Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-04-07
The Production of Manganese Ores,

The most slgnlhcant 1acb noteu W
the report made by Mr. John blrkln-
bine to the United States. Geological
Survey on the production OF manga
nese ores in 1903 is the dependence OF
the United States oni foreign sources
for manganese ores. The domestic
production during 1903 was only 1873
long tons. valued at $25, 1896, or $9.97 a
ton. AS spiegelisen and ferromanga'
nese. both of which are manufactured
from manganese ores and manganlfer-
GUS ores, are used in the production
of steel, the limited supply OF native
ore must be largely augmented by
that imported from foreign countries.
The quantity of manganese ore
brought in during the year 1908 was
LAG. .O56 long tons, valued at 81 ,27o, lOo,
or $S 70 ton.
The home production of 1873 long
tons is an apparent but not an actual
decline of SO per cent. from the guam
tity reported in 1902, which was 16,477
tons. Included in this were 5000 tons
from the State OF Montana, reported
through the United States Census
local agent as mined but not shipped.
Subsequent investigation has shown
that the ore reported was not even
mined, although exploratory work had
been prosecuted and liberal amount
of ore exposed. The locations OF these
reported deposits are not such as to en-
courage the expectation of immediate
development and shipment on: large
scale.
In 1908 five States contributed to the
production Of manganese ores. They
were California, Georgia, South Caro-
lima, Utah and Virginia. OF the 1903
total of 1925 tons. Virginia furnished
1901 tons, or GA per cent. Georgia 5OO
tons. and Utah 4S3 tons. With these
exceptions the quantities mined were
small. The manganese resources of
the various States that contributed Ill
1903 or in previous years to the total
production are discussed in detail by
Mr.. Blrkinbine. The records show
that the Crimora nine, in Augusta
county, Va. has been the. principal
producer of manganese ore in the Uni
ted States. The maximum output OF
Virginia was 2O.567 long tons in 1886.
In addition to the manganese ores
the United States produced mangani-
ferrous iron ores in the Lake superior
region, in Colorado, and in Virginia tC
the amount of 584. .493 long tons. valued
at 81 .571 $50; manganiferous silver ores
in Lake County, Colorado, to the
amount of Us, ,205 long tons. vaued al
$649, ,727; and manganiferOus zinc resi-
dunn, obtained as by-product in the
treatment of zinc ores mined in north
ern New Jersey, to the amount OF 73,-
264 long tons, with nominal value o
1882 The total quantity OF man
ganese and manganiferous ores mlnet
in tho United States during 100
amounted, therefore, to S39,7S7 lons
tons, which had value of s., $40, ,O76.
As most of the manganese ores use'
in the United States are imported fron
foreign countries, large part of MI
Birklnblne' g report consists of notes OF
these foreign sources of supply. Owe
oue.half the amount of manganese or
imported into the United States cam
from Brazil. The other importan
sources of manganese are India. CUBS
Russia, Chile, Germany, and Spair
ranking in the order named. Russi
has been our mainl reliance in pas
years, but during 1903 Russia s con
l tribution to the important, althoug
there are undoubtedly large reserves
y manganese in the Sharopan district.
Mr.. Birkinbin's report is an extra'
from the forthcoming volume entitlt
Mineral Resources of the Unite
y States. 1908" and may be obtained
application to the United States de
70 logical Survey, Washington, d. g.