The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-26
PRODUCTION OF spELTER IN 1911
Final Figures Issued by United States
Geological Survey.

1eOlOSlCal survey
The United States geological survey
has just issued its annual advance state
mcnt OF spelter production for 1911.
This statement, prepared by e. e. Sic
tenthal, gives the final figures Of out
put as made up from the smeter re-
ports and is not subject to change UNI
less an error is discovered in those re-
ports. Preliminary estimates of the pro-
duction of zine, copper, lead, and some
other metals in 1911 were published by
the survey January 2. These prellm-
mary figures for spelter are shown by
comparison with the final figures to have
been in excess about 05 per cent. OF
the total production.
The zinc ore mined in the United
States is treated in three ways, being
smelted to spelter (metallic zinc), con-
yerted into zinc oxide pigment, or ex-
ported from the country in the form of
ore. The figures of spelter production
therefore do not represent the complete
zinc output of the different states. Mis-
souri, had, as usual, the largest output,
though considerably less than in 1910,
the yield being l27 $40 short tons, com
pared to l40,552 tons in 1910 and prae-
tically the same in 1909 The states
making the principal gains were Cali
fornia, which made its first important
zinc output Colorado, which nearly dou-
bled its 1910 spelter output; Montana,
which also nearly doubled its output;
Illinois and Wisconsin, both of which
made good gains The total for these
I've states was 100000 tons, compared
with about $1,000 tons in 1910. Colorado
ranked second in output of spelter, with
Wisconsin and Montana following. II the
exports of zinc ore and the zinc in pig
mcnts made from the Franklin furnace
mine of New Jersey are taken into ac-
count, that state no doubt, as usual,
ranked second in the production of zinc.
The production of spelter in the United
States in 1911 from domestic ores was
2il 1921 short tons and from foreign ores
l4,905 tons, total of 2s6,526 tons, COM
pared to 252,479 tons, l8,705 tons, and
269 1874 tons, respectively, in 1910, a
gain of 1892 tons, or GA per cent.
The worlds output of spelter in 1911
was 974,3S5 tens, compared with $685.
4l9 tons in 1910, a gain OF 90,4l9 tons,
or 1913 per cent, showing that the
United States did not make its quota
of the worlds gain. This country's
share of the worlds production in l9ll
was 29,4 per cent, compared to 30,5 per
cent in 1910 and 30l per cent. in 1909.
Other tables given by Mr. Siebenthal
show the production of secondary spell
ter from dresses. skimmings, and old
metal, the consumption OF spelter, and
the imports and exports of ore, dresses,
and spelter. The imports of zinc ore
showed loss of about 25 per cent. in
zinc content compared with 1910. In
all these tables. as well as those Of
sPelter production, the figures are given
for each year from 1906 to 1911, inclu
sivc in order that a fairly extended com
parison may be possible.
A diagram covering the period from
1906 to 1911 inclusive shows by curves |
the average weekly price OF spelter at
st. Louis and at London, the average !
weekly base price OF concentrates at |
Joplin, and the average weekly sales |
Of zinc concentrates in the Joplin re- |
gion These curves show graphically |
the mutual relation OF the London and |
st. Louis prices Of spelter, and their
relation Of the London and st. Louis |
prices of spelter. and their relation to
the price OF concentrates in the Joplin |
region and to the production in that re-
yion.
A table OF the zinc smelling capacity |
lf the country, with contemplated ad- |
iitions thereto for 1912, shows well the |
rift Of current zine smelter coustruc-
tor from the failing gas fields of Kan
,as to the coal fields of Illinois and |
the gas fields of Oklahoma. Illinois, |
with 81 544 retorts at the close of the |
year. will add S,278 retorts in 1912 |
Oklahoma, with 1920 retorts in 1911, |
viii add $50 more in 1912 Kansas, |
with 3l37s retorts at the close of the |
year, plans no additional retorts and will |
probably in 1912 demolish some Of the
,pelters not now actively operated. In
$3.50 retorts will be add
d in 1912 and 3.456 retorts were added
IA West Virginia in 1911. The total
lumber of retorts at the close OF 1911 |
vas S50lS, 10 be compared with 94,32S
etorts at the close of 1910. A total of
1896 new retorts is planned for 1912
A copy Of this statement may be had
without charge by addressing the di-
ector. United States geological survey,
d. c.