 1....................... (') (*) () 0) <) () 0) Metaline *........................... 32G 261 1.251 681 721 23 () St. Lawreuce Couaty . New York.............. (*> c) () (>) c) (0 i Data not yet available. i Bureau of Mines not at Ilhorty to publish figures. I KTrtf llalsil OPnrtwIlnB , ronlr LEAD Ftyu STOCK Stead stocks, as reported by the A Jtics, are shown in the following ta Khnial lead include metal held by a ifliers of secondary material who l refined in the United States and e ipluded. . ' stocks at end of year at smelters and r ` c in short 1929 1930 1 pig lead............................ 41,726 96,624 1 >nlal lead.............................. 9,360 7,723 51,070 103.247 1 6 In base bullion: At ameltera and refineries.......... " i transit to refineries............... I process at refineries............... / " IP..' 1 In ore and matte and In prooess nelter*................................... 8,313 7,116 16,089 31,518 28,299 6.171 4,261 14,368 26,800 28,697 110,893 168,744 2 ubstantial progress was made i ska of refined lead accumulated fr hand at the close of the year wa pplvCat the average rate of dome $ltM of 1936. Although stocks large quantity of metal available Iphd early in 1937 aided in preve in the speculative market reached iftually no published data are sheiUnited States. The British M topf the lead industry issued in (low (less than a 1.6-month su ia,.London price precipitated by first few months of 1937 indic rom plentiful. pit DOMESTIC CON Si iw'supply.--The following table ijfible for consumption from 19 ^ dipt take into account variatio Vjbave changed considerably duri ~y;d not indicate the true tren >d. The supply available fo 4Tt greater than in 1935 but wa e.!l925-29 average. As total c it in 1936, it is evident that m id'.by primary than by second '?)! 180 MJNHIlAliS YEARBOOK, 1037 Refined 'primary pig lead available for consumption in the United Stales, 1989 and' 1981-36, in short tons 1029 1031 1032 1933 1034 1036 IBMI Supply; Stock Id bonded warehouse Jan. 1.............. Imports.................................................................... Production.............................................................. 4,139 1,658 774,633 (>) 10 442, 764 0) 44 288,361 < ) 109 273,679 (0 283 311,236 0) 1,322 324,660 399, ID 780,430 442,774 288,405 273,088 311,610 326,882 401,746 Withdrawn; Exports *.................................................................. Btock in bonded warolwtiso Doc. 31............ 73,261 1,328 21,005 23,616 0) ( ) 22,836 <) 5, 009 0) 6,982 () \ 18,314 < > 74,670 21,605 23,610 22,836 6,000 0, 082 18,114 Supply available for consumption....................... *705,851 *421,109 *204,889 *250,853 *306,610 *318,000 383,4 Blocks of pigs, bars, etc., in bondod warehouse Included with base bullion. ' Includos small quantities of foreign load reoxported. * Revised figures. -- (8ce table on p. 183.) Consumption by uses.--Owing to the large return of secondary lead from lead-consuming industries, the total consumption of pig lead greatly exceeds the supply of new lead available. The following table; gives the American Bureau of Metal Statistics estimate of the total consumption of lead by industries, 1929-36. ' Lead consumed in the United Stales1989-36, in short tons Purpose 1020 1930 1031 1032 1933 1934 1935 White lead........................ Red load and litharge.. Btoroge batteries............ Cable covering............... Building........................... Automobiles.................... Railway equipment... Shipbuilding................... Ammunition................... Temeplate........................ Foil...................................... Roaring motol............... Bolder................................. Type metal...................... Calking............................. Castings............................ Other uses................ ...... 119,700 30.000 210,000 220,000 06.000 18,000 5,700 300 41,100 4,200 30,800 33.000 37.000 18.000 31,600 18,000 50,000 83.000 32.000 103.000 208.000 0171..000000 6, 200 600 33,300 2.700 26,000 20, 000 27, 000 16,000 21,000 12,000 40,000 77.600 18,000 167.000 317.000 400,.000000 1,000 400 20,700 2,200 20.000 12,000 20.600 14, 400 15, 000 7,000 30,000 64,600 32.000 138.000 66, 600 22,000 3, 600 300 200 23,300 1,400 1104..000000 14.000 10,800 10.000 6,000 22,200 59,100 38.000 147,000 31.400 26.000 6,000 200 100 32,300 2,600 22,600 11.400 10,000 11,000 12,000 6,000 30,000 64,600 42.000 103,000 36.200 30.000 7,300 1,100 200 34,800 11202,.,621000000 10.000 13.000 10.000 6,000 36,000 80,000 47,600 176,000 38.900 32.000 10.000 600 200 29,200 4,700 16.900 13.000 20.000 16,000 12,000 6,000 40,000 85, tOO 64*000 191,000 61,400 40,000 11,100 2,400 6,200 28,600 16,600 38 V 972, 300 768, 600 667,700 416,700 449,500 488,000 638,900 -J* i Source: Arnorlcan Bureau of Metal Statistics. These estimates are for the total consumption of let irrespective of whether Its origin be primary or secondary. Antimonial lead Is included. The total industrial use of lead increased 18 percent in 1936 but was still 35 percent below the 1929 record. Ail major uses increasi ' in 1936 over 1935, and percentage gains for cable covering and buildk showed up exceptionally well. Compared with 1929, however, th'ej^ two uses still lag far behind. The increased use of lead in foil was du| partly to greater use of lead-tin foil in cigar wrappings, for which it1 especially suitable because of its resistance to corrosion from the allt loids in the tobacco. The added resistance to corrosion and strengj of tellurium lead arc increasing the use of this alloy. ,. To assist the consumer in obtaining lead products of standard qir ity, the Lead Industries Association has adopted a Seal of Approval effective January 1, 1937. The seal is available to manufacturer* whose products meet the standards set up by the association for lead ninp loorl ft.rmtQ nn/1 Vwinrle LEAD ;i'>" PRICES ' Jl` : ' ' 11' The two major markets for lead in the |: and St. Louis; much of the lead produce T at prices based on quotations in these ma g tions are influenced to some extent by th > mg on the London market, so that the N If-the St. Louis price by as much as the ^0.35 cent a pound. b'The New York quotation for lead in , pound, an increase of 16 percent over t and 31 percent below the 1929 average o . of the year tho price stood at 4.60 cent flatter part of February, when it was ra | substantial increase in stocks during th If quent decline following active buying in , there was no further change in price u t shipments approached predepression av ('close of the year the price was carried ['domestic consumption at high levels, th |by shut-downs due to strikes at some mi jiharket in London. On December 31 \ highest since February 1930. |jf Average monthly and yearly quoted prices of lead 19Slf-S6, in cents pe Month 1034 8t. Now Louis York Lon- St. don Lou v January____ 1 February... \ March.......... 5 April............. nt- JMtinaey...................... frJuly.......... V AUguat......... ; September.. ; October........ ' November.. \ December.. Average. 3.90 3.90 3.90 * 4.05 3. 00 3.82 3.63 3.60 3.64 3.61 3.42 3.46 3.73 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.18 4.14 3. 98 3. 77 3. 76 3. 69 3.60 3. 67 3. 60 3.86 2. 66 2.61 2.63 2.66 2. 62 2.49 2. 43 2. 46 2.32 2.28 2. 32 2.28 *2. 46 3. 3. 3. 3. 3.8 3. 3. