Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-05-14
ZINC AND ZINC MINING.
Some Interesting Facts Regarding
the Increased Demand for
Zine in this Country
and Europe.

Hon. Il. Barrett of G6lena recently
wrote for the Galeua Gazet to an inter-
esting article on zinc mining aud de-
mand for zinc ore. He holds that
aside from the pursuit of agriculture,
zinc and lead mining is becoming by
far the most important industry in
northern Illinois and southern Wis
consin. His article on the subject is
as follows:
AS the mining of zinc ore in this
section of the country is increasing so
rapidly, and the developements al
ready made show so cOnclusively
that this is very rich ziuc mining
district it may be we'll to publish
some facts in regard to zinc and zinc
mining that are not generally known
to those who are interested in it in
this vicinity. Aside from the tilling
and cultivation of the land, zinc and
lead mining is becoming by far the
most important industry in northern
Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and
the facts herewith presented may be
deemed sufficient to show that its i'm
pOrtance will soon be much greater
than it is at present. The increase in
the production of zinc for the last six
years has not averaged ten per cent a
year, but the consumption has in.
creased in the United States over one
hundred per cent during the same
time. The demand both IN this
country and Europe is constantly in
creasing, and it is stated as positive
fact that it will take many years for
the increase in production to equal
the present demands. Eighteen fur
naces have been added by smelters in
Kansas, Texas and Colorado since
1901, and it is not known where they
can obtain ore to supply them. Zinc
ore mining in Missouri, insignificant
in 1888 had grown to immense import
ance in 1897, and during that time the
price of ore averaged only $20. % per
ton, while for the last five years it
has averaged $29 5S per ton, ana for
the year 1902 the average was $50. 3Z
per ton, and now the price is much
higher, and as this country had only
six million pounds to export in 1901,
against forty-four million pounds in
1900, it Is very easy to see that prices
must further advance, for the output
decreasing.
"lf the phenominal prosperity of the
mining districts in Missouri has been
brought about when the price of ore
averaged only $40. 90 per ton, and the
rock yielded less than ten per cent of
zinc ore, what may be expected in this
mining district when the price Of ore
is over $50 per ton and the rock yield
ing from ten per cent to forty per
cent. The consumption of the differ
ent kinds of zinc ore that are mined
in this country is principally for the
following purposes: About One-fourth
of the whole is made into zinc oxides
for paints and similar uses. Most of
the ores used for these purposes are
carbonate of zinc, and are usually
found above the permanent level of
the water; while most of that made
into spelter that is, metallic zinc J
comes from below permanent water
level and is a sulphide Of zinc, com
monty called black jack. The amount
made into spelter is about three
fourths of the whole. OF this, fifty per
cent is used by the steel companies
foe galVanizing purposes: but little
galvanized wire was used for fencing,
a few years ago in this country, but
now there are hundreds of thousands
of miles of it, and every foot con-
sumes small amount of zinc. The
demand for zinc for gaivanizing roof
ing in this country is likely to in
crease at a phenomenal rate.
1T is being used extensively already
on the sea coasts. where the salt air
rots and destroys roofing of other
kinds, but the total amount used for
this purpose in America is only abont
six thousand tons annually, while in
Europe it amounts to one hundred and
sixty-tive thousand tons The steel
companies have been for some time
considering the advisability Of gal
yaniziLg all structural steel, as ii Ii
we'll known to lengthen the life of
steel and iron. Over twenty per cent
is being used by brass founderies.
About twenty thousand tons Is rolled
into sheets and used for various pur-
poses. a small quantity is used for
desilverizing lead, more for extract
ing gold for the cyanide process. And
more for monumental and casting pur
poses.
1T has been proven that zinc monu-
ments will last hundreds Of years,
while the best granite and marble will
decay and become unsightly In thirty
TO sixty years. There are some zinc
monuments in France that were erect
ed more than two hundred years ago
that are about as clear today as when
when first set up. Several thousand
tons are used for more than a hun
dred purposes, including electric
storage batteries for Automobiles, tel
egraph stations. etc. The use Of zinc
paint il rapidly increasing, and
France has passed a Law requiring
the use of zinc paint on all govern
ment buildings. Unlike copper or
iron which can be used oyer and over