Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1906-09-29
Mica Consumption Increases.

Exact information regarding mica pro-
duction is difficult to secure, and stats.
ties compiled from imperfect data are
simply approximations. In North Car
olina, which for many years, has lead in
mica productions the returns from the
small producers are so unsatisfactory
that they must be largely disregarded
IN the compilation, and the main de-
pendence is placed upon reports received
from the larger operators and from the
companies which handle the output of
the small mines.
During 1905 mica production in the
United States was limited to six states
North Carolina, Colorado, New Hamp-
shire, Georgia, South Dakota and New
Mexico, the order named indicating
their relative rank.
The total output Of sheet mica for
these states, as reported to the United
States Geological Survey, was S5l ,000
pounds, with total value of SlS5, 800.
Of this quantity North Carolina is cred
tied with 659000 pounds, valued at $S5,-
900. The increase in production over
the other states, while the larger in
crease in value may be accounted for in
part by high prices reported by produc-
ers in those states. A decrease in the
average price for the North Carolina
product is due to the increasing proper.
ton of small mica produced for electri-
cal uses.
The total production of scrap mica in
the United States in 1905 was 956 short
tons, valued at Sl5,225, an increase in
value over the production for 1904.
North Carolina's output of scrap mica
for 1905 was rs short tons, valued at
$3.50. The separation of the produc-
tion figures for scrap mica and for the
smaller sizes of sheet mica becomes
more difficult as the use Of these small
sizes increase.
Among the western states, Colorado
has become a producer of importance.
Statistics indicate an increase in the
consumption Of sheet mica the past year
in The United States of over 80 per cent,
making the 1905 consumption greater
than that of any previous year except
1902 The imported mica comes from
Canada and India, this country taking
about one-half of the output of the Can
adian mines Ground mica of Canadian
origin is not imported on account of the
tariff
Prices vary widely for the different
sizes. In North Carolina the values re-
ported by dealers range from 40 cents
and % cents per pound for stove mica
down to ) cents and less for electrical
mica. Cirkel, in his recent report on
the mica of Canada, quotes prices for
medium quality Canadian muscovite as
ranging from II cents per pound for one
inch by three inches, thumb trimmed,
to 81 for SHEETS four by six inches; for
phlogoptc the prices quoted for the
same sizes are 10 cents and 10 cents, re
spectively. The combined specific duty
of cents and ad ralorem duty of % per
cent on rough trimmed mica would ag-
gregate from so per cent to % per cent
Of these prices, respectively.
Scrap mica is valued at from S5,to $40
ton in both the United States and
Canada. The duty prevents importa-
ton of either the Canadian scrap or
ground mica. The latter is quoted at
from 8 to 10 cents pound, but the
ground phlogopite lacks the luster ofthe
muscovite
The present condition Of the industry
in this country is that the demand is
good for the larger sizes of sheet mica
for glazing purposes, for which use the
muscovte is superior to the darker col
ored micas of India and Canada the
smaller sizes of sheet can be cut into
electrical mica, and the waste mica is
available for the manufacture of mica
mite and other varieties of built.up mica
board and also for grinding into the var
ous grades of ground mica and mica
flour Thus the run of the mine can be
utilized TO greater extent probably
than ever Mining Record.