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 3. F * St. Louis: Metal Statistics, 1937, p. 399. Average daily Louis (open market), as reported dally In the American Me New York: American Metal Market, daily Issues. Pig le jztsent from West. gr London: Metal Statistics, 1937, p. 403. Average price of s B Statistics, converted to cents per pound at average e I* London quotations (n pounds sterling per long ton. as 14.2375; 1936, 17.6000. ilvThe London quotation for 1936 (U layeraged 3.91 cents per pound, the hig fential between New York and London i iound in favor of New York. Durin ipwever, the price advance in London New York owing to a more favorable st fql supplies from Spain caused by the civ 182 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 ment olsewhore on account of labor troubles. In consequence, ; London set the pace in the upward swing, and by December the London quotation actually exceeded the New York. At times tho differential in favor of London was high enough to make exportation from the United States profitable. On December 31, the London quotation was equivalent to 6.21 cents per pound, compared to 6.03 cents at New York. FOREIGN TRADE The foreign trade of the United States in lead consists largely of imports of ore and base bullion, which are smelted and refined in bond, and the export of this lead either as refined lead or in manufac tured products. Since 1927, however, this trade has declined. In 1936 only 23,615 short tons of lead in ore, base bullion, and refined and scrap lead were imported, compared with 161,389 tons in 1927; exports of refined lead decreased from 125,267 to 18,314 tons. During the same period lead exported in manufactures with benefit of draw back declined from 12,004 to 7,735 tons. Imports.--Total imports of lead in ore and matte, including imports for immediate consumption and entries for warehouse, increased slightly. Larger receipts from Mexico, Canada, and Peru were offset by smaller shipments from Newfoundland and Chile. Imports of base bullion virtually ceased, but imports of refined lend, which for several years were only a few hundred tons, increased to 2,590 tons in 1936. Total imports of lead decreased 2 percent and were only 20 percent of the 1929 total. Total lead imported into the United States, 1930-36, by classes, in short tons 1 Year Lead Id ore and matte Lend in base bul lion Pigs, bars, sheets, and old Total lead content 1934..................................................................................................... 39.377 20.888 21.001 5. 958 10,611 20.025 20,713 38, 630 32, 320 13, 402 1. 087 2.450 2, 092 312 209 44 109 233 1,322 2, 590 78,216 53,218 34,607 7,664 13,344 24.039 23,616 1 DiUu for 1931-30 include lend imported for immediate consumption plus materia] entering the country under bond, as do figures for earlier years, i Reclaimed scrap, etc. No Imports of pigs, bars, etc., were recorded for 1931. Total lead imported into the United States, in ore, base bullion, and refined, 1930-36, . by countries, in short tons 1 J Year nnndu Mexico New found land South America Europe Other countries Total 1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1939. 17.263 2,618 2,469 1,629 1,160 238 1,692 36, 721 38, 700 13,545 2,154 3, 270 9,786 10,601 9. 708 10, 698 3,357 6,837 3,956 22,472 2,171 2,811 1,486 6.455 6, 643 6,861 113 5,053 2,368 67 612 341 1.642 16 41 18 36 26 266 78,216 63,218 34,607 7,664 18,844 24,039 23,016 ] 1 Data for 1834-36 Include lead imported for Immediate consumption plus material entering the country under bond, os do figures for earlier years. . * Figures on imports and exports compiled by M. 6. Price, of the Bureau of Mines, from records of the Bureau of Foreien and Dnmestlo ncinmrw LEA . ''Total lead imported into the United Stales, in short Country 1930 ; Canada.................. Chile....................... 1 Mexico................... yNewfoundland.. Peru........................ h Sweden.................. Other oountrles.. I, 17, 267 3,313 16,341 831 1,636 39,377 Data for 1934-36 Include lead in ore and matte impo log the oountry under bond, as do figures for earlier y uf,.- Total lead imported into the United Stales, ,i.i short Country Mexico............. Peru........................ Other countries. 20,350 18,280 32,210 110 32,320 . * Data for 1934-36 include lead in base bullion Impor \. the country under bond, as do figures for earlier years Lead remaining in warehouses in the Uni [Stated in the form in which the m Lead In Lead in ore and base bul matte lion i 1930.. 11931.. 1932.. >1833.. 39,616 62.849 42,314 21.640 6, 642 6,343 3, 769 1,068 ` Pigs, bars, sheets, and old included with base bu Lead imported for consumption in th H- Year fW: 'I/.' Lead in ore and matte' Lead in base bullion Short tons Value Short tons Value 1930... 1931... .1932... 1933... 1934... 1936... 836... 16, 468 10.734 9.647 19,239 10,760 8,273 6,836 $1,461,360 1.104,191 863,135 1,164.093 668,658 258.964 226,668 10, 423 10,436 2,674 303 2,220 1,154 763 $1,127, 920 671,002 131,679 31,700 117,729 66,659 45,340 'ir-- I Classification aa follows: Jan. 1, 1929, to June 17, 936, "Lead In ores, flue dust, and mattes, n. a. p. f. 11 Reclaimed scrap, eto. No imports of pigs, bars, e 184 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 Miscellaneous products containing lead imported for consumption in the United Slates, 1930-36 Year Bobbin metal, solder, white metal, Aod other combinations contain* hiK lead Type metal and antimonial lead Gross Lead weight content (short toos) (short tons) Value Gross l.cnd weight content (short tons) (short tons) Value 1030..................................................... 1931..................................................... 1932..................................................... 1935..................................................... 1930..................................................... 1,390 906 468 310 128 334 530 $593,103 310 436,574 191 143.662 51 30.023 24 44, 209 67 112, 205 328 276 65 25 21 534 446 456 400 $32,934 479 1,076 36; 463 34,691 Exports.--Exports of refined lead nearly trebled in 1936, and Mexico { and Japan imported virtually the entire increase. Exports credited to Mexico, however, probably represent sliipments destined for other countries. Very little, if any, of the lead exported in 1936 was domestic metal. ; Refined lead 1 exported from the United Stales, 1930-36 Year Pigs, bars, and old Short tons Value Foreign lead exported in manufactures with benefit of drawback (short tons) Year Pigs, bars, and old Short tons Value Foreign lead exported In manufactures with benefit of drawback (short tons) 1930.............. 1931.............. 1932.............. 1933.............. 48, 307 21,005 23,610 22, 835 $3.604, 213 1, 241.881 1,089, 607 834,580 12,161 10.503 7, 220 6,508 1934 ... 1935 .. 1936.............. 5.909 0,082 18,314 $305,094 472,017 1,300, 032 7,472 8,995 7,735 1 Includes small quantities or foreign lead reexported. Refined pig lead 1 exported from the United States, 1930-86, by destinations, in short tons Destination 1930 1931 1932 1933 1634 1036 1936 COUNTRY Brazil................................................... Canada................................................ Japan................................................... Mexico.,............................................. Philippine islands.......................... 934 874 9 3.001 823 15. 053 40 22 543 7, 557 Other............................................. . 3fi4 9,330 CONTINENT 48, 307 -- North America................................ South America.............................. Europe................................................ Asia..................................................... 318 2.442 27.899 17,280 359 48, 307 226 1,382 68 318 82 17,301 171 13 400 392 3 145 1,204 750 132 224 1,344 20,219 13 112 476 () 84 154 113 320 0 21,230 6 300 641 21,866 23, 610 22, 835 "=~~ -- = = 435 1,903 795 18, 524 8 155 868 1,793 20, 700 41 730 6 22,053 21,666 23, 616 22,836 0) 476 21 4,464 21 109 608 6, 909 107 1,076 40 4,684 6,900 338 46 6,324 38 217 701 6,982 " 157 608 212 6, 946 (> 6, 982 1 Includes small quantities of foreign lend reexported. > Less than 1 ton. 796 44 6.628 8,049 223 123 443 18,311 8,281 1,021 133 8,865 : 12 18,314 LEA ^1);TECHNOL 11Mining.--The lead industry ad t.nechanical loading equipment. T IMissouri district are now virtuall {basis, and many lead and lead-zinc m Ifitates are equipped with mechanica Ikecently conducted bv the Bureau limich interest in mecnanical loadin jUrge potential use. ' Stope filling by means of a free urface through raises has been a ritish Columbia. Excess water i fltope. The mud is expected to set adjacent pillars. [jitMuling.