The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-24
MINOR METAL PRODUCTIONS.
with the Exception OF Platinum They shov
an Increase for ns05 Over 1890.


an Increase for 1897 over 1890.
The Engineering and Mining Journal gives
| some interesting information regarding tho pro-
duction of some Of the minor minerals and
| metals in the United States and elsewhere dur
ing the past year.
The production of asbestos in 1897 in the
United States" it says, was ITO short tons.
which was a very little moro than in 1896. As
in the previous year, this production was made
chiefly in Georgia. where q true asbestos of
short fibre is mined by tho Sal! Mountain As
bestos Company. A few tons were mined In
California. A new discovery of asbestos was
reported from the Chihuahua ntning district.
near OAK Grove, San Diego county, CAL. and
samples have been sent US from the State Of
Washington. but there has been no production
to speak OF at any of these points. There Is no
doubt as to the existence Of asbestos. either
true asbestos or ehrysolite, at. many places in
the United States, but the mineral is. generally
OF. poor quality-of short fibre, little strength.
and woody texture-or the deposits are so small
and unfavorably situated that they cannot be
worked proftably.
Recently q vein of silky asbestos of long
fibre has been discovered in Georgia. This
| mineral. is said to be the best yet found in the
United States, but the vein has not yet been
| opened sufficiently to say how much of lit
there is.
"The shipments of asbestos from Black Lake,
Quebec. during the first ten months of 1897
amounted to 99s, $50 pounds: from Thetford
| mines. Is. Sal 900 pounds; total. 1880, $50
pounds. or 1870 short tons. which shows q fall
ing off from 1896, when the shipments for
twelve months amounted to 10, 1880 short tons.
1.-THE production of bauxite in the United
States in 1897 was $4,000 long tons. against
1906 long tons in 1896. In each year the
product was derived entirely, from Alabama
where remaining unworked. There are now
four concerns engaged In the production OF
% 1ansrie m B sns Heit eom S D Of P1 Ro Sr en Gn., t be,
ing . newcomer in 1897.
The pr ,sa1 OF sheet ann ttdmniHcSa. In the p 3 ded
pounds; the prcdgstion OF ground mica. nt Is
NORTH Carolina, and South Dakota. the amounts
pounds. Sc. 600 ooSI peunds. and 300 pounds, New
Hampshire produced 427s; 900 pounds of
and south Dako a 10000 pounds. The sheet
mica OF New Hampshire was marketed In Bos-
S Nov; 1 york. OF some merge going Hs' to Chicago Cage % SIlhe' tho se
South Dakota product the output Of one com
Panyl was divided between Chicago and St.
THE New Hampshire mica was shipped from
Bristol. Warre9, Canaan; Grafton CITY and
back OF, Ashoviiie and Marion. The South Da.
kOId HlllG bltuutou VI IL SICCh. III
miles east OF Custer City. New discoveries of
mica were reported In Lincoln county. Nevada.
ing from 2 by 5 inches TO o by 10 inches. was
shipped. and at Chelan Falls, in Okanogan coun-
100 rounds was taken out, though some OF this
wouid cut larger than gig by 3 inches. In Salt
Lake county, Utah, two mines W " opened, Ia
closed, though but few perfect sheets larger
than one Inch square could bo obtained. 1t was
proposed. however, 10 use the product In a paint
| factory recently established In Salt Lake City.
Some mica deposits were, also discoyered near
steps were taken to mine this mineral for paint
| manufacture, though there was no production
81 tseI as w weS as STOP" IaS ths 81 rest M'e Of the World d" con.
linues to BIO derived chiefly from India and
The total production o. nickel in the United
$685. s3g bounds n 1890 " natal In isS wb; H;oiS;Iss
053 pounds were in the form Of oxide. sulphide.
and salts, The figures for 500 being respectively
productiUn in 1897, $1,000 pounds we're OF do
imcstic origin. The Lancaster Gap mine. which
and tho remainder OF The production OF the
| nickel works. OF this country was derived from
ont. 1t is impossible at this time TO give pre-;
else statistics of tns worlds production OF nickel
In 1897, but 1t is not likely that II was moro
than 1900 metric tons, and In all probability 1t
was less. ur s,,.u rroarction y,
| The metal beng recovered AT the San Francisco
and Philadelphia mints In refining gold bullion
from certain placer workings In California. In
1896 the production amounted to 200 troy
ounces. UP TO the end OF october. 1897; no
platinum had been recovered mt either or these
minis. but since the cleanup is made only occa-
sionally we enter the production in 1897 as 200
troy ounces. There WAS no production OF
tains u considerable percentage OF 1t, and
is a probable source Of supply in the
fcll on considerably in 1897, but in Colombia
there was IN Increase. There are no official
| pt,tiaiIca far the latter country, but our private
information leads us to believe that the produc-
| tion In 1897 was ll,700 OUNCES troy. against
III, 1920 ounces troy in 1896. The price OF pla-
tinum increased materially. owing 10 the dim
mutton of supply and the increased depnnd.
, coInparatlvely large amount OF platinum Is now
consumed. Refined platinum. In large qnanti-
ties, can hardly be Obtained Pa aas aS an the present time
tor less IMAM VAo"E WV S -