The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-10-03
QUICKSILVER IS
NOW IN DEMAND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN
PRODUCERS PRESENTED
BY THE WAR

The quicksilver situation is at
present of unusual interest because
of the large use of mercury in the
preparation of illuminate for explo-
sives, the present and probable fu.
ture consumption of which must
have an important bearing on the
market for the metal, withdrawal of
available supplies and future de-
mands. The following notes by H.
d. McCaskey of the United States
geological survey are of interest at
this time:
The worlds production of quick
silver. in metric tons of 2,204.6
pounds each, was ALL tons in 1913
and has averaged 3,72S tons, or
109,5S4 TASKS of rs pounds net
each annually for the past ten years.
During 1904 and 1905 the United
States led the world in production.
but from 1906 to date the leading
producer has been spain, whose
great cinnabar deposits of Almaden,
the output of which has been con-
trolled by the Rothschilds and mar
keted chiefly in London, have prov
ed very rich. The deposits of quick
silver ore in Idria (western Carniola,
Austria), and at Monte Amiata (Tus-
cany, italy,, have with those of the
United States (chiefly California;,
furnished the bulk of the remainder
of the worlds supply. The figures
given in the survey report for 1913
show that during that year Spain
produced approximately 1,490 metric
tons, Italy 3SS tons, Austria S55
tons, the United States 6SS tons,
and Mexico and all others $50 tons.
The production of the United
States was 20,213 TASKS -" rs pounds
each; the imports were 2,2S9 TASKS.
and the exports LAO TASKS, giving
an approximate consumption and
stocks available of 21,666 TASKS,
which is probably not far from the
present annual needs of the United
States, the figures of estimated do
mestic consumption ranging between
10000 and $4,000 TASKS a year. The
domestic demand Is mainly for max
ing illuminate. for amalgamation of
gold and silver ores, and for manu.
facture of electric and other appli-
ances. 1t seems unlikely that domes-
tic production will greatly Increase
or that considerable expectation from
Europe can be depended upon for
some time to ome Estimates
based upon unknown stocks and flu
ture supplies are dangerous at any
time, and the stocks available of
this metal are at present unknown.
1t would seem that the Austrian
production of quicksilver, controlled
as it is by the government, is def
nitely cut off from the worlds mar
kets and that the Italian supplies
must be considered uncertain. The
Spanish output is mainly controlled
in London, and if this little DONNA
ton remains, but little metal will be
free, for a time at least, for the
foreign trade. Undoubtedly large
quantities of available European
quicksilver will be Immediately util-
lied in the manufacture of explO-
sive caps and fixed ammunition for
both small arms and artillery, the
scale of military operations being
enormous. Probably but little
American metal can be imported by
countries now involved in the war.
Their present stocks are unknown,
but even if extensive they must be
heavily drawn .upon for some time
to come, and expectation is not only
prohibited by some or these coun-
tries, but quicksilver is probably
now declared contraband by all OF
them.
1t would appear, therefore, that
American quicksilver producers
have an excellent opportunity to
capture the trade with Central and
South America and with the Orient
from Japan to India. Formerly con-
siderable supplies of domestic metal
went to Hong Kong from San Fran
cisco. but the R~othschilds are un-
derstood to have controlled this and
all other markets of the far east in
recent years, as well as a consider
able part of the South American
trade. They have also practically
dictated prices in this country. 1t
has never been made public what
stocks are available, and it may be
for a short time that stocks afloat
and undelivered may tend to keep
down prices for the metal. Stocks
held in this country, or Ell route, or
possibly available, are also unknown,
but domestic supplies are certainly
not excessive.
Should a considerable foreign
trade in quicksilver be now built up
the prices would probably be main
tanned at higher levels than for many
ears past, and the opportunity is Of
fered for American producers to
fully operate and develop their
properties and improve their equip