--A total of 335,889 sh rates was produced in the United fri-State and "Wisconsin districts), [bfi Metal Statistics. The average ompared with 60.19 percent in According to Pallanch/ modern flo by :economic considerations and fr results are not justified under condit . eight rates, and prices. ' i A new edition of Flotation Plan fished in 1936. _ r* Smelting.--Of outstanding intere jurgy of Lead and Zinc issued ear factions of the American Institut Engineers. The book presents a itatus of lead metallurgy. !In reviewing the progress of lea loints out that increasing supplies ibme plants have so reduced the lea ullion has to be recirculated to dvantages of a larger number of emonstrated at Trail, British Co ,t Other plants. _ f A unique process for the simultane >y.! electrolysis of galena is being t Sommercial plant 300 tons of lead jsiilphur 99.5 percent pure have b onducted in what is described a he principal advantage claimed fo eliminates the sulphur-disposal p Processes used in the recovery of l ere described by Thews in the Ihemistry and Metallurgy. WORLD ASPECTS O International cooperation.--The ider which certain producers a U i - ---- * Plain, L. N., Berquist, F. E., and Tryon, F. O. four., ?oi. 138, no. 6, 1937, p. 241. " PaJlanch, R. A., Factors Governing the Separat let., vol. 17, no. 360, 1038, pp. 388-389. 210 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 193T version into electrolytic zinc. The Norwegian plant operated capacity throughout 1936. Zinc mining in southern Spain probab' has declined considerably. , U. S. <S'. R. (Russia).--Zinc production increased further in 193 Plans for a new smelter near Gloubokoie in the Altai district u reported to have been ratified, and at Kirovgrad in the Urals a pla is under construction that will treat annually 250,000 to 300,000 to of copper slag containing 5 to G percent zinc. Tho U. S. S. R. is no virtually self-sustaining with regard to zinc. 1 United Kingdom.--The smelter output of zinc increased 3 perc^' in 1936. The industry is supported largely on foreign ores, lmpor of which decreased from 152,000 long tons in 1935 to 130,000 in 193 The declino was mainly in shipments from Australia. As the loc smelting industry is inadequate for the needs of the country, lar imports of metal are required. Net imports were 174,000 tons' 1936 and 151,000 in 1935. Consumption increased 10 percent of 1935 and totaled 217,000 tons. 'e The Imperial Smelting Corporation, Ltd., tho only zino-smelt' company in the United Kingdom, operated its new vertical-reto plant at Avonmouth at capacity throughout the year. In Novemb the company announced that owing to losses sustained the Sea. Cftrew smelter had been shut down and that it also purposed clos' the Bloxwich plant, which operates largely on scrap. The compaij was active during 1936 in promoting a renewal of the cartel but [ sisted that it should be given preferential treatment in the Bri * market. Following the collapse of cartel negotiations in the latt part of the year, the company asked the Government for an incre" m the import duty on zinc. Such action, however, would have be difficult in view of the Ottawa agreement. Under a rocent trad treaty negotiated with Canada, the British Government is free1' impose a tariff on Canadian zinc, on which British consumers depen to a great extent. With the rising market at the close of 1936 and earl in 1937, immediate action in this respect seemed improbable. Earl in 1937 it was rumored that the Government was acquiring la quantities of zinc. 1 Yugoslavia.--Trepca Mines, Ltd., treated 600,200 metric tods of 6 in 1936, from which 78,100 tons of 50-percent zinc concentrates aiy 65,700 tons of 80-percent lead concentrates were obtained. The 0. averaged about? percent zinc, 9 percent lead, and 3.2 ounces of sily per ton. Tho declining zinc content of the ore in the lower levels, the mine accounts for a 15-percent declino in the production of z concentrates. The zinc concentrates are shipped to Belgium a France for smelting. Tho operations of this company were describ^ in detail in the September to December 1936 issues of Mining ai1 Metallurgy. lr f( ? t! LEAD AND ZINC PIGMENTS &V By El me r W. Pb h r b o n a n d SUMMARY OUT r*e &eral summary.......................................................... 211 'lUent statistics.......................................................... 211 Auction........................................................................ Kad pigments............................................................ EiAO pigments and salts......................................... "lumptlon by industries...................................... 213 218 214 216 bits lead.................................................................... Basic lead sulphate................................................... Litharge......................................................................... pad lead........................................................................ range mineral........................................................... no oxide...................................................................... 216 216 216 218 216 217 Consu Lead Lltbo Zino Zlno Zino RPraicwesm. Foreign Lead Zino p consequence of the greater demand atic tires, and storage batteries--a Justries--sales of lead and zinc pig Jccent over 1935 in both value and tonna mirages, however, sales were still 39 pe j||percent lower in tonnage, indicating t `he same extent as production. MUni statistics of the lead and zinc pigments in duotlon (sales) of principal pig* feats; yhlte lead (dry and in oil) short tons.. .Litharge........................... ........ do____ [Red lead..................................do____ Zino oxide............................. do____ beaded tine oxide............... do____ jtlthopone............................... do____ 6 of products: 'J lead pigments________________ 1 tlno pigments.............................. Total................................................... . rton received by producers: bite lead (dry) jltharge.. `sd Lead. no oxide _______ aded sino oxide. Jthopone vgb trade: * bad pigments: Value of exports. 'Value of Imports, tlno pigments: ' value of exports. . Value of Imports PL' Export balance...................... 2,636,000 Bport balance. 212 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 Lead pigments again fared better than zinc pigments. Total sal of lead pigments increased 22 percent in value and 16 percent quantity whereas zinc pigments increased only 5 percent in total valu and 13 percent in quantity. Producers of lend pigments receiv nearly $7 per ton more for their product in 1936 than in 1935, whil zinc pigments brought $6 less per ton. Trends in lead pigment quoL. tions during 1936 paralleled those of metallic lead, but prices of zip pigments did not respond to the sharp increase in the zinc quotatio Prices of the zinc oxides, for instance, were increased only 0.25 cent pe pound during 1936 whereas the price of metal rose 0.60 cent betw Junuary 1 and December 31. The lower sales realization on z! pigments in 1936 resulted from the drastic cut in prices put into eff the latter part of 1935 and the 0.25-cent reduction in lithopone pric in November 1936. The latter was prompted by a 1-cent cut in " quotation for titanium dioxide. Comparison of the sales of the white-lead pigments and zinc oxid to the paint trade in recent years reveals substantial gains in the use leaded zinc oxide. In 1932, total sales amounted to 105,529 sho tons, of which wliito and sublimed lead comprised 66 percent, ` LEAD 'AND ZING PIGMEN ide 21 percent, and leaded zinc o i>tal sales had increased to 194,762 Supplied 62 percent, zinc oxide 17 pe percent. For the same period the av lent increased from 23 to 27 perce ryler 1 has pointed out the rapid in figments and their expanding use in fie by lead and zinc pigments. Much o luring a period when prices of lead "Sren under these conditions titaniu m the standpoint of low-cost raw m jShrce of titanium, was considerably lecent sharp rises in lead and zinc p mre has been no appreciable chan Jayored the competitive position o ` e drop in the price of lithopone in arket was significant. Further in 686 suggests a record production of PRODUC . this report, sales of pigments and production, as no account is taken 'fcinning and end of the year. The eir own plants are included under The total value of lead and zinc pig 6 approximately $62,068,000 in 19 fi$5. The total value of all lead pig tot of all zinc pigments sold $27,8 icireased 22 percent in total value an l<ss of zinc pigments increased 5 per ["quantity. The average value per reported by producers, increased on Jpfv.york quotation for pig load incre epreased 7 percent in value per t B' b in the St. Louis quotation fo pigments.