The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-08-26
QUICKSILVER PRO-
DUCTION OF u. 5.

1910, fifteen are located in California,
two in Nevada and two in Texas, oc
cording to II. d. MeCaskey, of the
United States geological survey. The
production in 1910 as obtained from
confidential returns to the geological
survey by every producer in the coun
try, was 20,601 flasks of rs pounds
each. At the average domestic price
at San Francisco $4651 flask, the
value was $95S,153. As compared
with the production of 1909, which
was 2l,075 uasks, valued at $957 ,S59,
this shows a decrease in quantity of
474 flasks but an increase in value of
1924. Although the production of Cal
ifornia increased in 1910, the output
from Oregon decreased to nothing, as
that of Arizona did in 1909, the small
Nevada production fell off considerab
| ly, and the output from Texas de-
creased. In no state except possibly
in Nevada, can an increased output
be expected in 1911, the present out
look being for total production for
the United States not exceeding 90
600 TASKS.
Condition Of the Industry.
| A good domestic demand for quick
silver was noted throughout 1910. The
principal users are for gold milling
and placer mining for the manufacture
of vermilion, Eliminates, physical in
structions, and drugs, and for lighting.
The use of quicksilver in making the
/ illuminate of percussion caps for ignit-
ing powder is increasing in Importance
probably more than any other use The
consumption for all purposes in 1910
was somewhat greater than the do
nestle production, stocks decreased to
small quantity and the condition of
the trade within the United States was
generally good.
Tonnage and Recovery
Producers reported the mining of
132,Sl3 tons of new ore available for
treatment in the United States in 1910
and the treatment during the year of
1913, ,562 tons of ore, including small
amounts of crude ore concentrated be-
fore reduction.
In California 1896 short tons of
crude ore was treated. producing Is
S25 flasks of quicksilver. Indicating
an average recovery in metal of 05
per cent of the ore treated, or 1913
pounds to the ton In addition. old
material treated produced 1886
f1asks of quicksilver In 1909. a total
of l44,9S9 tons of ore treated in Cali
fornia yielded an average recovery of
metal of 0.4 per cent or pounds of
quicksilver to the ton. These figures
indicate average gross returns per ton
Of $6.39 in 1910 and of $4.S5 in 1909
and show that in quicksilver produc
tion on considerable scale the total
costs are low In Texas 1921 tons of
ore was treated in 1910, yielding an
average of 10 per cent of metal. or
30.3 pounds of quicksilver to the ton.
against 9,1o7 tons in 1909, yielding IT
per cent or 34.5 pounds of metal to
the ton. In Nevada about 35 tons of
ore was treated in 1910, yielding rs
per cent, or $50 pounds of quicksilver
to the ton. In the entire United
States l23,562 short tons of crude ore
was treated in 1910, yielding an aver
age of o.6 per cent of quicksilver, or
LII pounds to the ton, with gross
value of $500. In the preceding year
l54,5O2 tons yielded an average re-
covery of O.5 per cent, or 10 pounds
OF metal to the ton, valued at 5000.
The production in California is almost
wholly from shaft furnaces of Scott.
Litchfeld and related types. The
Texas ores are all treated in Scott
furnaces. The Nevada production has
so far been entirely from retorts, these
being less expensive than shaft fur
naces, better suited for high grade ores
and frequently used at new mines
where there is usually some rich ore. |
Ihese retorts, however, are a menace |
to the health of the workmen. AS is |
well known, cinnabar, the sulphide of !
mercury, is the chief ore of the metal, !
and recovery is accomplished by vol |
atization of the quicksilver from the |
ore by heat and condensation of the |
mercury vapors in condensers. Fluxes
are not required, as in the metallur-
gical treatment by smelling of most
other metals, and frequently the ore
itself carries the equivalent of fuel |
IN the form of pyrite which gives off /
considerable heat in oxidation.
Worlds Production.
The worlds production of quick
silver in 1910 was 1899 metric tons
of 2,204.6 pounds each, against 1904
tons in 1909; 1926 tons in 1908, and
3,S07 tons in 1907. Spain is the larg-
est producer, furnishing nearly a third
of the total world supply from the
famous Almanden mines. The United
States, Austria Hugary and Italy
have in turn held second place, this
country ranking third in 1910.
Imports and Exports.
The imports of quicksilver for do
nestle production are now nominal.
having been in 1910 only 667 pounds.
valued at 1891, although the values of
the imports in the preceding three
years varied from $4,000 to $4,000. The
exports of quicksilver in 1910 were
l44,237 pounds, valued at $9l,077,
aaginst 5l0,141 pounds, valued at
s266,243 in 1909 The chief market
S now Canada, followed by Mexico.
Prices of quicksilver in 1910 aver.
araged $46.5l flask Of Is pounds in
San Francisco for domestic use and
sf4.5l for export; the average price
N New York was $i706. Prices have
rraatlv :n,Apaxa1 in tho Ia