The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08

cipally sold in Brittany at fourteen dol
lars. The annual production of these
beds was estimated in 1872 at twenty
five thousand tons, and has increased
since then very materially. The Belle
garde phosphates may possibly exercise
considerable local influence, but the low
content of phosphoric acid in the material
found on the spot would prevent its
wide shipment.
PHosPHoRITEs.
The Russian phosphorite occurs gen.
orally in the strata of the cretaceous for
nation; it is also, however, found in
those of the Jurassic, Tertiary, and even
the Silurian. NJ. Yermoloff, who assis-
ted Prof. Engelhardt in the recent geo
logical and economic survey Of Russia,
has stated: ave do not think that we
exaggerate when We say that Central
Russia reposes on phosphate of lime,
with which she is able to pave the half
of Europe" An examination into the
commercial value of these deposits led to
the conclusion that where the phosphate
rock is accessible its quality is too poor
to admit of its more than local utilization;
while the richer nodules occurring, as
thew do, disseminated through compact
formation, cannot be mined prohtably.
Only one local attempt had been made
to agriculturally utilize these vast de-
posits, and that had proved failure:
The Bordeaux pbosphates-as the
phosphorite obtained from the Depart,
ments of Lot, Tarn-et- Garonne and
Aveyron is commercially called-on the
other hand, have played an important
part in the English markets. No new
deposits have been discovered in these
regions during the past six years not
withstanding continued and carefilpros-
pecting; and the general impression pre-
walls that the better part, both i'll quality
and quantity has already been sent to
market. The production has reached TO-
900 tons per annum.
The German phosphate, which occurs
along the Lahn, is attributed 10 the con-
centration in limited beds and pockets of
the small content of phosphate of lime
found in the limestone of that region.
The best average price paid for Lain
phosphate, on the spot, rarely exceed
eight dollars per ton. The better quail
ties are shipped to England for the man
ufacture of superphosphates; the medi-
um Qualities are similarly used in Eng
land, and the poorest sorts are reduced
to powder for direct application to the
soil.
- SPANISH PHoSPHATES.
: The existence of beds of phosphate of
lime in Spain has been long known, al
though it is only since O comparatively
recent date that their true composition
and value have been appreciated, and
vet later that active mining operations
have been carried on at the different 10
calities. Logrosan ..ands Caceres are the
two principal localities for phosphates
in Spain. There are several distinct
veins of phosphorite at Logrosan. The
rock is blasted; the larger pieces
are cleaned by hand and hammer, and
then assorted into high and low grades.
The pieces of trimmed rock average three
20 four inches in diameter. 9.iapi -s
p The shipment of this phosphate neces-
states great trouble and expense. 1t is
transported in heavy wagons, drawn by
mules or oxen, and carrying two to two
and half tons to the load, to the railway
at Vielanueva de la Serena. The carts
make two trips q week and receive about
twenty cents per hundred weight. The
cost of transportation and handling until
the phosphates is put on shipboard at
Lisbon, amounts to almost ten dollars a
ton, and the expenses reach fifteen dol
lars by the time the rock has been Ian
dediin England. 1t is claimed that it
brings twenty dollars per ton in the
English market. A railway to VILLAIN
neva would reduce the freight expenses
materially, but would itself cost one
million two hundred thousand dollars.
This line, once constructed, would permit
of the delivery of simply enormous
quantities of this high-grade rock to the
exclusion of corresponding amount OF
the Carolina and other rocks of lower
value. The officers at the mine stated
their, readiness to guarantee their pro-
duct at seventy.fve to eighty-five per
cent. bone phosphate of lime, also their
ability to raise and lay down their phos-
phate beside the mine at less than three
dollars per ton. This mine is apparently
the only great competitor in the future
which threatens seriously our local indus
try. Oftbe quantity and dquality ofthe Lo-
grosan phosphate, there can be no doubt;
happily, however, such is the tardiness Of
Spanish Courts, it may be long locked
to commerce; and even then, so great is
the disinclination of the capitalists to
investments in the interior of Spain, il
may be equally long before rail connec-
ton with the coast is made.
The Caceres Mines, on the other hand
are our present competitors in the En-
glish market. and, as such, deserve spe
cial notice. From 1866, when mining
operations began, to October. 1872, the
principal company at Caceres had fur
nished about one hundred and twenty
five thousand tons. They received
from So to $3.50, according to the
quality, for the rock at the mines
The cost of transportation 70 Lisbor
amounts to about eight dollars per ton
Chemical analysis of the rock gives from
ifty-three TO eighty-six per cent. o
bone phosphate of lime, with an average
ofabout sixty to sixty-five per cent. Tht
total recent production has been abou
twenty-five thousand tons annually
Most of the Spanish phosphate goes Il
England, whittier thirty.three Thousand
tons were shipped in 1874. France als'
consumes a few thousand tons. Th'
Spaniards make no home use of thei
rock although their lands stand in sor
need of such enrichment. The Spanish
phosphates are very difficult to grind
but nevertheless make good snperphos
pilates, which dry readily, and do no
lose in soluble phosphoric acid, as the.
contain very little oxide of iron ant
alumina. '"
DEPOSITS OF APATITE.
Oftbe Canadian apatitic deposits littl
is known beyond the fact that they con
sist of pockets Tor bunches) Of high grad
nhoopbota of limo of nrysta1Iine efrnct