--Production of jeral, which declined only slight [^hite lead increased 22 percent bu j$2. .Production of litharge was 8 B^rly equaled the record output of UCh.increased 21 percent in 1936, w pduction of sublimed lead was 1 p hies of all lead pigments except w yler, Paul M. Trends In White-Pigment Consum >'* ' ' ttoquii jf)-- ` ilV 153336--37------- Ifi 214 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 Lead pigments sold by domestic manufacturers in the United Stales, 1936-86 1035 1030 Figment Short tons Value (at plant, ex clusive of containor) Total Average Short tons Value Cnt plant, ex-j elusive of container). Average Basic lead sulphate or sublimed lead: White............................................................. Blue................................................................ Red lead................................................................ Orange mineral.................................................. Litharge....................... ........................................ While load: 7, 672 727 28, 776 262 70, 030 $727, 004 71,082 3, 492, 141 47,616 8. 280, 330 In oil1............................................................ 68, 859 11,957, 171 $00 7, 631 $.303, 208 09 m 102, 505 121 34,806 4, 657, 322 189 248 48,106 KM 80, 210 o, ooo, ms 4,307,337 174 83i 032 14,200,617 S1l1l ;T1I 3/1 m126, 1 Weight of white lend only but value of paste. Lead pigments sold by domestic manufacturers in the United Stales, 1927-86, i.* short tons Year Whito lead Dry In oil Basic lead sulphalo or sublimed lead Red lend White Blue Orange mineral Litharge u 1927........................................................ 1929........................................................ 1029........................................................ 1930...................................................... .. 1931........................................................ 1032........................................................ 1034........................................................ 1935........................................................ 1936........................................................ 38, GG9 42,040 42, 159 32, 548 30,022 19, 040 24. 028 22, 600 27,972 34, 775 110. 02G 111,023 104,872 69, 602 00, 440 40, 728 48,364 60,105 08, 859 83, 632 13,482 10,002 15, 680 10,308 8, 790 5, 708 7,320 , 300 7. 672 7, 531 1,061 1,234 1, 234 1,219 896 649 626 008 727 891 39, 073 40,497 43, 021 32,941 25,853 18,880 21,088 20, 743 28, 770 34, 890 709 81,656 459 85,670 078 87,016 355 72,578' 282 212 6638,,8O0M0 231 01,103 234 06,783 252 79,0" 248 86,2 Mf Zinc pigments and salts.--Production of zinc oxide and leaded zinJ oxide increased 27 and 35 percent, respectively, in 1930, the output o the latter being the highest on record. The tonnage for lithopon represents a decline of 1 percent from 1935, due to a change in thtf. method of compiling statistics. Formerly the combined weights of standard-grade and high-strength lithopone were reported as total sales. Beginning with 1936 the total will include sales of standard1 grade plus the standard-grade content of the high-strength product! This change reduces the tonnage by the excess quantity of zinc sqF pliide contained in high-strength lithopone. Production in 1936, con^ piled on a basis comparable to former years, would show a moderate, increase in output over 1935. The Bureau of Mines is not at liberty1 to publish statistics on the new basis for past years. ' The 1936 tonnages were equivalent to the following percentages the 1929 outputs: Zinc oxide, 79; leaded zinc oxide, 149; and lithopone,1 77. Unit values of the oxides decreased substantially in 1936, and. that of lithopone was slightly lower. LEAD AND ZINC PIGMENTS A mj&inc pigments and salts sold by domestic manufactu poi i U':. Pigment or salt iii ' 1935 . Short tons Value (at exclusive tainer) - Total [Bine oxide ....................................................... Leaded zinc oxide1....................................... Lithopone......................................................... Btnoohlorldo, 50 B................................... Zlao sulphate.................................................. vi .. _______ . 99, 007 29,076 15(9',)486 7,108 $10, 237,953 2, 791, 808 13, 470, 274 () 324,606 Zinc G?lde containing 6 percent or more lead Is classed as le an |Z'ifnince pigments and salts sold by domestic manufactu ` `' in short tons Zinc oxide Lea zl ox gl927.. 51928.. |l929.. '1931.. J932.. 11938.. K1934.. 1i(1993365:.y. WT' ^Figures not available- 161,246 1G0,904 160,611 119,142 95,700 72,250 98,542 87,088 90. 097 120,800 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 4 CONSUMPTION BY IN ,lWhite lead.--About 95 percent of the Km'the manufacture of pamt. The tonn Il936 was 24 percent above that in 1935, 11929. Consumption of white lead in th |45Ipercent in 1936. '.slribution of white lead (dry and in oil) tales, Industry 1629 1930 1931 1932 taint............................... Ceram I os........................ i$$Mi Bl _____ 136, 626 4,246 0. 259 147,031 91,563 3,366 7,211 102,140 91, 832 2,648 2,688 67,368 63,39 1,76 1,51 66,67 _.. E.-.- Basic lead sulphate.--This pigment is [quantity so used in 1936 was 5 percen [percent below that in 1929. In 1929 o gBulphate were used in storage batteries, b [Large quantities of this pigment are u 'increase the lead content. Tn loan o n 216 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 used for this purpose by pigment producers reporting to the Bureau of Mines. This tonnage is not included in the accompanying stater, ment of sales of basic lead sulphate but is included in figures shown for leaded zinc oxide. It is the Bureau's policy to measure production of a plant in terms of final products. Distribution of basic lead sulphate sales, 1929-36, by industries, in short ions Industry 1929 1030 1931 1032 1933 1934 1935 1036 Paints................ Rubber.............. Storage batteries____ Other................. 13, 435 655 2. 327 307 16.814 0, 573 391 1, 101 456 11,527 8.311 173 697 605 9,686 6,089 77 195 296 6, 257 7,072 161 99 013 6,011 93 139 224 7, 915 ` 7,007 7.770 155 374 8,290 8,423 Litharge.--The Principal use of litharge is in the manufacture of' storage batteries, but this outlet has been affected adversely by the growing tendency of battery makers to substitute a black oxide or, suboxiuc of lead, which they manufacture themselves. This practice was begun in 1923, and by 1929 a total of 33,000 tons of the black oxide was being made. In 1936 one battery maker began 'the manu facture of litharge. In all, 40,832 tons of oxides were made at battery plants in 1936 compared with 34,146 tons in 1935. None of this is included in the Bureau of Mines statement of litharge production, i I Distribution of litharge sales, 1929-86, by industries, in short tons ! Industry 1936 | 1929 1030 1931 1932 1933 1031 1935 t Storage batteries........................................ Insecticides................................................... Chrome pigments...................................... Ceramics........................................................ Oil refining................................................... Varnish.......................................................... Rubber........................................................... Linoleum..................................................... Other...................... ........................................ (') 8,112 8, 6C3 3, 124 6, 051 322 10, 209 33, J73 0, 000 3, 286 4,080 12,028 (VJ8 4, 736 388 8. 180 31,005 7,608 3, 682 4, 121 7, 351 641 3,032 208 5,839 29,305 11,735 2.591 2.963 4, 703 1,360 1,921 109 3, 109 27, 327 11.126 3.973 6,438 0.070 610 2, 875 106 3, 668 30,024 12, 271 6. 162 fi, 600 7.011 111 2, 406 101 2, 082 30,007 14,000 7,356 6. 751 7,800 504 3,171 280 3, 207 38,700 14, M3 8,407 7,763 7,259 2,307 2,147 280 4,723 87,016 72, 578 03,890 68, 096 01, 103 08, 733 79,930 86,24| 1 Included under "Other." Not separately reported. Red lead.--The use of red lead in storage batteries and paints in 1936. increased 15 and 35 percent, respectively, over 1935. The quantity, used in paints nearly equalled tho amount used in 1929. Distribution of red lead sales, 1929-36, by industries, in short ions Industry 1029 Storage batteries........ Paints........ ................... Ceramics....................... 25,089 11,855 003 4,574 43,021 1030 IS, 908 10, 900 835 2, 202 32,941 1931 13,7U0 9, 250 811 2, 080 25,853 1032 10, 605 6, 389 467 1,369 18,880 1933 12. 049 7, 182 715 1, 142 21,988 1034 15, 987 8, 766 595 I, 395 26,743 1035 17, 657 8, 721 867 1, 531 23,776 1936 ' 1 ) 20,323 11,786 807 1,980 34,806 Orange mineral.--Sales of orange mineral decreased slightly in 1936, This pigment is used chiefly in the manufacture of inks and color pigments, and the tonnage involved is quite small. ; LEAD AND ZINC PIGMENTS AND Distribution of orange mineral sales, 1929-38. by Industry 1929 1930 1031 1933 Jor pigments... k manufacture. ........... Jit: 487 188 114 10 151 88 119 6 40 80 49 4 678 356 282 21 _ Zinc oxide.--Total sales of zinc oxide we 1936 than in 1935. All uses shared in the inc gs and textiles, which remained virtually In the preparation of exterior paints, manufa proportions of zinc oxide than formerly. Of t riW! made by the French process and 58 pe rocess, the same ratios as in 1935. The prop 'de made from scrap zinc was virtually the ver 3,000 tons of zinc oxide, not included i Irein, were used to make leaded zinc oxide I'included under leaded zinc oxide. ' Distribution of zinc oxide sales, 1931-36, by in Industry 1931 1932 1 47,072 31.357 4,695 3,171 8, 606 95,700 37,679 22,369 2,837 1,782 7,683 72,260 6 2 .. 4 9 id):,!". iI 'ntLeaded zinc oxide.--This pigment is used manufacture of paint. The quantity sold f ... 8(36 percent more than in 1935. The pre lead content in exterior paints is reflected in pleaded zinc oxide in 1935 and 1936. Som ^marketing a 50-percent leaded zinc oxide. T -^his heading includes approximately 2,400'to and over 3,000 tons of zinc oxide used by prod ^of leaded zinc oxide. irljffislribulion of leaded zinc oxide sales, 1931-36, pFFT-------------------------- '----------------------------Industry 1931 1032 1 rr.--:----------------------------.jPfclnts......................................................................... .Other.................................................... *'obi 18,292 38 247 14,072 . 26 207 18,677 ' 14,306 2 2 oi'Lithopone.--Sales of lithopone to the pai the'accompanying table, decreased slightly in latter years are not comparable to those for p previously mentioned. Comparable figures 218 MINERALS VEARUOOK, 1937 paint in 1936. The production of floor covorings and textilos rose1^ appreciably in 1930. Of the total for that year approximately 6,800 tons were used in coated fabrics and textiles and the balance in lino leum and felt-base floor coverings. This distribution includes an estimate for one producer who was unable to segregate sales under! these headings. Other items obtained in 1936 for which 1935 data': are not available include papor, 1,629 tons, and ink, 321 tons. Litkopone production capacity was reported at 230,320 tons per year in both 1935 and 1936. Lithopono is used extensively in interior paints, and in this field is now subject to intense competition from titanium pigments. 'b Distribution of lithopone sales, 1929-36, by industries, in short tons Industry 1929 1930 1031 . 1932 1933 1934 1935 ----- r\ 1936 Paints, etc....................................... Floor coverings and textiles... Rubber............................................. Other................................................ 160,804 37, 600 .7.176 10,829 206,315 126,076 23, 060 6,997 8, 336 164,066 119.440 20,780 6,833 5, 791 151,850 93, 465 17.601 3.956 0.040 121,067 106,995 18,472 5,078 10, 280 140, 831 114,472 14,81! 4,690 11,086 146, 606 124, 016 10, 440 4,436 10,990 --n- 122,461. 23.086 ` I.S08\ 7,865j 169,486 168, 310l Zinc sulphide.--Production of this pigment was reported by five plants in 1936; but owing to the fact that ono producer represents such a large part of the total, the Bureau of Mines is unable to publish statistics. Most of the zinc sulphide is mixed with regular lithopone . to make high-strength lithopone. ', } Zinc chloride.--The Bureau of Mines cannot report zinc cldoride, production bocause of the refusal of one of the largo producers to' supply reliable data. !* According to the Department of Agriculture, the consumption of; zinc chloride by wood-treating plants totaled 2,050 tons in 1936.k From a peak of 26,000 tons (solid basis) in 1921, consumption of zinci ' chloride in this field declined to 1,600 tons in 1934. The loss of this] market is duo primarily to tho fact that zinc cldoride is soluble in water and therefore is not as effective as creosote, its principal coirw' petitor, in preserving wood exposed to moisturo. From timo to time' various insoluble zinc preservatives have been -developed, but none has found a wide market. Recently a chromated zinc was introduced,*; but enough time has not elapsed to gago its effect on this market for" zinc. tv Complete data on sales of zinc cldoride in 1936 are not available, ; but returns received from producers representing roughly two-thirds. " of the total output indicate the following distribution of sales by uses in 1936: Percent Soldering flux............................ Wood preserving................... . 24 . 23 Dry-cell batteries........ ........................ 25 Vulcanized fiber................... _ 13 Oil refining.................... Others............................. - Percent 6;t 10,^ 1004 Zinc sulphate.--In 1935 and 1936 producers of zinc sulphate were asked to distribute their sales according to various industries. The results of the canvass are not very satisfactory because the distribu`4; tion was incomplete. Producers selling large tonnages to jobbersr were unable to classify sales of this type by consuming industries; DEAD AND ZINC PIGMENTS AN Qithe total 1936 sales (8,687 tons), 4,201 1 the rayon industry, 331 tons to electr Jue manufacturers, 124 tons to printers an tons to paint and varnish manufacturers; 3,5 break-down of the latter figure would arger tonnages for the various uses enum 'of zinc sulphate were used as a flotation .collected by T. H. Miller of the Bureau of M |AW MATERIALS USED IN THE MANU " ZINC PIGMENTS AND ,. p>Lead pigments and zinc pigments and s ^variety of materials, including ore, refine econdary materials, such as scrap and wa recesses. In 1936, 93.2 percent of the derived from pig lead and 6.8 percent from derived from secondary material. The pr in .1936 were 63 percent from ore, 22 perc ercent from secondary materials. Metal content of lead and zinc pigments 'produ 1985-36, by sources, in sh Domestic ore............. Metal.................... tannery material W. Includes also toad rccovored In tine oxldo find loaded tine ox ' Zinc ashes, sklmmlngs, drosses, and old metal. In tho following tablos tho sourco of the ture of each pigment and salt is given. P either directly or indirectly, in the manufa ed lead, and orange mineral and to a larg pl`basic lead sulphate. Zinc oxide is the 'terable slab zinc is used. Ore Is emplo Iic oxide, leaded zinc oxide, lithopone, z Jphate. Some secondary lead is used i ead, sulphate, and a substantial proporti diktoo chloride made in the United State tyterial. There has been a large increase tine used in the manufacture of zinc oxide has1 displaced slab zinc in the manufac ' tide. 220 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 Lead content of lead and zinc pigments produced by domestic manufacturers, 1986S6f by sources, in short tons 1935 Pigment Lead In pigments pro duced from-- Domes tic ore Second Pig lead ary ma teria) Total lead in pig ments Lead la pigments pro duced from-- Domes tic ore Second Pig lead ary ma terial White lead................... Bed lead....................... Litharge........................ Orange mineral.......... Basic lead sulphate.. Leaded zinc oxide... Zinc oxide..................... 4, 024 7,484 1 12,109 83. 070 26. J73 74,724 206 1.879 83, 070 25.173 74.724 ' 296 0, 503 7,028 1 197,404 80,779 31,617 81,883 249 1,569 15. 062 204,997 89,779 31,.617 81,883 10,4 37 220,0 Zinc content of zinc pigments and salts produced by domestic manufacturers, 1936-86- by sources, in short tons ' 193o 1936 Pigment or salt Zinc In pigments and salts produced from-- Domes tic ore Second Slab zinc ary ma terial Total zinc In pig ments and salts Zinc Id pigments and salts produced from-- Domes tic ore Second Slab zinc ary ma terial Zinc oxide........................... Leaded zinc oxide........... LIthopone........................... Zinc sulphide..................... Zinc chloride...................... Zinc sulphate.................... 47,021 16.185 1 20.600 0) () 1,966 26, 749 104 v`) 7, 490 356 13,512 () 483 81,260 16.645 t 34,112 <> (*) 2,449 66.946 19,065 18,902 a 1,078 32,625 138 (') 9, 201 183 13,450 (*) <*> 1,224 19,3 32,362 > Ziuc content of a small quantity of zinc sulphide lnoluded with zinc content of Uthopone. * Figures not available. PRICES The total valuo and the averuge price received by producers frori sales of lead and zinc pigments and salts are stated earlier in thi^ chapter. The range of market quotations, as reported by the Oil. Paint, and Drug Reporter, appears in the following table. Quotations on lead pigments were advanced as the price of lead moved upward during the latter part of 1936. On October 1, zinc oxide prices wen] advanced by one-fourth cent per pound but were still considerably out of line with the price of the metal. A drop of 1 cent per pound iij the price of titanium dioxide on November 2 was followed shortly b a reduction of one-fourth cent per pound in lithopone prices and l'A- to 2%-cent cuts in zinc sulphide quotations. " LEAD AND ZINC PIGMENTS AN lange of quotations on lead pigments and zinc pi ' rjp,. (or delivered in the Bast), 198S-S8,.in Product 1933 lulo lead sulphate, or sublimed lead, less than carlota, barrels................................................................................ 'bite lead, or basio lead carbonate, dry, carlols, barrels.......................................................................................... Itbarge, commercial, powdered, barrels..................... ed'Iead, dry, 96 percent or less, less than carlots, barrels. )range mineral, American, small lots, barrels: T?x-white lead................................................................. ;xred lead___________________________________ ______ ie oxide: .meric&n process, lead-free, bags, car lota................ inertcan process, 6 to 36 percent lead, barrels, ;arlots~. _`reocb process, red seal, bags, carlots.. .. F#IrSeUnWchI pirUoCceOsNs, g6Mre7eCnU sOeWaUl,. buaag(3s, cballlriUloMts............ Inncb process, white seal, barrels, carlots.. Jthopone, domestic. 6-ton lots, bags................... Uno sulphide, less than carlots, bags, barrels. 'too chloride, works: Bojutlon, tanks............................................................ sed,- arums......__ ________________________ sulphate, crystals, barrels........................ ........ 6.60- 6.00 6. OO- 6. 60 6.60- 7.00 6. 60- 8.00 10. 26-11.76 9.00-10.60 6. 76 6.76 8.63 9.63 10.88 4.60 13.00-13.60 2.00-3.00 4.26- 5.76 2.76- 3. 76 ttov FOREIGN TRADE Imports of lead and zinc pigments and jd, exports increased 3 percent in 1936. T im $462,000 to $572,000; in 1929 it was tere was an apparent import surplus. Tie following table shows the value of imported and exported for 1935-36. dbUfaiue of foreign trade of the United States in lea 19SB-88 jin' ' pigments: vblte lead..................... *~Red lead......................... c Litharge.......................... J* Grange mineral............ g^Other lead pigments. \ i J and ziDc salts: pLead arsenate................... fOther lead compounds. ['Zinc chloride..................... pZloc'suIpbate.............. Qrand total. tftgures not available. I Flnust ** (< 222 MINEHALS YEAItnOOK, 1937 Lead figments and salts.--Imports of these commodities are of negligible proportions. The most important item is the group of lead compounds, including lead acetate, leod nitrate, and others. Lead pigments and salts imported for consumption in the United Stales, 19S2-36t in short tons Year Basic carbonate white lead Red lead Litharge Orange mineral Lead com pounds Totalf. value1 1932. 1933. 1934 1935. 1030. 29 4 31 15 0) 01 32 1 . (0 4 277 $52,866 10 208 39,313 6 183 29.368 2 302 >38,238 6 185 >32,016 i J^cs.i than I ton. .... ... /fc. i Includes also--1935: Lead pigments, n.s. p. f., $478 (4,405 pounds); 1930: Lead pigments, n.s. p. f. $19 W pounds) and sublimed lead (basic sulphate) $9 (15 pounds). The principal exports are white lead, litharge, red lead, and lead arsenate. Less than 3 percent of the domestic production of white lead, red lead, and litharge was exported in 1936. Lead pigments and salts exported from the United States, 1932-36, in short tons . White lead Red lead 1 Litharge Lead arsenate Other lead com pounds Total1 value}; 1932 1033 1934. 1935. 1930. 1.081 1,048 1.501 2,337 1.801 493 1,403 670 1,538 745 972 750 1.280 810 1,380 50.5 290 325 578 414 $401,694 371,760 457,271 006,734 609,800 * Includes an unknown quantif y of orange mineral, 1932-33. White lead and red lead, orange mineral,1 and litharge exported from the United Stales, by destinations, 1933--36, in short tons Destination Red lead, orange mineral^ and . litharge I 1933 193-1 1935 Countries: Argentina........................... Canada............ .................... Netherlands....................... Nelherlanil West Indies Panama............................... Philippine Islands . ... United Kiugdoru............ Others.................................. Continents: North America................. 6outh America................. Europe................................. Asia....................................... Africa................................... Oceania................................ GO 09 75 91 377 403 2 10 20 201 138 130 73 47 290 550 1,501 93 50 827 3 205 190 93 8G5 223 477 441 150 177 202 479 590 1.242 141 () 285 53 107 100 1 150 1 120 109 74 1,104 387 3 58 453 08 170 104 13 17 035 583 232 415 (') 112 210 3 745 162 502 2 81 52 287 2 942 2. 108 1.717 2,030 139. 044 43' 274 53 342 17 784 2,160 754 1,401 218 210 707 213 172 201 9 80 1 () 759 030 34/} 402 232 139 40 335 118 224 222 (J) 1,140 344 219 407 02 24 i Orange mineral Is not Included in this group In 1934-30. Data not available. > Less than 1 ton. LEAD AND /.INC PIGMENTS A Zinc pigments and salts.--Imports of li |and were approximately twice as large [amounted to less than 2 percent of domest ! Zinc pigments and tails imported for consumptio in short tons i\ Year Zinc oxide Dry In oil Litho pone 11932........................................................ 1933........................................................ 1034........................................................ 1935........................................................ 1930........................................................ 2,516 2,359 1,204 1,931 693 157 4,724 182 6, 590 04 3,927 69 4.003 90 4,780 Exports of zinc oxide and lithopone increa |of this trado is with North Amorican coun 1 Zinc pigments and salts exported from the Unite P Year Zinc Litho oxido pone K ,1932..................... 1933..................... 1934..................... 1,261 722 1,155 3, 212 1,186 2,401 Zinc salts 299 c) C) Total value $512, 659 230,024 395,189 Year 1035.. 1930.. M i.Zloo salts not separately recorded. wZinc oxide and lithopone exported from the United in short tons Destination Zlno oxide 1933 1934 1936 ^Countries: Argentina................. Canada...................... Cuba......................... France....................... United Kingdom. Others...................... p Continents: North America. South America. Europe................. Asia....................... Africa................... Oocanla............... ru 16 36 35 280 439 453 22 87 115 6 12 15 08 56 367 513 400 722 1. 155 1, 140 437 850 39 48 72 66 . 80 41 . 3 12 . 91 1 132 724 78 94 132 6 107 778 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1037 THALLIUM A bluish-white, soft metal, thallium (clement 81) resembles lead not only in its physical properties but also, to a considerable extent, in its chemical properties, although in the latter respect it somewhat resembles potassium. The metal itself is obtainable without much difficulty, but it is used only in quite small amounts for special alloys; lead-thallium alloys are highly resistant to corrosion. Even in its compounds thallium finds no very largo sale, although significant quantities, chiefly as sulphate, are used in rat poisons and for groundsquirrel and rodent control generally. It also has been recommended for killing ants and as a fungicide and insecticide. Small quantities, 1 a few hundred pounds annually, have long been used in optical glass, 1 photoelectric cells, and medicine, and later developments are moth proofing agents and fabric-finishing materials. A variety of other . uses, including antiknock motor fuel, have been suggested, many of them having been patented, but none of them seem to have reached the commercial stago. Formerly, thallium was vised rather widely in depilatories, but inasmuch as it is a cumulative poison of high toxicity this use has been discouraged. Recently, however, experi ments have been made in the U. S. S. R. (Russia) with a view to controlling the moulting of sheep, particularly of merinos that do not moult naturally; promising results were obtained, although many of the sheep died, and more work has to be done. Thallium is not a common element, but it is present in a large number of minerals and moderately substantial quantities may be recovered from the flue dusts from lead furnaces and pyrites burners. Partly because the demand is rather small there is only one domestic producer, the American Smelting & Refining Co.; but additional quantities of thallium sulphate and a little thallium acetate have been imported from Germany, Poland, and Belgium. Prices since the World War have ranged from above $20 to a minimum of about $6 a pound. The price of the metal in small lots is $15 a pound. THORIUM (AND MESOTHORIUM) Thorium (element 90), like uranium, is the source of a series of radioactive elements of lower atomic weight. In the process of dis integrating to inert lead, the thorium group emits radiations similar j to but not always identical with those from radium. Mesothorium, the immediate disintegration product of thorium, is chemically identi cal with radium. Its preparations emit the tliree types of rays charac- | teristic of radium, but it is much shorter lived. Separated from thorium, a given specimen of mesothorium decays to half value in 6.7 years, to one-fourth of its original valuo in another 0.7 years, to only one-eighth of its original value in a third period of 6.7 years, |j and so on. The half-life period of radium, on the other hand, is 1,690 years. Mesothorium can be substituted for radium for certain therapeutic purposes but is possibly more important commercially in radioactive luminous materials. Over a period of 15 years, the brightness of luminous materials activated with mesothorium is in (j no way inferior to that of those made luminous by radium.23 Formerly .1 radium cost a great deal more than mesothorium, but as radium has J a Scblundt, Berman, Mesothorium: Foote-Prints, vol. no. 1,1931, pp. 3-17. MINOR ME become cheaper, mesothorium, remai is the more costly of the two. In 19 I (522 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.) im ium from Austria. Domestic requi present more mesothorium is used ab In England and France, for example employed, activated with mesothonum The main use of thorium has been which purpose thorium nitrate is extr with a small amount of cerium. The f [, of "rare-earth nitrates", accompanied | nesium nitrate, and then burned. M the production of thorium nitrate, Thorium compounds are used in Xhave been employed for certain reacti refractory and has been used recently `.laboratory crucibles that can be emp temperatures up to 2,300 C. Sinte the market by Westinghouse Lamp C shapes and sizes at $75 a pound and | in filaments of tungsten lamps to p purpose, however, as well as for elec electron-emitting uses, the element i the metal. Suggested uses for the glow-tube electrodes, and X-ray targe Thorium is a soft, malleable meta otherwise easily worked and handled. onic emissivity, consideration may be the most refractory oxide known. I metal, but neither is it unduly costly has fallen as a result of the diminish industry for thorium nitrate. This would seem to afford a sound basis fo of use. Thorium nitrate has recently bee Drug Reporter at $2.20 a pound. M formerly quoted at $60 a ton basis 6 an 8-percent grade has been listed at costs about $35 a milligram. The imports of thorium nitrate a 1936 amounted to only 4,411 pounds were 44,554 pounds valued at $89,67 pounds valued at $309,760 in 1914 (f TITANI About two and a half times as plen titanium (element 22) is a constitu Ilmenite and rutile, however, are th mined at all extensively as titanium these minerals are relatively few. British India, Norway, and the Un worked, so that the supply is abund has virtually no commercial uses, tho n nn..n3 Tfo -------F.--........... 780 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1037 used in the steel industry, are important and are consumed in rapidly growing quantities not only in steel making but also for use in making iron castings and various nonfcrrous alloys. Formerly eninloyod almost exclusively as a deoxidizer, it has recently begun to be im portant in the manufacture of rustless steels to inhibit intergranular corrosion. Titanite, an aluminum-manganese-titanium alloy, takes a high polish that resists corrosion. Most important is tho production of titanium pigments, which has grown at an astonishing rate in less than a decade from an insignificant industry requiring only 2,000 or 3,000 tons of ilmenito to a large business whose purchases of this raw material now exceed 100,000 tons a year. The consumption of rutile likewise has increased sharply. Scarcely 5 years ago this naturally occurring dioxide of titanium was used to only a small extent in the ceramic industry and had almost no other important applications until it began to be demanded in really large quantities for the manufacture of welding rods. Meanwhile, its ceramic uses have shown healthy growth. Titanium dioxide is used in ceramic glasses, in "topaz" yellow glassware, and to increase fluidity of acid-resisting enamels. For the acid-stable enamels as much as 8 percent Ti02 is added, the yellow coloration being suppressed by a 2-percent addition of sodium fluosilicate.24 A German patent (622346, I. G. Farbenindustrie) describes the production of a glass containing 20 to 48 percent of TiOj and 20 to 35 percent alkali (remainder acid oxides) made colorless by nitrate additions to the batch, which is melted slightly above 1,300 C. Miscellaneous uses of titanium compounds are for smoke screens, "sky-writing", and pyrotechnics (tetrachloride); for arc-light electrodes; in dyeing and tanning; as abrasives (carbide); and in medicinal and toilet preparations. In addition to their use in pnints and lacquers, titanium pigments are being used to an increasing extent in paper, linoleum, for delustering rayon, in printing ink, white rubber, plastics, cosmetics, soaps, and in shoe polishes and various leather and synthetic finishes. Summarizing 1936 developments, E. L. Lasier, vice president of the Titanium Alloy Manufacturing Co., in a letter to the author, comments upon the greatly increased use of iron-titanium alloys (both high and medium carbon) in the steel industry for deep-stamping and automo bile body stock. In the production of intermediate manganese steels, ferro-carbon-titanium is displacing more expensive alloys, notably nickel and vanadium. Other important developments have been the work on temper-hardening of copper-titanium alloys, the use of titanium in gray cast iron and in aluminum (through the use of a master alummo-titanium alloy), and a prospect of employing the element to assist in age-hardening of chrome-nickel steels. The American Rutile Co., leading producer of rutile, formerly operated its milling plant at Roseland, Nelson County, Va., only 2 or 3 months at a time, but in 1935 it built a new, modern mill which was operated almost continuously in 1936 and maybe enlarged to a capacity of 500 tons of crude ore a day. No production figures are released bv the company, but private estimates place the present output as high as 2,000 short tons of rutile a year. Rutile or brookite was produced in Hot Springs County, Ark., in 1936 by the Titanium Corporation. It has been difficult to recover high-grade rutile in m VJelhaber, Titanium Dioxide; Emallwaren Ind., vol. 12, no. 52,1935, pp. 419-420; Ceram. Abs., vol-15, no. 8, 1936, p. 231. MINOR commercial quantities from this a Bureau of Mines succeeded in m Arkansas rutile by flotation. Ilmenite produced in this cou mining by the American Rutile C the Southern Mineral Products C far from the Roseland operation 1936 the latter company sold its making calcium monophosphate ginia Chemical Co., a newly cre Printing Ink Co. The origina mining activities and, in additio concentrates to tho new concern, ferro-alloy works of the parent c of America, at Niagara Falls, N. Domestic production statistics closing the operations of individ tistics servo to show tho rapid gro ilmenite and rutile. For several imports of ilmenite and is still the tributed 22,472 long tons in 19 rumors to the effect that the No United States and accordingly Europe. Of possible significance, in 1936 of $6.22 a long ton for im $5.32 for those from British Ind tons credited to the United King Titanium ores imported for consu 1032. 1933. 1031. 193.3. 103(1. Data on imports by customs ilmenite is imported at New Yo divided between Maryland and were entries at New Orleans for s ment ceased before 1936. Rutile is now imported chiefly f were received in 1936 also from $1,128) and Australia (10,000 p percent of the rutile arrives at Ne except that in 1936 a fair-sized sh Imports of ferrotitanium and o amounting in 1936 to 2,240 pou Kingdom. Among foreign developments m at the Selianka mine in the Che and a substantial increase of e 782 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1937 Straits Settlement containing only 0.15 percent tin and valuable chiefly for its titanium content. In Norway production has been increased so that around 60,000 tons annually can be handled, and a now aerial tram was built in 1936, according to a British report. At one time Ceylon produced monazite from its black-sand deposits, and recently the Ceylon Bureau of Industry and Commerce was reported to be giving attention to possible exploitation of these areas for ilmenite and zircon. The largest known black-sand deposit on the island is on the east coast about 35 miles north of Tricomalee and extends 4 miles along the shore. Brazil's rutile deposits are in the States of Goyaz and Minas Geraes. The ores from the latter State ordinarily contain ilmenite and, accordingly, analyze only 70 to 85 percent Ti02, but those from Goyaz run up to 95 percent or more. In 1936 quotations f. o. b. Rio de Janeiro, for export to United States and England, were as low as $20 a metric ton. . Ilmenite occurs in beach-sand deposits on the coast of Espiritu Santo, accompanied by monazite, zircon, garnet, and magnetite. The entire production of ilmenite in India comes from beach deposits leased from the Government of Travancore State. Until a few years ago two British firms, the Travancore Minerals Co., Ltd., and Hopkins & Williams, Ltd., were the only producers, but in 1932 F. X. Pereira & Sons entered the field, and, even more recently, M. E. Masillamany, B. A., Travancore, is rumored to have begun exporting, while a group called the Malabar Mining Co., Neyyattinkara, was said to be negotiating for a mining lease. World production of titanium minerals, 19S2S6, in metric tons {Compllod by M. T. Lfttus) Mineral nnl country 1032 1033 1034 10.16 1036 Ilmenite: Rutile: Brazil.................................................................................... 487 (') 766 (') 35 w4 30 660 370 204 23, 213 645 <*) 06 4 66 o 1,836 164 400 70,868 61 26, 300 434 0) 116 247 0) 2, 076 1,250 37, 981 204 () 287 o (0 2, 328 (0 M (!) (0 M (01) (') (*) i Data oot available. * Exports. 1 Bureau of Mines not at liberty to publish figures. 4 Concentrates. ' Ferro-carbon-titanium, the leading tonnage alloy, was quoted in 1936 at $137.50 per ton, f. o. b. Niagara Falls, N. Y., for the 7- to 8- percent-carbon product. Rutile concentrates, guaranteed minimum 94 percent, continued to be quoted at 10 cents a pound, although less than $100 a ton could be obtained for lower-grade ore that required further cleaning before it could be sold for ceramic uses. The price of artificially produced titanium dioxide of pigment grade was reduced from 17 to 16 cents a pound on November 4, 1936. This quotation is for carload lots and for packing in paper bags; for material packed in barrels the quotation is 16% cents. MINOR Me t a l URANIUM According to most chemists, uranium element that is ever likely to be found neously decomposes to form at least tw ments (of progressively diminishing atom is the best-known and most important radium to uranium in pitchblende and ot in 3.4 million, and unless the radium-bea to have reached equilibrium, the propo that all radium-recovery operations re large quantity of uranium compounds. a surplus of such compounds, although also have been utilized mainly as a sour ment can be made without excessive d powder, but it has no recognized use advocated for use in making steel, and f was employed in a small way as a subst ever, the consensus of opinion among s to be that adding uranium to steel a cannot be obtained more economically acetate and other compounds are valua agents, and uranium salts have been Ehotography, dye making, and medicine owever, is in ceramic glazes and glas characteristic yellow colorization, for (Nn2UO,) is the usual commercial vehic or orange, contains 83 percent U308, and Tho Vitro Manufacturing Co., Pittsb Chemical Co., of Denver, Colo., produc country from domestic carnotite ore. domestic requirements, however, is satis sources. Imports of uranium oxide an until about 1926, rose to 272,913 pound and then, after declining during the 296,389 pounds valued at $292,207 in further to 341,040 pounds valued at $ Belgium, as in former years, althoug $61,088 came from the newly created C VIRGINIUM The blank space in the periodic char 87) was filled, it was announced, in 193 his coworkers at Alabama Polytechnic had discovered this long-sought subst analysis of pollucite and lepidolite. Th The validity of this discovery was chal and Eugene Waiver, of Cornell Univers discovery of this element by X-ray analy doubt arose in tho Cornell laboratories spectral lines exhibited by this crysta elusive element. In many minds, ther as to whether element 87 has been di tainly tends to show that this element